Free, Really, Honestly, Free
Yes, there is a software free lunch. Freeware is just just that: free.
The non-profits I worked with would rather spend money helping people than buying special-purpose, seldom used software.
I tell them there is a LOT of free software available that works well. And this is not just for die-hard cheapskates willing to settle for less.
Like you, I am willing to spend serious money for essential products I use for audio editing and web page editing.
While I often need to save a simple document, my wife uses professional book layout apps with critical pre-press setup features. Meanwhile I do not need to subscribe to a full office suite to open the occasional spreadsheet that comes my way.
And so I have collected a lot of software that works for me and hasn't cost a dime.
But what is "freeware?"
It is not “shareware” where you are expected to pay if you like it. It is not “nagware” with annoying messages popping up while you are using it. In most cases, there are no in-app purchases.
Freeware is often provided by programmers showing off what they can do or companies trying to make a point. The origins of at least one 100% free office suite started when a major dot-com company owner made and gave it away simply to stick to Microsoft.
Where do you find freeware?
Do searches for "100% freeware. "Free download" is not the same!
Try to get freeware from the author’s site or places specifically recommended by the author. You should not have to register or give any information before you can download freeware.
Some suspect sites package the original free app with other “offers” you may not notice when installing, especially if you click on the express or typical install.
Always use the custom install and carefully look at yes/no options. You should not have to fill out forms or surveys or bypass endless pages of offers to get to the file download area. Those sites are not your friend.
Here are some of my favorite freeware picks.
Photo Editing
Here is a link to several free PC image editors that I use.
Writing
Despite a lot of good, free word processors, I keep going back to Abiword. It is "cross-platform" so I can use it with Windows and with most Linux variations or even my old Mac laptop. It loads and saves a wide variety of word processing formats and even web-page HTML.
If you needed more of a Microsoft Office type experience, try LibreOffice at
Music Playback
"1 By 1 - The Directory Player" is a small Windows app that does just what it says. Start the app, choose a directory folder and click on an MP3 file. It plays it and then moves to the next. Also great for audio books, as resumes where you left off. More info and links at:
http://mpesch3.de1.cc/1by1.html
Portable Apps
Abiword, LibreOffice and many of my favorites are also available in a collection of free software that can be used without any fixed installation. This type of software is called "portable."
These are hundreds of free apps now “portabled” and can put them on a thumb drive. The premier site for this is
Free Windows Alternatives
If you want to unshackle yourself wholly or in part from Windows,- especially for those less experienced with installing things - check out
"The Endless Operating System is simple and easy for anyone to use. It is fully equipped with the essential apps to work, learn, play and connect. All for free."
The only thing that Endless charges you for is USD$3 for licensed bits of software to play MP3 audio files. This is an option you can select later.
Dual Booting Means Two Systems On One Machine.
You can install Endless and keep your original Windows to pick which system to use when the PC starts. You can replace your Windows OS completely if you choose.
If you choose dual boot it is always a good idea to back up your system or critical files before any major changes.
EndlessOS, a modified version of a well-known Linux operating system, is far less “geeky” than most other versions and should be usable by almost anyone who has spent time with Windows.
The World of Distros
Looking for a bit more? Peruse the wide range of free Linux versions (distributions or "distros") of that are available at
This is techy territory and sometimes the user with a problem ends up receiving help that includes special command-line fixes that are a bit intimidating. The 100% out of the box smooth experience can be illusive due to the lack of dedicated support from hardware makers.
Keep in mind most Linux products are free and community supported. When Microsoft asks hardware makers for software “drivers” to make their product work with millions of Windows PCs, they get it. Requests from the far, far smaller Linux community are not put on the front burner.
Most "distros" are downloaded as an ISO image file, designed to be burned to a DVD disk. As this is getting antiquated, there is another way. Download the free Windows program RUFUS (https://rufus.akeo.ie/) and use it to create a bootable USB stick from the downloaded ISO file. It works!
Have fun, and perhaps save money or even bring a less-powerful PC back to life at little or no cost!