Every new Windows PC has the same problem. It works, but it is missing the small tools that make it feel like yours. The good news is that you do not have to spend a cent to fix that. Some of the best software on Windows is completely free, and a lot of it is open source, which means anyone can inspect the code.
This list is the short version of what we would install on a fresh PC in 2026. There are 25 apps in four groups: productivity, security, media and file management. Each one has a thumbnail, a plain-English description and a link to the official site. Skip anything you do not need, because none of these apps depends on another.
How we picked these apps
Plenty of "free" software is really a trial in disguise. We kept the list honest with four simple rules.
First, the app has to be genuinely free for everyday use, not a 14-day demo. Second, it has to be actively maintained, so it works on current versions of Windows. Third, it should come from a developer you can verify. Fourth, it has to be useful to ordinary people, not just to experts.
A few apps have a paid tier. When that is the case, we say what the free version covers so there are no surprises. Prices and features change from time to time, so it is worth a quick look at the official page before you install. Every link below goes to the developer's own site, never to a third-party download portal.
Everything here is built for Windows 11, and most of it also runs on Windows 10.
Productivity apps (6)
These are the everyday workhorses: documents, notes, email and a few clever extras that make Windows itself nicer to use.
1. LibreOffice
A full office suite with Writer, Calc and Impress for documents, spreadsheets and presentations. It opens and saves Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, so sharing with colleagues rarely causes trouble. There is no account and no subscription, which makes it the most complete free office option.
Visit LibreOffice →2. Notepad++
Windows Notepad has improved, but Notepad++ is still the better choice for serious text work. Tabs, color-coded syntax for dozens of languages, search and replace across many files, and a tiny memory footprint make it great for config files and code. Even if you never write code, it is wonderful for cleaning up messy text.
Visit Notepad++ →3. Obsidian
Obsidian keeps your notes as plain Markdown files on your own computer, so you are never locked in. You can link notes together, build a personal knowledge base and add plugins as you grow. The app itself is free; only optional extras such as Sync cost money.
Visit Obsidian →4. Thunderbird
Mozilla's email app brings several accounts together in one place, with a built-in calendar and a good spam filter. It is handy if you juggle Gmail, Outlook and work mail, or if you would rather keep your messages on your own computer than in a browser tab.
Visit Thunderbird →5. SumatraPDF
A light, fast reader for PDF, ePub, comic books and more. It opens almost instantly, even on an older PC, and has none of the clutter of bigger PDF programs. It is built for reading rather than editing, which is all most people need for invoices, manuals and e-books.
Visit SumatraPDF →6. PowerToys
A free toolbox from Microsoft that adds the little extras Windows forgot. FancyZones snaps windows into custom layouts, PowerRename renames hundreds of files at once, Color Picker grabs any color on screen, and Text Extractor copies text out of images. It gets updates roughly every month, so there is always something new to try.
Visit PowerToys →Security and privacy apps (5)
Windows Security already does a solid job as your main antivirus. These five apps cover the gaps: passwords, private browsing, encryption and a second opinion when something feels off.
7. Bitwarden
The free plan lets you store unlimited passwords and use them on unlimited devices. It fills in logins in your browser, creates strong passwords for you and syncs between your PC and phone. If you still reuse one password everywhere, this is the single most useful app on the list.
Visit Bitwarden →8. Proton VPN
One of the few free VPNs with no data cap and no ads. The trade-offs are real, though: the free plan covers one device at a time, a limited set of servers and slower speeds than the paid plans. It is a good fit for public Wi-Fi and everyday privacy, but not designed for streaming or heavy downloads.
Visit Proton VPN →9. VeraCrypt
VeraCrypt locks a whole drive, a USB stick or a single container file behind strong encryption, so a lost laptop or flash drive does not mean exposed files. It takes a few minutes to learn. Keep your password safe, because there is no recovery option if you forget it.
Visit VeraCrypt →10. Malwarebytes Free
Think of this as a second opinion, not a replacement for Windows Security. Run a manual scan when your PC acts strangely or after you installed something questionable. The free version does not include real-time protection, which is exactly why it works best alongside Windows Security.
Visit Malwarebytes →11. Firefox
An independent browser with tracking protection built in, a big library of add-ons and easy sync between devices. A second browser is also a handy backup when a site misbehaves in your usual one. Add the uBlock Origin extension for a calmer, faster web.
Visit Firefox →Media and creativity apps (7)
Watching, recording, editing and converting: this group covers almost everything you might want to do with video, audio and images.
12. VLC media player
VLC plays nearly any video or audio file you throw at it, with no hunting for codecs. It also handles DVDs, network streams and subtitles, and it can convert files in a pinch. It is the kind of app that quietly solves problems for years.
Visit VLC →13. OBS Studio
The standard tool for recording your screen or going live on YouTube and Twitch. You combine your webcam, screen, windows and audio into scenes and switch between them. It looks intimidating at first, but the built-in Auto-Configuration Wizard picks sensible settings for beginners.
Visit OBS Studio →14. Audacity
Record a voice-over, remove background noise, cut a podcast or trim a song. Audacity is a multi-track editor that has been around for decades, so there is a huge community and a tutorial for almost every task. It is the easiest way to get clean audio without paying for anything.
Visit Audacity →15. HandBrake
HandBrake converts video from one format to another and shrinks big files without much visible loss. Ready-made presets for phones, tablets and the web make it easy to use. It is perfect when a video will not play on a device or is too large to email.
Visit HandBrake →16. GIMP
A powerful photo editor and painting program with layers, masks, filters and retouching tools. It has a learning curve, but it can open Photoshop (PSD) files and covers most of what casual users want from a paid editor. Great for resizing, cropping, cleaning up photos and making simple graphics.
Visit GIMP →17. DaVinci Resolve
Professional editing, color grading, visual effects and audio in one program, and the free edition has no watermark and no time limit. Version 21 arrived in June 2026 and added a new Photos page. You will want a fairly modern PC with a decent graphics card, and a few advanced tools are reserved for the paid Studio version.
Visit DaVinci Resolve →18. ShareX
ShareX goes far beyond the Snipping Tool. Capture a region, a scrolling window or a short GIF, add arrows and blur, then upload it or copy a link automatically. It has a long list of settings, so stick with the defaults at first and explore later.
Visit ShareX →File and system tools (7)
The last group is about keeping your PC tidy: finding files, freeing up space, backing things up and setting up Windows from scratch.
19. 7-Zip
7-Zip opens ZIP, RAR, 7z, TAR and many other archives, and creates ZIP and 7z files with strong compression. It is tiny, quick and free of nags. Windows can open ZIP files by itself, but 7-Zip handles the rest and adds options such as password-protected archives.
Visit 7-Zip →20. Everything
Everything finds files by name as you type, because it reads the file list straight from your drives. Windows search can feel slow, and this feels like magic by comparison. It searches file names rather than the text inside documents, but for tracking down a file it is hard to beat.
Visit Everything →21. WinDirStat
WinDirStat draws your drive as a colorful map in which bigger blocks mean bigger files, so you can see in seconds what is eating your storage. Click a block, decide, then delete or move the file. After many quiet years, the project is being actively developed again.
Visit WinDirStat →22. FreeFileSync
FreeFileSync compares two folders and brings them in line, which makes it ideal for backing up photos and documents to an external drive. You see a preview of what will change before anything is copied. The free edition covers everyday syncing; read each installer screen as you go.
Visit FreeFileSync →23. qBittorrent
A clean, ad-free torrent client that is handy for legitimate downloads such as Linux distributions and open-source projects. Stay away from pirated content. It is illegal, and it is one of the most common ways malware reaches a PC.
Visit qBittorrent →24. Rufus
Rufus turns a USB stick into a Windows or Linux installer in a few minutes. It comes as a portable file, so there is nothing to install, and it can even download official Windows ISO files for you. Keep one around for clean installs and for rescuing a PC that will not start.
Visit Rufus →25. Files
A modern alternative to File Explorer with tabs, a dual-pane view and a tidy look that fits Windows 11. The free installer is available on the official site. The Microsoft Store version is a paid option that mainly supports the developers.
Visit Files →Where to start: a quick guide
Twenty-five apps can feel like a lot. If you are setting up a new PC, you do not need to install everything on day one. Start with the problem you actually have, then add more later.
| If you want to… | Install this first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Write documents and spreadsheets | LibreOffice | Full office suite, opens Word and Excel files |
| Keep notes you own | Obsidian | Plain files on your PC, no lock-in |
| Stop reusing passwords | Bitwarden | Unlimited passwords on the free plan |
| Play any video or audio file | VLC | Handles almost every format |
| Record your screen | OBS Studio or ShareX | Long videos or quick captures |
| Find a file instantly | Everything | Results appear as you type |
| Free up disk space | WinDirStat | Shows what is using your storage |
| Reinstall Windows | Rufus | Makes a bootable USB stick in minutes |
The best part about free software is that there is no risk in trying. If an app does not suit you, uninstall it and move on. Nothing here asks for a credit card, and none of it will nag you with upgrade pop-ups.
Quick checklist for safe installs
- Use the official link. Go straight to the developer's website, or use the links in this article. Do not click the big green "Download" ads that appear above search results.
- Read each installer screen. Some installers offer optional extras. Untick anything you did not come for.
- Try portable versions first. Apps such as Rufus and WinDirStat can run without installing, which is a tidy way to test them.
- Install in bulk with winget. Windows has a built-in tool for this. Open Windows Terminal and type
winget install VideoLAN.VLCorwinget install 7zip.7zip. - Keep apps updated. Most of these check for updates themselves. Say yes, especially for your browser and password manager.
- Add apps slowly. Install what you need this week. A lean PC is a faster PC.
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