If you’re like me, your bank statement looks like a graveyard of monthly $9.99 charges for apps and web services that somehow add up to the price of a used Honda Civic every year.
Somewhere over the last decade or two, software companies turned us from owners into renters. And quite frankly, the landlords are getting greedy.
But here’s the good news: Whether you’re on a Mac or a PC, there are world-class alternatives that don’t require a monthly tribute to a corporate overlord.
We’re talking professional-grade tools that are either free forever or have free tiers so robust you’ll forget the paid version even exists.
Stop renting your digital life. Here are five free, fully-functional apps to check out.
Affinity for design and publishing
For years, the advice was: “If you want to do real design, pay the Adobe tax for Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.” Not anymore.
Since Canva took the reins at venerable graphics app maker Affinity, it’s done the unthinkable and made the core Affinity suite of Photo, Designer, and Publisher completely free.
This isn’t some “lite” version that watermarks your exports. It’s the full, professional experience.
You’re getting layers, masks, vector tools, and desktop publishing without the $600-a-year Creative Cloud bill.
If you need the fancy cloud-based AI tools, sure, there’s a paid option. But for 95% of us, the free version is a total no-brainer.
LibreOffice for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations
Microsoft 365 wants your money every single year just so you can write a memo or balance a spreadsheet. LibreOffice is the open-source hero that keeps that money right in your pocket where it belongs.
It handles Word docs, Excel sheets, and PowerPoint decks with ease, and it doesn’t need an internet connection or a Microsoft account to function.
LibreOffice might not be as shiny as the latest web-based office suites, but it’s fast, stable, and respects your privacy. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, so you’re covered regardless of your platform.
DaVinci Resolve for video production
If you’re still paying for expensive video production suites, you’re doing it wrong.
DaVinci Resolve is the same software used to color-grade actual Hollywood blockbusters, and the free version is mind-bogglingly capable.
You get professional editing, advanced color correction, and Fairlight audio tools for the low, low price of zero dollars.
Unless you’re exporting in 8K resolution or need specific high-end grain filters, the free tier will do everything you need and more. It’s arguably the best free deal in the entire tech industry, period.
Raycast for productivity tools
Mac users used to swear by Alfred, but the best features were locked behind a paywall. Raycast changed that, and now the Windows crowd finally gets to join the party with the new Windows release.
It’s a productivity monster that replaces your calculator, your window manager, your clipboard history tool, and about a dozen other single-purpose apps.
Raycast is faster than macOS’s Spotlight or the standard Windows Start search, and infinitely more customizable. You can uninstall half of your utility apps once you get the hang of the command bar. It’s the single best thing you can do for your workflow without reaching for your wallet.
Obsidian for notes and organization
Stop paying for Evernote only to have your notes held hostage behind a login screen or a “storage limit.” Obsidian is a markdown-based note-taking app that stores everything locally on your computer.
The free version is essentially the full version: there’s no limit on how many notes you can have or how many plugins you can install.
It’s fast, it’s private, and it allows you to build a massive second brain of interconnected ideas. It’s the ultimate tool for writers and researchers who want to own their data.
