Free Office Software Word, Excel, PowerPoint & others

LibreOffice: Just like MS Office

Updated. Created by the developers of Open Office, LibreOffice is an open source project which includes six programs, and is compatible with many Microsoft documents.

The newest version, 4.0.1, is now available and has had a facelift, making it look and feel much more like its Microsoft counterparts. The programs included in LibreOffice are:

Writer: A word processor, its equivalent of Microsoft Word
Calc: A spreadsheet program, its equivalent of Excel
Impress: Presentation software, its equivalent of Microsoft PowerPoint
Base: A database, its equivalent of Microsoft Access
Draw: A design program, especially useful for flowcharts
Math: A simple equation tool.

Combined, they make for a powerful suite of programs. As an added extra, it includes support for Microsoft's "docx" standard, which most free office software isn't compatible with.

OxygenOffice: OpenOffice with extras

Based on OpenOffice's source code and similar to LibreOffice, OxygenOffice adds a wealth of templates, clipart and photos. In fact, over 3,400 graphics are included, and you also get 90 new fonts and a more detailed help guide. For some people, these extra features will seem like unnecessary bloat, but if you'll use them, it's well worth considering.

Be aware though that, unless you have a decent broadband connection, it's a big file (355MB) and could take a long time to download, and eat heavily into your download allowance.

Microsoft Office Web Apps: Online MS programs

In 2010 Microsoft launched some stripped down online versions of its usual office apps. Its selection of Office Web Apps includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, and is available to anyone with a free Windows Live account. The account also gets you 7GB of storage on the SkyDrive back-up service, which you can use to store documents.

If you're used to the Microsoft packages this is worth a try, but bear in mind these are hobbled versions of the software; Microsoft doesn't want to cannibalise its profitable business of selling the full versions of Office.

ThinkFree: 100% compaitable with MS Office

Almost 100% compatible with Office, ThinkFree is a free online suite which bears a striking resemblance to the official Microsoft software.

It has received glowing reviews all round. It includes the equivalents of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, looks pretty, and most importantly for an online suite, is responsive and simple to navigate.

It also holds a trump card in the way it hides your web browser window when in use, so you can use regular keyboard shortcuts to control it without upsetting your browser. Neat.

Zoho Office Suite: Ideal for simple tasks

This basic-but-superfast package is fine for simple tasks, but if you're going to need advanced features it's best to look elsewhere.

While it offers a wider range of applications than ThinkFree, they aren't as detailed. Zoho stores all your documents in its free online storage space, and allows you to share them with (member) friends via email invitation.

Google Docs: Good for file collaboration

This service has more of an emphasis on collaboration than the other two. The idea here is you can select a few people to work with you on the same document, and they can all see it and make changes in real-time. It includes plenty of useful document, spreadsheet, and presentation templates which you can use to get going.

It's also the most web-oriented, since if you publish one of your Google Docs, you can use all manner of Google's whizzy analytics tools to track its progress too. Google Docs also works in conjunction with Google Drive, so you'll have 5GB of free storage.

CCleaner: Dump the junk

This superfast program cleans up unused files in around a second, getting rid of all the crap (that's what the first "c" stands for - honest) as it goes. CCleaner doesn't run all the time; just have it give your machine a quick spruce up every week to keep it ship shape.

Ultimate Windows Tweaker: Vista & 7 only

Allows you to control all your Windows settings in one place, letting you customise your computer's interface as much or little as you want.

Great for those that like modding, but aren't into coding.

Defraggler: Speed up your hard disk

From Piriform, the same stable as CCleaner, Defraggler is a "defragmenting" tool. Fragments are made when your computer splits up files because there's not enough space in the place they were originally saved. It has a significant effect on performance, since when re-opening these files, your PC has to find two (or more) pieces instead of one. Defragmenters join the pieces together again, thus speeding up the computer.

Windows has its own Disk Defragmenter, which can be found in the System Tools menu, but it takes ages, as it'll only go through your entire hard disk at once. Defraggler can be used to do the job on a smaller scale: just choose files and it'll process them in a few seconds.

IMGBurn: Perfect for making DVDs, CDs etc

If you need to burn disk images on DVDs, Blu-rays and the like but don't want to be besieged by millions of options, IMGBurn is a good bet. Skip its advanced mode and you've a fairly foolproof tool which seldom wastes your CDs.

StuffIt Expander: Compression tool for Macs

While OSX is perfectly capable of packing/unpacking .zip files, if you want to open or use the wealth of other compressed file types out there, you'll need a third-party expander.

Smith Micro's free version of StuffIt fills this void perfectly, and offers a simple drag-and-drop interface which works just as well as any paid-for version, so you can focus on more exciting things, like, erm, anything.

Quicksilver: Speed up your Mac's productivity

If you've got the time to learn it, Quicksilver is a clever productivity tool which'll allow you to launch applications, files and folders without taking your hands off the keyboard.

Many more advanced features mean it can totally change the way you use your computer for the better (and faster), and plug-ins extend its capability yet further. Read Lifehacker's Beginners' Guide to see if it's for you.

SuperCal: Improve your Mac's display for free

It's worth trying out SuperCal even if you think your display looks fine. It's a display calibrator which can clean up the image you see on screen by tailoring your computer's output to the characteristics of the monitor you're using.

The results should be better tonal colour gradients, clearer text, and better long-term eyesight for you.

Ninite: Quickly install a raft of freebies

Designed for when you reinstall your operating system and want to get up to speed quickly, Ninite installs a whole range of top free software in one package.

Just go to its site and tick the boxes for the software you want, and it'll install as many or as few as you choose. Everything is neatly categorised, so it's a good place to get the basics together quickly.

Zamzar: Free file converter

This is a nifty, user-friendly site which can convert over 100 types of media file formats between each other. So, if you've a CV document from Word, and you'd like to make it a PDF instead, you simply put in your email address, upload the file to convert, and choose ".PDF" in the drop-down box.

Zamzar will do the hard work, and then email you a link to download the new file. One thing though, since it stores your files online before conversion, it's not advisable to use it to convert sensitive documents.

Paint.net: Probably all you'll need

The beauty of basic-yet-surprisingly-powerful Paint.net is if you've used the simple Paint program that comes with Windows, then you'll be able to navigate it with no problems.

It's the most straightforward program to use for basic image cropping and editing, and will optimise images for quick loading on the web too. In short, if you only need the basics, Paint.net should be your first port of call.

The Gimp: Advanced image editing

If you're looking for a PhotoShop equivalent, oddly-named The Gimp is probably the closest you'll get.

Now in version 2.8, it offers powerful editing and filtering tools for photos and graphics, and is further boosted by a range of free add-ons.

For an insight into its capabilities and how it works, check out the screenshots hosted on its site.

Inkscape: fun with vectors

Inkscape is a free program similar in operation to Adobe Illustrator or Corel Xara.

It's made for building "scalable vector graphics" - the ones which remain perfectly sharp no matter how much you zoom in or out, making them ideal for serious design work.

Google Sketchup: Simple 3D modelling

If you're planning an extension to your house, or are simply redecorating, Google's free Sketchup tool makes it relatively easy to build an accurate 3D model to work from.

There are plenty of video tutorials to set you on the right track, and once you've used it a few times, you'll be impressing everybody with your designs.

Pro AutoDesk software: Free for students

Students can get AutoDesk's computer-aided design software free for three years simply by registering.

The package includes over 30 AutoDesk products, including AutoCAD which retails at over £5,000! These are the most common computer aided design packages in almost all design, mechanical and engineering industries and are used in everything from mechanical engineering design to urban planning.

You get full functionality for three years provided it's not used for commercial purposes.

Any student or teacher with an ac.uk email address can sign up to the AutoDesk Education Community where you download the software, as well as access forums, support and content sharing. It doesn't matter if you are part-time or about to graduate.

Please note, some of this software will come with built-in features to prevent its use commercially, such as a stamp on any print-outs.

Live photo gallery: Photo organiser

Photo Gallery, part of Microsoft's "SkyDrive" suite, is an application for photo storage and online editing. It's very similar in use to Google's Picasa below, but seems notably faster and adds a couple of extra features.

Which you choose is likely to depend mostly on whether you've a Hotmail or Gmail account, and which behemoth's products you like most.

See the Free Online Storage Services guide for more info on SkyDrive.

Picasa: The Google equivalent

Google's photo organiser, Picasa, also offers a wealth of photo editing, storage and back-up options, and makes navigating ill-organised photos scattered around your computer more straightforward than the Live offering above.

It can be used in conjunction with Google Drive. See the Free Online Storage Services guide for more info on Google Drive.

Phoenix: Feature-rich online editing

If you need a more professional suite, but haven't time to download and install software, this tool from brilliant online software makers Aviary could be just the ticket.

Anyone with Photoshop experience will be instantly familiar with its interface, and the amount that can be achieved without installing a thing is pretty awe-inspiring.

PagePlus: Easy to use DTP

Part of the free suite of Serif programs, PagePlus is the most user-friendly desktop publishing program we've come across, and can yield some fairly professional results.

The company hopes that after using it, or the other free applications, you'll spend £13 on the full version, which has extra features.

Scribus: More complex and powerful

An acclaimed open source desktop publishing program, Scribus offers features usually only found on more expensive suites like MS Publisher or InDesign, such as CYMK colour and ICC colour management.

If that means nothing to you, but you want to make a professional magazine, then download this and read some of the detailed free tutorials. Also available for Linux.

Audacity: Pro wave editing

Audacity is a proper wave editing and recording program. It lets you record audio, add effects, and even create your own soundscapes from scratch.

It's not the most user-friendly tool, but its power more than makes up for this.

Levelator: Podcast powerhouse

Designed for podcasters, the sole purpose of Levelator is to normalise audio files and make them sound crisper. There's no way to change its settings, you just drag audio files into the program and it does its thing, making all but the most appalling recordings listenable.

Picard: Organise pesky "unknown" MP3s

If you've got hundreds of untitled MP3 tracks on your machine, Picard will analyse them and add all the relevant artist/title info for those that match tracks in its database, saving you the hassle.

It also offers a wealth of other options for keeping your collection organised.

Media Monkey: Sidestep iTunes

While iTunes is a necessity for most of us, the sheer number of features it now offers means there are far more streamlined music library options available, especially on Windows machines, where iTunes is especially slow.

Media Monkey offers the ability to manage iDevices without iTunes, and some find it far more useful (and less salesy) than Apple's offering.

It's also worth checking out FooBar2000 and Songbird (also available for mobiles) if you'd rather have a lightweight music library solution.

VLC: Plays EVERYTHING

Another of the free software greats, VLC Player is the most widely compatible media player available.

It seems no matter how esoteric a music or video format you throw at it is, it's got it covered. Plus, nowadays it's using more and more hardware acceleration to make proceedings more snappy too.

Flip4Mac: Upgrade Quicktime on your Mac

Like it or not, if you watch video content online, you'll come across plenty of Windows Media .wmv files, which Quicktime doesn't natively support.

The previous solution was to download Microsoft's basic Windows Media Player for Mac, but thankfully you can now just get Flip4Mac, a plug-in for Quicktime which allows it to play these files.

Videora Converter: For video iPodders

Videora converts a range of formats, including the ever-popular DivX, into files playable by iPods and other Apple products, meaning you needn't buy all your video content direct from iTunes after all.

Several versions are available, so make sure you find the right one for your player.

Handbrake: As above

Like the Videora converter for Windows, in essence Handbrake's a DVD to MP4 converter which makes files playable on a portable media player.

It's better than Videora in its support for the likes of Dolby Digital and multi-track audio, and also runs really rather fast.

AudioTag: Identifies songs

Upload a sample or link to a web-hosted snippet of the song (15 seconds will do), and AudioTag will identify it.

Myna: Multitrack online sequencer/editor

Aviary software's beautiful Myna suite allows you to create music from the comfort of your web browser. It's worth a look if you've a speedy web connection and a bit of experience with digital audio workstations.

It's unlikely to take on the likes of GarageBand or Ableton just yet, but it's still an impressive showcase of what can be achieved in a web interface.

Skype

Skype barely needs inclusion here as you probably already have it installed (or it's pre-installed on your device).

There are other VoIP services available which are dedicated to internet calling, and there are certainly cheaper ones for calling landlines and mobiles. But for straight PC-to-PC calls, Skype's still the leader, simply because it's the most popular.

Trillian Astra

Clever tool Trillian allows you to keep track of all your instant messaging and social networking conversations from one centralised location.

It looks like any number of the IM clients you're probably familiar with, and has a straightforward interface, plus all manner of handy features, like instant URL-shortening for Tweeters.

Adium

If you're a Mac user and your online social life includes more than one instant messaging program, Adium X's a neat way of combining them all in one easy-to-use window.

It supports AIM, Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter and MSN among others. It's also highly customisable with add-ons aplenty.

Osalt

Osalt is a software database with a difference, as it only lists open source equivalents to commercial programs. You just tell it which commercial program you want, and it'll list the free programs which are most similar to it.

Sourceforge

Sourceforge is another open source software database, this time in regular search-to-find style.

Download.com

Cnet's Download.com hosts practically all the programs listed in this guide, and is certified virus-free. It also reviews the bigger programs and charts the most popular ones, so it's well worth a browse.

FileHippo

A user-friendly and well-organised site, FileHippo catalogues browsers, firewalls, audio tools, DVD tools and more. It also promises no pop-ups when you visit the site.

SnapFiles

A bit slicker than FileHippo, SnapFiles has the added bonus of user reviews and feedback, though it can be hard to find what you're looking for.

Tucows

Like Snapfiles, Tucows includes its own and users' ratings and also has sections for Linux and Mac users.