{"id":3724,"date":"2008-08-12T11:39:09","date_gmt":"2008-08-12T06:09:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=3724"},"modified":"2022-12-28T20:29:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-28T14:59:00","slug":"free-windows-software-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/08\/free-windows-software-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Free Windows Software Alternatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/em>Looking for free Windows software alternatives<\/strong>? Microsoft Windows bundles a number of software applications in order to provide a basic experience, such as Internet Explorer, Wordpad, and others. In this article, we wil be listing replacements for basic Windows software and utilities. If you have a suggestion, feel free to list it in the comments.<\/p>\n

\"MicorsoftInternet Explorer<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Google Chrome – The new Google superfast browser is lightweight and autoupdates. It integrates all your Google services and has \u00a0huge Chrome Apps store for a power packed browsing experience.<\/li>\n
  • Mozilla Firefox – a fast, open source, secure, and extendable browser from Mozilla. Offers a number of features over Internet Explorer, including Smart Location Bar, Places Manager, and a rich database of extensions.<\/li>\n
  • Opera – Feature-rich browser. Includes email client, BitTorrent downloads, Speed Dial (page with quick access to favorite websites), and mouse gestures.<\/li>\n
  • Safari – Ported from Mac OSX, Apple brings Safari to Windows. Features private browsing and other enhancements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Wordpad<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • OpenOffice – a Java based office suite with features that rival the commercial Microsoft Office, and is compatible with Microsofts own formats.<\/li>\n
    • AbiWord – Word processing program similar to Microsoft Word. While it does not include all the applications of OpenOffice, it can serve as a replacement for Wordpad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Notepad<\/h2>\n
        \n
      • Notepad++ – a feature-rich text editor. Features syntax highlighting, function completion, tabs, and a plethora of other capabilities.<\/li>\n
      • Notepad2 – While not as feature-rich as Notepad++, it offers a simple replacement for Notepad with syntax highlighting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Calculator<\/h2>\n
          \n
        • Power Calculator (XP only) – Microsoft offers a free more powerful alternative to the built in Calculator.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Command Prompt<\/h2>\n
            \n
          • CygWin – CygWin emulates the Linux shell for Windows, allowing you to work with a more powerful command line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Built In Unzipping Utility<\/h2>\n
              \n
            • 7-Zip – Supports a number of formats, including RAR, ZIP, TAR, and 7z; can also generate a self extracting archive.<\/li>\n
            • TUGZip – Supports a wide range of formats and can create a self extracting archive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Windows Media Player<\/h2>\n
                \n
              • Winamp – \u00a0is a lightweight software and popular alternative to WMP.<\/li>\n
              • foobar2000 – While only audio, supports a wide range of formats without plugins, and has low memory usage and is extremely customizable.<\/li>\n
              • iTunes – Media player from Apple. Provides access to the iTunes Music Store (although not recommended as it bundles DRM with songs).<\/li>\n
              • Songbird – In alpha stage, integrates well with music websites. Supports syncing to other devices.<\/li>\n
              • VLC Media Player – Does not have a library feature, but plays almost any media format.<\/li>\n
              • Miro – Video only, features RSS downloading, BitTorrent, and support for video websites such as YouTube.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Windows Media Center<\/h2>\n
                  \n
                • XBMC for Windows – Supports a large number of formats and is skinnable.<\/li>\n
                • Elisa – Provides support for a large number of media formats, external devices, auto detection of media on the network, and basic Internet integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Paint<\/h2>\n
                    \n
                  • GIMP – Advanced image editor with functionality similar to Adobe Photoshop.<\/li>\n
                  • Paint.NET – While not as advanced as GIMP, Paint.NET provides a large feature set, including support for layers and unlimited undo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Windows Search<\/h2>\n
                      \n
                    • Google Desktop Search – Allows you to search the computer and Internet history in an interface similar to Google Web Search. Also provides a sidebar and quick launch utility.<\/li>\n
                    • Copernic Desktop Search – Provides an intuitive UI for searching and claims to be light on resources.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Add\/Remove Programs<\/h3>\n
                        \n
                      • Revo Uninstaller – Powerful uninstaller that attempts to remove all traces of a program when uninstalling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Disk Cleanup<\/h2>\n
                          \n
                        • CCleaner – Searches system for unneeded files and cleans them. Also has a registry cleaner, start-up manager, and minimalistic Add\/Remove Programs interface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Remote Desktop<\/h2>\n
                            \n
                          • TightVNC – TightVNC sets up a server on the computer you want to control, and client software on the controlling computer. Offers a number of features over Remote Desktop.<\/li>\n
                          • UltraVNC – Like TightVNC, with support for a Java viewer, text chat, and encryption.<\/li>\n
                          • TeamViewer – Quick setup, with support for both Windows and Mac. Has file transfer; no firewall setting changes needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Windows Photo Gallery \/ Windows Picture and Fax Viewer<\/h2>\n
                              \n
                            • Windows Live Photo Gallery – Microsoft provides an enhanced version of Windows Photo Gallery free, as part of the Windows Live suite. Provides photo library tools.<\/li>\n
                            • IrfanView – Light image viewer with a wide range of features, including image manipulation and conversion.<\/li>\n
                            • XnView – Another light image viewer with a wide range of features. Image manipulation, conversion, and metadata editing are a few features.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Windows Movie Maker<\/h3>\n
                                \n
                              • Jahshaka – Offers much more functionality than Windows Movie Maker. Open-source.<\/li>\n
                              • LiVES – Not available for Windows natively, but can boot from a Live CD. Has a greater feature set than Windows Movie Maker.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                Windows Messenger<\/h2>\n
                                  \n
                                • Windows Live Messenger – Offers more functionality (and bloat) than Windows Messenger. Supports only the MSN protocol, with some integration with Yahoo.<\/li>\n
                                • Pidgin – Supports a wide range of protocols, including Yahoo!, MSN, IRC, AIM, Google Talk, Jabber, and others. Extendable with plugins.<\/li>\n
                                • Digsby – Supports a wide range of protocols as Pidgin does, and also features integration with social media such as Facebook.<\/li>\n
                                • Miranda IM – Light messenger with support for a wide range of protocols. Highly extendable.<\/li>\n
                                • Yahoo! Messenger – Offers some integration with the MSN protocol. Mainly supports the Yahoo! protocol.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Windows Explorer<\/h2>\n
                                    \n
                                  • xplorer2 – Offers a wide range of features over Windows Explorer, including dual pane and tabbed browsing.<\/li>\n
                                  • Free Commander – Offers tabbed browsing, dual pane, file wiping, and MD5 checksum abilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    Windows Update<\/h2>\n
                                      \n
                                    • AutoPatcher – Allows you to download necessary update files and apply them when offline.<\/li>\n
                                    • Project Dakota – This Lets you download a CD ISO file with all the updates<\/li>\n
                                    • MakeUseOf provides a couple of other ways to get your Windows updates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      Windows Shell<\/h2>\n
                                        \n
                                      • Blackbox for Windows – An alternative light shell replacement for Windows, based on the Blackbox Window Manager. Highly customizable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                        Disk Defragmenter<\/h2>\n
                                          \n
                                        • JkDefragGUI – Is able to defrag when your screensaver comes on. Has other powerful features.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                          Outlook Express \/ Windows Mail<\/h2>\n
                                            \n
                                          • Mozilla Thunderbird – Email client from Mozilla. Extendable with plugins and themes.<\/li>\n
                                          • Windows Live Mail – An improved version of Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail is part of the Windows Live suite.<\/li>\n
                                          • Evolution – Originally for Linux, Evolution is now available for Windows, offering an Outlook-like GUI.<\/li>\n
                                          • Mail functionality is also provided by SeaMonkey (formerly Mozilla) and Opera<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                            Windows Firewall<\/h2>\n
                                              \n
                                            • Comodo Firewall Pro – Protects outbound connections as well as inbound connections, unlike Windows Firewall. Has a database of safe software to prevent unnecessary warnings.<\/li>\n
                                            • ZoneAlarm Free Firewall – Protects outbound\/inbound connections, and stealths your computer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                              Sound Recorder<\/h2>\n
                                                \n
                                              • Audacity – Record, mix, and apply effects to sounds in this fully-featured audio editor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                CD\/DVD Burning Functionality<\/h2>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • ImgBurn – Works with all types of media, able to create, build, and burn CD images.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                  Windows Sidebar<\/h2>\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Google Desktop Sidebar – Google Desktop features a sidebar feature as part of the Google Desktop package.<\/li>\n
                                                  • Yahoo! Widgets – While not a sidebar, Yahoo! Widgets allows you to place widgets onto your desktop. Also features a widget dock where you can view your widgets at a quick glance.<\/li>\n
                                                  • Klipfolio – Place Klips around your desktop, with information from the web. Takes up less space than traditional widgets\/gadgets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                    Start Menu<\/h2>\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • \n
                                                        \n
                                                      • Vista Start Menu – Larger start menu which allows you to find your applications more easily and quickly perform tasks.<\/li>\n
                                                      • Launchy – While technically not a menu, Launchy allows you to launch programs by typing a portion of the application name.<\/li>\n
                                                      • ViStart – For XP users, this replaces the current Start Menu with Vistas start menu, even containing search functionality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                        Run<\/h2>\n
                                                          \n
                                                        • Launchy – Launch programs by typing a portion of the application name – as opposed to typing the full application name or executable name.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                          This guest article is written Jason from ThirdError.com, where is writes about Windows (and applicable software), web applications, web design, and a bit of *nix (Ubuntu mainly). \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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