50 Free Windows Software Alternatives

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Internet Explorer



  • 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.


  • Opera – Feature-rich browser. Includes email client, BitTorrent downloads, Speed Dial (page with quick access to favorite websites), and mouse gestures.


  • Safari – Ported from Mac OSX, Apple brings Safari to Windows. Features private browsing and other enhancements.

Wordpad



  • OpenOffice – a Java based office suite with features that rival the commercial Microsoft Office, and is compatible with Microsoft�s own formats.


  • 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.

Notepad



  • Notepad++ – a feature-rich text editor. Features syntax highlighting, function completion, tabs, and a plethora of other capabilities.


  • Notepad2 – While not as feature-rich as Notepad++, it offers a simple replacement for Notepad with syntax highlighting.

Calculator

Command Prompt



  • CygWin – CygWin emulates the Linux shell for Windows, allowing you to work with a more powerful command line.

Built In Unzipping Utility



  • 7-Zip – Supports a number of formats, including RAR, ZIP, TAR, and 7z; can also generate a self extracting archive.


  • TUGZip – Supports a wide range of formats and can create a self extracting archive.

Windows Media Player



  • foobar2000 – While only audio, supports a wide range of formats without plugins, and has low memory usage and is extremely customizable.


  • iTunes – Media player from Apple. Provides access to the iTunes Music Store (although not recommended as it bundles DRM with songs).


  • Songbird – In alpha stage, integrates well with music websites. Supports syncing to other devices.


  • VLC Media Player – Does not have a library feature, but plays almost any media format.


  • Miro – Video only, features RSS downloading, BitTorrent, and support for video websites such as YouTube.

Windows Media Center



  • XBMC for Windows – Supports a large number of formats and is skinnable.


  • Elisa – Provides support for a large number of media formats, external devices, auto detection of media on the network, and basic Internet integration.

Paint



  • GIMP – Advanced image editor with functionality similar to Adobe Photoshop.


  • Paint.NET – While not as advanced as GIMP, Paint.NET provides a large feature set, including support for layers and unlimited undo.

Windows Search



  • 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.


  • Copernic Desktop Search – Provides an intuitive UI for searching and claims to be light on resources.

Add/Remove Programs



  • Revo Uninstaller – Powerful uninstaller that attempts to remove all traces of a program when uninstalling.

Disk Cleanup



  • CCleaner – Searches system for unneeded files and cleans them. Also has a registry cleaner, start up manager, and minimalistic Add/Remove Programs interface.

Remote Desktop



  • 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.


  • UltraVNC – Like TightVNC, with support for a Java viewer, text chat, and encryption.


  • TeamViewer – Quick setup, with support for both Windows and Mac. Has file transfer; no firewall setting changes needed.

Windows Photo Gallery / Windows Picture and Fax Viewer



  • 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.


  • IrfanView – Light image viewer with a wide range of features, including image manipulation and conversion.


  • XnView – Another light image viewer with a wide range of features. Image manipulation, conversion, and meta data editing are a few features.

Windows Movie Maker



  • Jahshaka – Offers much more functionality than Windows Movie Maker. Open source.


  • LiVES – Not available for Windows natively, but can boot from a Live CD. Has a greater feature set than Windows Movie Maker.

Windows Messenger



  • Windows Live Messenger – Offers more functionality (and bloat) than Windows Messenger. Supports only the MSN protocol, with some integration with Yahoo.


  • Pidgin – Supports a wide range of protocols, including Yahoo!, MSN, IRC, AIM, Google Talk, Jabber, and others. Extendable with plugins.


  • Digsby – Supports a wide range of protocols as Pidgin does, and also features integration with social media such as Facebook.


  • Miranda IM – Light messenger with support for a wide range of protocols. Highly extendable.


  • Yahoo! Messenger – Offers some integration with the MSN protocol. Mainly supports the Yahoo! protocol.

Windows Explorer



  • xplorer2 – Offers a wide range of features over Windows Explorer, including dual pane and tabbed browsing.


  • Free Commander – Offers tabbed browsing, dual pane, file wiping, and MD5 checksum abilities.

Windows Update

Windows Shell



  • Blackbox for Windows – An alternative light shell replacement for Windows, based off of the Blackbox Window Manager. Highly customizable.

Disk Defragmenter



  • JkDefragGUI – Is able to defrag when your screensaver comes on. Has other powerful features.

Outlook Express / Windows Mail



  • Mozilla Thunderbird – Email client from Mozilla. Extendable with plugins and themes.


  • Windows Live Mail – An improved version of Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail is part of the Windows Live suite.


  • Evolution – Originally for Linux, Evolution is now available for Windows, offering an Outlook-like GUI.


  • Mail functionality is also provided by SeaMonkey (formerly Mozilla) and Opera

Windows Firewall



  • Comodo Firewall Pro – Protects outbound connections as well as inbound connections, unlike Windows Firewall. Has database of �safe� software to prevent unnecessary warnings.


  • ZoneAlarm Free Firewall – Protects outbound/inbound connections, �stealths� your computer.

Sound Recorder



  • Audacity – Record, mix, and apply effects to sounds in this fully featured audio editor.

CD/DVD Burning Functionality



  • ImgBurn – Works with all types of media, able to create, build, and burn CD images.

Windows Sidebar



  • Google Desktop Sidebar – Google Desktop features a sidebar feature as part of the Google Desktop package.


  • 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.


  • Klipfolio – Place �Klips� around your desktop, with information from the web. Takes up less space than traditional widgets/gadgets.

Start Menu



  • Vista Start Menu – Larger start menu which allows you to find your applications more easily and quickly perform tasks.


  • Launchy – While technically not a menu, Launchy allows you to launch programs by typing a portion of the application name.


  • ViStart – For XP users, this replaces the current Start Menu with Vista�s start menu, even containing search functionality.

Run



  • Launchy – Launch programs by typing a portion of the application name – as opposed to typing the full application name or executable name.

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