25 Free Software for Students: Apps for Productivity, Collaboration & Referencing | Research.com

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd Chief Data Scientist & Head of Content

The internet has truly democratized access to information. Professionals and anyone who needs information can most likely find them via search. Of course, professionals may need to pay for specialized information. The same goes for computer applications. People can opt for premium solutions, or they can just easily find a capable open source or free counterpart. Free software for students are ideal for students working on a budget. Sometimes, it all boils down to resourcefulness to find a free application that gives paid ones a run for their money.

Today, however, there are free software solutions that can rival the functionalities of paid ones, from educational apps for kids to ones for professionals. And there are those that will just do the trick for penny-pinching students. In this article, we are going to give you a list of some useful free software solutions in multiple categories, including office tools, reference management, media editing, and others. Moreover, we will also discuss their limitations and the key features they lack, if any.

Free Software for Students Table of Contents

In the United States, the average undergraduate budget for tuition and fees is very expensive. Studying in a nonprofit private institution for four years and on campus will likely cost a student around $37,650. This does not include the budget for room and board, books, and other supplies. Moreover, if you are taking courses that require internship hours outside campus, the cost will keep piling up.

Source: Federal Reserve, 2020

No wonder the value of outstanding student loans keeps rising. In fact, during the first quarter of 2017, the outstanding student loans were pegged at $1.4 trillion in the United States. In the first quarter of 2020, the value reached $1.6 trillion. Just a little more than that of ten years ago, which was only $800 billion. Good quality education is expensive. Thus, more financial-savvy students take every chance they get to save.

And one of the ways they get to save, especially in a digitally-driven world, is to use free software for students to do their school work and research.

Office and Productivity Tools

Office software range from word processing to presentation creation tools. In this category, there are many software providers offering their platforms. However, we will only include the ones we feel offer the best features.

1. Google Drive: Docs, Slides, and Spreadsheet

Google Drive is one of the top free web-based software solutions out there. It does not only offer free storage but it also has a ton of apps that can be useful to students. First off, it has a word processor, a presentation, and a spreadsheet solution. These are vital in creating documents like term papers, thesis, reports, and presentations.

The Spreadsheet application is also quite advanced and can compete with Microsoft Excel when it comes to basic usage. Moreover, multiple users can use and collaborate on these platforms simultaneously. So, they can be used for group work and cooperative research projects.

Additionally, these applications automatically save your work on the cloud regularly. If you go offline while working on a document, these tools also automatically save the changes you made on your cache. Then, when the internet comes back up, it instantly saves them on your cloud-stored file.

Moreover, you can download Google Drive as well. This way, you can work and access your files offline. You can set it to automatically sync versions once you get a connection. Lastly, there are also tons of productivity tools made available. They range from a calendar to a task list. Also, there are tons of add-ons that can extend the capabilities of the base applications. However, it lacks the most advanced functions that Microsoft Office offers.

2. Microsoft Office Online

This is the lite version of Microsoft’s famous paid on-premise software. This cloud service offers you access to Microsoft’s productivity apps, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Office Online allows you to use them on any device provided you have an internet connection.

What is great about Office Online is that multiple users can collaborate on the same document at once. This is perhaps its main advantage over the desktop versions. However, Office Online has limited capabilities, especially when it comes to plugins and add-ons. Also, it is stripped of advanced features like run macros and mail merge. However, most students will not need these.

3. LibreOffice

This is a popular alternative to Microsoft Word. The product is free because it is an open-source solution. This means that it is being developed by volunteers and is constantly improved by a lively community of users. Also, it offers the same functionalities and even the easy-to-use familiar Microsoft interface. Some say it is a knock-off but it works well even with Microsoft files. However, loyal users would claim that the LibreOffice suite does not only provide you with the usual tools that Microsoft offers but also many more. Thus, it is a worthy and free alternative to Microsoft Office.

The office suite has six software tools: Writer, Impress, Draw, Math, Base, and Calc. LibreOffice Writer is its word processor while Impress is its presentation software. LibreOffice Draw, a diagramming and vector graphics editor, is the equivalent of CorelDraw and Microsoft Visio. It also provides desktop publishing functionalities similar to Microsoft Publisher. The Math application is for creating and editing math formulas to be embedded in documents. LibreOffice Base is the counterpart for Microsoft Access and Calc is its spreadsheet program.

Moreover, it is available for Linux, Microsoft, and macOS systems. This comes as a highly-recommended program from many power users. Also, again, it is free. Hence, it can be worth your while to try.

4. WPS Office

This is another true Microsoft Office alternative. It competes with the original blow by blow. Of course, its interface may not be as familiar to users as Microsoft’s, but it can perform both basic and advanced functions. WPS Office offers several productivity applications. These include WPS Writer, WPS Spreadsheets, WPS Presentation, and WPS PDF. Moreover, it has a quick and easy PDF to Word and Word to PDF converter tool.

Another great thing about WPS Office is that it is perfectly compatible with Microsoft Office. Hence, you can edit Microsoft Office files with WPS and the other way around. Key features include built-in charts, animations, advanced modeling, easy presentations, built-in formulas and functions, and the possibility for add-ons.

The product has a free version for Windows users. However, there are paid plans that start at $29.99 per year.

Reference Management

Referencing, for many students, can be quite tedious. On top of having many rules and formats, citation formats get updated from time to time. So, it is hard to keep track of changes. See for yourself in this guide we made on how to cite a research paper. But thanks to reference management software, these are made easier. This type of software solution help users manage their citation database. And it offers a feature that automatically composes citations in various formats. The following three are among the top free reference management programs on offer today.

1. Zotero

This open-source platform is considered one of the best free reference management platforms out there. It is completely free and completely compatible with any device. Yes, that means you can run it on your desktop, laptop, smartphone, and your favorite apple products. It offers an easy-to-use citation database with advanced search functionalities.

Zotero also automatically creates bibliographies and references. The program can directly compose citations in text editors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs. Moreover, it provides users with collaboration tools. These tools make it easier for users to co-write papers and for educators to distribute course readings to their students.

2. EndNote Basic

The free EndNote Basic solution offers a browser-based interface with a 50,000 reference and 2 GB attachment storage. It comes with support for 53 reference fields and 48 reference types with 21 predefined formatting styles Moreover, it also allows users to create a list of their favorite formats for easy access.

EndNote Basic also has a native iPad application. With it, users can take their work on the go without being encumbered by bulky laptops. EndNote Basic also automatically syncs the data between the web interface and native application.

The free version only provides access to five online databases for searching. Should you want to upgrade your access, this will reach up to more than 6,000. The premium EndNote X9 version also allows for full library sharing with other 100 users and provides unlimited reference and attachment storage capacity. The premium version can be purchased at a one-time cost of only $100. However, both the price and the advanced features might be too much for the needs of many.

3. Mendeley

Mendeley is marketed as a research assistant. It has different modules to help students stay on top of their research work and term papers. Features include a personal library and a citation engine that allows you to cite as you write. The latter feature is compatible with Microsoft Word, Word for Mac, and LibreOffice. Moreover, it supports BibTex export so you can use it with LaTex. Furthermore, it covers more than 8,000 citation formats.

The program also allows you to annotate documents from your library as you read. In addition, there is a Mendeley Notebook module that allows you to collect all your notes and highlights from multiple PDFs in your library.

Mendeley has a desktop application so you can access your database and notes without an internet connection. The program also has a web importer functionality. This allows you to add articles directly from websites support by the application.

Lastly, this free software for students provides users access to a comprehensive repository of research work. It sports 26.1 million data sets culled from both domain-specific and inter-domain repositories. Plus, you can store your datasets as well. Thus, your experimental research data will always have a place on the web.

Media Editing

Media editing software solutions allow users to create, make changes, and improve media files such as images, audio, and video. In this section, we will briefly present two of each kind.

Image Editors

1. GIMP

This free open-source platform stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It has considerably powerful features for image manipulation, free-form drawing, and image editing for a free platform. It sports the usual image editing tools, including layers, masks, channels, clone tool, healing brush, smudge, blur, and dodge, among many others.

Moreover, GIMP supports many types of file formats including JPEG, PNG, BMP, TIFF, GIF, and HEIF. Users can also open application-specific formats such as Adobe Photoshop, Autodesk flic animations, and Corel PaintShop Pro images. For those who are up to it, GIMP has a native format called XCF.

Being open-source with a lively community, users have created and shared extensions. Extensions range from animation plug-ins and additional brushes to advanced image processing and even machine learning. And, all of these are free.

Lastly, GIMP is a desktop application. The developers provide a free software download on their website.

2. Pixlr

Pixlr is a powerful web-based photo editor. It has a free plan that offers users comprehensive tools. These include basic editing tools with limited sets of overlay and stickers. However, this is supported by ads. Nevertheless, it offers more than enough features that students can use to create stunning photos and graphics.

The free plan allows access to two versions. The first is the playful Pixlr X and an advanced Pixlr E. These are fitted with AI design tools like a one-click background remover and many more. The platform also includes a stock library of graphics as well. In this way, you do not have to start from scratch. Furthermore, it can work well on mobile devices.

Audio Editors

1. Audacity

Audacity is a free and open-source cross-platform audio editing platform. It was developed by a dedicated team of volunteers and is intended to remain open-source. The program can be deployed on Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux, among other operating systems. It is easy to use and has a powerful multi-track capacity with recording capability.

The program supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit formats. Plus, it provides a real-time preview of audio effects, including VST and LADSPA, among others. These are all enabled by an easy-to-use plugin manager. Another notable feature is an unlimited sequential undo and redo function. Thus, you can go back and revert step-by-step changes.

The program is advanced and can support complex audio production from independent film projects to music recording.

2. Free Audio Editor

As the name says, it is a free audio editing software that allows for both basic and moderately advanced audio production. It supports many popular formats, including WAV, OGG, FLAC, and MP3, among many others. Moreover, there are 30 native audio effects and filters available. These include modules for EQ, compression, delay, reverb, and chorus. Moreover, it has a real-time preview ability.

Other features include noise reduction, frequency analysis, and a text-to-speech tool. Its visual editing module also includes a bookmark capability and region marker. Moreover, it is powerful enough for one batch processing. This way, you can convert multiple files into a single format.

Video Editors

1. Filmora

Filmora Video Editor allows users to create and edit videos in minutes. It has more than 500 video effects, easy-to-use, and absolutely free. This is perfect for creating quick video presentations in class or for conferences. Key features include a timeline with cut, merge, join, split, and rotate functions.

Moreover, the platform includes more than 50 royalty-free audio tracks for background music. Also, creative video effects include more than 80 transitions. Plus, it can do all these in high-quality 4k. Additional modules include those for audio mixing, scene detection, chroma-keying, and advanced text editing, among others.

This free platform also lets you directly upload videos to social media, including Facebook, Vimeo, and, of course, YouTube. It also supports format conversions, including MOV, MP4, and WMV, among others. And, you can export your creation to mobile devices for easy storage and viewing.

2. OpenShot

OpenShot, as a video editor, has an easy-to-use and intuitive interface. It is easier to use than other popular platforms and is beginner-friendly. It has various modules, including those for 3D animations, animation and keyframes, video effects, and a title editor. Of course, it includes the usual functions, including trim and slice and time effects.

The software also supports unlimited tracks for more complex projects. The timeline has advanced functions for scrolling, zooming, panning, and snapping. All of these are easily executable using drag-and-drop controls. It also has features for compositing, watermarks, and image overlays.

For simple video presentations and even short films, OpenShot is more than able to provide users with the necessary tools for video production. However, if you need a video editing solution for an even simpler presentation, you can check this guide on how to convert your PowerPoint file to video.

Communication

The impact of COVID-19 on education cannot be understated. Limited face-to-face classes and online-based course delivery has become the norm. And, it is not far-fetched to think that these new pedagogical techniques will be retained to some degree in the future. So, in this regard, we will provide you with a shortlist of top tools you can use to facilitate elearning.

1. Zoom

Zoom is the famous, or even leading, communications technology platform. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom usage spiked because of quarantine measures throughout the world. The free version has been used more and more for classroom discussions and group collaborations. The free service provides a connection of up to 100 devices at the same time. However, it has a 40-minute restriction to meetings with at least three participants.

This restriction can cause inconvenience, especially for classes and meetings with longer durations. However, many make do and just create new meeting rooms. You can access it as a web-based tool or through its on-premise client. Paid plans start at $149.9 a year and it could host up to 100 participants. For simple communication usage, the free plan could be enough.

2. Skype

Skype is another popular video and chat software solution that can be used for classes and collaboration in academia. Purchased by Microsoft, Skype and Microsoft users now enjoy seamless integration. The platform is very intuitive and acts like a traditional mobile phone. You can add contacts through their usernames or email.

The product allows you to make free online calls and conferences with up to 100 participants on any device. The platform also has features like meeting recording and screen sharing for both desktop and mobile devices.

3. Facebook Messenger (and Messenger Rooms)

Facebook Messenger is a useful free tool from the social media giant. Unlike the first iteration that only makes it accessible through the main website or application, the Messenger application can now be accessed via standalone mobile and desktop apps. By accessing accounts through platforms aside from the main Facebook interface, students would be able to avoid distractions from their timelines. Thus, Messenger can act like any communication platform.

Moreover, another useful feature was launched recently on April 24, 2020. It is called Facebook Messenger Rooms. It is a free video-conferencing application that supports up to 50 people at the same time. Aside from being totally free, Messenger Rooms does not require participants to have a Facebook account. Thus, it is a true competitor and alternative to other communication platforms including Zoom and Skype.

4. DropBox Basic

Chat and video conferencing software tools provide file and media transfer features. However, they do not offer comprehensive storage services. However, online storage drives do so. And, one of the most popular products out there is DropBox. Like Google Drive, it keeps files in sync between your devices and your cloud account. It supports virtually any file from Microsoft documents to Photoshop files. It also sports collaboration features with other users, such as link sharing, file previews, and file sharing. Other features include file backup, file recovery, and version history.

The provider offers a free version called DropBox Basic. However, it only has a 2GB storage capacity. This might just work for students that only store documents and PDF files. But, if you require more storage and features. You can always upgrade to premium plans. DropBox Plus, the least expensive subscription, offers up to 2 TB or 2,000 GB of storage for only $11.99 per month. Moreover, DropBox is transitioning to becoming a smart workspace solution.

5. Prezi Basic

Prezi is a powerful cloud-based presentation software solution that allows users to create stunning and dynamic presentations. It provides visualization tools using spatial relationships, zoom, and motion animations that can boost engagement. The Prezi Basic plan allows for unlimited public content creation. However, slides created will have Prezi watermarks and lacks advanced functions and access to pro templates. Nevertheless, this might just be enough for a class or even conference presentations.

Currently, the Prezi Basic plan comes alongside two other modules: Prezi Video and Prezi Design. Prezi Video allows you to create 15-minute videos that have you together on the screen with your graphics. These features can be useful for creating video presentation assignments for online classes. It also has a desktop app available. On the other hand, Prezi Design offers advanced tools to create interactive designs. These include features for creating professional-looking infographics, charts, maps, and reports. Plus, you can share your designs in any size.

Should you have a project that requires more a professional look and more professional tools, you can always upgrade to paid packages. Its least expensive plan is its Standard plan offered for only $3 per month.

Notetaking and Creative Collaboration Tools

1. Evernote

Evernote is a popular notetaking and task management software. Known as one of the best school organization apps, it has a free plan and it is a cross-platform solution. You can use it on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Furthermore, Evernote offers collaboration tools so users can share and collaborate on projects for classes and research.

The platform is very easy to use. It has an intuitive user interface that can easily be navigated by first-time users. Its collaboration module called Spaces allows teams to be on the same page. There is a virtual bulletin board and a native search engine for users to discover Spaces.

Advanced features include a Search Handwriting module. This allows you to search for any ideas you have jotted down, even those that you have written down by hand. Another great thing about this feature is that it supports 28 typewritten and 11 handwritten languages. Other features include a web clipper and a document scanning capability.

2. Notion

Notion is a relatively new application that just launched in 2018. Despite being new, it has quickly become a popular tool among students for taking notes and creating documents. A free plan for students is available and it offers a digital workspace for notes and projects. The application is highly customizable. You can create custom pages for reading lists, to-do lists, and agenda.

The platform also allows you to publish online. You can easily set up a club homepage as you can use it to create and maintain a website. This is useful for study groups. These features are all accessible via a drag-and-drop interface. Plus, you can embed anything, including code, equations, images, audio tracks, videos, and many others.

Notion’s Personal plan includes unlimited pages and blocks. It also supports sharing with up to five guests and syncs your content across all your devices. You can access it via the web or its native applications for mobile devices.

3. OneNote

Microsoft’s OneNote may just be one of the most underrated notetaking application. However, it sports a comprehensive feature set and can be accessed through multiple devices. The platform offers multiple drill-down levels for notes as well. For instance, if you can create a main notebook for a semester and create sections for different courses you are taking. Furthermore, you can even set up subsections to subsections so you can organize your notes better. However, this can get messy. And, as OneNote is very customizable, you really have to create your own system to get your notes organized as you see fit.

OneNote’s customizability also extends to its notetaking and page-building features. Aside from adding and formatting text, you can embed screenshots, videos, links, and many more. You can even change the background of OneNote to make it look like a ruled notebook. Plus, it has a touch and digital pen support.  Best of all, it is totally free.

4. Chegg Prep

The Chegg Prep application is an easy-to-use free flashcard maker. It is a digital study aid that you can customize to let you learn and remember things quickly for your classes. The application allows you to create flashcards to prep for exams or SAT. To make visual learning better, Chegg Prep also allows you to add images. Similar to Jeopardy Game maker software, this platform aims to make learning more engaging for students.

Another great thing about the application is that it provides access to a whole range of public user-created flashcard decks. Its comprehensive library includes decks from topic experts and students like you. However, it is only available on the AppStore and only for Apple devices.

Security and PC Support Software

These “other” software tools listed are considered as support tools. This is in terms of keeping students’ PCs in tip-top condition. Let us face it, computers bogging down is such a pain. And computer repair is costly in terms of both time and resources. So, here are three free applications that students can use to boost PC performance and keep their data safe. Here are three free software examples that you can try out.

1. AVG Anti-Virus FREE

The AVG Anti-Virus FREE version is an easy-to-use antivirus solution with a very intuitive interface. It may also be the most popular software in this category. The product includes scans for malware and ransomware. Moreover, it now includes a module for scanning performance issues. Furthermore, it also has the ability to keep your PC safe from malicious downloads. And, it even makes real-time downloads free.

The product, however, is a freemium one. This means that if you want to increase the number of features and security, then you will have to opt for paid plans. But many users do not do so as the free version is powerful enough to deal with the usual threats. Lastly, the product is offered in different versions, including mobile devices regardless of their operating systems.

2. Kaspersky Security Cloud – Free

Another popular free antivirus solution is Kaspersky Security Cloud – Free. Interestingly, it is an antivirus and cleaner rolled into one. It not only guards your PC but also your iPhone and Android device. Plus, there are modules that secure and store your private files and passwords. The product also encrypts the data that you receive and send online via its VPN service.

Like other top free antivirus software applications, the provider gives free real-time security updates so you do not waste time and manually download patches or newer versions. If you want more features, you can always upgrade to a paid plan. Premium features include home wi-fi monitoring, online payments and banking protection, and kids protection, among many. However, for students, these might not be necessary and the free version will be the only thing they will need.

3. CCleaner

The free standard version of CCleaner can help students boost PC performance. This is especially useful to those taking courses that require computational heavy-lifting. The free version does not only free up space but it also sweeps for online trackers. This way, your machine can run more efficiently. The main modules included in the free version are standard cleaning and standard privacy protection.

Its paid version has more features, including a complete PC health check, private browsing protection, and a module that automatically updates your applications. It is also worth noting that the product has been tested by an independent third-party testing specialist. The results show that it helps you recover 4GB of space and gives your machine 28% more free RAM to use and makes your PC boot around 53% faster. As it is free, it is highly recommended.

The Era of Free and Freemium Tools

As the market for fast and efficient software solutions become more competitive. Providers often resort to offering free pared-down versions of their products for users to test. Also, frequently, these are offered as freemiums where users can easily upgrade to premium versions and typically being constantly prompted to upgrade. This might just be the biggest catch when you use free products. You have more chances to get annoyed by pesky push promotions and upselling. But if you are coming off a limited budget, then this would be a fair tradeoff.

On the other hand, if you go with open-source community-driven solutions, then you will likely get software that is not only free for life but you would also get free upgrades. However, this might not be as regular as those that come with premium and freemium platforms. Community creators are not paid as much, if at all, for their efforts and they may have other jobs and commitments. This is the main downside when it comes to getting open-source software. Well, this is more true for those who do not know how to code and create modifications for the product itself, which is the case for most people.

Today, with the twin crises that the COVID-19 pandemic brings,  many schools and companies leverage free software solutions to stave off heavy costs.

There is really no shame in getting something for free, especially when it comes to software tools. Developers hand out free versions not only to promote but to test their products and build a vibrant community with honest feedback. So do not think twice when you see a free software download button. Of course, it goes without saying that you should make sure that the site you enter is trustworthy. You can do this by surfing for user reviews and forums.

References:

1. Federal Reserve (2020, November 6). Consumer Credit – G.19. New York, NY: Federal Reserve Board.
2. Gu, X., Kannan, P. K., & Ma, L. (2019, March 20). How companies can get the most out of a freemium business model. Harvard Business Review.
3. Ma, J., Pender, M., & Libassi, C.J. (2020). Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2020. New York: College Board.