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Best Free Unit Conversion Program

Last Update: Sun, 07/26/2009 - 15:10 — site.editor
 
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Introduction
Have you ever needed to convert feet into millimeters without looking for a table, or wanted to convert from one currency unit to another?
 
These are a few handy and free desktop conversion programs which you might be looking for. If you do not like to install the programs but prefer to use web-based converters, there are also several online converters for conversion of currency or measurement units as well.
Measurement Unit Converter
ConvertConvert comes with a user-friendly and intuitive interface. If offers pre-defined 21 categories of units and one custom unit which can be defined by users.
 
The 21 categories include the most popular units of distance, area, volume, volume-dry, mass, density, temperature, time, speed, power, pressure, energy and many others.
 
To convert a unit into another, just click on a category tab you need, select the input unit and output unit, Convert will show you the conversion result in the output box as you type.
 
The category tab is customizable. For some conversions that you use the most, you can set them to the front of the tab order, and for some conversions that you may never use, you can hide them to simplify the unit listings. A restart of Convert will bring you to the last conversion you entered.
 
 
ESBUnitConvESBUnitConv provides conversion between over 500 units in 20 measurement categories.
 
Most of the categories are the same as those featured by Convert. However, its category tabs are fixed and not customizable, neither have a custom tab for definition by users.
 
 
MeasureGeorge Lewe's Measure offers conversion of some simple units in linear, area, volume, liquid and weight.
 
On top of that, it even has paper sizes, numeric systems (including roman), clothing sizes and a few other miscellaneous measures. It is interesting and worth a try.
 
Measurement / Currency Unit Converter
Microsoft Calculator PlusIf you need a unit converter with a currency exchange conversion, Microsoft Calculator Plus may be a good choice. It offers conversion of measurement units in 10 popular categories together with another category for currency exchange.
 
For currency conversions, you can add currencies to the default list. The program includes a tool to automatically update the exchange rate for the Euro by downloading it from the European Central Bank.
 
This program can be downloaded free from Microsoft, but it requires Windows Genuine Advantage certification upon downloading.
 
 
ConverberConverber is a good alternative for a free unit converter complete with the currency exchange category.
 
It allows conversions between over 1,200 units of measurement in 33 categories. It gives quite a number of features including immediate access to all categories or a single category, a favorite to bookmark your frequently-used conversions, an update of currency rates, etc.
 
It is stated that the currency rates are updated daily in some of its features. If you note that the rates are not updated on first run after installation of the program, you might need to click on 'Help' and 'Check for Updates', or enable the option to check for updates.
 

Looking for online converters?

Other than the desktop programs, these are a number of web-based unit converters available. Digital Dutch's online Unit Converter is a good try. It comes with a cleaner web page, instant response and ease of use. George's Measure also has an online version which is webMeasure with about the same features offered by the desktop version.
 
Web-based currency converters are also available, such as Bloomberg's online Currency Calculator which is a good choice as its intraday data is updated more frequently. To cover exchange rates for a selected period of time, Bank of Canada's online 10-year Currency Converter is a good try.
Have Your Say
You are invited to share and discuss your views in our freeware forum.  To post in the forum you need to register first but that's quick and immediate. Alternatively, anyone can leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
 

Please help us by rating this review

Quick Selection Guide

Convert    Rating 9 of 10  Gizmo's Top Pick
Pros   Convert units in 21 categories, intuitive interface with a custom unit and customizable category tabs.
Cons   Currency unit conversion is not included.
Developer Home Page   http://joshmadison.com/article/convert-for-windows/
Download link   http://joshmadison.com/article/download-convert-for-windows
File Size   780 KB   Version 4.10   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Win 95 to Vista

ESBUnitConv    Rating 7 of 10
Pros   Convert 500 units in 20 measurement categories.
Cons   Category tabs are fixed and not customizable. Currency unit conversion is not included.
Developer Home Page   http://www.esbconsult.com.au/esbcalc/esbunitconv.htm
Download link   http://www.esbconsult.com.au/esbcalc/esbunitconv.htm
File Size   863 KB   Version 6.0.1   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Win 95 to Vista

Measure    Rating 6 of 10
Pros   Normal measurement unit conversion, with extra measures such as paper sizes, numeric systems and clothing sizes.
Cons   Currency category is not included.
Developer Home Page   http://www.lewe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74:measure&catid=98:windows-tools&Itemid=35
Download link   http://www.lewe.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=17&Itemid=45
File Size   5.46 MB   Version 3.0.0015   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Win 95 to Vista

Microsoft Calculator Plus    Rating 6 of 10
Pros   Measurement unit conversion with currency exchange category.
Cons   Updating exchange rates for the Euro only.
Developer Home Page   http://www.microsoft.com/hk/businesscentre/english/themes/manage-your-finances/convertcurrenciesandmeasurementswithcalculatorplus.mspx
Download link   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=32b0d059-b53a-4dc9-8265-da47f157c091&displaylang=en
File Size   476 KB   Version 1.0   License Type Freeware, subject to WGA   Installation Requirements Win 95 to Vista

Converber    Rating 8 of 10
Pros   Convert between over 1,200 units of measurement in 33 categories. Currency exchange category available.
Cons   Currency rates are noted not up-to-date on first run after installation.
Developer Home Page   http://www.xyntec.com/converber.htm
Download link   http://www.xyntec.com/unit-converter-download.htm
File Size   333 KB   Version 1.8.0   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Win 98 to XP
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Tags

unit converter, convert unit, currency unit, convert currency, freeware, free unit converter, online converter

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Average: 4 (2 votes)
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#1Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 16:45.

Does anybody know a converter that will handle values in multiple units (e.g. lengths in feet and inches, or weights in pounds and ounces)?

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 03:39.

just use Google, it will convert almost anything, Try these queries

20 dollars to british pounds
5 feet to meters
5 kg * 9.8 m/s^2

note for that last one (the equation F = ma), it will give the answer in newtons, but if you want it in pounds,

5 kg * 9.8 m/s^2 in pounds

#3Submitted by keroffs on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 16:49.

Yes. I use Google for many conversions.
Another one that I was surprised it handled was estimating download time of a file at a certain speed such as 100MB/40kBps.

#4Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 10:00.

the new calculator in Windows 7 offers conversion for popular units.

though i usually just use the unit converter that's built into google. no clicking required :)

#5Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 05:15.

I've used Convert for awhile now, but after trying out Converber I've now converted!

I prefer the interface in Convert, but Converber includes all it's categories and units, as well as up to date currency conversions.

Contrary to what's been written in this article, I've found that Converber does keep up to date with current exchange rates, within a day normally.

#6Submitted by Jojoyee on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:37.

Thanks a lot for your valuable feedback. I've made some amendments to the relevant section after this update.

#7Submitted by keroffs on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 21:24.

Ran across the tiny Quad-Lock Unit Converter.
Only 218kB and does not need to be installed.

Does have the company name (xxx insulating concrete forms?), but appears to be clean otherwise.

Does not do currency, but does over 900 conversions (some of which I do not even know what they are) that should cover a lot of needs.

Other features include a function to Find Units and a Smart Input box that evaluates fractions, complex expressions etc.

Windows 98/Me /NT/2000/XP/Vista

Steve

#8Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 04:06.

This is a good one for engineering types, it even coverts some frequently used but little known outside of the engineering community measurements such as kips (kilograms per sq inch).

#9Submitted by Jojoyee on Fri, 06/05/2009 - 14:40.

Thanks Keroffs. The user interface of the program does have a link to a related web page but I think the link is acceptable as it's not too intrusive.

I tried this software before but decided not to add it to the list yet. Some bugs such as display issues are noted in the category "Area". Do you encounter similar problems when you use it?

#10Submitted by keroffs on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 16:47.

I do not have that issue.
Steve

#11Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/11/2009 - 15:19.

Very good conversion service which I use every day http://www.convertcenter.com

#12Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/21/2009 - 14:28.

Yes, I used http://www.convertcenter.com too! It is so extensive you should be able to do just about any kind of conversion that you might be looking for.

#13Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:14.

You may find most conversions at www.onlineconversion.com. They have an extensive list of conversions.

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