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Curated list of the best free apps for Windows, Mac and Linux

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Awesome Free Apps Awesome

Curated list of the best free apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux

🪟 means the app is available on Windows.
🍎 means the app is available on macOS.
🐧 means the app is available on Linux.
⭐ means the app is recommended by us.

Contents

Audio

  • JACK Audio - Audio server for routing and mixing sound between programs. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • EarTrumpet - Advanced volume control for Windows, offering app-specific audio management. 🪟
  • FXSound - Boost sound quality, volume, and bass. Has a beautiful modern UI. 🪟

Audio Players

  • Foobar2000 - Lightweight and highly customizable audio player with support for many formats. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • MusicBee - Feature-rich music player and manager for Windows. 🪟
  • AIMP - Music player for Windows with a clean interface and powerful features. 🪟
  • Audacious - Lightweight audio player for simple music playback. 🪟 🐧
  • Karafun - Collection of karaoke songs across multiple genres. Play your own CDG files or use downloads from YouTube. 🪟
  • Strawberry Music Player - Music player for organizing and playing your audio collection. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Audio Recording

  • Audacity - Open-source audio editor for recording and editing sounds. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Ocenaudio - Easy-to-use audio editor for recording and analyzing sounds. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Wavosaur - Simple audio editor for recording, editing, and processing sound. 🪟

DJ Software

  • Mixxx - DJ software for live mixing and beatmatching with controller support. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • VirtualDJ - DJ platform for mixing music, beatmatching, and live performance. 🪟 🍎
  • DJ ProDecks - DJ software for mixing music and adding effects. 🪟
  • UltraMixer Free - DJ software for mixing audio and video with a simple interface. 🪟 🍎
  • Serato DJ Lite - DJ software for beginners to mix music with ease. 🪟 🍎
  • Rekordbox - Software that enables a comfortable DJ workflow with AI, cloud, and automation tech. 🪟 🍎

Music Notation

  • MuseScore - Software for creating, playing, and sharing sheet music. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • LilyPond - Music notation program for creating high-quality sheet music. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Frescobaldi - Editor for LilyPond to create music scores quickly. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ABCjs - Tool for writing and playing ABC music notation. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Denemo - Music notation software for fast score creation with LilyPond. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Music Production

  • LMMS - Open-source DAW for creating music with virtual instruments and MIDI support. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Ardour - DAW for recording, editing, and mixing audio with professional features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Tracktion T7 - DAW for music production with advanced editing features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Zrythm - DAW for music production with an easy-to-use interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Qtractor - Multi-track DAW for Linux for audio and MIDI recording. 🐧
  • Cakewalk by BandLab - Full-featured DAW for music recording and editing. 🪟
  • Stargate DAW - Innovation-first DAW, instrument and effect plugins. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Browsers

  • Arc - Vertical tab-focused browser designed for modern productivity. 🪟 🍎
  • Brave - Web browser with an emphasis on privacy and speed. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Chrome - Chrome, developed by Google, offers fast browsing with integrated Google services. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Chromium - Open-source browser project that powers Chrome. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ungoogled-chromium - Privacy-focused version of Chromium with Google services stripped out. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Firefox - Free, open-source browser with a focus on privacy and customization. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • LibreWolf - A privacy-focused fork of Firefox with enhanced security. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Microsoft Edge - Chromium-based browser with enhancements (everyone hates it though). 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Min - Fast, minimal browser that protects your privacy. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Opera - Browser with built-in ad-blocking, VPN, and a focus on speed. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Pale Moon - Open Source, Goanna-based web browser. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Orion - Lightweight WebKit-based browser with support for Chrome and Firefox extensions. 🍎 🐧
  • qutebrowser - Keyboard-driven, vim-like browser built with Python and Qt. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Safari - Native browser for Macs with seamless integration across Apple devices. 🍎
  • Station - Browser that centralizes all your web apps in one workspace. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Tor Browser - Anonymity-focused browser that protects your privacy by routing traffic over the Tor network. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Mullvad Browser - Privacy browser based on Tor with anti-fingerprinting features, compatible with Mullvad VPN. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Vivaldi - Customizable browser that puts you in control of your experience. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Yandex - A secure and fast browser developed by Yandex for enhanced privacy and speed. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Zen Browser - A beautifully designed, privacy-focused browser with custom modifications. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Communication

Messaging

  • Discord - A popular communication platform for text, voice, and video chats, designed for gaming communities but widely used for various interests. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Telegram - A cloud-based messaging app known for its speed, security, and group chat capabilities. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • WhatsApp - A free messaging app offering text, voice, and video calls, as well as multimedia sharing. 🪟 🍎
  • Signal - A secure and private messaging app that supports end-to-end encrypted text, voice, and video communication. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Slack - A collaboration hub that connects teams with channels for messaging, file sharing, and integrations. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Viber - A free messaging app with text, voice, and video calls, along with group chats and file sharing. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Microsoft Teams - A communication and collaboration platform for teams, featuring chat, file sharing, and video conferencing. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Skype - A messaging and video call service that supports text, voice, and video communication. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Email Clients

  • CanaryMail - Secure email app with built-in PGP support and AI assistance. 🍎 🐧
  • ElectronMail - Electron-based desktop client for ProtonMail. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Foxmail - Fast email client with an easy-to-use interface. 🍎 🐧
  • Mailspring - Beautiful, fast, and fully open-source mail client with a sleek interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • BlueMail - Cross-platform email client with a modern, user-friendly interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Nylas Mail - Extensible desktop email app built on modern web technologies. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Postbox - Advanced email management application with a focus on productivity and organization. 🪟 🍎
  • Polymail - Simple, beautiful, and powerful email client with modern features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Wino Mail - Email client following fluent design with Mica effect. 🪟
  • Spark - Fast, intelligent email client for Mac and iOS with team collaboration features. 🍎 🐧
  • ThunderBird - Open-source email client that makes managing your emails easier and faster. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Mailbird - IMAP and POP3 email client with customization options and multi-language support. 🪟
  • Tutanota - Encrypted email service focused on privacy and security. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • MicroSoft Outlook - Email client for Windows by the company behind Windows. 🪟
  • Edison Mail - Customizable, simple, and intuitive email client with smart features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Skiff Mail - Encrypted and decentralized email service available on multiple platforms. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Compression and Archiving

  • 7-Zip - Open-source archive manager supporting 7z, ZIP, and other major formats. Ideal for compression and extraction tasks. 🪟
  • Bandizip - Fast, lightweight, and versatile archive manager with extensive format support. 🪟
  • NanaZip - A modern derivative of 7-Zip, optimized for Windows 10/11 with additional functionality. 🪟
  • PeaZip - Open-source archive manager supporting over 180 file formats, with encryption and compression features. 🪟 🐧
  • Keka - Archive manager that supports ZIP, 7Z, TAR, GZIP, and RAR, with compression and extraction tools. 🍎
  • WinRAR - Simple, popular and comes with an unlimited free tier. 🪟
  • muCommander - Lightweight, dual-pane file manager with archive handling features for macOS. 🍎
  • The Unarchiver - Simple tool for extracting various archive formats like ZIP, RAR, and ISO on macOS. 🍎
  • Unarchive One - Multi-format decompression tool for macOS with QuickLook integration. 🍎
  • PDF Archiver - Open-source tool for tagging and organizing PDF documents on macOS. 🍎

Customize

System Customization

  • Winaero - All-in-one app for tuning Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. 🪟
  • Windhawk - Customization marketplace for Windows and programs. 🪟
  • HideVolumeOSD - Hide the Windows 10 volume bar. 🪟
  • ExplorerPatcher - Restores and enhances the classic Windows taskbar and other system elements. 🪟
  • Hidden Bar - Simple macOS app to organize and declutter your menu bar. 🍎
  • TinkerTool - macOS utility for enabling hidden system preferences. 🍎
  • TaskbarX - Personalize the Windows taskbar with center alignment, transparency, and animations. 🪟
  • MacPilot - Unlock hidden macOS settings and system tweaks. 🍎
  • Sizer - Resize any window to an exact, predefined size. 🪟
  • FluentFlyouts - Replaces default Windows volume, brightness, and media flyouts with customizable modern ones. 🪟
  • Flow Launcher - Quick File Search & App Launcher like spotlight. 🪟
  • RetroBar - Classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista taskbar for modern versions of Windows. 🪟

Wallpaper Tools

  • Rainmeter - Open-source desktop customization tool for Windows, offering widgets, skins, and live stats. 🪟
  • Lively Wallpaper - Open-source tool to set animated and interactive wallpapers on Windows. 🪟
  • WinDynamicDesktop - Port of macOS Mojave Dynamic Desktop feature to Windows. 🪟
  • ScreenPlay - Open-source wallpaper and widget engine for Windows and Linux. 🪟 🐧
  • Plash - Open-source macOS app to set websites as wallpapers. 🍎
  • Komorebi - Open-source animated wallpaper manager for Linux. 🐧
  • Variety - Wallpaper changer with features for downloading and managing wallpapers. 🐧

Data Management

Copy and Move

  • TeraCopy - Copy your files faster and more securely. 🪟 🍎

Sync and Clone

  • FreeFileSync - Open-source file synchronization tool designed to compare and sync files or folders efficiently. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Syncthing - Continuous file synchronization program for two or more computers. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • rclone - Command-line tool for managing and syncing files across local and cloud storage platforms with encryption support. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Developer Tools

  • Diffinity - Diff and merging tool with focus on accurate and easy to read source code diffs. 🪟

API Development

  • Postman - API development platform with advanced testing and collaboration tools. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Insomnia - Simple API client for REST and GraphQL development. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Bruno - Offline API client that is fast, Git-friendly, and open source. 🪟
  • Hoppscotch - Lightweight API development tool for designing, testing, and debugging. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • HTTP Toolkit - Tool for debugging and mocking HTTP requests. 🪟
  • SoapUI Open Source - For testing REST and SOAP APIs with scripting support. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Cocoa Rest Client - Native macOS app for testing REST APIs. 🍎
  • Paw - Advanced HTTP client designed for macOS. 🍎
  • Katalon Studio - Testing automation for APIs, web, and mobile apps. 🍎
  • HTTPie - Command-line and GUI tool to simplify working with APIs. 🪟 🍎
  • Mockoon - Desktop tool for creating and testing mock REST APIs. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Apidog - All-in-one workspace for API design, testing, and documentation. 🪟

Database

  • DBeaver - Universal database tool for SQL databases like MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Apache Family, and more. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Network Analysis

  • Wireshark - Leading tool for capturing and analyzing network traffic. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Charles - Debugging proxy to view HTTP and HTTPS traffic. 🪟 🍎
  • James - Open-source proxy for intercepting HTTP/HTTPS requests. 🪟 🍎
  • mitmproxy - Interactive HTTP proxy for debugging and penetration testing. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Little Snitch - Network monitor for macOS with traffic visualization. 🍎
  • Proxie - HTTP debugging proxy for tracking requests on macOS. 🍎
  • Proxyman - Modern HTTP proxy with an intuitive UI for macOS. 🍎
  • Sniffnet - Tool for monitoring and analyzing network traffic. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Game Engines

  • Godot - Open-source game engine for creating 2D and 3D games with an easy-to-learn scripting language. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Unreal Engine - Powerful and fully featured game engine for creating high-quality 3D games with stunning graphics. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Unity - Popular game engine for creating both 2D and 3D games, with an intuitive interface and wide asset store. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • GDevelop - No-code game engine focused on easy-to-create 2D games with a visual event system. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Cocos2d - Open-source game engine focused on creating mobile and web games, especially 2D games. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Defold - Cross-platform game engine that focuses on 2D game development with easy-to-use tools. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • CryEngine - Advanced game engine with cutting-edge graphics and tools for creating visually stunning games. 🪟
  • Amazon Lumberyard - Free, cross-platform 3D game engine integrated with AWS and Twitch for multiplayer games. 🪟 🍎
  • LÖVE - Simple and easy-to-learn 2D game engine for making games in Lua. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Monogame - Open-source game framework used to create cross-platform games with C#. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Ren'Py - Popular engine for creating visual novels with a simple scripting language. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • PICO-8 - Fantasy console for making small games with a retro look and feel. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Tiled - Open-source level editor for creating tile-based game maps, used alongside other engines. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • OpenRA - Open-source game engine for real-time strategy games, focusing on mods for classic titles like Command & Conquer. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • AppGameKit - A flexible game engine focused on making both 2D and 3D games with simple scripting. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Pixel Game Maker MV - Game creation engine for 2D pixel games with no coding required. 🪟
  • Scirra Construct - Powerful game engine with drag-and-drop features and a visual scripting language for 2D games. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Flixel - Open-source 2D game engine built with Haxe, suitable for platformers and action games. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Gosu - Simple 2D game development library that works with Ruby or C++. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Roblox Studio - Engine to make games on Roblox. 🪟 🍎

Virtualization

  • Docker - Open-source containerization platform that enables operating-system-level virtualization. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Multipass - Quickly launch and manage Ubuntu virtual machines on demand. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • OrbStack - Lightweight and fast virtualization solution for running Docker containers and Linux machines on macOS. 🍎
  • Lima - Open-source tool for launching Linux VMs on macOS with file sharing and port forwarding. 🍎
  • QEMU - Open-source emulator and virtualizer for hardware and system virtualization. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • UTM - Open-source GUI for QEMU, designed for running various VMs including ARM64 and x64 on macOS. 🍎
  • Vagrant - Open-source tool for building and managing reproducible development environments using virtual machines. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Rancher Desktop - Open-source application for managing containers and Kubernetes on the desktop. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Podman Desktop - Open-source desktop alternative to Docker for managing containers. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • VirtualBox - Powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization software for creating and managing virtual machines. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • VMWare Workstation - Virtualization software with advanced features. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Documents

  • CDisplayEx - Lightweight comic book reader (.cbr, .cbz, .pdf, manga). 🪟

Office Suites

  • LibreOffice - Private, free and open source office suite – the successor project to OpenOffice. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • OnlyOffice - Free and open-source office suite with advanced collaboration features for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Apache OpenOffice - Open-source office suite for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Calligra Suite - Office suite by KDE, offering applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and vector graphics. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • WPS Office - Lightweight office suite compatible with Microsoft Office file formats. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • FreeOffice - Free office suite with compatibility for Microsoft Office formats and excellent performance. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Etherpad - Web-based collaborative text editor designed for real-time team editing. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Google Workspace - Cloud-based suite including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more with real-time collaboration. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Collabora Online - Enterprise-ready version of LibreOffice for collaborative editing in the cloud. 🪟 🍎 🐧

E-book

  • Calibre - Powerful and easy to use e-book manager. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • iChm - Open-source eBook reader for CHM (Microsoft Compiled HTML Help) files. 🍎
  • Kindle App - Official Amazon app for reading Kindle books. 🪟 🍎
  • Klib - Organize and manage Kindle and iBooks highlights effectively. 🍎
  • Koodo Reader - All-in-one eBook reader supporting 15+ formats, including EPUB and MOBI. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Readest - Cross-platform eBook reader with powerful tools and an intuitive interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Scribus - Open-source professional layout and publishing software. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Sigil - Open-source EPUB editor for creating and modifying eBooks. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Simple Comic - Lightweight reader for PDF, CBZ, and CBR formats with Live Text search. 🍎

PDF Tools

  • Sumatra PDF - Fast and lightweight PDF reader that supports EPUB, MOBI, CBZ, and more. 🪟
  • MuPDF - Lightweight open-source PDF viewer and toolkit for rendering and managing PDF files. 🪟 🐧
  • Okular - Open-source universal document viewer for PDFs, eBooks, and more, developed by KDE. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Foxit PDF Reader - Free, fast, and secure PDF viewer with annotation and form-filling features. 🪟
  • qpdfview - Tabbed document viewer for PDF, PostScript, and DjVu files. 🐧
  • Skim - PDF reader and note-taker for macOS, designed for viewing and annotating PDFs. 🍎
  • Xournal++ - Open-source handwriting and annotation tool for PDFs, perfect for note-taking. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • PDF Arranger - Open-source PDF editor for splitting, merging, rotating, and reordering PDF documents. 🪟 🐧
  • PDF24 - Easy to use PDF tools. 🪟

Download Managers

  • Free Download Manager - Powerful modern download accelerator and organizer. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • JDownloader - Open-source download management tool with a huge community. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Games

  • Steam - Popular platform for buying, managing, and playing PC games. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Epic Games Store - Platform for downloading and playing games, including exclusives and free games. 🪟 🍎
  • Ubisoft Connect - Game launcher and store for managing Ubisoft titles. 🪟 🍎
  • GOG Galaxy - Game launcher and store with DRM-free games and cross-platform library management. 🪟 🍎
  • Battle.net - Platform for games like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. 🪟 🍎
  • Origin - Game launcher for managing and playing EA titles. 🪟 🍎
  • Xbox App - Microsofts platform for accessing Xbox Game Pass and managing PC games. 🪟
  • Itch.io - Open marketplace for indie games with a dedicated desktop app. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Amazon Games - Platform for managing games from Amazon Prime Gaming. 🪟
  • Humble App - Launcher for accessing games purchased through Humble Bundle. 🪟
  • Riot Client - Launcher for games like League of Legends, Valorant, and more. 🪟 🍎
  • Rockstar Games Launcher - Platform for managing Rockstar titles like GTA and Red Dead Redemption. 🪟
  • Bethesda Launcher - Launcher for games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series. 🪟
  • EA App - Modern launcher alternative to Origin. 🪟
  • Playnite - Unified game library manager for multiple launchers. 🪟
  • Lutris - Open-source game manager for Linux with support for Windows games. 🐧
  • Heroic Games Launcher - Open-source launcher for Epic Games, Amazon games and GOG on Linux and Windows. 🪟 🐧
  • ProtonUp-Qt - Tool for managing Proton and Wine compatibility layers for Steam and Linux games. 🐧
  • Porting Kit - Install Windows Games inside your Mac. 🍎

Cloud Gaming

  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW - Free tier for streaming supported games from the cloud. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Xbox Cloud Gaming - Free trial with limited titles via the cloud. 🪟 🍎
  • Boosteroid - Free plan available for limited game streaming. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Antstream Arcade - Free tier with retro games playable via the cloud. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Mobile Emulators

  • BlueStacks - Android emulator for playing mobile games on PC. 🪟 🍎
  • LDPlayer - Lightweight Android emulator for gaming on PC. 🪟
  • NoxPlayer - Android emulator optimized for mobile gaming on desktop. 🪟 🍎
  • MEmu Play - Powerful Android emulator with excellent gaming support. 🪟
  • Genymotion - Android emulator with advanced features for developers and gamers. 🪟 🍎
  • KoPlayer - Android emulator optimized for gaming and streaming. 🪟
  • Andy - Android emulator to run mobile games and apps on PC. 🪟 🍎

Other Emulators

  • PPSSPP - PSP emulator for any OS. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Dolphin - GameCube and Wii emulator with high compatibility and performance. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • PCSX2 - PlayStation 2 emulator with advanced features and compatibility for most games. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • RPCS3 - PlayStation 3 emulator that runs a large number of games with impressive performance. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Cemu - Wii U emulator that supports 4K resolution and impressive game compatibility. 🪟
  • MAME - Arcade machine emulator with a massive library of supported games. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • DOSBox - DOS emulator designed for running old DOS games and applications. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ScummVM - Emulator focused on classic point-and-click adventure games. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Citra - Nintendo 3DS emulator with great compatibility and performance. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • OpenEmu - Multi-system emulator with a clean interface and support for a variety of retro systems. 🍎
  • xemu - Original Xbox emulator for playing classic Xbox games on modern systems. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • higan - Multi-system emulator with high accuracy, supporting consoles like SNES and GBA. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • DuckStation - PlayStation 1 emulator with focus on speed, accuracy, and modern enhancements. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • PCSX-Redux - PlayStation 1 emulator aimed at advanced debugging and better game compatibility. 🪟 🐧
  • Mednafen - Multi-system emulator with a focus on precision and compatibility. 🪟 🐧
  • MelonDS - Nintendo DS emulator with accurate performance and Wi-Fi support. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • BSNES - SNES emulator with cycle-accurate emulation for high compatibility. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Graphics Tools

  • GIMP - Versatile image editor for tasks like photo manipulation and graphic design. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Inkscape - Vector graphics editor used for creating logos, illustrations, and more. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Krita - Digital painting software designed for illustrators and concept artists. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Figma - Collaborative interface design tool for building UI/UX projects. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Lunacy - Design tool offering collaboration features and built-in assets. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Paint.NET - Simple yet powerful image editor for quick edits and designs. 🪟
  • PhotoFiltre - Complete image retouching program. 🪟
  • Aspect - Photo organizer with peer-to-peer synchronization for secure image storage. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • pngquant - Command-line tool for compressing PNG images without losing quality. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Alchemy - Experimental drawing application focused on conceptual art creation. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Amadine - Intuitive vector drawing app aimed at graphic designers. 🍎
  • Colorpicker - Open-source color manipulation tool for picking and modifying colors. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Draw.io - Desktop app for creating diagrams and flowcharts. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • FontForge - Open-source font editor for creating and modifying font files. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • inklet - Use your Mac's trackpad as a drawing board for creative work. 🍎
  • macSVG - Design HTML5 SVG art and animations with this easy-to-use tool. 🍎
  • MagicaVoxel - Lightweight voxel editor and interactive path tracing renderer for 3D models. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Monodraw - ASCII art editor for creating and editing text-based drawings. 🍎
  • Paintbrush - Bitmap image editor with basic drawing tools and pixel-level manipulation. 🪟
  • Pencil2D - Simple and intuitive tool for creating 2D hand-drawn animations. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Pixen - Native pixel art and animation editor designed for macOS. 🍎

3D Modeling and Animation

  • Blender - Open-source 3D creation tool supporting modeling, animation, rendering, video editing, and more. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Wings 3D - Open-source 3D modeling software focusing on subdivision modeling. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • FreeCAD - Parametric 3D CAD modeler for designing real-life objects of any size. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • MakeHuman - Open-source 3D human modeler for creating realistic character models. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • OpenSCAD - Script-based 3D CAD modeler for creating precise solid geometry. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Security

Antivirus

  • Avast - Antivirus to help detect and isolate potential cyberthreats. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ClamAV - Open-source antivirus engine for detecting malware, viruses, and other threats. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • AVG Antivirus - Free antivirus software to protect against viruses, malware, and spyware. 🪟 🍎
  • Bitdefender - Lightweight and powerful antivirus for essential protection. 🪟 🍎
  • Malwarebytes Free - Malware removal tool offering real-time protection and cleanup. 🪟 🍎

Password Managers

  • Bitwarden - Password manager for securely storing, managing, and sharing sensitive online data. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • KeePass - Lightweight and open-source password manager for secure storage of passwords in encrypted databases. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • KeePassXC - Modern community fork of KeePass with cross-platform support and enhanced features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • LastPass - Cloud-based password manager with secure password sharing and autofill features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • 1Password - Intuitive and secure password management tool for storing and organizing credentials. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Passbolt - Open-source, team-oriented password manager for sharing and storing passwords securely. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • NordPass - Secure password manager with autofill and password health insights. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • RoboForm - Password manager and form filler with multi-platform synchronization. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Image Viewers

  • Irfanview - Simple image viewer with some editing abilities. 🪟
  • FlowVision - Waterfall-style image viewer. 🍎
  • qView - Visually minimal and space efficient. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • JPEGView - Lean, fast and highly configurable viewer/editor for JPEG, BMP, PNG, WEBP, TGA, GIF and TIFF images. 🪟
  • XnView - Image resizer, batch image converter. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Remote Access

  • AnyDesk - Remote access solution for multiple devices, providing fast and secure connections. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Moonlight - Open-source GameStream client for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Steam Link. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Parsec - High-performance remote desktop solution with 4k streaming at 60fps and low latency. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • RealVNC - Secure remote access for desktop and mobile devices. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • RoyalTSX - Remote access tool for IT professionals, supporting multiple protocols. 🍎
  • RustDesk - Open-source remote desktop software with a focus on simplicity and security. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Steam Link - Play your Steam games across devices using the Steam Link app. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Sunshine - Open-source self-hosted game streaming server for use with Moonlight. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • TeamViewer - Popular remote control software for desktop sharing and file transfer. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Windows Remote Desktop - Connect to remote PCs, virtual apps, and desktops with ease. 🪟
  • wmWebStack - Local server stack with one-click live publishing and remote device access. 🪟

Text Editors

  • Notepad++ - A free, open-source text editor with syntax highlighting and advanced editing features for developers. 🪟
  • Sublime Text - A fast and customizable text editor with support for a wide range of programming languages. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Visual Studio Code - A powerful and extensible code editor developed by Microsoft, featuring debugging, version control, and support for numerous languages. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Atom - Hackable text editor with features like Git integration and an extensive plugin ecosystem. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Vim - Highly configurable, command-line-based text editor that is especially favored by developers for its efficiency. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Emacs - A powerful, extensible text editor with a broad range of features and customization options. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Geany - A lightweight, fast text editor that supports many programming languages, with a built-in terminal and project management features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Brackets - An open-source text editor focused on web development, with live preview and preprocessor support. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Notepad - A simple, no-frills text editor included in Windows for quick editing. 🪟
  • FluentEdit - Code editor based on fluent design and notepad. 🪟
  • Fastedit - Code editor that looks like notepad and has frost background. 🪟
  • Bluefish - A powerful text editor targeted at web developers, supporting various programming languages. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Aurora Editor - A lightweight, fast code editor for macOS with a modern interface. 🍎
  • CodeEdit - A free and open-source, lightweight native code editor for macOS. 🍎
  • CotEditor - A lightweight plain-text editor designed for macOS. 🍎
  • Emacs - Popular Unix-based text editor for programmers and system administrators. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Haystack Editor - Code editor with a canvas UI for better code understanding. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Helix - A post-modern modal text editor with extensibility and performance. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Lapce - A fast, powerful code editor designed for modern workflows. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • LightTable - Next-generation code editor focused on instant feedback. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • micro - A modern, intuitive terminal-based text editor. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Neovim - A modern, extensible terminal-based code editor. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Nova - A fast, flexible, and beautiful native Mac code editor from Panic. 🍎
  • Plain Text Editor - A simple, distraction-free text editor for quick note-taking. 🍎
  • Sublime Text - A popular, sleek editor with a plugin ecosystem for developers. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • SubEthaEdit - A collaborative text editor that allows real-time editing. 🍎
  • TextMate - A versatile, flexible text editor for macOS with advanced features. 🍎
  • Tot - A simple, elegant app for collecting and editing text snippets. 🍎
  • Vimr - A refined Vim experience designed for macOS. 🍎
  • Zed - A high-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Video

  • FreeTube - Private YouTube client with no ads. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Video Editors

  • Shotcut - Open-source video editor with a wide range of features. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • OpenShot - Easy-to-use, open-source video editor with support for multiple video tracks. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • DaVinci Resolve - Professional video editor with advanced color correction and effects. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Capcut Desktop - Simple video editor with many builtin effects. 🪟 🍎
  • Kdenlive - Open-source video editor with multi-track editing and a powerful interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Lightworks - Professional video editor with advanced features for filmmaking. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • HitFilm Express - Feature-packed video editor with visual effects and compositing tools. 🪟 🍎
  • VSDC Free Video Editor - Non-linear video editor with a rich set of editing tools. 🪟
  • Olive Video Editor - Open-source non-linear video editor with powerful features and an intuitive interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Avidemux - Video editor designed for simple cutting, filtering and encoding tasks. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Video Players

  • VLC Media Player - Open-source media player supporting almost all video formats. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Kodi - Open-source media center that allows you to play and view most videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Stremio - Provides a secure, modern and seamless entertainment experience. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ScreenBox - Basically VLC but with a modern UI. 🪟
  • MPV - Open-source, cross-platform media player with a simple interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • KMPlayer - Media player supporting various video formats and streaming protocols. 🪟 🍎
  • PotPlayer - Feature-rich video player with advanced playback options. 🪟
  • MPC-HC - Lightweight video player with support for all common formats. 🪟
  • GOM Player - Popular media player with support for most video formats and customizable features. 🪟 🍎
  • RealPlayer - Versatile media player for playing videos and streaming. 🪟 🍎
  • Bomi Player - Advanced media player that supports a variety of video formats. 🐧
  • Clementine Player - Music and video player with a user-friendly interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ScreenToGif - Screen recording software that allows you to capture GIFs and videos with customizable export options. 🪟
  • Videotape - Simple and minimalist video player for quick playback of local video files. 🪟
  • SMPlayer - Media player with the ability to remember playback settings and support for various video formats. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • IINA - Open-source media player for macOS. Performs better than VLC. 🍎

Video Streaming and Recording

  • OBS Studio - Open-source software for live streaming and video recording. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Streamlabs Desktop - Open-source streaming software with a customizable interface for live broadcasts. 🪟 🍎
  • Jitsi Meet - Open-source video conferencing and streaming solution. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • XSplit Broadcaster - Free live streaming and recording tool with advanced features. 🪟
  • Zoom - Video conferencing tool with live streaming capabilities. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Nginx RTMP - Open-source media streaming server using NGINX. 🐧
  • Livestreamer - Command-line utility to stream video from various platforms. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Kaltura - Open-source video streaming platform for creating and managing content. 🪟 🍎 🐧

Video Converters and Compressors

  • HandBrake - Open-source video transcoder for converting video formats. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • FFmpeg - Command-line tool for video and audio processing with wide format support. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Any Video Converter - Free video converter that supports multiple formats. 🪟 🍎
  • Format Factory - Multifunctional converter supporting video, audio, and image formats. 🪟
  • Freemake Video Converter - Easy-to-use video converter with format support for most devices. 🪟
  • XMedia Recode - All-in-one video and audio converter with wide format support. 🪟
  • Shutter Encoder - Multi-functional media conversion tool for video, audio, and image formats with advanced processing options. 🪟 🍎
  • VidCoder - Open-source video transcoder based on HandBrake, with a user-friendly interface. 🪟 🍎
  • FastFlix - GUI for H.264, HEVC and AV1 hardware and software encoding. 🪟

VPN and Proxy Tools

  • Tunnelblick - Open-source OpenVPN client for macOS with a user-friendly interface. 🍎
  • Algo - Personal IPSEC VPN setup for secure cloud usage. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Cloudflare WARP - Fast, free VPN and DNS service to improve privacy and security. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ProtonVPN - Swiss-based high-speed VPN with enhanced privacy protections. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • SpechtLite - Open-source simplified rule-based proxy tool for macOS. 🍎
  • Specht - Open-source rule-based proxy app for macOS using Network Extension. 🍎
  • Twingate - Zero trust network access solution for secure private network connections. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • ShadowsocksX-NG - Open-source modern Shadowsocks client with enhanced features for macOS. 🍎
  • rvc-mac - Open-source Ribose VPN Client for macOS, providing secure VPN connections. 🍎
  • WireGuard - Fast, modern, and secure VPN tunnel protocol designed for simplicity and performance. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Proxifier - Windows-based proxy client that allows network applications to connect via a proxy server. 🪟
  • Psiphon - Free VPN and proxy tool designed to bypass censorship. 🪟 🍎
  • Lantern - Free internet freedom tool that bypasses network restrictions. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • OpenVPN - Open-source VPN solution for secure internet connections. 🪟
  • SoftEther VPN - Free, open-source VPN software with multiple protocol support. 🪟

Utility

  • PowerToys - Collection of utilities including tools for file renaming, bulk resizing, and a quick launcher to enhance Windows productivity. 🪟
  • AutoHotkey - Powerful scripting language for automating tasks and creating custom keyboard shortcuts. 🪟
  • Nirsoft - Collection of utility softwares. 🪟
  • yt-dlp - Feature-rich command-line audio/video downloader. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Fan Control - Highly focused fan controlling software. 🪟
  • SpeedCrunch - High-precision scientific calculator featuring a fast, keyboard-driven user interface. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • LocalSend - Share files to nearby devices. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Advanced IP Scanner - Reliable and free network scanner to analyze LAN. 🪟
  • PuTTY - SSH and telnet client for Windows. 🪟
  • Legacy Update - Software to install all relevant updates necessary to fix access to the Windows Update service on unsupported versions. 🪟
  • Twinkle Tray - Easily manage the brightness levels of multiple monitors. 🪟

Clipboard Management

  • Ditto - Extension to the standard Windows clipboard that provides advanced functionality. 🪟
  • Clipy - Lightweight and open-source clipboard manager for macOS. 🍎
  • CopyQ - Advanced clipboard manager with editing and scripting capabilities. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Maccy - Simple, lightweight, and open-source clipboard manager for macOS. 🍎
  • ClipAngel - Powerful clipboard manager with rich text, HTML, and image support for Windows. 🪟
  • Parcellite - Lightweight clipboard manager for Linux with basic functionality. 🐧
  • Diodon - Simple and lightweight clipboard manager for Linux. 🐧
  • Clipboard Fusion - Feature-rich clipboard manager for organizing and transforming clipboard data. 🪟 🍎

Metadata

  • ExifTool - Powerful command-line application for reading, writing, and editing meta information in image, audio, and video files. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • PhotoME - An EXIF and metadata viewer for photos, with some editing capabilities. 🪟
  • Metadata++ - Allows for viewing, editing, and removing metadata from photos and files. 🪟

Window Management

  • AltSnap - A lightweight window management tool for snapping windows to predefined positions using keyboard shortcuts. 🪟
  • AquaSnap - Enhances window management with docking, snapping, and stretching features for Windows. 🪟
  • Rectangle - A simple and efficient window manager for macOS that allows easy window snapping and resizing using keyboard shortcuts. 🍎
  • Magnet - A popular macOS app for snapping windows into organized tiles with keyboard shortcuts. 🍎
  • i3 - A tiling window manager for Linux that provides powerful keyboard-driven window management. 🐧
  • XMonad - A highly customizable tiling window manager for X11 (Linux). 🐧
  • FancyZones - A feature of PowerToys that helps with window snapping and arranging for multi-monitor setups in Windows. 🪟
  • Sway - A tiling Wayland compositor for Linux, similar to i3, designed for use with Wayland. 🐧
  • KWin - A powerful window manager for KDE that supports tiling and a range of window management features for Linux. 🐧
  • OnTopReplica - A simple app to display a portion of your screen on top of other windows. 🪟
  • KDE Mover-Sizer - Application that emulates the behaviour of KDE. 🪟
  • GlazeWM - Tiling window manager inspired by i3wm. 🪟

File Management

  • Everything - Lightning-fast file and folder search tool that indexes your entire Windows file system for instant access. 🪟
  • Files - Modern file manager that helps users organize their files and folders. 🪟
  • Double Commander - Dual-pane file manager with extensive functionality like tabbed browsing, built-in text editor, and advanced search. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Xftp 7 - Lightweight and flexible SFTP/FTP client with advanced features for efficient file transfers. 🪟
  • FileZilla - Fast and reliable FTP, FTPS, and SFTP client for managing remote files. 🪟 🍎 🐧
  • Q-Dir - Multi-pane file manager offering up to four directory views simultaneously for enhanced productivity. 🪟
  • WinSCP - Open-source SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, and SCP client with a user-friendly interface. 🪟
  • Far Manager - Program for managing files and archives in Windows. 🪟
  • Free Commander - Alternative to the standard windows file manager. 🪟

Screenshot

  • Greenshot - Open-source screenshot tool for Windows that allows capturing, annotating, and editing screenshots. 🪟
  • ShareX - Powerful, open-source screenshot and screen recording tool with advanced editing options. 🪟
  • Flameshot - Customizable screenshot tool with an easy-to-use interface and built-in editor. 🐧 🪟 🍎
  • Lightshot - A fast and intuitive screenshot tool that allows capturing and editing images instantly. 🪟 🍎
  • Shutter - Feature-rich screenshot tool for Linux with an integrated editor for quick annotations. 🐧
  • Capter - Super simple screenshot tool. 🪟 🍎
  • Monosnap - Simple screenshot tool that includes cloud integration for easy sharing. 🪟 🍎

Space Visualizer

  • SpaceSniffer - Visual disk space analyzer that helps identify large files and folders with an intuitive tree map. 🪟
  • WizTree - Fast disk space analyzer that scans drives and shows file size distribution. 🪟
  • TreeSize Free - Visualizes disk space usage in a tree-like structure for easy file management. 🪟
  • DiskSavvy - Disk space analyzer with various reporting and filtering options. 🪟
  • JDiskReport - Tool for visualizing disk usage with a variety of charts and graphs. 🪟 🐧
  • Filelight - Disk usage analyzer for Linux with a circular sunburst chart to visualize file system space usage. 🪟 🍎 🐧

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Curated list of the best free apps for Windows, Mac and Linux

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