The open source movement isn’t just confined to Linux distributions. There are a lot of great Windows applications that are both free and open source. This means that their code is accessible to the public and can thus be audited by thousands of skilled developers. This, all the same, makes them more secure, feature-laden, and reliable. In this article, we look at the 6 best free software applications for Microsoft Windows.
LibreOffice
This is an alternative to Microsoft 365, the world’s #1 office productivity suite. It features support for spreadsheets, documents, databases, diagrams, presentations, and mathematical formulae. Thanks to a vibrant community of developers, LibreOffice comes with a long list of useful features. One of the best things about this software application is that it does a great job at preserving Microsoft file formats. On the downside, however, collaborative editing of online documents can be quite tricky.
GIMP
This is a powerful image editing tool that is available for Windows as well Linux and macOS workstations. GIMP has been very famous among Linux users ever since it was released in 1996, and also happens to be a very well-maintained open-source software tool. This image editing application offers as much punch as Adobe Photoshop. It comes with in-built support for filters, layers, and photo enhancement. GIMP also makes it super easy to create graphic design elements plus you can download new plugins from the open-source community.
Shotcut
This is a free Windows software for video editing. It’s a really powerful program that shows the power of a dedicated community of developers to improve a platform. The latest release of this app includes advanced features such as a highly usable timeline and dockable panels. If you are looking for professional audio and video editing with effects without loss of quality. This application allows you to do a lot, including color keying, basic clip splicing, grading operations, and more. One of the best things about this software is that it allows you to work with virtually any photo, audio, or video media.
Brave
Brave is a privacy-focused web browser built on top of Google’s Chromium project. It keeps your browsing private by disabling trackers and blocking adds. There’s also a Tor feature if you want even more privacy protection. One of the biggest advantages of this software application is that it offers access to countless extensions on the Chrome store. Users also have the choice to opt in to certain ads in exchange for accumulating rewards.
Audacity
Two decades after it was officially launched, Audacity is still one of the best-known open source apps. It comes with a free audio editor supported by Linux, Windows, and Mac platforms. There’s also everything you might need to manipulate audio files, along with a supportive developer community that keeps improving the software. Audacity’s expansive library of third-party extensions allows you to add third-party features. While the interface might look a bit complex when you get started, you’ll realize why this app is so popular with musicians, and other professionals as soon as you start using it.
FileZilla
This is a free FTP client that supports Linux, Windows, and macOS platforms. Users are able to remotely manipulate server file systems. You get a pleasant FTP experience compared to what you get with standard applications provided by web hosting companies. FileZilla also comes with advanced features such as synchronized directory browsing, large file transfers, and filename filters. A network configuration wizard will help you access your website’s server. The interface is quite easy to use and users are often able to get going within no time.