Free software advice

Free tools we actually recommend

Trusted free tools that cover everyday computing needs — no subscriptions, no bloat. Used and recommended by Traynor.Pro.

Office & Productivity

Write, organise, and communicate without paying for expensive subscriptions.

Google Docs Free

A powerful cloud-based word processor with real-time collaboration, automatic saving, and access from any device. No software to install — just open a browser and start typing. Perfect for anyone who works across multiple devices or shares documents with others.

LibreOffice Free

A full offline office suite — Writer, Calc, Impress, and more — with no subscription fees and solid compatibility with Microsoft Office formats. The best choice if you prefer working without an internet connection and want the full suite installed on your machine.

Mozilla Thunderbird Free

A reliable desktop email client that handles multiple accounts in one place. Great for anyone who manages more than one inbox and prefers their email offline rather than in a browser. Well-maintained, open-source, and very configurable.

Notepad++ Free

The go-to replacement for Windows' built-in Notepad. Handles large files with ease, adds syntax colouring for code and scripts, and can be extended with plugins. A must-have for anyone who regularly edits text files, config files, or basic scripts.

Browsers

Better alternatives to the default — faster, more private, and more respectful of your data.

Mozilla Firefox Free

An open-source, non-profit browser built around privacy and user control. Fast, compatible with virtually every website, and much more privacy-conscious than Chrome out of the box. A solid daily browser for most people — especially those who want to stay away from Google's ecosystem.

Brave Free

Built on Chromium — so it works with all Chrome extensions — but with built-in ad and tracker blocking enabled by default. Noticeably faster on ad-heavy sites and more private without needing to configure anything. A great choice if you're ready to leave Chrome behind.

System & Maintenance

Keep Windows clean, fast, and healthy without spending a penny.

Revo Uninstaller Free

When you uninstall software through Windows, it often leaves behind leftover files and registry entries. Revo cleans all of that up automatically. Essential if you want to keep your PC tidy — especially useful after removing bloatware or trial software that came pre-installed.

CrystalDisk Suite Free

CrystalDiskMark tests your drive's read and write speeds — handy if you're thinking about upgrading to an SSD. CrystalDiskInfo monitors your drive's health and SMART status so you can catch a failing drive before it takes your data with it. Two essential tools, both free.

FlyOOBE Free

A handy open-source utility that helps you skip Windows setup bloat — telemetry, pre-installed apps, and forced Microsoft account sign-in — so your new PC starts cleaner and faster. Ideal to run right after setting up a new machine before anything else gets settled in.

Media & Creative

Play, watch, and create without paying for expensive subscriptions or codec packs.

VLC Media Player Free

The gold standard for free media players. VLC handles almost every video and audio format imaginable — MP4, MKV, AVI, DVD, Blu-ray and more — without needing any extra codec packs. It's been around for over 20 years, it's completely open-source, and it simply works every time.

Kdenlive Free

A fully featured open-source video editor with timeline editing, transitions, effects, and multi-track audio. Strong enough for most YouTube creators and home video projects, without the £300 price tag of professional alternatives. If you're new to video editing, this is where we'd suggest starting.

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