I use these free apps instead of paying Microsoft

Are you tired of the ever-increasing subscription fees for Microsoft's suite of software? Whether you are a student saving every penny, a home user looking to maximize your tech without breaking the bank, or simply curious about the world beyond Microsoft's walled garden, the good news is that a wealth of fantastic, free applications can replace paid counterparts from the Windows maker.

Whether you want a remote desktop convenience, cloud storage for your ever-growing media collection, or a robust video editor, here are the free alternatives that prove that you don't need to shell out to Microsoft to achieve peak productivity.

6 VMware: Replaces Hyper-V

Since I'm running Windows 11 Home, Microsoft's built-in Hyper-V virtualization just isn't an option for me, which initially felt like a real limitation. Then I discovered VMware Workspace, and it became my go-to for creating and managing virtual machines. The installation is straightforward, and I appreciate a user-friendly interface.

Creating a new VM feels less like a technical hurdle and more like setting up a new computer within my existing one. I usually start by pointing it to an ISO file of the operating system I want to try, whether it's a different Linux system for development testing or even an older version of Windows for compatibility checks.

For someone like me, who wants to experiment with different operating systems and software in a safe setup, VMware is a no-brainer.

5 RustDesk: Windows App, who?

Microsoft Remote Desktop is basic at best. Windows 11 Home doesn’t let me host remote connections, and it comes with several limitations. The company recently revamped it to the Windows App. Instead of dealing with Microsoft’s half-hearted attempts, I have decided to use RustDesk for my workflow.

When I launch it, I immediately get my own unique ID and a temporary password. To connect to another computer also running RustDesk, all I need is their ID and password. It's that simple. Beyond the basic remote control, I've found some other features surprisingly useful. For instance, I can initiate a text chat within the remote session, which is great for communicating without interrupting what the other person is doing.

There's also the option to record the session, which can be helpful for creating tutorials. RustDesk is an open-source solution, and I can even self-host it on a specific server for privacy reasons.

4 Kdelive: Ditch Clipchamp

I have been looking at Clipchamp's paid plans, and while they offer some neat features like premium stock footage, advanced filters, and higher export resolutions, I have found a better solution. Kdenlive is free and open-source and covers a surprising amount of the same features without costing a dime.

Kdenlive gives me an unlimited number of video and audio tracks, which is fantastic for layering different elements, sound effects, and music. I can easily drag and drop clips onto the timeline, cut and trim them precisely with the razor tool, and rearrange them however I like. The configurable interface in Kdenlive is another aspect I really appreciate.

I can customize the layout of the windows and panels to suit my workflow, which makes the editing process much more efficient. Learning Kdenlive took a little bit of initial effort, but there are tons of free tutorials.

3 VLC Player: Rivals DVD Player

Ever since Microsoft decided to make its DVD Player a paid app on Windows 10 and 11, it felt a bit unnecessary, especially when there are dozens of free options available. VLC player is one such free option. It’s one of the popular options out there.

VLC gives me full control over the playback experience. I can easily navigate through chapters, skip forward or backward, adjust the volume, and even change the aspect ratio if the movie isn't displaying correctly. VLC isn’t just limited to DVDs. It's a universal media player that handles practically any video and audio file format I throw at it.

While I usually stick to the default settings, I can tweak things like video and audio output settings, apply effects, and even customize the interface with different skins.

2 Nextcloud: A private OneDrive alternative

I was getting a bit tired of relying on OneDrive and having my files stored on someone else's servers. The free plan only offers 5GB of space. That’s when I decided to self-host Nextcloud.

Nextcloud offers a clean web dashboard with multiple widgets to quickly access my files and media. The company has native apps on all the platforms, and I appreciate how it supports Material You on Android. Aside from file storage, Nextcloud also offers a bunch of productive tools like Email, Contacts, Deck, Tasks, and more to handle everything.

1 LibreOffice: Bid goodbye to Microsoft 365

Thanks to Copilot, Microsoft has recently hiked the prices of Microsoft 365 plans. Here is where I decided to ditch it in favor of LibreOffice. It offers all the required tools (Writer, Calc, and Impress) to get the job done. The interface is also quite familiar to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and that’s why there is no learning curve.

LibreOffice handles Microsoft Office file formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) without breaking a sweat. While there might be occasional minor formatting differences, especially with very complex documents or intricate macros, for the vast majority of my everyday tasks, LibreOffice does the job just fine.

No more Microsoft fees

These are just my personal favorites that rival Microsoft’s paid offerings. Of course, you shouldn’t limit yourself to these apps only. For example, if you are heavily invested in Google’s ecosystem, you can try out free Workspace apps instead of LibreOffice. Similarly, HelpWire is another capable alternative to RustDesk. If VMware doesn’t work for you, check out VirtualBox. It depends on your workflow and preferences. I highly recommend experimenting with different tools to find the perfect fit.