Freedom251 › Design, Video & Audio
Free and open first
Best Free Tools in 2026
This list covers software that offers a free plan, free pricing, open-source code, or a free trial. It is for people who want to start without paying and compare practical options.
- 31 apps
- Research read 10 Oct 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Brave Browser
by Brave BrowserFree plan Open source AndroidiPhoneLinux+2Brave combines a free browser with ad and tracker blocking, fingerprint protection, and cross-device availability.
- 2
- 3
Inkscape
Free plan Open source ExtensionLinuxMac+1Inkscape offers vector illustration tools and broad listed file compatibility at no cost. It is a desktop-only option in the listed platforms, with community-provided help and no warranty.
- 4
LibreOffice Impress
by LibreOffice ImpressFree plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5Impress offers presentation creation, templates, illustration tools, and offline editing at no listed charge. Its lack of real-time collaboration is an important limitation for teams editing together.
- 5
Mozilla Firefox
by Mozilla FirefoxFree plan Open source AndroidExtensioniPhone+4Firefox combines cross-device browser features, extensions, and privacy controls without a listed price. Review its privacy notice and settings for details relevant to your preferences.
- 6
Mozilla Thunderbird
by Mozilla ThunderbirdFree plan Open source AndroidLinuxMac+1Thunderbird combines multi-account email with calendar, contacts and task tools, with desktop offline access and message scheduling. It is free and open-source, with Android listed for mobile use.
- 7
Airtable
Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+4Airtable brings data modeling, app interfaces, automation, and governance into one cloud platform.
- 8
7-Zip
Free plan LinuxMacWindows7-Zip covers archive creation and extraction across three desktop platforms, with encryption and command-line support. RAR is extract-only, and some listed features are specific to Windows.
- 9
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Google Docs
Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+1Google Docs combines document editing, collaboration, offline access, and compatibility with Word and PDF files.
- 12
DaVinci Resolve
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsDaVinci Resolve covers a wide range of post-production work, with a free tier and a $295 Studio edition.
- 13
Google Drive
by Google DriveFree plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1Google Drive pairs file storage and sharing with team drives, integrations, and security controls.
- 14
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KeePass Password Safe
by KeePass Password SafeFree plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+3Choose KeePass if you want a free, open-source password manager with encrypted storage, flexible key options and broad import support.
- 16
KeePassXC
by KeePassXC TeamFree plan ExtensionLinuxMac+1Pick KeePassXC if you want a free password manager that keeps its encrypted database in a file you control, rather than having an online service store your passwords.
- 17
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Miro
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3Miro brings visual planning, workshop activities, AI tools, and integrations into a shared workspace. Check the free plan’s editable-board limit and Starter billing terms when choosing a plan.
- 20
Notion
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2Notion brings notes, databases, collaboration, and search features into a cloud workspace. Review the Free plan's file, block, and guest limits before choosing it for a team.
- 21
Signal
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2Signal covers everyday messaging, file sharing and voice or video calls, with encryption and group controls. Keep the phone-registration and desktop setup requirements in mind.
- 22
Slack
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3Slack combines channel conversations, app integrations, automation and built-in AI features across a wide range of platforms.
- 23
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OBS Studio
by OBS StudioFree plan LinuxMacWindowsOBS Studio offers scene-based recording and streaming, with audio tools and scripting options in a free, open-source package.
- 25
Penpot
Free plan APISelf-hostedWebChoose Penpot for collaborative design, prototyping, design systems, and developer code inspection, especially when self-hosting matters. Look elsewhere if a desktop app is required.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price
Before choosing, check the platforms you use, free user limits, storage, self-hosting, licence terms, and what a paid plan costs. A trial may last 14 days where shown, so check its end conditions.
Questions
Do these tools have free plans?
Yes. Tools on this list include free plans or free pricing. Check the listing for its specific limits and upgrade terms.
Are open-source tools included?
Yes. Open-source code is offered by tools on this list. Review the licence before reading, changing, or redistributing code.
Which platforms are supported?
Supported platforms across the list include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web. Check a tool's listing for its platforms.
Do any tools offer a free trial?
Yes. Airtable and Google Docs list 14-day trials. Check billing terms before a trial ends.
What paid starting prices are listed?
Listed starting prices include $7/user/month, $9.99/user/month, $20/user/month, and $295, depending on the tool and billing terms.