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The Editors' Choice List: Our Selection of Best Free Windows Desktop Software
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The Editors' Choice List - Page Index
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How To Use This List
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This is a multi-page article. To quickly find what you want, either:
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Introduction
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This really is a "best of the best" list for free Windows applications. Most of the products in this list have been awarded the coveted "Gizmo's Freeware Top Pick" award signifying they are the best free product in their class. We've also included some other outstanding products that have impressed our editors with their usefulness and professionalism. We suggest you browse the whole list at your leisure as you may be surprised what freeware gems you will discover. The pathologically impatient can use the Page Index below. Caution: Some of these recommendations involve advanced system tasks like cleaning the Windows registry so be sure to backup or image your system first. |
Welcome to the Gizmo's Freeware Editors' Choice List, where you'll find a collection of the very best freeware for Windows from our site.|
What's New
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Items added or updated most recently: |
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Summary
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The Editors' Choice List for best free Windows apps now includes 103 applications in 82 categories. To read brief descriptions of the applications, click a page number or a category icon below.
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Page 2. Security and Privacy
Page 3. Cleanup, Tune and System Utilities
Page 4. File and Desktop Utilities
Page 5. Image and Photo
Page 6. Internet, Email and Networking
Page 7. Audio and Video
Page 8. Office and Productivity
Page 9. Still Reading?
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Editor
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| This software category is maintained by MidnightCowboy. Registered members can contact MidnightCowboy with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here. |
- Article type:
- PC Freeware,
- Cleanup & Tuning,
- Desktop & GUI,
- Disk & File Utilities,
- Home & Office,
- Educational,
- Games and Diversions,
- Image View and Edit,
- Internet, Email & Messaging,
- Multimedia (CD, DVD, Video, Audio),
- Networking & File Transfer,
- Programming & Engineering,
- Reference & Cataloging,
- Security,
- System and Performance Info,
- System Utilities,
- Software list
- Login or register to post comments
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Comments
Excellent. I use Autoruns all the time for cleaning up after firewall testing.
Hi, Gizmo!
First I would like to say that this is one of the best and most useful sites on the entire internet. I have had so much help from your suggestions to good freeware.
Second I want to point your attention to an imageviewer, which also has many additonal features, and that opens every RAW-format i try it with. It´s called Faststone Image viewer, and works fast and it has never giver me any problems. I think it is worth a review. It also handles big imagefolders without any hickups. I use it every day with three different cameras when I want to organize my newley taken pictures. The image-quality isn´t top of the line, but it´s main job is organizing, and not editing.
Hope you like it as much as I do.
Thanks. I added it to the list now.
This is my list that I use and recommend. most of them are the ones Gizmo's piked
1 Avira
2 Comodo Internet security
3 SuperAntiSpyware
4 Sand Box
5 Eraser
6 Smart Defrage
7 Revo Uninstaller
8 IZarc
9 File Hippo
10 Gadwin printscreen
11 Hot Notes
12 KM Player
13 Image Burn
14 CDBurnXP
13 Wave Pad
14 Switch
15 Free Download Manager
16 Thunderbird
17 Sunbird
18 Team Viewer 4
19 Open Office 3.1
20 Trillian
21 PDF Exchange viewer
22 Picasa 3
23 Fire Fox
24 Google Chrome
24 Advanced System Care
Thanks for your favorites list. There are many favorite lists to browse on Gizmo's list too: http://www.techsupportalert.com/desert_island_utilities.htm.
I believe all of these are reviewed somewhere (except IOBit products), but correct me if I'm wrong so I can post a comment on the relevant article.
I am disappointed that I have not seen on these lists these high-quality programs:
Disk Defragmenters - Auslogics Disk Defrag
File Archiver/Zip Utilities - IZArc
Media Players - Windows Media Player 11
CD/DVD Burning Software - Ashampoo Burning Studio 2010
Music Organizers - MAGIX Music Manager 2007
MP3 Tag Editors - Mp3tag
Audio Editing - WavePad Sound Editor
Internet Media Viewing/Capturing - Debut Video Capture Software
Digital Image Editing - MAGIX Xtreme Photo Designer 6
Serif DrawPlus SE
Thanks, here are a few notes. No doubt there will always be disagreement on many of these types of programs.
*Auslogics is now the top defrag program.
*IZArc is reviewed in its related article, but didn't make it as first or second; PeaZip is higher rated.
*Try The KM Player instead of WMP!
*I hadn't heard of MAGIX; but perhaps I'll give it a look for the music player/organizer article.
*I underlined Mp3tag in the list above; see the related article for its review.
*WavePad is suggested in the comments for the relevant article.
*Debut Video Capture Software -- I posted this suggestion at the relevant article, thanks.
*Serif PhotoPlus SE & Xtreme Photo Designer 6 are both mentioned in the Digital Editing article.
Thanks, write back if there are any more suggestions!
Keep good work Gizmo, this site is perfect :)
In my opinion, this website is still the best. Whether in general or specifically as community based website.
http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/iobit.com?premium=false&client_uid=1933...
Per McAfee Site Advisor, downloads from Iobit.com (Advanced SystemCare) may contain spyware/malware. Use caution with this download.
JD
Don't believe everything an anonymous person tells you!
I check McAfee's page and it said
iobit.com
We tested this site and didn't find any significant problems.
A competitor seems to be running a dirty campaign against IObit
Arent you an anonymous person yourself? :D
lol yes. I've been having trouble logging in (I am brigrove)
But go check the siteadvisor link for yourself
http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/iobit.com?premium=false&client_uid=1933...
You'll see a lot of posts basically restating malwarebytes accusations and accusing anyone who defends IObit of being IObit
I do not want to get into that argument/debate. Just want to say that MBAM had put their case forward very strongly, and activities of IObit after that, did not make them look innocent either.
That aside, site of IObit has got unsatisfactory WOT rating, and so we, as per our site policy, cannot recommend IObit's products anymore. Please do not take this further.
The link for best free FTP client does not work. Please??
Thanks.
filezilla is a great free FTP client (also a server if you need one)
There's not much to say but : great site !
Thannnnnnnnx veeeery much
There is lot of help and good work on all your pages
and they are still easy, fast and pleasing
my warmest regards and wishes
My kisses if you do not mind
Tarig Anter, Khartoum, Sudan.
We're pleased that TSA has managed to reach such a beautiful and historical part of the world.
SOME GUIDANCE FOR MOBILE PHONE GAMES FREEWARE WILL BE MUCH DELIGHTFUL TO US ALL !!!!!!!!
This is a popular suggestion. I see it suggested on the Site Suggestions list and on last years Christmas wish list.
Gizmo responded that a mobile phone section is on the To-Do list though.
Thanks.
génial : ce site est vraiment très utile ! merci !
Excellent site.Thanks for all the hardwork you put in to give us the best.
Thanks very much for a really nice put together site. Easy to navigate with lots of apps I've used before and agree with your review of their quality. Keep up the GREAT WORK!! RLW
The Best!!! This site is not only the best but those involved in running this great site is sincere. To maintain a respectable site like this would definitely involve inner strength, courage and wisdom to balance the need between financial gains for site maintenance etc and yet being truly able to serve the need of the community. Thank You and Bless be.....
Thanks,
Great site.
Im trying to come up with something to say. Everybody else took the words out of my mouth. absolutly fantastic site. thanks.
Great site for top freeware. Have found your info reliable and in sink with other reviewers. Thanks!
Also checkout www.topfreeware.net :)
Here is the Gizmo reviewer's comment about Auslogics Defrag:
"Another company investing heavily in product development of late is Auslogics with its Auslogics Disk Defrag offering. The last few releases have seen the team add the ability to defragment single files and folders, schedule operations and update the program's algorithm for improved performance. We're excited by the prospect of what might come next."
Ref- http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-disk-de-fragmenter.htm
WELL HERE IT IS!
Time to move Auslogics Defrag to the head of the class. With v2.0, it now has options for Schedule, Exclusions, variable size Skip Large Fragments, Analyze only, Remove Temp Files Before Defrag, and Turn off computer after defrag. It will analyze and defrag selected disk(s). It also has increased speed and an overhauled interface. It still doesn't have an optimization option, but my negative experiences with that option would preclude my using it anyhow.
In my humble opinion, this is now the best defragger of the lot.