36 BEST Free software to boost productivity

Here’s best compilation of 36 BEST Free software on categories like Photography,System Monitoring,Audio/Video Tools,Productivity,Media Server & PDF Tools.

I hope this compilation would be useful,Let me know if I have missed any of your favorite.

Category : Photography

#1.ON1 Effects

Effects 10 includes hundreds of stackable filters, presets, borders, and textures to help create your style. Plug-ins are available for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop or work as a standalone application.

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#2.Exif Pilot Editor

Exif Pilot is a Free EXIF Editor

Key Features :

• View EXIF, EXIF GPS, IPTC, and XMP data.
• Edit, create EXIF, EXIF GPS, IPTC, and XMP.
• Remove EXIF, IPTC tags, and clean up all metadata
• Add new tags.
• Edit some Makernote tags.
• Add, edit, and remove keywords.
• Import/export EXIF and IPTC from/to XML files.
• Import/export EXIF and IPTC from/to MS Excel files.
• Import/export EXIF and IPTC from/to Text files in CSV format.
• Choose tags for export.
• Edit, create Photo Sphere metadata for panorama images.
• View descriptions of fields that contain data.

#3.Paint.NET

Paint.NET is image and photo editing software for PCs that run Windows.

Key Features :

• Simple, intuitive, and innovative user interface
• Usually only found on expensive or complicated professional software, layers form the basis for a rich image composition experience.
• Updates are free, and contain new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes.
• Many special effects are included for enhancing and perfecting your images. Everything from blurring, sharpening, red-eye removal, distortion, noise, and embossing are included. Also included is our unique 3D Rotate/Zoom effect that makes it very easy to add perspective and tilting.
• Paint.NET includes simple tools for drawing shapes, including an easy-to-use curve tool for drawing splines or Bezier curves.

#4.IrfanView

IrfanView is an image viewer, editor, organiser and converter program for Microsoft Windows. It can also play video and audio files, and has some image creation and painting capabilities.

Key Features :

• 32 and 64 bit version
• Many supported file formats (click here the list of formats)
• Multi language support
• Unicode support
• Thumbnail/preview option
• Paint option – to draw lines, circles, arrows, straighten image etc.
• Toolbar skins option
• Lossless JPG rotation, crop and EXIF date change (also in batch mode)
• Slideshow (save slideshow as EXE/SCR or burn it to CD)
• Show EXIF/IPTC/Comment text in Slideshow/Fullscreen etc.
• Support for Adobe Photoshop Filters
• Fast directory view (moving through directory)
• Batch conversion (with advanced image processing of all files)
• Multipage TIF editing

Category : System Monitoring

#5.HWInfo

Comprehensive Hardware Analysis, Monitoring and Reporting for Windows and DOS

Key Features :

• In-depth Hardware Information – From a quick overview unfolding into the depth of all hardware components.
• Real-Time System Monitoring – Accurate monitoring of all system components for actual status and failure prediction. Customizable interface with variety of options.
• Extensive Reporting – Multiple types of reports, status logging and interfacing with other tools or add-ons.

#6.NovaBench

Novabench is a free benchmark that tests your computer’s performance.

Key Features :

• Test your whole computer in minutes
  • CPU tests
  • GPU tests
    • Direct3D 11 / Metal graphics test
    • OpenCL compute test
  • Memory transfer speed
  • Disk read & write speed
• Compare online with thousands of similar systems
  • See how your computer stacks up
  • Get advice to improve
• Online submission is optional
  • Add results to your free profile, or keep them anonymous

#7.SysGauge

SysGauge is a system and performance monitoring utility allowing one to monitor the CPU usage, memory usage, network transfer rate, operating system performance, the status and resource usage of running processes, file system performance, USB performance, disk space usage, disk read activity, disk write activity, disk read transfer rate, disk write transfer rate, disk read IOPS and disk write IOPS for individual logical disks or all physical disks installed in the computer.

Key Features :

• CPU Usage Monitoring
• Memory Usage Monitoring
• Disk Activity Monitoring
• Network Activity Monitoring
• Operating System Status Monitoring
• Process Resource Usage Monitoring
• NAS Server Performance Monitoring

#8.HDD Scan

HDDScan is a portable hard drive testing program for Windows that can run various tests on all sorts of internal and external hard drives. The program is easy to use and all the optional features are easily accessible.

Note: You may need to replace the hard drive if it fails any of your tests.

Key Features :

• HDD Scan can run tests against devices like PATA, SATA, SCSI, USB, FireWire, or SSD connected hard drives to check for errors and show SMART attributes
• It can check your disk for bad blocks in various test modes (reading, verification, erasing), predicting disk degradation before you have to call data recovery service

#9.Who Crashed

WhoCrashed shows the drivers that have been crashing your computer with a single click. In most cases it can pinpoint the offending drivers that have been causing misery on your computer system in the past.

Category : Audio & Video Tools

#10.AIMP

AIMP is a freeware audio player for Windows and Android.

Key Features :

• Multi-format Playback:.CDA, .AAC, .AC3, .APE, .DTS, .FLAC, .IT, .MIDI, .MO3, .MOD, .M4A, .M4B, .MP1, .MP2, .MP3, .MPC, .MTM, .OFR, .OGG, .OPUS, .RMI, .S3M, .SPX, .TAK, .TTA, .UMX, .WAV, .WMA, .WV, .XM, .DSF, .DFF, MKA, AA3, AT3, OMA, YouTube
• CUE Sheets supports
• Output supports – DirectSound / ASIO / WASAPI / WASAPI Exclusive
• 32-bit audio processing
• Internet radio – Listen internet-radio stations in OGG / WAV / MP3 / AAC / AAC+ formats,Capture stream to APE, FLAC, OGG, WAV, WV, WMA and MP3 formats, Capture stream as is for MP3 / AAC / AAC+ formats
• 18-band equalizer and built-in sound effects – Reverb, Flanger, Chorus, Pitch, Tempo, Echo, Speed, Bass, Enhancer, Voice Remover
• Volume Normalization
• Mixing Options – Fade In/Fade Out, Cross-mixing, Pause between tracks

#11.Audacity free multi-track recording and editing utility

Audacity is free, open source, cross-platform audio software for multi-track recording and editing.

Key Features :

• Recording – Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from other media. With some sound cards, and on any recent version of Windows, Audacity can also capture streaming audio.
• Import and Export – Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in many different file formats, including multiple files at once.
• Sound Quality 
  • Supports 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit (floating point) samples (the latter preserves samples in excess of full scale).
  • Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling and dithering.
  • Tracks with different sample rates or formats are converted automatically in real time.
• Editing
  • Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete.
  • Find the spot to edit easily with scrubbing and seeking or Timeline Quick-Play.
  • Unlimited sequential Undo (and Redo) in the session to go back () any number of steps.
  • Edit and mix large numbers of tracks.
  • Multiple clips are allowed per track.
• Free and Cross-Platform 
  • Licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
  • Runs on Windows, Mac OS X/macOS and GNU/Linux.

#12.Foobar2000

Foobar2000 is a freeware audio player for Microsoft Windows, iOS and Android.

Key Features :

• Supported audio formats: MP3, MP4, AAC, Vorbis, Opus, FLAC, WavPack, WAV, AIFF, Musepack.
• Gapless playback.
• Full ReplayGain support (playback and scanning).
• Supports playback and downloading music from UPnP media servers.

#13.MusicBee

MusicBee makes it easy to organize, find, and play music files on your Windows computer, portable devices and on the web.

Key Features :

• Fine-tune the sound with the 10-band or 15-band Equalizer and DSP effects
• Utilize high-end audio cards with WASAPI and ASIO support
• Listen to music without interruption with gapless playback
• Upmix stereo to 5.1 surround sound, or resample track to lower bitrate
• Use logarithmic volume scaling or normalize volume streaming
• Even better, MusicBee supports some WinAmp plugins to enhance your music
• Sync your music collection with devices you use. MusicBee supports playlist and podcast syncing, even supports audio books with 2 way syncing.

#14.Filmora Video Editor

Powerful video editor,with the abilities to control video speed, merge and split videos, trim and cut movie files. You can personalize your video by adding background music, record voice, adjust brightness and color as you like.

Key Features :

• Simply drag and drop your media files to its timeline, then you can easily edit your clips and rearrange sequences of clips anytime you want.
• Numerous transitions, intro/credit and more special effects like face-off, picture-in-picture and mosaic, which will definitely make your videos more stunning.
• Provides various methods for you to save and share your videos with the world. You can directly upload them to YouTube with an optional message sending to Facebook and Twitter.

#15.HandBrake Video Converter

HandBrake is a free and open-source transcoder for digital video files

Key Features :

• Users are able to customize the output by altering the bit rate, maximum file size or bit rate and sample rate via “constant quality”. HandBrake also supports deinterlacing, decombing, scaling, detelecine, and cropping (both automatic and manual).
• HandBrake supports batch encoding through graphical user interface and command-line interface.
• Handbrake transcodes video and audio from nearly any format to a handful of modern ones, but it does not defeat or circumvent copy protection.

Category : Productivity

#16.WizTree

WizTree is an excellent, small utility application which allows users to quickly find large files on a hard drive.

Key Features :

• Finds the files and folders using the most space on your hard drive
• Finds the top 1000 largest files on your hard drive
• Sort the contents of your entire hard drive by folder size and optionally delete files and folders

#17.Captura

Capture Screen, WebCam, Audio, Cursor, Mouse Clicks and Keystrokes.

Key Features :

• Take ScreenShots
• Capture ScreenCasts (Avi/Gif/Mp4)
• Capture with/without Mouse Cursor
• Capture Specific Regions, Screens or Windows
• Capture Mouse Clicks or Keystrokes
• Mix Audio recorded from Microphone and Speaker Output
• Capture from WebCam.
• Available in multiple languages

#18.ReIcon

ReIcon is portable freeware that enables you to save and restore your desktop layout. If you frequently change your screen resolution (e.g. to play games or use applications that require a specific resolution), you are probably familiar with the problem of your desktop icons being jumbled into a mess after you switch back to your normal resolution. ReIcon solves this problem by allowing you to save your desktop layout and restore it later with the click of a button (or with the right-click context menu).

Key Features :

• Save your favorite icon layout for each resolution
• Save many different layouts
• It’s portable, no need to install anything
• Unicode support
• Easily add “Save/Restore Icon Layout” to the right-click context menu
• CMD support (at CMD, type ReIcon /? for help)
• Align icons to Grid – this allows you to snap your desktop icons to a grid, similar to Windows’ Auto-Arrange feature)

#19.TeraCopy

A popular utility designed to copy files faster and more reliably, providing the user with many features.

Key Features

• Unnecessary files can be skipped to reduce the transfer time. During the process, TeraCopy shows detected errors, and allows you to fix the problem by recopying only the problematic files.
• TeraCopy can verify files after they have been copied to ensure that they are identical.This is done by comparing hashes of source and target files.
• TeraCopy can optionally show a confirmation dialog on every drag and drop operation. It can prevent you from moving folders accidentally from one location to another.
• TeraCopy can keep history of recently used directories, as well as show folders which are open in Explorer and other file managers.
• TeraCopy can completely replace the Explorer copy and move functions, enabling you to work with files as usual.

#20.Snap2HTML 

Snap2HTML takes a “snapshot” of folder structures on your hard drive and saves as HTML files. There is also a built in file search. Everything is contained in a single HTML file that you can easily store or distribute.Try out sample output here.

Key Features:

• Create folder listings and save as HTML
• One HTML file contains everything
• Listings with file explorer “look and feel”
• Built in search functionality
• Export file listings as plain text, JSON or CSV
• Link listings to the real files
• Sortable columns with filename, date and size
• Unicode support
• Automation via command line
• Portable
• Free Open Source Software

#21.CryptSync

CryptSync is a small utility that synchronizes two folders while encrypting the contents in one folder. That means one of the two folders has all files unencrypted (the files you work with) and the other folder has all the files encrypted.

Key Features :

• The synchronization works both ways: a change in one folder gets synchronized to the other folder. If a file is added or modified in the unencrypted folder, it gets encrypted. If a file is added or modified in the encrypted folder, it gets decrypted to the other folder.
• This is best used together with cloud storage tools like SkyDrive, DropBox or Google Drive.
• The encryption is done using 7-Zip, which also compress them at the same time. That means you not only get encryption but also compression for free, which reduces the storage space you use in the cloud.
• Optionally the encryption can be done using GnuPG.

#22.Macrium Reflect 7 Free Edition

Free backup, disk imaging and cloning solution for personal and commercial use.

Key Features :

• Create live images of a running Windows OS
• Browse backup contents in Windows Explorer.
• Differential Images
• Restore non-booting systems
• Direct disk cloning
• Boot your backups instantly in a Hyper-V VM
• Schedule your backups with flexible templates

#23.Windows Firewall Control 

Windows Firewall Control is a powerful tool which extends the functionality of Windows Firewall and provides new extra features which makes Windows Firewall better.

Key Features :

• Full support with standard user accounts. Elevated privileges are required only at installation.
• Disable the ability of other programs to tamper Windows Firewall rules and state.
• Integrated support of creating, modifying and deleting Window Firewall rules.
• Multiple and easier ways of creating new rules in Windows Firewall.
• Shell integration into the right click context menu of the executable files.

#24.Dictation.io

Dictation can recognize and transcribe popular languages including English, Español, Français, Italiano, Português, हिन्दी, தமிழ், اُردُو, বাংলা, ગુજરાતી, ಕನ್ನಡ, and more. See full list of supported languages.

Dictation uses Google Speech Recognition to transcribe your spoken words into text. It stores the converted text in your browser locally and no data is uploaded anywhere.

#25.PeaZip

PeaZip is free file archiver utility, based on Open Source technologies of 7-Zip, p7zip, FreeArc, PAQ, and PEA projects.

Key Features :

• Cross-platform, full-featured but user-friendly alternative to WinRar, WinZip and similar general purpose archive manager applications, open and extract 180+ archive formats: 001, 7Z, ACE(*), ARC, ARJ, BZ2, CAB, DMG, GZ, ISO, LHA, PAQ, PEA, RAR, TAR, UDF, WIM, XZ, ZIP ZIPX
• PeaZip provides fast, high compression ratio multi-format archiving to 7Z, ARC, BZ2, GZ, PEA, TAR, WIM, and ZIP file archives (write supported), and works as opener / extractor tool for 180+ archive types.
• Deploys a powerful and complete file manager for viewing, browsing and searching archive files, featuring a wide set of data security functions: strong encryption (AES, Twofish, Serpent), encrypted password manager, optional two-factor authentication (encryption with password and keyfile), secure delete, and file hashing tools.

#26.Dexpot

Dexpot is an excellent, free virtualization app for Windows PCs.

• Easy to use for beginners
• Highly customizable for experts
• Packed with features
• Small memory footprint
• Individual support by the developers
• Free for private use

#27.Attribute Changer

Attribute Changer freeware is a powerful Windows Explorer add-on, available at your fingertips whenever you right-click on files, folders and even drives in Windows Explorer.

Key Features :

• Modify date and time information stored in digital photos. Add or subtract values and even synchronise with file date and time
• Modify system attributes and manipulate date and time of files and folders with endless possibilities
• Every file and folder modification is logged and the actions are exportable in a spreadsheet format
• Exclude or include objects based on multiple criteria, such as attributes, date, time, size and file- or folder name wildcards
• Simulation mode features a preview of all modifications in a detailed reporting window before they get applied

#28.CloudBerry Remote Assistant

CloudBerry Remote Assistant is a Windows software for remote control and desktop sharing.

Key Features :

• Access and control a remote desktop or server computer over Internet
• All communications with remote desktop go through the SSL-encrypted connection
• Use Remote Assistant as a free tool for text and voice communication over the Internet

#29.Wise Folder Hider

With Wise Folder Hider, you can easily hide your files and folders. Protect your private or important data from unauthorized access and deletion. To increase security,you can specify second level password for specific file, folder or drive.

Key Features :

• In many cases, you need to share a USB drive with others and some sensible files will be read by others. With Wise Folder Hider 4, you can hide and password protect your personal file and folders on the USB stick with one click. Even the USB drive is lost, the important files will not be stolen.
• You can also setup a login password. Inside the program, you can set a second level password for each file, folder, USB drive. Anyone else can’t uninstall the program without login password.

#30.Sys Minion

Sys Minion is a free portable program for Microsoft Windows devices that provides you with access to complex system commands that you can run from its interface.

Key Features :

• Disk Cleanup Utility — Runs Disk Cleanup with elevated privileges so that you can remove old Windows leftovers from the PC.
• Remove SP uninstall data — This removes Service Pack uninstall data from the Windows machine. Only works on pre-Windows 8 versions of Windows as Windows 8 and 10 don’t support Service Packs.
• Analyze Component Store — Evaluates if the component store needs to be cleaned.Works only on Windows 8.1 or newer.
• Cleanup Component Store — Runs the cleanup command on the component store to free up space.  Works only on Windows 8.1 or newer.
• Cleanup and Reset Base of Component Store — Same as above, but will reset base as well. Works only on Windows 8.1 or newer.
• Health Check — Reports if the system is marked as corrupted, and if it can be fixed.
• Health Scan — Scans the system for component store corruption.
• OEM Drivers repository — Option to remove device drivers from the system OEM drivers repository.
• Enable or disable signature verification to install/prevent the installation of unsigned drivers.
• Enable or disable the Boot Menu.
• Open the User Accounts management interface.

Category : PDF Tools

#31.PDF Candy – Free PDF Tools

PDF Candy provides free online tools for working with PDF files (converting, splitting, merging, rotating, etc ). There is both Online & Desktop versions available.

PDF Candy Desktop is a versatile tool that enables you to convert files from PDF to various supported formats (PDF to DOC, PDF to JPG, etc), convert documents, ebooks and images to PDF, merge PDF, split PDF, extract images and text from PDF, edit PDF metadata, protect PDF and unlock password-protected PDF files.

#32.Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF is a free PDF, eBook (ePub, Mobi), XPS, DjVu, CHM, Comic Book (CBZ and CBR) reader for Windows.Sumatra PDF is powerful, small, portable and starts up very fast.

#33.Foxit Reader

A speedy PDF reader alternative to Adobe Reader.

Key Features :

• Foxit Reader goes beyond PDF viewing, it’s ConnectedPDF Powered. ConnectedPDF is leading edge technology that powers cloud-based services for PDF files, services include:
  • ConnectedPDF Security – grant and revoke document access.
  • ConnectedPDF Document Management – Track to see who opens your document and what they do and notify readers of new updates.
  • ConnectedPDF Collaboration – Elevate your teamwork with connected reviews or send requests to others to get a file.

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Category : Media Server

#34.Plex Media Server

Plex allows you to aggregate all your personal media and access it anywhere you go.

Key Features :

• Plex organizes your media, makes your collections look great, and makes it easier than ever to find what you’re looking for.
• Mobile Sync lets you sync movies, music, and photos to your mobile device for offline enjoyment wherever your life may take you.
• Support for all file types , including hi-fi music and video formats.
• Plex News has partnered with the most reputable and trustworthy news sources around the world. Stay informed on all your devices, anywhere, anytime.
• Store and stream as much as you have on your server or storage device, without sacrificing quality, security, or performance.

#35.Kodi.tv

Kodi is a free and open-source media player software application.Kodi is available for multiple operating-systems and hardware platforms, featuring a 10-foot user interface for use with televisions and remote controls. It allows users to play and view most videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local and network storage media and the internet.

Key Features :

• Support for almost every format, playlists, party mixes and more.
• Kodi brings your movie collection to life with artwork, cast genres and more.
• Kodi keeps all your tv organised like nothing else.
• Kodi is the best way to share your photos on the biggest screen in the house or maybe just some wall candy with a personal slideshow.

#36.OBS Studio

Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming.

Key Features :

• High performance real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, capture cards and more.
• Set up an unlimited number of scenes you can switch between seamlessly via custom transitions.
• Intuitive audio mixer with per-source filters such as noise gate, noise suppression, and gain.
• Powerful and easy to use configuration options. Add new Sources, duplicate existing ones, and adjust their properties effortlessly.
• Streamlined Settings panel gives you access to a wide array of configuration options to tweak every aspect of your broadcast or recording.
• Modular ‘Dock’ UI allows you to rearrange the layout exactly as you like. You can even pop out each individual Dock to it’s own window.

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