101 Free Online Alternatives to Popular Desktop Software

Many of us are quite familiar with the suites of office tools that come with our computers, and in fact, we use them every day for a wide variety of word processing tasks. However, the Web offers many free online alternatives to these (sometimes quite pricey) software packages that work just as well or better than their offline equivalents. Here are one hundred and one free online alternatives to popular desktop software packages, ranging from slideshows to email managers to document creation to file management.

Backdrop: Jamie Farrant/iStock Vectors/Getty Images

1.  Word Processing

• Google Docs: Free online office suite that offers document processing, spreadsheets, even work collaboration.
• Acrobat: Create PDF files, convert files, and make forms.
• PDFescape: Free PDF form editor within your browser; can also use it to fill in PDF forms online.
• OpenOffice: Free open source productivity package that is similar to Microsoft Office.
• AbiWord: Simple word processing program; multiple people can collaborate on one project.
• Zoho: A free online word processor that works within your Web browser. Share, collaborate, edit, create.
• NumSum: Create and share Web spreadsheets.
• Writer: Simple writing utility meant to encourage concentration and focus.
• CKEditor: Web-based text editor.
• NeoOffice: Full office suite for Mac users.

2.  Communication

• Meebo: Centralized dashboard for several different instant messaging programs.
• TokBox: Live group video chat anywhere, anytime.
• faxZERO: A free fax tool you can use on your computer (covered more fully in Five Ways to Send a Free Fax Online).
• Google Voice: A centralized online space for phone calls and voice messages.
• OoVoo: Free video chat from mobile to mobile, mobile to computer; up to six people at once.
• eBuddy: Web-based instant messaging that works on any computer; integration of all popular chat programs.
• Pidgin: Instant messaging plugin for simultaneous chat networks.
• Trillian: Chat client for computer and phone.

3.  Presentations

• Sliderocket: Easy to use with many of the same features as PowerPoint.
• Prezi: Create high quality presentations completely online.
• ScreenCastle: Free screencast recorder you can use to film activity within your browser.
• Vcasmo: Multimedia presentation tool with a wide variety of interactive features.
• Empressr: Presentations with photo, music, audio, and video; can embed anywhere on the Web.
• Animoto: Slideshows from videos and photos.
• Flixtime: Video slideshows with sophisticated graphics.
• PhotoPeach: Free slideshow utility.
• SlideShare: Share your presentations with others.
• Screenr: Instant screencasts with a Web-based screen recorder.
• Storify: Make slideshows using social media content.
• Vuvox: Produce videos using your own multimedia.

4.  Security

• ESET Online Virus Scanner: Finds and removes threats; not intended as a full security suite, but a good option.
• LastPass: Keeps track of all your passwords in one convenient, secure location.
• VirusTotal: Identifies suspicious files or URLs.
• ClamXAV: Free virus scanner for Mac computers.
• Virscan: Free Web-based file scanner; upload a file and it will scan it for infections.
• Avira: Free antivirus protection program for home computers.
• Avast: Free protection against viruses and spyware.
• AVG Rescue CD: Helps you identify deep-rooted virus/spyware infections and get your computer working again.
• MalwareBytes: Scans your computer for spyware, malware, and viruses.
• Microsoft Security Essentials: Free antivirus protection from Microsoft.

5.  Image and Video Management and Manipulation

• Aviary: Similar to Photoshop; all sorts of image manipulation/editing tools here.
• JayCut: A free online video editor.
• Splashup: Free image editor and photo manager.
• SmugMug: Free photo management tool.
• Vixy: Download videos and convert them into playable formats for your computer.
• Miro: Converts video files for playback on computers and mobile devices.
• Talon: Instant screenshot utility; also available as a Google Chrome extension.
• GIMP: Offers many of the same features as Adobe Photoshop; free image editing program.
• Pixlr: Online photo editor with menu of advanced effects.
• Rsizr: Re-sizes images fast.
• FotoFlexer: Advanced Web-based photo editor.
• Picnik: Browser-based photo editor with menu of special effects.

6.  Organizational Tools

• Evernote: Jot notes, take pictures, and organize your thoughts and online life in one place.
• Springpad: Save, organize, and remind yourself with Springpad's easy to use interface.
• Toodledo: Type in what your day looks like, and Toodledo organizes it into a personalized to-do list.
• Toggl: Tracks time spent on task so you can more easily bill it.
• iClippy: Captures data from anything you copy and paste (text, video, images) and puts it in one convenient place.
• Zootool: Organizes all your Web bookmarks into a searchable index.
• MyNoteIt: Geared towards students; a great way to organize notes and share with others.
• Remember the Milk: Management of all online or offline tasks.

7.  Calculators, Graphs, and Financial Management

• Mint: Similar to Quicken, Mint offers one of the most robust financial management dashboards on the market.
• Instacalc: For any mathematical computation you might need. Includes scientific notations.
• Gliffy: Create free diagrams, graphs, flowcharts, and technical drawings.
• Web 2.0 Calc: Scientific calculator with standard functions.
• Create a Graph: Easy online graphs for simple projects.
• GnuCash: Free accounting software for home and business use.
• Hourly Rate Calculator: Helpful for freelancers who are trying to figure out how much to bill clients.
• Buxfer: Free online money management with an intuitive dashboard.
• Yodlee: Track spending, pay bills, and control your budget.
• eCalc: Scientific calculator available online and as a download.

8.  File Management, File Sharing, File Conversion, and File Organization

• WobZip: Unzip compressed files, either from your computer or online.
• Zamzar: Fantastic tool for file conversion with dozens of file formats available.
• WebFTPer: Browser-based FTP (file transfer protocol) tool; manage your website files from anywhere with an Internet connection.
• Movavi: Free file conversion tool that converts multiple files at the same time (limited file size/length).
• Ubikuo: Storage of online notes available anywhere with an Internet connection.
• Dropbox: Free file hosting service that allows users to access their files from anywhere.
• eSnips: Upload, share, or download files, photos, videos, or music.
• Mediafire: Free hosting and sharing for any file.
• YouConvertIt: Free file conversion for wide variety of file types.

9.  Project Management and Project Collaboration

• Pirate Pad: Streamlined notepad application that enables anyone anywhere to collaborate on a project in real time.
• Mindmeister: Free brainstorming tool with collaborative features; free but does include tiered pricing options for more features.
• Bubbl.us: Highly functional brainstorming tool that can be used in tandem with other people.
• Mindomo: Collaborative mind-mapping tool; real time sharing and file uploads.
• Meeting Wizard: Arrange and schedule meetings between multiple people groups.
• Writeboard: Collaborative web-based text document creator/editor.
• Vyew: Free real time meetings, collaboration, annotations.

10.  Lists, Calendars, and Productivity Tools

• 30 Boxes: Track birthdays, friends, and tasks with this interactive calendar tool.
• TaDa List: Web-based list maker; make lists and share lists.
• Monkey On Your Back: A to-do list for what you would like other people to get done.
• TimeXChange: Task tracking with time/project features.
• Todoist: Personal project tracking and management.
• Tom's Planner: Personal project management via charts.
• Evernote: Organize your notes, photos, videos, etc. in one place for easy access.
• LiveBinders: Collect online "resources" and organize them easily.
• Doodle: Create and manage events for multiple participants.
• Upcoming: Track event calendars in your local area.
• Google Calendar: Make multiple calendars, share events, track workflow.

Source: http://websearch.about.com/od/web20officealternatives/tp/101-Free-Online-Alternatives-To-Popular-Desktop-Software.htm

The Best Free Antivirus for 2015 -PCMAG.COM

By Neil J. Rubenking, June 23, 2015

Relying on Windows's built-in antivirus for protection is a big mistake. Luckily, you can get an upgrade without paying a cent.
Independent Lab Antivirus Test Results
Around the world, researchers at independent antivirus testing labs spend their days putting antivirus tools to the test. Some of these labs regularly release public reports on their findings. I follow six such labs closely: AV-Comparatives, AV-Test Institute, Dennis Technology Labs, ICSA Labs, Virus Bulletin, and West Coast Labs.
Security companies typically pay for the privilege of being included in testing. Doing so also gets them detailed reports that can help improve their products. The number of labs that include a particular vendor serves as a measure of significance. In each case, the lab considered the product important enough to test, and the vendor felt the price was worthwhile. The labs don't necessarily test a vendor's free product, but most vendors pack full protection into the free product, enhancing premium versions with additional features.
I've worked out a system for aggregating lab results, yielding a lab score from 0 to 5, or N/A if there just isn't enough data. Recently a couple of vendors have come under fire for sending a version for testing that's not what customers get and for weakening protection in order to ace performance tests. Of course we believe that the product supplied for testing should be precisely what customers get, and that it should be designed to maximize protection, not tweaked to pass tests.
 
PCMag Antivirus Test Results
In addition to carefully perusing results from the independent labs, I also run my own hands-on malware blocking test. I expose each antivirus to a collection of malware samples, including one ransomware sample, and note its reaction. Typically the antivirus will wipe out most of the samples on sight, and detect some of the remaining ones when I try to launch them. I derive a malware blocking score from 0 to 10 points based on how thoroughly the antivirus protects the test system from these samples.
Since I use the same samples month after month, the malware-blocking test definitely doesn't measure a product's ability to detect brand-new threats. In a separate test, I attempt to download malware from 100 very new malicious URLs, typically less than four hours old. I note whether the antivirus blocked all access to the URL, wiped out the malicious payload during download, or did nothing. 

Useful Features
Just about every antivirus product scans files on access to make sure malware can't launch, and also scans the entire system on demand, or on a schedule you set. The one exception in the current collection is a tool aimed very specifically at detecting attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in the operating system or applications. That tool, Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free, is designed for use in conjunction with a regular antivirus.
Blocking all access to malware-hosting URLs is a nice way to avoid trouble. Many products extend that protection to also steer users away from fraudulent websites, phishing sites that try to steal login credentials. A few rate links in search results, flagging any dangerous or iffy ones.
Behavior-based detection, a feature of some antivirus products, is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it can detect malware that's never been seen before. On the other hand, if it's not done right, it can baffle the user with messages about perfectly legitimate programs.
One easy way to keep your PC protected is to install all security updates, both for Windows and for browsers and other popular applications. Scanning for vulnerabilities in the form of missing updates is a feature most often found in commercial antivirus products, but it does turn up in some free ones. Other useful bonus features include preventing USB-based malware attacks, scanning for router weaknesses, and cleaning up traces of browsing history. In the chart above you can see which products include these useful features.

What's Not Here
This article reports only on free antivirus products that received at least a good rating in our reviews—the best products. Among those that didn't make the cut is Microsoft Security Essentials / Windows Defender. All of the independent labs I follow do include Microsoft in testing, but most use it as a baseline. If a product can't do better than the baseline, it's got real problems. My aggregate lab score for Microsoft comes to zero stars. Zero stars! In addition, it performed poorly in all of my hands-on tests.
There are also numerous free antivirus utilities that work solely to clean up existing malware infestations. You bring out these cleanup-only tools when you have a nasty malware infestation. When the problem's gone, they have no further use, since they offer no ongoing protection. Our Editors' Choice in this category is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 2.0, and it's definitely one you should try if you've got a malware problem. But since they're free, you can keep trying others if the first one doesn't do the job. When the scare is over, you'll need a full-blown antivirus for ongoing protection.

What's Best
Our current Editors' Choice for free antivirus utility is Panda Free Antivirus 2015. Panda gets very good scores from the independent labs, and in our own tests as well. It also includes some useful bonus features. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (2014) is good, too, though Bitdefender's commercial edition is significantly better. As always, given that these products are free you can shop around, try several to see which suits you best.

Panda Free Antivirus 2015
Free
Panda Free Antivirus 2015 scores on par with the best commercial antivirus tools, both in our hands-on tests and independent labs tests. It's a new Editors' Choice for free antivirus. Read the full review ››

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Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (2014)
Free
You'll hardly know Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (2014) is present on your system, unless it quashes a problem. Its tiny main window and unobtrusive style are great if you want a strong, silent, and free antivirus solution. Read the full review ››

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Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free
Free
Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Free shields your browsers against exploit attacks, even never-before-seen zero-day attacks. Give this unusual, free security tool a try. Read the full review ››

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Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11
Free
The folks at Lavasoft gave Ad-Aware Free Antivirus+ 11 a total user-interface makeover and a new antivirus engine partner. The user interface is truly pleasing, a nice change. However, the product lost a little ground in malware blocking. Read the full review ››

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Avast Free Antivirus 2015
Free
The new home router security check in Avast Free Antivirus 2015 is brilliant; this area has been totally overlooked by most vendors. However, the product's central antivirus protection is just average. Read the full review ››

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AVG AntiVirus Free 2015
Free
AVG AntiVirus Free 2015 has a new look, and its Web TuneUp tool enhances browser security. It's a very good choice for free antivirus. Read the full review ››

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Qihoo 360 Total Security Essential
Free
Qihoo 360 Total Security Essential scores very well in our hands-on tests and in tests by independent labs, but only if you change its default configuration to enable all antivirus engines. Read the full review ››

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Comodo Antivirus 8
Free
Comodo Antivirus 8 offers decent antivirus protection and a whole raft of advanced security features. However, those advanced features are probably too complex for the average user. Read the full review ››

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FortiClient 5.0
Free
Although it's designed to work with a network appliance, FortiClient 5.0 also functions as a standalone antivirus, with parental control and VPN client thrown in. And it's free! Read the full review ››


Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388652,00.asp