The Free Software Store

Hello everyone! After close to a decade of abandonment while we were tied up with other projects, we're very happy to report that The Free Software Store is coming back to life in 2008.

Traditionally, our site covered the best freeware, shareware and trialware available on the Net. And we intend to continue to do so. We certainly won't cover absolutely everything - there are other fine sites that do that (and some do it very well indeed).

But we will cover the major software items that the majority of people want or need. And we'll try to do it in an intelligent way that will give you some real insights into why you should select from the best of breed out there (life's too short to waste your time with also-rans); the major pitfalls to watch out for with some of the most popular programs; and our own personal experiences with the software we list.

Right now we have more than 50 pages of old content that needs to be updated from 1996-1997 standards to 2008 standards and we appreciate your patience while we do this (it's a h-u-g-e amount of work!). We won't be adding a navigation menu for a little while either (so please use your "Back" button for now, or click on our name in the header bar to get back to this page).

You can view our old software index here - but please be warned that that it contains a fair amount of broken links and/or inaccurate information. And we apologise for the terrible surfing experience it will offer until it's all been completely made over and we can retire it for keeps.

Or you can view our latest, completely updated and up-to-the-minute content below:

Web Browsers
Everyone needs a web browser, but are you running the best one? This page reviews the three biggest Windows browsers on the market; points you to the next three biggest; and (for Apple and Linux users) gives you the Top 5 in each of these categories too. All these browsers are totally free - and picking the right one can greatly improve your everyday surfing experience. Updated 01-Jan-08
Email Clients
Like browsers, everyone needs an email client. But once again you need to ask: am I really using the right one for me? This page reviews 4 of the best Windows email programs and contains links to the best Apple and Linux email programs too, along with a comprehensive features chart. Once again, all of these email programs are completely free (and we even show you how you can get a free anti-spam plug-in for Outlook Express!). Updated 02-Jan-08
Browser Plugins
You have your browser and you have your email software. But is your browser really working at full power? This page reviews the most popular browser plugins you can get (including two that are absolutely essential) and explains why some others are nice to add on too. We also explain why plugins aren't as common as they once were and the sensible step you should take to avoid having your browser hacked by a rogue plugin. Updated 03-Jan-08
FTP Programs
Got your browser? Got your email program? Got your essential browser plugins? Then the next thing you need is an FTP program so that you can shift files around the Net like a pro. This page reviews 8 of the most popular free FTP programs for Windows, Mac and Linux. It also shows you where you can find and compare literally hundreds more (though not all of those are free!). Updated 04-Jan-08
Download Managers
Think you've got all your basic Net software by now? Well, no you haven't - at least, not if you don't have a good Download Manager (which can speed your downloads up as much as 600% faster than a web browser or an FTP program, and do them a lot more reliably too!). This page reviews 7 of the most popular free Download Managers for Windows, Mac and Linux that you can get. It also shows you where you can find and compare many, many others. Updated 07-Jan-08
File Compressors
Need to save disk space and/or bandwidth? Then you need a File Compressor to pack your files together and shrink them down. A good file compressor can often reduce your file sizes by at least 50%, but with certain types of files, some can do even better! File compressors are an essential utility for every computer user and this page reviews 6 of the most popular free File Compressors for Windows, Mac and Linux. You'll need to have at least one of these (and perhaps you already do). Updated 26-Jan-08
Spam Filters
Spammers! Arentchasickofem!?! But you can get your sanity back - and control of your email - by installing a good spam blocker. Many spam filters are commercial and require you to pay an annual fee. But we've found 6 that do a really, really good job. Even better, 4 of them are freeware; one will become freeware (with a reduced function set) if you don't buy it after a free 30-day trial; and the other will give you a free 14 days to make the lives of spammers a living hell (and if you get a kick out of that, then it's probably worth buying, isn't it?). These programs only work on Windows (sorry Mac and Linux fans!) but several work on email programs other than Outlook. And we're sure you'll want at least one of them. Updated 03-Feb-08
Antivirus Programs
A good antivirus program is an essential safety tool that we all need. That's why most antivirus programs are commercial and require you to buy them and then pay an annual subscription to keep them updated. But fortunately there are several quite excellent free antivirus programs availble. And we list four of the very best on this page (all for Windows - sorry Mac and Linux fans!). We also advise you about a scam that's now become quite common in the antivirus world so you can avoid getting stung by it. Updated 06-Feb-08
Adware & Spyware Blasters
Adware and spyware blasters are now as essential a safety tool as a good anti-virus program. And while some commercial anti-virus programs will also scan for adware, spyware and other malware, we've found that dedicated adware and spyware blasters often do a better job. Why? Perhaps because they focus more narrowly and deeply on what's become a very wide field. Happily, the best in the field are completely free and we've listed them here (again, all for Windows - sorry Mac and Linux fans!). And for the second time we also advise you about a scam that's now become quite common in the world of adware and spyware blasters so you can give it a wide berth. Updated 12-Feb-08
HTML Editors
If you want to build web pages you can do it in a text editor if you're really, really keen. But a good HTML Editor will usually make the process much faster and easier. Right now there are more than 300 HTML editors available worldwide and they range in price from zero up to US$399. We've picked six completely free ones that cover the range from absolute beginner right up to a couple that can give DreamWeaver a run for its money. And we've also found an up-and-coming beauty that not only runs on Windows but Mac and Linux as well! Sorry this took awhile, gang, but it's a b-i-g field... Updated 26-Feb-08
Firewalls
Feeling secure with your anti-virus software, adware and spyware blasters? Don't be too smug! If you connect to the Net with anything other than dial-up (eg: cable, DSL etc) then you'll need a firewall if you want to be absolutely sure your PC won't be hijacked or your keystrokes logged. Firewalls didn't even exist in 1988 when the first internet-borne worm alerted the world to the fact that there was no protection against this type of security threat (well, not at that time anyway). So don't wait for something similar to happen to you! Here are 4 completely free, top-notch firewalls that you can install today. Updated 27-Feb-08
Instant Messaging
Want to chat with friends? Instant messengers allow you to do it through your computer in real time - and these days (depending on the instant messaging software you use) you can do it with text, voice or even video. IM products are drop-dead easy to use and they're all free - but unfortunately, they're also proprietary. This means that in order to chat with other people you'll need to either ensure that all your friends use the same instant messenger or download two (maybe even three) to cover most of the market. Fortunately we've rounded up all the major ones on a single page. Updated 14-Mar-08
Text Editors
Need to cut code or modify b-i-g files? Text Editors allow you to modify program source code or other documents that are sensitive to the invisible ASCII characters that most word processors insert into files to control formatting. Advanced text editors are also able to open huge files that are bigger than your computer's memory and (very often) are able to open any type of file too - including hex, binary and Unicode files. Professional programmers need a good text editor and can get significant productivity gains from using one. But they're pretty essential for ordinary people as well! We've rounded up five of the best to choose from. Updated 03-Jun-08
Address Books
Fed up with Outlook's address book? A good address book allows you to keep the phone, fax, email and other details of all your contacts and look them up quickly and easily. A really good one will also let you print out your lists and/or send individual or bulk emails; provides password protection for your files; and can be easily ported from one PC to another (eg: your office PC to your laptop and vice-versa). There are hundreds of address book applications out there but we've found 6 real beauties in this field including one that runs on Windows or Mac; two that are LAN-enabled; and two that integrate live maps from Google Maps, Mapquest or Yahoo! Maps. Best of all, they're all completely free. Updated 10-Jun-08
Password Managers
Drowning in passwords? A good password manager will let you store all your usernames, passwords, credit card details and other sensitive information in one place with rock-solid security. And a really good one will also remember your details when you surf to sites that need passwords and will auto-complete login boxes and/or order forms for you too (even when a site's cookie has been erased off your machine). There are bucketloads of password managers out there ranging from barely adequate to brilliant - but we've found six of the best (including ones that run on Mac and Linux as well as Windows). As usual, they're all completely free. Updated 16-Jun-08
Screen Saver Makers
Want to get creative? If you're bored with your existing screen saver and want to create your own - or even just a slideshow of your digital photos to display on your monitor - a screen saver maker will let you do that, and also let you distribute your screen saver to others. We've found five completely free screen saver makers including one that will let you build screen savers for both Windows and Mac; one that will create a slideshow from an image directory on your hard drive; and three that will also create Flash screen savers! We've also found one that you can trial for free and only need to pay a $30 licence fee for if you want to go fully commercial. Updated 20-Jun-08