There is a lot of great freeware out there. Many are as good, or even better than the commercial alternatives, best of all, they’re free.

This list is my personal pick of the "best of the best."

WEB BROWSER
Internet Explorer is a good browser but it has become such a target for malicious exploits that it is now a major security risk. Quite separately, the browser itself is now looking dated with most alternative products offering tabbed browsing and other productivity enhancements. There are several excellent alternatives but Mozilla FireFox is the stand-out pick. It's much safer than Internet Explorer, so safe in fact that many users have reported no spyware infections since they started using the product. It's also browses faster than Internet Explorer and since the release of version 1.0, it's stable and reliable as well. It loads a little slower than IE but once running, it zips along at lightning speed. With tabbed browsing and more free extensions than you could ever want, it offers a major upgrade in your browsing experience.  Unlike IE, it's also standards compliant.  FireFox is now my everyday browser though occasionally I have to fire up IE to browse a site designed around IE's non standard features.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
http://www.techsupportalert.com/firefox.htm <= Free FireFox migration guide

EMAIL CLIENT
Thunderbird, the free open source POP and IMAP email client, has been finally released after a long period of gestation. It was developed by Mozilla.org, the same folks who brought you FireFox. Feature-wise it sits somewhere between Outlook Express and Outlook which means that it offers an upgrade to Express users and a downgrade to those who use the more advanced PIM features of Outlook. All Outlook Express users should seriously consider switching. You’ll be rewarded with a more advanced product including built- in spam filtering, built-in RSS reader, better security, message color coding, fast email search and the ability to view your mail in conversational threads. On top of that, the product is more secure than Outlook Express and, unlike the latter, is still being actively developed. The transition is made easier by the fact that Thunderbird looks and works similar to Outlook Express. Tools within Thunderbird also allow you to easily import OE account settings and stored email. Outlook users who aren’t reliant on calendaring, Microsoft Exchange or Outlook plug-ins should also consider switching. If you switch to Thunderbird, you should also consider using the free Copernic Desktop Search program, the latest version of which now indexes Thunderbird email files.
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird
http://www.nidelven-it.no/articles/introduction_to_thunderbird

HTML EDITOR

NVU has all the good qualities of MS FrontPage without the unnecessary overhead and quirks that take up so much development time. Having had to use MS FrontPage more than once on projects, I know the good, the bad and the ugly of that application. The "good" was tainted with proprietary extensions on the server side that slowed websites and consumed massive amounts of disk space. The supposedly WYSIWYG editor didn't always translate to what I had in mind when it went up on the web site. What you see in NVU turns out to be exactly what you get. In my opinion it is a better application than MS FrontPage and it's free, open source software.

http://www.nvu.com/

KompoZer is a wysiwyg HTML editor (Nvu/Composer fork) aimed towards advanced users. I consider it as an unofficial bug-fix release for Nvu.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/kompozer

CALENDAR APPLICATION

Sunbird is a cross-platform built upon Mozilla Toolkit.

http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/sunbird/

PASSSWORD MANAGER

RoboForm is an award-winning automated password manager and web form filler with some serious Artificial Intelligence. Roboform will remember, encrypt, and automate all of your logins across the Web as well as hold “safenotes” where you can keep sensitive information such as ATM PINs, social security numbers, and the like. You can protect all your Identities and Passcards with the Master Password thus making them inaccessible to unauthorized users and unreadable by hackers even if they are stolen. Roboform uses AES encryption for increased protection. When RoboForm enters the saved password into form fields, it is not typing them through keyboard, so if a keylogger is installed on your computer and it is monitoring keyboard events for passwords, it will get no keyboard clicks when you use RoboForm to enter passwords. 

http://www.roboform.com/

 

EverNote gives users a single place for all types of notes and information and makes them instantly accessible at anytime, in any place. EverNote makes it easy to store and quickly access typed and handwritten memos, webpage excerpts, emails, phone messages, addresses, passwords, brainstorms, sketches, documents and more. With EverNote, you can create notes in multiple formats, including text, web, email, handwriting, camera phone snapshots, image clips and custom templates. You don't need to save your notes manually - EverNote saves them for you automatically.

http://www.evernote.com/en/products/evernote/features.php

PDFCreator

http://www.pdfforge.org/products/pdfcreator

 Foxit PDF Reader

Foxit Reader 2.0 is a free PDF document viewer and printer, with incredible small size (only 1.67 M download size), breezing-fast launch speed and amazingly rich feature set. Foxit Reader 2.0 supports Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista. Its core function is compatible with PDF Standard 1.7. In the past, you had to download a huge PDF reader from another software company, go through a lengthy installation process and wait for an annoying splash window to disappear just to open a PDF document. Moreover, if you want to annotate a PDF document, you have to pay $$$ to buy a full version of PDF software.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/

OpenOffice from Sun Microsystems - OFFICE SUITE

The product OpenOffice is a multi-platform office productivity suite. It includes the key desktop applications, such as a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program, with a user interface and feature set similar to other office suites. Sophisticated and flexible, OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of file formats, including those of Microsoft Office. Available in over 45 supported languages with more being constantly added by the community, OpenOffice.org runs stably and natively on Solaris, Linux (including PPC Linux), Windows, Mac OS X (X11), and numerous other platforms.

http://www.openoffice.org/

AVG Antivirus Free Edition.

This product has been continuously refined since it was first released in 1991 and now offers very impressive protection capabilities. Additionally, it's relatively small, light on resources, has regular automatic updates and handles email scanning. There is a free and a pro version, the only difference being that the free version has a few non-critical features disabled and has no direct technical support. Even so, it's an impressive package and offers the financially challenged a real alternative to the major anti-virus suites.

http://www.grisoft.com
 

FTP Client

I used WS_FTP Pro as my FTP client for years. What started out as simple and effective product gradually with each new version became more feature bloated and less effective for routine tasks. With the release of Version 9 it was clear to me that the product had totally lost its way so I started looking for an alternative. After trying seven different FTP clients I decided that the best for me was the Open Source utility FileZilla. It uses a simple layout based on a two pane interface that looks a bit like the early versions of WS_FTP. But this simplicity is deceptive, it is actually a quite powerful product There's a full featured site manager, firewall and proxy support, SSL and Kerberos GSS security, restart, drop and drag and a lot more. The only significant feature that's missing is site to site transfer but that's of no importance to me. What is of importance is that FileZilla is fast, totally reliable, secure and and very easy to use. There's also a free FileZilla FTP server which I haven't used but I hear that it's just as good as the client.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla/

INSTANT MESSAGING

PIDGIN is a multi-protocol instant messaging (IM) client for Linux, BSD, MacOS X, and Windows. It is compatible with AIM and ICQ (Oscar protocol), MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, Novell GroupWise Messenger, Lotus Sametime, and Zephyr networks.Gaim users can log in to multiple accounts on multiple IM networks simultaneously. This means that you can be chatting with friends on AOL Instant Messenger, talking to a friend on Yahoo Messenger, and sitting in an IRC channel all at the same time.

http://pidgin.im/pidgin/home/

ZIP Archiving Program

7-Zip is a file archiver with a high compression ratio. I used to use WinZip and was a registered user, but with the 10.0 release, my "lifetime" subscription came to an end. I went searching for a suitable alternative and found 7-Zip. You can use 7-Zip on any computer, including a computer in a commercial organization.

http://www.7-zip.org/

BitTorrent

Azureus implements the BitTorrent protocol using java language and comes bundled with many invaluable features for both beginners and advanced users:

* Multiple torrent downloads
* Upload and download speed limiting, both globally and per torrent
* Advanced seeding rules
* Adjustable disk cache
* Only uses one port for all the torrents
* UPnP sets the forward on your router
* Can use a proxy, for both tracker and peer communications
* Fast resume
* Can set a default download dir and move completed files
* Can import torrents automatically from a set dir
* Highly customizable interface
* IRC plugin included for quick help
* Embedded tracker, host your own torrents, automate your shares (periodic scanning of a dir)...
* Distributed Hash Table: host on it a completely decentralized torrent and/or benefit from it when the tracker is offline.
http://azureus.sourceforge.net/

Adware/Spyware/Scumware Remover
SpyBot is one of the only programs to warn that removing adware may disable the ad-supported software it came with. SpyBot detected every spyware program we knew to be on the test systems and left behind few identifiable remnants. Besides finding spyware, SpyBot can check for system problems (faulty Uninstall information, broken links, and so on) and history lists that record information you may not want stored.

My second selection in this category is Ad-aware SE. It's free too and works with all versions of Windows though the free version lacks the active protection.  I use both Spy-Bot and Ad-aware as they tend to find slightly different things. If possible, I suggest you use both as well. 
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ 

Firewall
Two things need to be said about firewalls. First, the number and quality of free products is remarkable. Second, no other single product category seems to cause as much angst to average users in their installation and day-day-use. Comodo Firewall, rated by PC Magazine Online as an Editor's Choice, constantly monitors and defends your PC from internet attacks. It's easy to install and use and passes the industry's most stringent firewall "leak" tests. Unlike some other 'free' firewalls, this is not a stripped down version but is the full, completely functional product. This free solution comes complete with continual updates that are free forever!

http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html

Backup

Losing your valuable files through accidental deletion, hard drive crashes or virus attacks can be devastating. Whether it's the priceless collection of family photographs; the college thesis you've been saving over or the entire accounts database - data loss always carries a disastrously high cost in time, money and stress. Of course, making regular backup copies of your files is a good idea - you'd do it if you knew where to begin, right? What if we told you there's a free, simple to use program that allows you to create, schedule and run your own backups 5 minutes after you've downloaded it? Just pick your source and destination folders, pick the times you want it to run and you're set. From now on, if your data gets lost, damaged or deleted you can quickly recover it at the touch of a button. Comodo BackUp is suitable for both beginners and experienced users alike and is completely free of charge.

http://backup.comodo.com/

Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:

• Record live audio.
• Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
• Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
• Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.

• Change the speed or pitch of a recording.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

foobar2000 MEDIA Player

foobar2000 is an advanced media player for the Windows platform that offers a lot of functionality usually not found in other players. For that  reason it’s a very popular choice among audio enthusiasts. Foobar is not the easiest program to learn, however once you understand it, it’s probably the highest quality player you can use.

http://www.foobar2000.org/index.html

The GIMP - Digital Image Editor
The Gimp is a graphics processing program similar in function to Photoshop and PaintShop PRO. The big difference is that it's free, the others cost big bucks. But don't think free means limited. On the contrary this product can read multiple formats, has filters, textures and color effects to burn and can even handle layers. The latest version, V2.2, is excellent and a huge improvement over its predecessors. The interface is better, drop and drag now works between most applications and there are many more previews. It's a big step forward though it's fair to say the product is still less than intuitive to use. Note you need the 6.9 MB GTK Runtime Environment 2.4.14 or later installed before you install The Gimp. That's just another complication in a complex install procedure that confounds beginners and can even confuse experienced users.

http://www.gimp.org/windows/

One of the many complaints about the GIMP is that of its user interface and how it should be more like Photoshop. Enter GimpShop which turns GIMP's user interface into something more akin to Photoshop for OSX, Linux and Windows too.

http://blog.yumdap.net/archives/20-GIMPshop-for-Windows.html

Paint.NET is image and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Server 2003. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.
It started development at Washington State University as an undergraduate senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it. Originally intended as a free replacement for the MS Paint software that comes with Windows, it has grown into a powerful yet simple tool for photo and image editing.
http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

Digital Photo Organizer and Editor
It’s rare for me to be utterly wowed by a product but this one certainly did it. When you first run Picasa it offers to scan your whole hard drive (or designated locations) for photos and videos. canning is surprisingly quick and when finished you’ll have all your shots neatly organized into folders on a time line basis. Now you can view you shots one at a time, in slideshow or traversing the time line. The editing features are limited compared to professional image editors yet they provide you with every function amateur photographers could conceivably need including one click red eye reduction. Similarly adding labels to photos is a cinch while a simple but effective star rating system allows you to flag favorite snaps. Individual folders can also be password protected. Facilities are provided to import your images from your camera in multiple formats including RAW. You can send photos to your choice of web printing service, cut a CD, print to a local printer or share with others via your own blog or instant messaging. Simply sensational. Windows 98 or later, 300MHz Pentium with 128MB memory or better, 3.2MB.
http://www.picasa.com/

Dia - Drawing Program

Dia is inspired by the commercial Windows program 'Visio', though more geared towards informal diagrams for casual use. It can be used to draw many different kinds of diagrams. It currently has special objects to help draw entity relationship diagrams, UML diagrams, flowcharts, network diagrams, and many other diagrams. It is also possible to add support for new shapes by writing simple XML files, using a subset of SVG to draw the shape.

http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia/

Remote Control Software
Ultr@VNC is a client/server package that allows remote control of another PC using a TCP/IP connection. It works with Windows W9x/NT/2K/XP and offers all the features you need including auto-configuration, easy user interface, extensive hotkeys and embedded file transfer. Apart from the fact that it's free, its strong suite is its speed. Ultr@VNC must be the fastest remote control package I've ever used.  Just the thing for accessing your home PC while traveling, off-site troubleshooting or general network administration.
http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/

VistaStartMenu

Start working with pleasure using Vista Start Menu. It's interface takes into account how the brain processes visual information and turns the start menu into a simple and effective tool. An attractive and efficient alternative to the Start Menu in Microsoft Windows XP and Vista. Vista Start Menu was designed specifically to make it possible to quickly access any information using the keyboard or the mouse.

http://www.vistastartmenu.com/index.html

JkDefrag

JkDefrag is a disk defragment and optimize utility for Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/X64. Completely automatic and very easy to use, fast, low overhead, with several optimization strategies, that can handle floppies and USB disks/sticks. Included are a Windows version, a commandline version (for scheduling by the task scheduler or for use from administrator scripts), a screensaver version, a DLL library (for use from programming languages), and versions for Windows X64.

http://www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

DEXPOT - DESKTOP MANAGER

Windows only: Freeware virtual desktop manager Dexpot provides you with several ways to manage and organize your Windows.

Dexpot lets you preview all desktops. Another cool feature is the Desktop Manager tool, which dynamically changes icons to display the active program on each desktop. But Dexpot's cool features don't stop there.

Add to all of that mad configurability, like desktop rules for what programs get to live on which desktop, pre-defined transparency levels for certain apps/windows, and fully configurable hotkeys and screen edges, and Dexpot will soon become your favorite virtual desktop manager.
http://dexpot.de/index.php?id=produkt

CAD SOFTWARE

Many of my construction and design clients have at one time asked me if I knew of any free CAD software that was compatible with AutoCAD. The Answer is A9CAD from A9TECH Software. A9CAD will allow you to:

Draw, view and edit two-dimensional CAD drawings.

Read and write industry standard DWG and DXF formats.

Issue command or enter input data from Command Line window.

Edit line weight, line type, layer, dimension style and text style.

Modify drawing object via Properties window.

http://www.a9tech.com/products/a9cad/

MoneyDance - Finance Manager for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows

The world's most intuitive personal finance software. Moneydance 2005, the groundbreaking new financial tool is now available for all platforms. Moneydance can be trusted to keep all of your financial information safe, organized, and at your fingertips. After just a few minutes with Moneydance's simple interface and powerful features, you will wonder how you ever got along without it. Imports Quicken Data for an easy transition.

http://www.moneydance.com

FREE OPERATING SYSTEMS - LINUX

SUSE Linux

The openSUSE project is a community program sponsored by Novell. OpenSUSE.org provides free, easy access to the world's most usable Linux distribution. Whether you use your computer to communicate with friends, relatives, or colleagues, manage and enjoy your pictures and music, browse the Internet for the latest news or information, write a report or budget, or host a Personal Web Site or home network, you'll find everything you need in SUSE Linux 10.1. It is the most recent stabilized, fully integrated edition of SUSE Linux. If you are looking for a stable version of Linux to run on your personal computer or home server, this is the best choice.

http://en.opensuse.org/Download

Ubuntu, an underground LINUX hit in the open-source community for more than a year, is free to anyone and is upgraded every six months. Canonical provides free security updates and fixes for 18 months. The company also provides paid technical support. Ubuntu is based on the open-source GNOME desktop environment

Edubuntu, a specialized version of Ubuntu developed for and in collaboration with educators.

Kubuntu, is another specialized version based on another open-source desktop environment, KDE. All versions will be available simultaneously and will support 32- and 64-bit PCs, as well as PowerPCs.