Useful programs and apps

Verified free programs for computers and phones: learning, documents and books, creativity, internet and security, programming, help for teachers and people with special needs. Most are free and open source. Links go only to the developers’ official websites. Programs: 43.

Jump to: Learning and knowledge · Documents and books · Creativity, sound and video · Internet and security · Programming · For teachers and special needs

Click a platform label or “open source” to show only those programs.

Learning and knowledge

• AnkiWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSopen source

  Flashcards with spaced repetition for words, formulas and dates. Free on computers and Android; the iPhone app is paid.

• GeoGebraWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

  Maths apps: graphs, geometry, 3D and probability; they also work offline. Free.

• GComprisWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidopen source

  More than a hundred learning activities for children aged 2 to 10: counting, reading, logic and nature; in many languages.

• Tux PaintWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidopen source

  A simple drawing program for children: brushes, stamps and fun sounds.

• KiwixWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSopen source

  Wikipedia and other reference works offline: download once and read anywhere.

• ZoteroWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSopen source

  Collects sources for study and research and formats bibliographies in the style you need.

• StellariumWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  A planetarium on your computer: the night sky from any place on Earth at any time.

• QGISWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  Software for maps and geodata, from school projects to research.

• Google Earth ProWindowsmacOSLinux

  Google Earth Pro for computers: a 3D globe, historical imagery and measuring distances and areas; free.

• Organic MapsAndroidiOSopen source

  Detailed offline maps for walking, cycling and driving; no ads and no tracking.

Documents and books

• LibreOfficeWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  A full office suite: documents, spreadsheets and presentations; opens and saves Word and Excel files.

• ONLYOFFICE Desktop EditorsWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  An editor for documents, spreadsheets and presentations with a familiar look and good Microsoft Office compatibility.

• JoplinWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSopen source

  Notes and to-do lists that sync between computer and phone through your own cloud storage.

• CalibreWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  An e-book library: reading, converting to the format you need and sending books to an e-reader.

• SumatraPDFWindowsopen source

  A fast, lightweight reader for PDF files, e-books and comics.

• 7-ZipWindowsopen source

  An archiver: unpacks almost any archive and compresses files well.

• Notepad++Windowsopen source

  A text editor for notes and program code with syntax highlighting.

Creativity, sound and video

• GIMPWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  An editor for photos and pictures: retouching, layers and filters.

• InkscapeWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  Vector graphics: logos, diagrams, posters and illustrations.

• KritaWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidopen source

  Digital painting for artists and illustrators: brushes, layers and animation.

• BlenderWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  3D graphics and animation: modelling, video editing and visual effects.

• FreeCADWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  3D design of parts and mechanisms for engineers, students and hobbyists.

• AudacityWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  Recording and editing sound: voice, music and podcasts.

• MuseScoreWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  A music notation editor: write, play back and print scores.

• KdenliveWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  A video editor: cutting, titles, transitions and colour correction.

• OBS StudioWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  Screen recording and live streaming: lessons, presentations and games.

• VLCWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSopen source

  A player for almost any video and audio, including DVDs and internet streams.

Internet and security

• FirefoxWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSopen source

  Mozilla’s browser with built-in tracking protection, for computers and phones.

• Tor BrowserWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidopen source

  A browser for privacy: it hides which websites you visit from others; a non-profit project.

• ThunderbirdWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidopen source

  An email program: several mailboxes in one window, a calendar and encrypted mail.

• BitwardenWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSopen source

  A password manager that keeps your passwords encrypted on all devices; the core is free, a paid plan is available.

• KeePassXCWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  A password manager that keeps its encrypted database only on your own computer.

• SignalWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSopen source

  A messenger with end-to-end encrypted messages and calls; a non-profit project.

• TelegramWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

  A messenger with channels, groups and calls; free, with an optional paid Premium subscription.

• F-DroidAndroidopen source

  A catalogue of free and open-source Android apps; apps with ads or tracking are clearly marked.

Programming

• ScratchWindowsmacOSAndroidopen source

  The Scratch app for computers and tablets: block-based coding without the internet; from MIT, free.

• PythonWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  One of the most popular programming languages, for learning, science and work.

• ThonnyWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  A simple environment for first Python programs; created at the University of Tartu.

• PascalABC.NETWindowsopen source

  A Pascal programming environment for pupils and teachers; in Russian.

• Visual Studio CodeWindowsmacOSLinux

  Microsoft’s code editor with extensions for any programming language; free.

For teachers and special needs

• OpenBoardWindowsmacOSLinuxopen source

  An interactive whiteboard for lessons in class and online; made for schools.

• NVDAWindowsopen source

  A screen reader for blind and visually impaired people: it reads aloud everything on the screen.

• BalabolkaWindows

  Reads texts and books aloud with the voices installed on your system and can save them as audio files. Free.

We do not store or distribute any programs — download them only from the official websites linked above. The “open source” label means the program’s source code is open and it can be used freely. Where parts are paid, the description says so. Links checked on October 23, 2026. Know a good free program? Write to us on WhatsApp.