Top 15 Best Free Software for a New Windows PC

The 15 free tools in this list cover everything you need when setting up a new Windows PC — from browsers and security software to file management and system optimization. I’ve been recommending these to friends, family, and repair shop customers for years, and every pick here is completely free to download and use.

Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 23, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Firefox, 7-Zip, and Notepad++ are essential installs for any new Windows PC — lightweight, open-source, and actively maintained.
• ProtonVPN Free provides unlimited bandwidth, a strict no-logs policy, and servers in multiple countries at no cost.
• Winhance is my own free tool for optimizing and debloating Windows 10 and 11 — it replaces the need for a separate system maintenance utility.
• AOMEI Backupper Standard lets you create full system image backups and schedule automated backups to external drives for free.
• Sumatra PDF opens PDFs significantly faster than Adobe Reader and also supports ePub, MOBI, and other document formats.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Quick Steps

1. Install Firefox for private, fast web browsing
2. Set up Betterbird for email and calendar management
3. Install Bitdefender Antivirus Free for real-time malware protection
4. Install ProtonVPN Free for private, no-log browsing
5. Install 7-Zip for handling ZIP, RAR, and 7Z archives
6. Install AIMP for music playback with built-in tag editor
7. Install MPC-BE for video playback with ISO support
8. Install XnViewMP for image viewing, editing, and batch conversion
9. Install ONLYOFFICE as a free Microsoft Office alternative
10. Install Notepad++ for text editing and coding
11. Install Sumatra PDF for fast, lightweight document viewing
12. Install PicoPDF for basic PDF editing and OCR
13. Install AOMEI Backupper Standard and set up scheduled backups
14. Install Winhance to optimize and clean up Windows
15. Install AnyDesk for remote access to other devices

1. Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is one of the best free web browsers available. It runs on its own Quantum engine — not Chromium — making it a genuine alternative to Google Chrome. Firefox is known for its speed, built-in privacy features, and strong extension ecosystem. It’s usually the first thing I install on any new PC.

2. Email & Calendar App: Betterbird

Betterbird is a polished alternative to Mozilla Thunderbird, developed by one of Thunderbird’s former maintainers. It adds a number of improvements over the base Thunderbird experience, including a toggleable message preview pane (F8 key) and a cleaner interface. It handles both email and calendar across all major platforms.

3. Antivirus Software: Bitdefender Antivirus Free

Bitdefender Antivirus Free is my top recommendation for Windows users who want solid malware protection without paying for it. The free version includes real-time scanning and advanced threat defense. It runs quietly in the background and consistently scores well in independent AV tests. Windows Defender is decent, but Bitdefender Free gives you an extra layer of confidence.

4. VPN: ProtonVPN Free

For secure and private browsing, ProtonVPN Free is the best no-cost option I’ve found. It connects to servers in multiple countries, has no bandwidth limits, keeps no activity logs, and is protected by Swiss privacy law. The free version is also completely ad-free. You can find my full walkthrough in the ProtonVPN installation guide.

The link above is an affiliate link — if you upgrade to a paid plan, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

5. File Archiver: 7-Zip

7-Zip is the standard for file compression on Windows. It handles ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and dozens of other archive formats, integrates directly into the right-click context menu, and uses better compression ratios than the built-in Windows ZIP tool. It’s completely free and open-source with no ads or upsells.

6. Music Player: AIMP

AIMP is a lightweight audio player that punches well above its weight. It includes a built-in audio converter, tag editor, and alarm clock, and it supports custom skins if you want to personalize the look. AIMP handles virtually every audio format and uses very little system memory, which makes it ideal for older or budget PCs.

7. Video Player: Media Player Classic Black Edition

Media Player Classic Black Edition (MPC-BE) is a free, open-source video player that handles virtually any format you throw at it, including ISO files and Blu-ray folders. It’s lightweight, resource-efficient, and includes frame capture support. I prefer it over VLC for local playback on Windows.

8. Image Viewer: XnViewMP

XnViewMP is a comprehensive image viewer, editor, and batch converter. It supports over 500 image formats and lets you do basic edits — resize, crop, color adjustments — without opening a heavier editor like Photoshop. The tabbed interface and full-screen viewing make organizing and reviewing photos much faster than using Windows Photos.

9. Office Suite: ONLYOFFICE

ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors is a free, fully featured alternative to Microsoft Office. It handles Word-compatible documents, Excel-compatible spreadsheets, and PowerPoint-compatible presentations. The interface is deliberately close to Microsoft Office, so the learning curve is minimal. ONLYOFFICE is my go-to recommendation when someone doesn’t want to pay for a Microsoft 365 subscription.

10. Text & Source Code Editor: Notepad++

Notepad++ is the standard text and code editor for Windows. It supports tabbed editing, syntax highlighting for over 80 programming languages, dark mode, and a macro system. Even if you never write code, it’s a massive upgrade from the basic Windows Notepad for any text-heavy tasks like editing config files or batch scripts.

11. PDF Viewer: Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF is the fastest PDF viewer I’ve used. It opens instantly, uses minimal memory, and supports ePub, MOBI, XPS, and CHM files in addition to standard PDFs. There’s no bloat, no cloud sync nag screens, and no paid upgrade prompts. If you want another option with annotation support, check out the guide on installing Okular PDF Viewer on Windows.

12. PDF Editor: PicoPDF PDF Editor

For editing PDFs, PicoPDF PDF Editor gets the job done for free. It lets you add text and images to existing PDFs, encrypt files with a password, and use OCR to convert scanned documents into editable text. It’s not as powerful as paid editors, but for occasional PDF edits it works well.

13. Backup & Restore Software: AOMEI Backupper Standard

AOMEI Backupper Standard is the free backup tool I recommend to everyone setting up a new PC. It creates full system images, lets you schedule automatic backups to an external drive, and supports restoring to different hardware. The free version covers everything most home users need — scheduled file, disk, and system backups.

14. Windows Optimization Tool: Winhance

Winhance is my own free and open-source tool for optimizing Windows 10 and 11. It lets you debloat Windows, disable telemetry, manage startup apps, tweak privacy settings, and remove built-in apps — all through a clean interface with full undo support. I built it because I needed a single tool that handled everything I was doing manually for repair shop clients. You can read the full overview in the Winhance guide.

15. Remote Access Software: AnyDesk

AnyDesk is a fast and reliable remote desktop tool. It lets you connect to another PC, transfer files, and control it remotely with low latency. I use it regularly to help family members with tech issues without driving over. The free version is fine for personal use — there’s no time limit on sessions, you just can’t use it commercially without a license.

These 15 tools are what I’d install within the first hour of setting up any new Windows PC. None of them require a subscription, and all of them are worth keeping installed long-term. For even more options, check out the full list of 22 free Windows utilities every user should know.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free antivirus for Windows?

Bitdefender Antivirus Free is one of the strongest free antivirus options for Windows. It provides real-time scanning and advanced threat defense without requiring a paid subscription. Windows Defender is also decent as a baseline, but Bitdefender adds an extra layer of protection.

Is Mozilla Firefox better than Google Chrome?

Firefox is a strong alternative to Chrome, particularly if privacy matters to you. It runs on its own Quantum engine rather than Chromium, which gives it different performance characteristics and better built-in tracking protection. For most users, the difference in everyday use is minimal, but Firefox’s privacy defaults are stronger out of the box.

What is the easiest remote desktop tool for beginners?

AnyDesk is the easiest remote desktop option I’ve used. Setup takes about two minutes — install it, share your AnyDesk ID, and the other person can connect. It works well for helping family members remotely without needing to configure router ports or VPNs.

How can I protect my privacy online for free?

ProtonVPN Free is my top recommendation for free online privacy. It has no bandwidth limits, keeps no activity logs, and is operated by the same team behind ProtonMail. The free tier gives you access to servers in a handful of countries with no catch — just a slower speed than paid tiers during peak hours.

What’s the best free alternative to Microsoft Office?

ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors is my preferred free Office alternative. It handles .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx formats reliably and its interface is close enough to Microsoft Office that most users can pick it up immediately. LibreOffice is another solid option if you need broader format support.