The best free software, mobile apps, and Web services, 2012 Edition
- 24 April, 2012 22:51
- Comments
The Internet is like a fancy Hollywood party with lots of swag: You can get tons of stuff for free, but not all of it is good. Still, some of the Web services, apps, and downloads out there are great, and don't require you to pay a cent. Our 17th annual roundup of free stuff includes dozens of no-cost services, apps, and programs that are worth your time. To help you find the most valuable freebies, we've categorized them based on which types of people they'll help most. Enjoy the free life!
(To read the related story about each category of free stuff, click the appropriate heading below, or use the contents box to the right. You can also consult our alphabetical list of all of the downloads, apps, and Web services described in our Best Free Stuff package.)
Free Tools for the Tech-Savvy Businessperson
Any.DO Website | Download (Android)
AnyMeeting Website
CardMunch Website | Download (iOS)
CloudOn Website | Download (iOS)
CrashPlan Website | Download (Windows 32-bit) | Download (Windows 64-bit)
F.lux Website | Download (Windows)
Ghostery Website | Download (Windows)
Google Docs Presentations Website
K-9 Mail Website | Download (Android)
LogMeIn Website | Download (iOS)
OmmWriter Dana I Website | Download (Windows)
Parcel Website | Download (iOS)
Parcels Website | Download (Android)
Tape-a-Talk Download (Android)
YouSendIt Lite Website
Free Tools for the Commuter
Imo Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
Lookout Mobile Security Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
NextBus Website
Pulse Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
Scanner Radio Website | Download (Android)
SMS Backup and Restore Download (Android)
Software Data Cable Website | Download (Android)
Trapster Website | Download (Android) | Download (BlackBerry) | Download (iOS)
Voxer Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
Waze Website | Download (Android) | Download (BlackBerry) | Download (iOS)
WeatherBug Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
Zite Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS) | Download (WebOS)
Free Tools for the Social Media Fan
AV by AOL Website
Follower Wonk Website
Google+ Hangouts Website
HootSuite Website | Download (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Topsy Website
Free Tools for the Traveler
BeFrugal Fly or Drive Calculator Website
Foursquare Website | Download (Android) | Download (BlackBerry) | Download (iOS)
Hotspotr Website
TripIt Website
WorldMate Website
Free Tools for the Shopper
Dashlane Website
Hotspot Shield Website | Download (Windows)
OpenLabel Website
Scoutmob Website
WootWatch Download (iOS)
WootWatcher Website | Download (Android)
Free Tools for the Health Nut
Calorific Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
CardioTrainer Website | Download (Android)
The Eatery Website | Download (iOS)
Instant Heart Rate Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
Free Tools for the Entertainment Buff
Cinemagram Website | Download (iOS)
Crackle Website
Cut and Slice Website | Download (Android)
Google Music Website | Download (Windows)
League of Legends Website
Lightworks Public Beta Website | Download (Windows)
The Lord of the Rings Online Website
MovieLens Website
Picozu Editor Website
Pinterest Website
Planetarium Website | Download (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Stitcher Radio Website | Download (Android) | Download (iOS)
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- The Best Free Stuff of 2012 (Alphabetical List) : PCWorld
- Any.DO : Make things happen (with friends)
- Any.DO To Do List : Task List - Android Apps on Google Play
- Website
- LinkedIn CardMunch - Convert Business Cards into Contacts
- CardMunch - Business Card Reader by LinkedIn Version: 2.5 Business App : PCWorld
- Product : CloudOn
- CloudOn for iPad on the iTunes App Store
- Website
- CrashPlan (32-bit version) description, Backup Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- CrashPlan (64-bit version) description, Backup Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- F.lux: software to make your life better
- f.lux description, Desktop Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- Website
- Ghostery description, Browsers & Clients Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- Website
- Website
- K-9 Mail 3.802 Review : Android Communication App : PCWorld
- Website
- App Store - LogMeIn
- Welcome - Ommwriter
- OmmWriter Dana I description, Word Processing Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- Parcel app for iPhone / iPad
- App Store - Parcel
- z0mt3c’s weblog » Parcels / Pakete
- Parcels - Android Apps on Google Play
- Tape-a-Talk Voice Recorder 0.9.7.6.3 Productivity App : PCWorld
- YouSendIt : Compare File Sending, File Sharing, File Tracking Plans
- imo instant messenger
- imo instant messenger 2.1.2 Review : Android Arcade and Action App : PCWorld
- imo Version: 2.1 Social Networking App : PCWorld
- Lookout Mobile Security : Android Security for Mobile
- Lookout Mobile Security 6.2 Review : Android Communication App : PCWorld
- Lookout Mobile Security - Free Version: 1.1 Utilities App : PCWorld
- NextBus Homepage
- Pulse News - by Alphonso Labs
- Pulse News 2.4.2 Review : Android Arcade and Action App : PCWorld
- Pulse News Reader Version: 2.6 Review : Android News App : PCWorld
- Website
- Scanner Radio 3.1.2 Multimedia App : PCWorld
- SMS Backup & Restore - Android Apps on Google Play
- 大米软件 - Dami App for Android
- Software Data Cable - Android Apps on Google Play
- Speed Trap Sharing System - Trapster
- Trapster - Android Apps on Google Play
- Trapster - BlackBerry
- Trapster speed trap alerts (now with Caravan and Patrol) Version: 4.3.4 Navigation App : PCWorld
- Website
- Voxer Walkie-Talkie PTT - Android Apps on Google Play
- App Store - Voxer Walkie-Talkie PTT
- Free GPS Navigation with Turn by Turn - Waze
- Waze: Community GPS navigation 2.3.6.7 Travel App : PCWorld
- Waze: Way to go
- Waze GPS & traffic - Social, fun! Version: 3.1 Review : Android Navigation App : PCWorld
- Local and National Weather Conditions & Forecast - WeatherBug.com
- WeatherBug 2.5.432 Review : Android Arcade and Action App : PCWorld
- WeatherBug Version: 1.5 Review : Android Weather App : PCWorld
- Website
- Zite - Android Apps on Google Play
- Zite Mobile Version: 1.3 Review : Android News App : PCWorld
- Zite Personalized Magazine : HP webOS Applications
- AV by AOL - Let's video chat!
- Follower Wonk: Twitter analytics, follower segmentation, social graph tracking, & more
- Google+ Hangouts
- Basic - Social Media Management Plan - HootSuite
- HootSuite description, Social Networking Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- Topsy - Real-time search for the social web
- Website
- foursquare
- Foursquare - Android Apps on Google Play
- Download (BlackBerry)
- foursquare Version: 3.1.1 Review : Android Social Networking App : PCWorld
- Wifi cafes & hotspots ~ Hotspotr
- What is TripIt - Learn More
- WorldMate: plan, book, and mange your personal and business travel on all major smartphone platforms
- Your secure personal data dashboard - Dashlane.
- AnchorFree
- Hotspot Shield description, Internet Tools Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- OpenLabel
- Scoutmob - Mobile Deals for the Local Curious
- App Store - WootWatch
- Ben Tobin -- Projects
- WootWatcher - Android Apps on Google Play
- Calorific
- Calorific Calorie Counter 2.2.1 Unknown App : PCWorld
- Calorific Lite Version: 1.0.3 Review : Android Healthcare & Fitness App : PCWorld
- About - WorkSmart CardioTrainer
- CardioTrainer 3.6.1 Finance App : PCWorld
- The Eatery: Massive Health Experiment #01
- App Store - The Eatery
- Website
- Instant Heart Rate 2.0.5 Review : Android Arcade and Action App : PCWorld
- Instant Heart Rate by Azumio for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (4th generation), iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad (3rd generation) and iPad Wi-Fi + 4G on the iTunes App Store
- Cinemagram - a fun and beautiful way to animate your photos.
- Cinemagram for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (4th generation), iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad (3rd generation) and iPad Wi-Fi + 4G on the iTunes App Store
- Website
- Games by Best Addictive Brain Games
- Cut and Slice - Android Apps on Google Play
- Google Play
- Music Manager description, Audio Players Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- Website
- Lightworks
- Lightworks Public Beta description, Video Tools Downloads List By 30 Day Change : PCWorld : PCWorld
- Play The Lord of the Rings Online™ Free!
- m o v i e l e n s - movie recommendations
- Picozu Editor - sharing creativity
- Pinterest / Home
- Planetarium - Interactive star map and virtual sky
- Chrome Web Store - Planetarium
- Download Stitcher Radio App for iPhone, Android, iPad, Palm & Sonos
- Stitcher Radio - News & Talk - Android Apps on Google Play
- Stitcher Radio Version: 4.8.0 Review : Android News App : PCWorld
- New Gateway Anti-Malware Technology Sets the Bar for Web Threat Protection (Sponsored by McAfee)
- McAfee Whitepaper: Building the Business Case for Privacy
- Modernizing Security for the Small and Mid-Sized Business – Recommendations for 2013 (Sponsored by McAfee)
- Choice and Control: Considerations for Developing Enterprise Cloud Strategies
- MSP Guides for effective Endpoint Management Solutions
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