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These are a few of the highlights of our webinar Free & Low-Cost Software Recommendations and how to take advantage of them in the digital age.

These are the 3 main precautions you should consider in evaluating free software:

  1. Consider the source. Ensure that you are downloading the software from a reputable source and always read the fine print!
  2. Run antivirus and antimalware scans. Use these safeguard tools to ensure the validity of the download.
  3. Pay attention to options during installation. Often with “free” software, the developer has included additional options that enable add-ins or other third-party vendor actions you may not need or want.

The free or low-cost software solutions featured are classified in the following 3 groups:

  1. Design & Creativity:
    • Gimp is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image editing.
    • Pixlr is a photo editor that lets you edit photos right in your browser for free.
    • Scribus is free open-source desktop publishing software.
    • PicMonkey is a low-cost online photo editing and design service.
    • Prezi is low-cost virtual presentation software.
    • PowToon is low-cost video and animation software.
    • Audacity is a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software.
    • Lightworks is a free and open-source editor for editing and mastering digital video.
  2. Productivity:
    • Foxit is a low-cost (free trial) PDF editor for document generation and management.
    • LibreOffice is a free and open-source office productivity suite.
    • WPS Office is a free (personal) office productivity suite.
    • Evernote is a free app designed for note taking, organizing, task management, and archiving.
    • Google Keep is a free and open-source note-taking service.
    • GnuCash is free personal and small-business financial accounting software.
    • Mint is a free online budget and money management tool.
  3. Security & Privacy:
    • AVG offers free antivirus software.
    • Avast offers free antivirus software.
    • Comodo is cloud-native cybersecurity software (free trial).
    • ZoneAlarm offers free protection from phishing attacks, malicious downloads, and dangerous websites.
    • LastPass is a free password manager that stores encrypted passwords online.
    • Prey is a free online platform for device tracking, management, and protection.

This and a lot more was covered in our Free & Low-Cost Software Recommendations webinar: