I looked for the top free and better apps for Windows that can easily replace the natively built-in ones. While this is a growing – and potentially long – list, we kick it off with four of my favorites.
What are the top free and better apps for Windows?
Naturally, this depends on your individual needs and preferences. For me, it’s all about increasing my own productivity. Assuming that I am working on the right things – i.e., I am effective – this shifts the focus to doing these things better and faster by increasing my efficiency.
I have been using Windows since version 2.1. Even then, it came with a bunch of built-in tools and accessories. They were not great then and are not as good as they could be today.
Over the years – or rather decades – I tried many alternatives. Here are my current picks for the top free and better apps for Windows.
If you prefer watching over reading, you may like these videos:
IrfanView
My Take
One of the first things I always install on my PC is an alternative to the native Windows Photos app. My choice is to use IrfanView.
IrfanView has been around for more than 25 years and is a must-have application for millions of Windows users. It is a very capable image viewer and organizer in itself, and with the additional plugins, it gets even more powerful. Both, the core application and the plugins are completely free to use.
Features
IrfanView’s main characteristics are nicely summarized on its web page. It is
- amazingly compact and fast
- compatible with any Windows version as of XP
- available for 32 and 64-bit systems
- translated into multiple languages
- simple but powerful
There are many good reasons to use IrfanView. Here are my top 3.
-
Speed & Stability
IrfanView is fast, lightweight, and reliable. Viewing and editing images is highly efficient.
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Frequent Updates
After 25 years, IrfanView is still getting updated - and fast.
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Plugins & Community
An active community built - and maintains - a good collection of additional plugins. For free.
- Single image viewing and editing
- Supports all common image formats
- Provides basic editing and annotation tools
- Powerful batch editing (conversion, rename, etc.)
- Thumbnail viewer for browsing image folders
- Slightly outdated User Interface
Pricing
One-time Fee
0
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
VLC Media Player
My Take
Moving on from pictures to moving images. Instead of the default Windows Movies & TV app, I prefer the free alternative VLC media player.
With more than 64 million downloads, this is clearly not just my go-to application for consuming video and audio content.
Another thing I do frequently with VLC is to convert media content. This can be a simple conversion e.g. from mkv to mp4 or the extraction of a video’s audio tracks only.
Features
While I use VLC on Windows, it is also available on
- Linux
- Mac OS X
- Unix
- iOS
- Android
There are many good reasons to use VLC Media Player. Here are my top 3.
-
Speed & Stability
VLC is no burden on your system at all. It's probably one of the leanest media players you can find.
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Supported Formats
VLC's website claims that they play all formats. I did not verify that, but I have yet to find one it does not play.
-
More than Viewing
VLC allows you to convert media files from one format to another without any further tools.
- Play practically any media file
- Low system requirements
- Media file conversion
- Stream online content
- Support for subtitle files
- Nothing to see here
Pricing
One-time Fee
0
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
Notepad++
My Take
Let’s switch a bit from content consumption to content creation. This brings us to another classic: Notepad++.
This is a lightweight yet powerful text editor. While its main strength is the support of various file types and programming languages, it is also a great replacement for the native Windows Notepad.
Features
Notepad++ offers
- light and dark themes
- plenty of built-in options for efficient text and code editing
- 32-bit and 64-bit versions
- a portable version
- great flexibility for customizing how your code shall be displayed
- tons of free plugins
There are many good reasons to use Notepad++. Here are my top 3.
-
Speed & Stability
Notepad++ opens as fast - or faster - as Windows Notepad and faster than Visual Studio Code.
-
Multi Document Interface
Notepad++ allows you to have multiple files open at the same time without having to run it multiple times.
-
Customizability
You can easily modify any settings - e.g., for syntax highlighting - and create your own User Defined Language.
- Fast despite low system requirements
- Feature rich
- Very active community
- Frequent updates
- Optimized for efficient code editing
- User Interface takes some getting used to
Pricing
Notepad++ and its community contributions are free. No registration is required.
ShareX
My Take
ShareX is a screen capture, file sharing, and productivity tool. It has been around for more than 14 years. And for good reason. It is lightweight, never in your way, and always there when you need it. It has never been easier to take screenshots of a selected region, window, or screen.
Features
ShareX lets you
- capture full screens, windows, or custom regions
- annotate your captures quickly and easily
- share captures as files or links
- customize hotkeys and post-capture workflows
There are many good reasons to use ShareX. Here are my top 3.
-
Integration
After the initial configuration, ShareX is invisible until you need it. And then you get its full power with a single click.
-
Capture Annotation
The built-in editing tool lets you annotate your captures quickly and easily. Ideal for creating quick instructional screen shots.
-
Sharing
Apart from just copying the capture to your clipboard, ShareX lets you upload the capture, create a shortened link, and copy the link to your clipboard with just two clicks.
- Flexibility in capturing what you want
- Powerful annotation editor
- Seamless integration into Windows and 3rd party services (e.g., Twitter, cloud storage)
- Additional tools (e.g., color picker, measuring tool)
- Powerful post-capture workflows
- Initial configuration may take some time, if you really want to benefit from everything, ShareX has to offer
Pricing
One-time Fee
0
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
BC Uninstaller
My Take
BC Uninstaller is a free bulk program uninstaller with advanced automation, removing not only programs but also Microsoft Store applications, games installed via 3rd party software like Steam, and even applications where the uninstaller is damaged or missing.
Features
BC Uninstaller
- makes uninstalling programs and applications fast and easy
- removes any leftovers that are often missed by Windows’ default uninstaller
- lets you uninstall multiple programs at once
There are many good reasons to use BC Uninstaller. Here are my top 3.
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Speed
It has never been faster to uninstall multiple programs than with the "quiet uninstall" option in BC Uninstaller
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Effectiveness
If you uninstall software, you also want to get rid of any leftovers. BC Uninstaller does this very well.
-
Safety
You are prompted to set a restore point before uninstallation starts and to make a backup of your registry before cleaning it up.
- Super clean uninstallation
- Fast and quiet uninstallation process
- Remove multiple programs and apps at once
- Portable version (no installation required)
- Crowded user interface
- A bit of a learning curve to utilize BCU's full power
Pricing
One-time Fee
0
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
EarTrumpet
My Take
EarTrumpet is a powerful volume control app for Windows. You can install it from the Microsoft Store. Once done, you will see its icon in your systray.
Features
- quick access to volume settings
- adjust volume per device and source
There are many good reasons to use EarTrumpet. Here are my top 3.
-
More control
EarTrumpet is perfect for controlling individual sound sources and not just devices
-
Ease of access
Getting to the settings takes fewer clicks than with the default Windows option
-
Look & Feel
EarTrumpet feels like it is an integral part of the Windows UI, not like an additional app.
- Lightweight and stable app
- portable version (no installation required)
- Nothing to see here
Pricing
One-time Fee
0
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
WizTree
My Take
Strictly speaking, we are now moving on to applications that don’t replace native Windows ones but add functionality, that really should be a part of Windows by default.
The first of these applications is WizTree, which claims to be the fastest disk space analyzer. While I cannot vouch for that, I can confirm that it is really fast, easy to use, and free without any ads or bloatware.
Features
- super fast disk analysis
- a detailed breakdown of disk usage
- visualized overview of disk usage
- portable version (no installation required)
There are many good reasons to use WizTree. Here are my top 3.
-
Find Clutter
With WizTree you can quickly find what files are consuming most of your disk space
-
Remove Clutter
Once identified, you can easily jump to Windows Explorer and delete/archive these files.
-
Speed
WizTree scans your disk within a couple of seconds and its user interface is snappy, too.
- Fast and easy disk analysis
- Integration with Windows Explorer
- Detailed numbers and graphical overview
- portable version (no installation required)
- Nothing to see here
Pricing
One-time Fee
0
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
QuickLook
My Take
The next application also belongs in the category of features that Windows should have. QuickLook does exactly what the name suggests. It allows you to quickly – really quickly – view the most common file types with a single keystroke. Install it, let it run in the background, and you are good to go.
Features
- supports most common file types out of the box
- plugins available for additional file types
- instant viewing of file contents – or properties
- works with Window Explorer (duh) and Total Commander
There are many good reasons to use QuickLook. Here are my top 3.
-
Instant Viewing
Regardless of file type and (almost) file size, QuickLook views files instantly
-
Single Key Activation
Just hit [SPACE] to open/close the viewer
-
Plugins
If you want to view less common file types, there is most likely a plugin for them.
- Super-fast file viewer
- Works with Total Commander
- Active community (plugins)
- Nothing to see here
Pricing
One-time Fee
0
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
Total Commander
My Take
Total Commander has been around for ages and is as relevant and powerful a file management application as ever. It is certainly worth the one-time fee of 37 euros (plus VAT) for a lifetime license.
If you don’t believe me, download the version of your choice and use all its features for free for 30 days.
Features
- two side-by-side windows
- multiple tabs per window
- fast file handling with shortcuts
- powerful batch file renamer
- integrated ftp client
- integrated archiver
- integrates with 3rd party apps (e.g., Notepad++, QuickLook, 7-Zip)
There are many good reasons to use Total Commander. Here are my top 3.
-
Easy to use
All common file operations can be executed without needing your mouse at all
-
Batch Renamer
The batch renamer is the most versatile - yet easy to use - one, I have seen.
-
Configuration & Integration
Total Commander lets you customize the look and feel as well as shortcuts. It is also open to working with 3rd party applications.
- Super-fast file manager
- Works with 3rd party apps
- Frequent updates
- Additional features (archiver, FTP, etc.)
- Not free - but worth its money
Pricing
One-time Fee
37 EUR
Subscription Fee
0
Registration Required?
NO
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you. These are products I have used and stand behind.