The Best Free Software of 2012
It's the fifth year of PCMag's look at the best stuff you don't have to pay for, and it's our biggest list of great free software yet.
Contents
- The Best Free Software of 2012
- Anti-Malware & App Launchers
- Archivers & Audio
- Backup/Sync
- Bittorrent & Blogging/Journal
- Browsers, Calendar/PIM & Clipboard
- Communication/ Conferencing & Disk Utilities
- Displays/Desktops
- Ebooks, E-mail/ Collaboration & File Transfer
- File Viewers/Converters
- Finance & Fun/Home
- Graphics
- Instant Messaging & Media Managers
- Media Servers, Mindmaps & Networking
- Office
- Operating Systems & PDFs
- Printing, Remote Access, & RSS Newsreaders
- Search, Security/Encryption, & Social Networks
- System Utilities
- Uninstallers & Video
- Virtualization, VPN, & Web Editors
EBOOKS
86. Calibre
http://calibre-ebook.com
Windows | Mac | Linux
If you've got a lot of ebook files, Calibre is the tool you need to organize them. It also converts files into different formats, so you can use ebooks on many different devices, which it will also sync with. Check the list of supported devices.
http://calibre-ebook.com
Windows | Mac | Linux
If you've got a lot of ebook files, Calibre is the tool you need to organize them. It also converts files into different formats, so you can use ebooks on many different devices, which it will also sync with. Check the list of supported devices.
87. ComicRack
http://comicrack.cyolito.com/
Windows
A Windows-only digital comic reader, ComicRack will read scanned images stored in ZIP, RAR, and 7z archives, keep comics in collections you can access over the home network on other PCs, and even export them to read on other devices.
http://comicrack.cyolito.com/
Windows
A Windows-only digital comic reader, ComicRack will read scanned images stored in ZIP, RAR, and 7z archives, keep comics in collections you can access over the home network on other PCs, and even export them to read on other devices.
88. Kindle
https://read.amazon.com/about
Windows | Mac | Web | Mobile
If you own a Kindle ebook reader (or even if you don't!) you can still read Kindle books anywhere. There are desktop apps for Windows and Mac, the Cloud Reader for reading in your browser, and lots of mobile options. Buy once, read everywhere.
• Read PCMag's news about Kindle Cloud Reader.
https://read.amazon.com/about
Windows | Mac | Web | Mobile
If you own a Kindle ebook reader (or even if you don't!) you can still read Kindle books anywhere. There are desktop apps for Windows and Mac, the Cloud Reader for reading in your browser, and lots of mobile options. Buy once, read everywhere.
• Read PCMag's news about Kindle Cloud Reader.
89. Nook
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-for-pc/379002322/?cds2Pid=34762
Windows | Mac | Mobile
Barnes & Noble also knows that selling an ebook for just one reader won't fly. You can download apps for the major OSes to read books on almost any computer or smartphone. Plus, go shopping for more in the B&N store.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-for-pc/379002322/?cds2Pid=34762
Windows | Mac | Mobile
Barnes & Noble also knows that selling an ebook for just one reader won't fly. You can download apps for the major OSes to read books on almost any computer or smartphone. Plus, go shopping for more in the B&N store.
E-MAIL/COLLABORATION
90. eM Client
http://www.emclient.com
Windows
The free version of this fast email client only works with two email accounts and lacks VIP support; otherwise, it's a feature-laden client that works with any kind of email, including webmail like Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail, complete with contact imports, calendar, and instant messaging.
http://www.emclient.com
Windows
The free version of this fast email client only works with two email accounts and lacks VIP support; otherwise, it's a feature-laden client that works with any kind of email, including webmail like Gmail, Yahoo, and Hotmail, complete with contact imports, calendar, and instant messaging.
91. Evolution
http://www.dipconsultants.com/evolution/
Windows | Linux
Evolution, long the darling of Linux distros everywhere, is also available on Windows. It's enough of an Outlook clone that it also will work with Exchange servers to access corporate mail.
http://www.dipconsultants.com/evolution/
Windows | Linux
Evolution, long the darling of Linux distros everywhere, is also available on Windows. It's enough of an Outlook clone that it also will work with Exchange servers to access corporate mail.
92. MailStore Home
http://www.mailstore.com/en/mailstore-home.aspx
Windows | Portable
MailStore isn't an email client for sending and receiving; it's a backup tool for storing copies of all the messages from your POP, IMAP, and WebMail accounts, so you never lose another message.
http://www.mailstore.com/en/mailstore-home.aspx
Windows | Portable
MailStore isn't an email client for sending and receiving; it's a backup tool for storing copies of all the messages from your POP, IMAP, and WebMail accounts, so you never lose another message.
93. SpiceBird
http://www.spicebird.com
Windows | Linux
Mozilla Thunderbird is the basis for this app that integrates email, IMs, tasks, calendars, and Google Gadgets.
http://www.spicebird.com
Windows | Linux
Mozilla Thunderbird is the basis for this app that integrates email, IMs, tasks, calendars, and Google Gadgets.
94. Thunderbird
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Windows | Mac | Linux | Mobile | Portable
Mozilla's email client extraordinaire has jumped to version 10, and it still has all the features that made it great: account setup wizards, hundreds of add-ons, a tabbed interface, great search, junk mail and phishing tools, and more. Migration from previous versions is a breeze and worth it.
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
Windows | Mac | Linux | Mobile | Portable
Mozilla's email client extraordinaire has jumped to version 10, and it still has all the features that made it great: account setup wizards, hundreds of add-ons, a tabbed interface, great search, junk mail and phishing tools, and more. Migration from previous versions is a breeze and worth it.
95. Zimbra Desktop
http://www.zimbra.com/products/desktop.html
Windows | Mac | Linux
Zimbra Desktop makes it easy to get offline access to your online accounts from Zimbra, Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, even Facebook, be it emails, calendar events, contacts, or stored documents.
http://www.zimbra.com/products/desktop.html
Windows | Mac | Linux
Zimbra Desktop makes it easy to get offline access to your online accounts from Zimbra, Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, even Facebook, be it emails, calendar events, contacts, or stored documents.
FILE TRANSFERS
96. droplr
https://droplr.com/hello
Windows | Mac | Mobile | Web
Drop a file on droplr and you get a link that makes it easy to share a file (25MB or smaller with a free account). There are apps for desktop OSes and iPhone, or just drop it on the website. Register to keep files active or they're deleted after seven days.
https://droplr.com/hello
Windows | Mac | Mobile | Web
Drop a file on droplr and you get a link that makes it easy to share a file (25MB or smaller with a free account). There are apps for desktop OSes and iPhone, or just drop it on the website. Register to keep files active or they're deleted after seven days.
97. FileZilla
http://filezilla-project.org
Windows | Mac | Linux | Portable
Open-source FileZilla began life as a computer science class project and is now a premiere FTP client for uploading and downloading from the Internet. There's a free server version available, too.
http://filezilla-project.org
Windows | Mac | Linux | Portable
Open-source FileZilla began life as a computer science class project and is now a premiere FTP client for uploading and downloading from the Internet. There's a free server version available, too.
98. FluffyApp
http://fluffyapp.com
Windows
Install the FluffyApp app and drag files to the app icon in the system tray. When you do that, lo and behold, FluffyApp uploads the file instantly for you to the CloudApp service and gives you a URL to share, so you can send it out to whomever you want.
http://fluffyapp.com
Windows
Install the FluffyApp app and drag files to the app icon in the system tray. When you do that, lo and behold, FluffyApp uploads the file instantly for you to the CloudApp service and gives you a URL to share, so you can send it out to whomever you want.
99. FTP Rush
http://www.wftpserver.com/ftprush.htm
Windows | Portable
If you're uploading or downloading files via FTP, SFTP, TFTP, or FXP server to server, you want to grab FTP Rush. It's small, fast, and portable (on a USB drive), and has a fully customizable drag-and-drop interface.
http://www.wftpserver.com/ftprush.htm
Windows | Portable
If you're uploading or downloading files via FTP, SFTP, TFTP, or FXP server to server, you want to grab FTP Rush. It's small, fast, and portable (on a USB drive), and has a fully customizable drag-and-drop interface.
100. TeraCopy
http://codesector.com/teracopy
Windows
The default progress bar Windows provides when copying files isn't enough for a power user. TeraCopy gives you a better look at progress, and it promises to speed up transfers over a network, skipping bad files and resuming after you pause a transfer in progress. It's even ready for Windows 8.
>>Next : File Viewers/Converters
http://codesector.com/teracopy
Windows
The default progress bar Windows provides when copying files isn't enough for a power user. TeraCopy gives you a better look at progress, and it promises to speed up transfers over a network, skipping bad files and resuming after you pause a transfer in progress. It's even ready for Windows 8.
>>Next : File Viewers/Converters
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