6 Best Open Source Software You Should Install

#6 In other words, the 6 best free software for everyone

After reading the title if the first question that comes to your mind is “What is open source software?”, don’t worry I’ve got you covered. Open source software is software that has its source code available to the public. Anyone can view the code, contribute or audit it. This makes it one of the safest choices in terms of security. This isn’t possible with proprietary software which is controlled by corporations where the prime motive is to make a profit from user data. In case of a data breach or if the company sells your data you won’t know unless it discloses it publicly either voluntarily or due to a lawsuit.

Open source software is my favourite as they tend to create a huge friendly community where we can exchange ideas, help others or get help. The best part is these software are free and most of them are even better than their paid counterparts. I’ve used all of them mentioned on this list extensively and I recommend that you check them out.

1. Pot Player

The first on this list is a media player. I know what you’re going to say “But, Nithin isn’t VLC media player the best, most popular and free media player?”. I agree with you for the most part. I made the switch from VLC to POT player a couple of years ago and never missed VLC even for a second.

I have faced several issues with 4k, blu-ray, and chunky videos with VLC in the past. I tried everything but unfortunately couldn’t resolve them. After I found an article on POT player, I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised as no matter the size, format or type of the video it ran smoothly without any lag. Also, it has several features which are a level above the rest of the players. Some of my favourites are noise reduction (Shift+D) and voice emphasis (Shift+A).

2. Bitwarden

Bitwarden is a password manager and the best part is it can store all of your passwords, and credit/debit card details in one place. You don’t have to remember any of the passwords anymore, apart from the one you use for Bitwarden. You can even level up your security by enabling the two-step login.

Bitwarden has apps and extensions for all browsers and devices. In my previous article, 5 Must-have Browser Extensions, I mentioned about the extension. With just one click you can save the passwords of any site or app you visit and auto-fill them as per the requirement. It also has a password generator which can generate random secure passwords based on the parameters you specify, such as length and complexity. You can store unlimited passwords, and sync on unlimited devices. It will always be free for personal use according to the official site.

3. OBS Studio

OBS is the go-to software for all online streamers and content creators. It’s free and the most widely used software. It’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux. If you are looking to get into live streaming, this is the software. It has all the necessary bells and whistles to get you started on streaming platforms such as YouTube or Twitch. Even if you are not a streamer, the video recording feature is pretty handy for recording your computer screen for making online tutorials or recording a lecture or an interview.

Fun fact: Recently, I used this tool to stream our family function to all the members who were unable to attend via YouTube using just a phone as the wireless camera. Let me know if you’d be interested in knowing how I did it, in the comments below.

4. Audacity

Audacity is the best audio editor software out there to record and edit your audio files. It also has a noise removal feature which does a good job. You can use Audacity to record your computer audio or your voice for podcasts. You can edit multiple tracks simultaneously and even mix them. It’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

5. qBittorrent

Contrary to popular belief, torrenting is not illegal! However, torrenting pirated software, movies, music or books that are copyright protected is illegal. qBittorrent is the best, simple and easy-to-use torrenting tool without those annoying ads - the only free software I could find with all these features and no ads. It has a sequential download feature which downloads items in a sequence. It’s particularly useful if you download TV show episodes so that you don’t have to wait till all of them finish, nifty if you ask me. Although the official website looks like it’s from the 90s, don’t let that deceive you from how amazing this software is!

6. Libre Office

The last on this list is a free Office Suite. It’s the best free alternative to MS Office. Although the online version of MS Office is free, you would require an internet connection everywhere you want to use it which might be difficult if you travel frequently and like to work on the go. Libre Office offers a distraction-free experience and the UI is pretty similar to that of MS Office. All the documents are cross-compatible with MS Office so you don’t have to worry about formatting issues.

Do you use any other open source software? Do let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article useful, share it with your friends. See you soon! 😊