Windows Essential Apps: Must-Have Free & Open-Source Software for Windows 10/11

When the world says, ‘Give up,’ hope whispers, ‘Try it one more time’, Lyndon B. Johnson

Microsoft Windows is an operating system that serves as the core software managing your computer’s hardware and enabling it to run various applications.

Originally launched in 1985, Windows has undergone significant transformations over the years. It has transitioned from simple graphical interfaces to the sophisticated, multitasking environment of Windows 11.

Windows remains one of the most widely used operating systems globally, catering to a diverse range of users and applications.

Windows Essential Apps

Curated for productivity, efficiency, and performance on Windows 10/11.

Installation & Updates

• Ninite is not a package manager, and yet it is one of the easiest and fastest ways to update or install software.
• Package Managers: winget (Microsoft’s native CLI), Chocolatey (robust community repository), and UniGetUI (an intuitive GUI for the most common CLI package managers for Windows 10/11).

Web Browsers & Extensions

• Web Browsers: Google Chrome (widely use, ecosystem integration), Brave (privacy-focused), Tor, Zen Browser, Vivaldi (customization), and some Extensions.
• Privacy: Tor Browser, Mullvad Browser.
• Extensions: uBlock Origin/AdBlock, Bitwarden, Dark Reader, Bonjourr · Minimalist Startpage, Merlin - Ask AI to Research, Write & Review, Proton VPN: Fast & Secure, Spotify Ad Blocker - Blockify, etc.

System Utilities

• Essential System utilities: CTT Windows Utility/Winutil and O&O ShutUp10++ (debloat and optimize Windows). Microsoft PowerToys (Shortcut Guide, Screen Ruler, Workspaces, PowerToys Run, etc.), Wintoys (Windows Optimization & Customization), Winaero Tweaker and Windhawk (Windows Customization Apps).

• Clipboard manager with advanced features: CopyQ (advanced scripting + search), Ditto (simple multi-clipboard).

• Delete stubborn files and folders: Wise Force Deleter. LockHunter is a free, foolproof file unlocker.

• Archive Manager Utilities: 7-Zip (lightweight), PeaZip (200+ format support).

• Disk Space Analyzer: TreeSize Free/WizTree (free for personal use).

• System information software: CPU-Z (quick CPU/RAM stats), HWiNFO (comprehensive).

• System Cleaners. Utilities to remove temporary files, browser cache, and history to free up storage space and improve system performance: Microsoft PC Manager, BleachBit (open-source), and CCleaner.

• Driver Management: Snappy Driver Installer Origin.

Media & Creativity

• Image Viewer & Organizer: IrfanView (an image viewer, editor, organizer, and converter program), XnView (an image organizer and general-purpose file manager used for viewing, converting, organizing and editing raster images, as well as general purpose file management), ImageGlass (a lightweight, versatile image viewer), and FastStone (a fast, compact and innovative image viewer).
• Media Player: VLC is a free and open-source, portable, cross-platform media player software (all-codec Swiss Army knife). Media Player Classic - Black Edition (MPC-BE) is a free and open source audio and video player for Windows. Spotify. Kodi (a free and open source media player application)/Plex (it can stream content from your serer to other devices on your network and even over the Internet).
• Audio editing tool: Audacity is a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software.
• Image Editing: GIMP (Photoshop alternative), Inkscape (a vector graphics editor), Krita (a professional free and open source painting program) and Paint.NET (layer support).
• Screenshot tools: Greenshot and ShareX.
• Video Editors: DaVinci Resolve. Professional video editing, color correction, visual effects, and audio post production all in a single application. Clipchamp is a simple and easy-to-use video editor. CapCut is an all-in-one video editor & graphic design tool driven by AI.
• Streaming/Recording: OBS Studio (live streaming + recording).
• Open Source 3D creation suite: Blender.
• Desktop publishing Software: Scribus is an open source desktop publishing app. Canva, Affinity Publisher.

File Management

• Files (Download, Try our classic installer) is a free and modern file explorer for Windows with a powerful yet intuitive designed. It has cool features like multiple tabs, panes, columns, shell extensions in the context menu and tags.
  There are multiple settings to customize Files to your needs: Settings, Appearance (Custom Themes), Preference (Show hidden files and folders, Show dot files, Hide protected operating system Files), Experimental (Show Folder Size, Set Files as the default File manager).
   

• Cloud Storage: Syncthing, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive.

• File Sharing: qBittorrent (ad-free torrenting), Transmission. LocalSend is a free, open-source, cross-platform file sharing tool that allows you to share files to nearby devices. Download and install the LocalSend app on all devices you want to use. Make sure all devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Settings: General, Autostart after login; Network, Device name (e.g., myWindows). Open the LocalSend app on the sending device. Select the file(s) you want to send. Find the receiving device in the list of available devices. Approve the transfer request on the receiving device.

  By default, LocalSend uses port 53317 for TCP and UDP. On NixOS, you must explicitly allow this port through the firewall.

networking.firewall.allowedTCPPorts = [ 53317 ];
networking.firewall.allowedUDPPorts = [ 53317 ];

• Converters: File Converter is a very simple tool which allows you to convert and compress files using the context menu in windows explorer. HandBrake is a free, open-source video converter for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Security & Privacy

• Password Managers: KeePassXC is a modern, secure, and open-source password manager. Bitwarden is the only password manager that offers a free plan with unlimited devices and passwords.
• Encryption: VeraCrypt is free open-source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
• Antivirus: Bitdefender Antivirus Free offers powerful antivirus protection that is light on computer resources. Microsoft Defender (built-in).
• VPNs: ProtonVPN is a robust and secure VPN (free tier).
• Backup: Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows FREE. AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free backup software and provides you easy backup & disaster recovery solutions for Windows.

Developer Tools

• Code Editors: Visual Studio Code, Notepad++, Complete Windows AI Dev Setup: WSL 2, Docker Desktop, Python & Ollama.
• SSH/FTP: FileZilla (FTP), PuTTY (SSH), Tabby (Tabby is an infinitely customizable cross-platform terminal app for local shells, serial, SSH and Telnet connections).
• Virtual Machine Software: VirtualBox is open source virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating system on a single device.
• Bootable USB Creation Tool: Rufus (legacy support), Ventoy (multi-ISO boot), and Etcher.

Productivity

• Office Suites: LibreOffice & OpenOffice (full-featured), or Only Office (MS Office compatibility).
• Boost your productivity with launchers: Flow Launcher/PowerToys Run/Wox (Spotlight Search for Windows), and Everything (locate files and folders by name instantly).
• Text Expansion: AutoHotKey or Espanso. Espanso (cross-platform), AutoHotKey (automation).
• PDF Tools: Adobe Reader & SumatraPDF (a free and open-source document viewer) and PicoPDF (it serves as both as a PDF reader and a editor).
• Email clients: Betterbird is an open source email client that's a fork of Thunderbird. Thunderbird is still an active, free, open-source project.

Remote & Networking

• Remote access: Chrome Remote Desktop & AnyDesk.
• Open-source KVM software: Barrier. This is software that mimics the functionality of a KVM switch for multi-computer setups.
• Network Analysis: Wireshark, Angry IP Scanner.

Knowledge & Learning

• Knowledge Base/Note-Taking. Obsidian is a personal knowledge base and note-taking application that operates on markdown files. Joplin is an open source note-taking app.
• Education: Google Earth, Celestia, Qalculate!/SpeedCrunch (calculators), Numerical Chamaleon (unit conversion), Maths (Maxima, GeoGebra, Octave, R, gnuplot), GCompris/Childsplay/Omnitux (kids), Alice/Scratch/Etoys (programming), Klavaro/Gtypist (typing).
• The best Maths software to learn and grow: Speedcrunch, Microsoft Mathematics, Microsoft Math Solver, Maxima, JFractionLab, Gnuplot, GeoGebra, LibreOffice & OpenOffice Calc, Numerical Chameleon, Octave, and R.
• Kids: Gcompris, Omnitux, The KDE Education Project, Tux of Math Command, Kitsune, and TuxMathScrablle.

Bonus

• Shell is a powerful, free, and open source context menu manager.
• Universal Chat application: Beeper.