The Windows operating system does not provide programs with special tasks by default. We need to install professional software from third-party sources. Most Windows software requires a paid subscription. To avoid these fees, I found a free alternative to high-priced Windows software. This guide will walk you through these alternative programs I use.

Table of contents

• 1. BleachBit
• 2. Bulk Crap Uninstaller
• 3. Google Docs
• 4. GIMP
• 5. Kdenlive
• 6. Audacity
• 7. 7-Zip

1. BleachBit

I used BleachBit instead of CCleaner Pro. Although CCleaner has a free version, the deep cleanup feature requires a paid subscription. BleachBit is a free alternative to CCleaner that can be used to clean up your Windows computer.

BleachBit improves computer performance by cleaning browser data, temporary files related to your computer, backup files, and everything you don't need to run your computer.

Microsoft does not recommend using programs that clean or adjust registry items. BleachBit meets this requirement because it does not access the registry in any way. While I can use built-in tools to clean and restore C disk space, I have to run the command manually to overwrite the free space. Even using CCleaner's drive erase function, this is a manual process, and BleachBit will automatically overwrite the data after cleaning the computer.

2. Bulk Crap Uninstaller

To uninstall programs or bloat software that comes with Windows, I use Bulk Crap Uninstaller (BCUninstaller). It is an alternative to paid programs such as Revo Uninstaller. It allows me to find all the programs installed on my computer, select them, and choose to uninstall those programs that I think are useless.

When I uninstall the program using BCUninstaller it also searches for the remaining files and provides the option to delete. This reduces the hassle of manually cleaning these files.

The filtering options in BCUninstaller make it easy to find and delete unnecessary programs. Using filters, I can hide Microsoft programs, necessary system components, Windows Store applications, etc. and find programs that are safely uninstalled.

Also, I can easily find programs that may be harmful as they are listed in different colors in BCUninstaller.

3. Google Docs

Subscribing to Microsoft 365 is a great choice, but I prefer to use another free Windows software alternative, Google Docs. While I can use the Microsoft 365 web app for free, Google Docs has no pressure to subscribe to use all the features, which is perfect for me.

The first thing that made me choose Google Docs was its accessibility on my computer and phone. I can access my documents seamlessly, whether on a computer or on the move. By contrast, Microsoft 365 requires me to log in with my Microsoft account alone.

As we all know, Google provides 15 GB of free storage for each Gmail account. This gives me extra space to create more documents and store them for a long time. The 5 GB of free storage provided with your Microsoft/Outlook account will soon fill up with documents, emails, and attachments.

Tip: If you need to use a standalone program on your computer, use LibreOffice instead of Microsoft 365 applications.

4. GIMP

I use GIMP as a free alternative to expensive Adobe Photoshop. In addition to neural filters and AI functions, GIMP has all the functions of Photoshop. I was able to color correction on images, add text and improve the appearance on GIMP.

In addition, Adobe Photoshop takes up a lot of system resources, and many processes such as Adobe Creative Cloud run in the background. GIMP uses less system resources and does not cause the computer to slow down or hang.

5. Kdenlive

The videos I edited require simple transitions, titles, tracking and some video stabilization requirements. To do this, I moved from Premiere Pro to Kdenlive, a free video editor. It uses fewer resources and can run on low-end computers, unlike the resource-intensive Adobe Premiere Pro.

I've tried other free video editors but found that they are incomplete. Some lack the intuitiveness of professional programs, some lack regular updates, and some lack features that make videos better, such as tracking tools. Kdenlive has all these features and can handle many video and audio formats.

Kdenlive has an active developer community around the world that improves it every day without making it difficult to run on any computer.

6. Audacity

I sometimes edit audio for the videos I make. Editing requires removing background noise, adjusting audio levels, and making the vocals sound better by removing noise, adding bass, etc. Audacity is the perfect program for any audio editing from basic to professional level.

I can record vocals and use gaps in the track to let the Audacity program understand the possible noise in my recording environment, and then remove the noise with a few clicks. No matter what I want to do with audio recording, Audacity has its corresponding features.

When I have trouble finding a feature or learning how to use Audacity for certain audio effects, I can easily find tutorials online due to its huge user base.

7. 7-Zip

For all my compression and file archiving needs on my computer, I use 7-Zip, which is a lightweight program that works well on my computer.

I used other programs like WinRAR a few years ago and got tired of seeing their popups every time I tried to archive. 7-Zip works quietly when I need it or I don't feel it exists.

To archive a folder, I just right-click on it and select Archive with 7-Zip. It won't open the 7-Zip file manager to complete the task - just a small window is enough to see the progress.

Working quietly in the background, with better compression and archive functionality when I need it, the ability to set passwords and compress large files into multiple smaller files, all of which make 7-Zip the default archiver on my computer.

Summarize

I am an advocate of free software. I also hate finding paid programs running a lot of processes in the background and causing my laptop to run slower. If you are looking for a free Windows software alternative that performs better on a low-end computer, start with these seven.

Image source: Unsplash. All screenshots are courtesy of Guru Prasad.

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