There is a Youtube series which popularised the line, “Sometimes, things that are expensive are worse.” In some aspects, it is true. Not all expensive items, or in the case of software, are good. Cheaper alternatives can offer the same quality and service than their pricier counterparts. But you know what is better than cheap? Software that is free, of course.

Yes, there are lots of free software you can download for just about anything you will need. Whether you want awesome banner designs for your business or to edit photos for your social media channels, free alternatives may be more than enough to get the job done. So here are some of the must-haves you should be using right now.

Hootsuite

hootsuiteFor the social media manager, it is important to be on top of your campaigns and analytics which Hootsuite allows you to do. You can monitor the performance of your posts and the engagement it is getting, manage and schedule when posts will be published, and organise the social media channels you are using.

This software offers paid packages depending on how you are going to use the platform. Their Free plan is limited to one user and three social media channels. But this is enough if you are a small business or an individual who just wants to check their engagement.

Canva

canva

If you are working on banners, Facebook covers, and posters then Canva should be your go-to tool. They offer highly customisable templates plus a whole slew of copyright-free photos you can use for designing. Canva even offers calling card designs, logos, blog graphics, and so on.

Canva has templates and photos that you need to pay for if you want to use them. However, most of their free stuff can be customised so you can adjust the colour palette and fonts to match your branding.

GIMP

gimp

You do not have to purchase and download Photoshop when there is GIMP available and free to use. This image editing software will help your retouch, edit, and add layers and effects to any image you have. If you are intimidated by the controls, the software offers tutorials for beginners to help you get started on your editing.

Unlike other free image editing tools, you do not have to be online to use GIMP. You can easily download the software because it is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Free Disk Cleaner from GiliSoft

gilisoft disk cleaner

Do not let your laptop clog with unnecessary files and apps. This disk cleaner from GiliSoft can help you clear out your laptop and improve its performance.

It features an intuitive interface which allows you to choose which folder you want to be scanned for junk files. You may also choose to exclude and include files you want to be scanned so that the software would not accidentally delete a file. However, there are times when it is not the files causing the problem but the laptop itself. To purchase the right laptop for you, read this laptop buying guide to help you find the right device.

WeTransfer

wetransfer

Collaborate with your colleagues or fellow artists with WeTransfer. It works similarly like Dropbox, but instead of saving it in a cloud, your files will be sent directly to your intended recipient. This makes the exchange of files safer, especially if it contains sensitive or confidential information.

The recipient will be sent a link where they can download the files. For the free version, the link will remain active in 7 days, afterwards, the system deletes its content.

Let these free software make work and life easier for you. So go on and check out great deals on the best laptops from Harvey Norman and start downloading these free software!