10 open-source apps I recommend every Windows user download - for free

LibreOffice / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• If Windows is your OS of choice, see these open-source apps.
• There are tons of open-source apps for conscionable astir immoderate task.
• These are each escaped to instal and usage connected Windows.

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I've been utilizing open-source software for a precise agelong time. In fact, the past clip I didn't usage open-source software, Bill Clinton was president of the US.

Open-source bundle is disposable for astir each operating strategy connected the market, from desktops to phones, and I often find open-source apps are superior to their proprietary counterparts. If you're a Windows user, you don't person to stay locked into closed-source software, due to the fact that determination are truthful galore alternatives from which you tin choose.

Also: Want to ditch Windows? This Linux distro makes that modulation easy

Let maine present you to immoderate of my favorites.

1. LibreOffice

LibreOffice has been my go-to bureau suite since mode backmost erstwhile it was a twinkle successful the oculus of StarOffice, and I haven't looked backmost since. LibreOffice includes each the tools you're utilized to successful an bureau suite and adjacent includes a database constituent (similar to MS Access). And with a customizable idiosyncratic interface, you tin enactment with a modern UI oregon 1 that recalls the days of yore. 

Also: 6 ways LibreOffice is amended than Google Docs for superior penning work

LibreOffice is installed locally, truthful you don't person to interest astir a third-party unreality work accessing your information. You tin acceptable LibreOffice to automatically prevention successful the MS Office default formats, truthful collaborating with those utilizing Microsoft's instrumentality is simply a no-brainer. 

LibreOffice is escaped to download and instal for Windows.

2. Flow Launcher

Flow Launcher is simply a speedy record hunt and app launcher for Windows. With Flow Launcher, you usage a customizable blistery cardinal to motorboat the instrumentality and past hunt for immoderate it is you're looking for. You tin unfastened apps, hunt for files, and browse the net with your default hunt engine. Flow Launcher includes themes, animations, and sounds, and adjacent allows you to physique your ain customizations. There are besides community-created plugins to widen the diagnostic set. 

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Flow Launcher is escaped to download and install.

3. Duplicati

Duplicati is simply a zero-trust backup solution that tin backmost up from Windows (or immoderate OS) to immoderate destination you need. You tin backmost up to Dropbox, Box, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services, oregon you tin backmost up to different machines connected your LAN for much privacy. Duplicati allows for scheduling and distant management, and it has a straightforward installation. Your backups are afloat encrypted, and you tin easy show them for real-time insights via a well-designed dashboard. 

Also: Your Windows PC has a secretly utile backup instrumentality - here's however to entree it

Duplicati is escaped for idiosyncratic use.

4. Nextcloud

If you're bushed of utilizing Google oregon Microsoft's cloud-based offerings (especially retired of fearfulness that they are utilizing your information to bid LLMs), there's ever Nextcloud, which is the open-source, locally tally equivalent to unreality offerings. Nextcloud includes everything you request for record storage, sharing, collaborating, communicating, organizing, and more. There's besides an app store wherever you tin instal plugins to widen the diagnostic set. 

Also: The champion unreality retention services of 2025: Expert tested

You tin instal and usage Nextcloud connected Windows for escaped and adjacent instal the Nextcloud Desktop client for adjacent easier usage.

5. Franz

If you usage respective messaging apps and services, you mightiness privation to see Franz, arsenic it brings each of those messaging apps into 1 user-friendly GUI. Franz allows you to adhd WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Slack, Telegram, Google Calendar, Discord, LinkedIn, Trello, Office 365 Outlook, Google Keep, and much together, truthful you don't person to power backmost and distant betwixt apps. You tin adhd arsenic galore accounts arsenic you privation and easy power betwixt them without leaving the Franz UI. 

Also: 5 tools I spot to support my online conversations backstage and anonymous

Franz is escaped to instal and use.

6. YAZB

YAZB (aka YAZB Reborn) makes it imaginable to make customized Windows apical bars (similar to that of MacOS) that tin show adjuvant strategy information, specified arsenic artillery status, net speeds, weather, and much -- each with a clean, minimal, elegant style. 

Also: How overmuch RAM does your PC truly request successful 2025? I did the mathematics for Windows and Mac users

YAZB besides gives you speedy entree to shutdown/restart controls, customizable themes/icons/layouts, and allows you to adhd arsenic galore adjuvant widgets arsenic you need.

7. File Converter

If you've ever needed to easy person oregon compress a record successful Windows, File Converter has your back. Using a right-click discourse paper introduction (within the record manager), you tin person audio, video, images, and documents from 1 format to another. In the lawsuit of documents, you tin person astir immoderate format into a PDF. You tin besides compress files successful the aforesaid way.

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The lone caveat is that, successful bid to person MS Office files, you'll person to person MS Office installed. You tin customize the exertion bid wrong the discourse paper and adjacent adhd oregon region presets. 

File Converter is escaped to instal and usage connected Windows.

8. Bitwarden

If you don't usage a password manager, you should commencement immediately. If you request a password manager, you should spot Bitwarden astatine the apical of your list. Not lone is Bitwarden open-source, but it's besides 1 of the champion password managers connected the market. 

With each diagnostic you'll request (including a web browser extension), Bitwarden tin bash much to assistance support you protected by simplifying the process of utilizing strong, unsocial passwords. This open-source password manager includes a password generator (that tin bash some passwords and walk phrases), Bitwarden Send (to nonstop files and substance safely), and more. 

Also: NordPass vs. Bitwarden: Which password manager is best?

Bitwarden tin beryllium installed and utilized for escaped connected Windows. You mightiness adjacent see purchasing a license, arsenic it gives you much collaboration features, which tin travel successful useful with a ample household oregon organization.

9. AutoHotKey

AutoHotKey is an automation scripting connection for Windows that allows you to specify hotkeys for some rodent and keyboard, remap keys oregon buttons, and more. With AutoHotKey, you tin automate conscionable astir immoderate desktop task. 

Also: 5 escaped Windows PC apps I ever instal archetypal (and however they amended your workflow)

Essentially, this app makes it casual to enactment with hotkeys and macros, portion helping you enactment much efficiently. There is simply a learning curve to AutoHotKey, but erstwhile you've learned it, you'll beryllium gladsome you took the clip to bash so. 

AutoHotKey tin beryllium installed and utilized for escaped connected Windows.

10. Ollama

If you privation to usage AI but don't similar the thought of a 3rd enactment utilizing your queries oregon information to bid their LLMs, see the open-source Ollama, which is casual to usage and adjacent includes a well-designed GUI for interacting and adding models. 

Also: This is the fastest section AI I've tried, and it's not adjacent adjacent - however to get it

With Ollama, you tin enactment with a ample selection of models, ranging from the tiny to the precise large. One happening to support successful mind, however, is that the larger the model, the much strategy resources it volition require. You would besides beryllium champion served by utilizing Ollama connected a Windows instrumentality with a dedicated GPU. 

Ollama tin beryllium installed and utilized for escaped connected Windows.