List of 300 Most Useful Softwares for Windows

Your computer can actually become the most valuable place if you have the right tools available to make the most out of it. There are over a million software available to sort each of your purposes online or offline. So if you want to simplify your life and work efficiently without wasting any further time then here is a list of websites where you can install several useful softwares (for free). And what later follows is another compilation of almost 300 websites and pieces of software that aren’t just open source but also almost directly replaceable against many other available expensive packages.

Office

• OpenOffice – office suite
• PC Suite 602 – office suite
• AbiWord – text editor
• Atlantis Nova – text editor
• Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer – power point files viewer
• Adobe Reader – pdf reader
• Foxit PDF Reader – pdf reader
• PDFCreator – create pdf documents
• Doc Convertor – document convertor
• Convert – unit convertor
• Converber – unit convertor
• Sunbird – calendar/organizer
• EssentialPIM Free – calendar/organizer
• PhraseExpress – speed up your writing
• ATnotes – create notes on the desktop

Archive managers

• 7-Zip – compression program
• IZArc – compression program
• TugZIP – compression program
• CabPack – compression program
• Universal Extractor – extract files from any type of archive

Internet

• Firefox – web browser
• Internet Explorer– web browser
• Maxthon – web browser
• Opera – web browser
• Avant Browser – web browser
• Thunderbird – email client
• PopTray – check for emails
• Free Download Manager – download manager
• FlashGet – download manager
• WellGet – download manager
• Download Master – download manager
• WGET – commandline download manager
• HTTrack – offline browser
• WebReaper – offline browser
• Yeah Reader – RSS reader
• GreatNews – RSS reader
• RSSOwl – RSS reader

Peer to Peer Useful Softwares

• µTorrent – torrent client
• Azureus – torrent client
• BitComet – torrent client
• ABC – torrent client
• BitTornado – torrent client
• eMule – p2p client
• SoulSeek – p2p client
• Shareaza – p2p client
• DC++ – Direct Connect network client
• PeerGuardian – IP blocker

Chat

• Miranda – chat client
• MSN Messenger – chat client
• Yahoo Messenger – chat client
• QIP – chat client
• Gaim – chat client
• JAJC – chat client
• HydraIRC – IRC client
• Talkative IRC – IRC client
• IceChat – IRC client
• Skype – VOIP client
• Google Talk – VOIP client
• VoipStunt – VOIP client
• Gizmo – VOIP client
• Wengo – VOIP client

Security

• AVG Free – antivirus
• Avast Home Free – antivirus
• AntiVir PersonalEdition – antivirus
• BitDefender Free – antivirus
• ClamWin – antivirus
• CyberDifender – Internet Security Suite
• Ad-aware – anti-spyware
• Spybot: Search & Destroy – anti-spyware
• Windows Defender – anti-spyware
• SpywareBlaster – anti-spyware
• Spyware Terminator – anti-spyware
• Tootkit Reveaker – rootkit detection utility
• Winpooch – system protection
• HighJackThis – hijackers detector and remover
• Kerio Personal Firewall – firewall
• Sygate Personal Firewall – firewall
• ZoneAlarm – firewall
• AxCrypt – file encryption
• Simple File Shredder – securely delete files
• PuTTy – SSH client
• KeePass – password manager
• LockNote – password manager
• nPassword – password manager
• Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer – identify security misconfigurations

Network

Faddom’s  free Network Mapping tool 

• Hamachi – VPN client
• RealVNC – remote control
• UltraVNC – remote control
• Ethereal – local area network administration
• The Dude – network administration
• Wireshark – network administration
• IP-Tools – IP scanner
• Free Port Scanner – IP scanner
• NetMeter – network bandwidth monitoring

Servers

• FileZilla – FTP client
• FileZilla Server – FTP server
• EFTP – FTP client/server
• XAMPP – integrated server package of Apache, mySQL, PHP and Perl
• WAMP – Apache, PHP5 and MySQL server

Audio

• Foobar2000 – audio player
• WinAmp – audio player
• 1by1 – audio player
• JetAudio – audio player
• XMPlay – audio player
• Xion – audio player
• Apollo – audio player
• MediaMonkey – music organizer
• The GodFather – music organizer
• dBpowerAMP – audio converter
• Audacity – audio converter
• WavePad – audio converter
• Kristal Audio Engine – audio editor
• Exact Audio Copy – CD ripper
• Audiograbber – CD ripper
• CDex – CD ripper
• Mp3 Tag Tools – tag editor
• Mp3tag – tag editor
• Taggin’ MP3 – tag editor
• Monkey’s Audio – APE compressor/decompressor
• mpTrim – mp3 editor
• WavTrim – wave editor
• EncSpot Basic – analyse mp3 files

Useful Softwares for Video

• Windows Media Player – audio/video player
• VLC – video player
• Media Player Classic – video player
• MV2Player – video player
• CrystalPlayer 1.95 – video player
• Zoom Player – video player
• GOM Player – video player
• viPlay – video player
• DSPlayer – video player
• VirtualDub – video editor
• CamStudio – video screen recording
• AviSplit – Avi splitter
• Video mp3 Extractor – rip audio from video files
• Free iPod Converter – convert all popular video formats to iPod video
• MediaPortal – turning your PCinto a Media Center
• The FilmMachine

Image

• Here’s a list of free drawing softwares.
• Gimp – image editor
• PhotoFiltre – image editor
• Paint.net – image editor
• ArtRage – image editor
• Artweaver – image editor
• IrfanView – image viewer
• Picasa – image viewer
• XnView – image viewer
• FastStone Image Viewer – image viewer
• FuturixImager – image viewer
• Easy Thumbnails – create thumbnails from images
• JoJoThumb – create thumbnails from images
• iWebAlbum – create web photo albums
• JAlbum – create web photo albums
• 3D Box Shot Maker – design quality box shot
• FastStone Capture – screen capture
• WinSnap – screen capture

3D

• Blender3D – 3D renderer
• 3Delight Free – 3D renderer
• SketchUp – 3D modeling
• Maya Learning Edition – 3D modeling

Developers

• AutoIt – task automation
• SciTE4AutoIt3 – text editor for AutoIt
• AutoHotkey – task automation
• PHP Designer – PHP editor
• Notepad++ – text editor
• ConTEXT Editor – text editor
• PSPad – text editor
• FoxEditor – text editor
• Crimson Editor – source code editor
• Elfima Notepad – text editor
• Notepad2 – text editor
• Nvu – HTML editor
• Alleycode – HTML editor
• BlockNote – web page editor
• Weaverslave – web page editor

CD/ DVD

• DeepBurner – CD/DVD burner
• CDBurner XP Pro – CD/DVD burner
• BurnAtOnce – CD/DVD burner
• Express Burn – CD/DVD burner
• Zilla CD-DVD Rip’n’Burn – CD/DVD burner
• ImgBurn – ISO, BIN burner
• Daemon tools – virtual CD/DVD
• DVD Decrypter – DVD ripper
• DVD Shrink – DVD ripper
• Nero CD-DVD Speed – CD/DVD info and quality test

Codecs

• GSpot – codec information
• AC3Filter – audio codec
• Xvid – video codec
• QuickTime Alternative – video codec
• Real Alternative – video codec
• K-Lite Codec Pack – all codecs

System Utility Useful Softwares

• CCleaner – system cleaner
• xp-AntiSpy – OS setup
• jv16 Powertools – system utilities
• XP SysPad – system monitoring utility
• What’s Running – process guard
• Registrar Lite – registry editor
• WinIPConfig – replacement for “ipconfig.exe” and “route.exe”
• Unlocker – file eraser
• Eraser – secure file eraser
• Undelete Plus – file recovery
• freeCommander – file manager
• ExplorerXP – file manager
• Duplicate File Finder – find all duplicate files
• Ant Renamer – file renaming
• ReNamer – file renaming
• Chaos MD5 – MD5 generator
• HashTab – MD5, SHA1 and CRC-32 file hashes
• Rainlendar Lite – desktop calendar
• Weather Watcher – weather firecast
• Subtitle Workshop – subtitles editor
• Ant Movie Catalog – movie organizer
• Disclib – CD organizer
• Dexpot – virtual desktops
• DriveImage XML – create partition images
• MozBackup – backup and restore bookmarks, etc.
• SyncBack – system backup
• Atomic Cock Sync – syncronize your clock
• Citrus Alarm Clock – alarm clock
• TaskSwitchXP – Alt-Tab replacement
• Launchy – application launcher
• allSnap – make all windows snap
• Sysinternals Tools – various system tools
• StrokeIt – mouse gestures
• Net Profiles – create profiles of your network settings
• ResourceHacker – view, modify, rename, add, delete
• Java Runtime Environment – java for Windows

UI Enhancements

• RocketDock – application launcher
• AveDesk – desktop enhancer
• IconPhile – customize windows’s system icons
• CursorXP Free – change mouse cursors
• MacSound – volume control
• LClock – Windows Longhorn clock
• Y’z Shadow – shadow effect to the windows
• Taskbar Shuffle – rearrange the programs on the taskbar by dragging
• Y’z Toolbar – change the toolbar icons in Explorer and Internet Explorer
• Visual Task Tips – thumbnail preview image for each task in the taskbar
• Badges – put badges on any folder or file
• Folderico – change icons of the folders
• Folder Marker – mark your folders
• Folder2MyPC – add favourite locations to My Computer
• Microsoft TweakUI – system settings
• BricoPacks – shell packs
• ShellPacks – shell packs
• Tango Shell Patcher – shell patcher
• XPize – GUI enhancer
• Vista Transformation Pack – complete visual style
• Vista Sound Scheme – Windows Vista sound scheme
• Royale Theme – visual style

Hardware Monitoring/ Benchmarking Useful Softwares

• CPU-Z – cpu information
• CrystalCPUID – cpu information
• Central Brain Identifier – cpu information
• Everest – system information
• SiSoft Sandra – system information
• SpeedFan – hardware monitor
• Memtest86 – memory test
• PowerMax – HDD test
• 3Dmark 06 – 3D game performance benchmark
• Aquamark – performance benchmark
• rthdribl – 3D benchmark
• Fraps – 3D benchmark, fps viewer and screen recorder
• Prime 95 – cpu benchmarking
• SuperPI – cpu benchmarking
• CPU Rightmark – cpu overclock
• Core Temp – cpu temperature
• ATiTool – video overclock
• ATI Tray Tools – Radeon tweaker
• aTuner – GeForce and Radeontweaker
• RivaTuner – video overclock
• Nokia Monitor Test – monitor adjustmets
• UDPixel – fix dead pixels

Free Gaming Useful Softwares

• 123 Free Solitaire – solitaire games collection
• Arcade Pack – classic arcade games
• Live For Speed – online racing simulator
• Enigma – puzzle game
• Freeciv – multiplayer strategy game
• Tux Racer – race down steep, snow-covered mountains

Education

• SpeQ Mathematics – mathematics program
• Dia – diagram creation program
• Google Earth – explore the world
• NASA World Wind – 3D virtual globe
• Celestia – explore the space
• Stellarium – planetarium

Miscellaneous Free Useful Softwares

• nLite – Build your own custom Windows disk.
• VirtualPC – create virtual machines
• grabMotion – webcam capture
• iDailyDiary – simple page-for-a-day diary
• Pivot Stickfigure Animator – create stick-figure animations
• Wink – create presentations
• Scribus – professional page layout
• FreeMind – midn mapping software
• Windows Live Writer – WYSIWYG blog authoring

So these were few free software download sites that will surely make our life easier and much more efficient.