RECOMMENDED APPS
An up-to-date selection of essential applications for your PC.
My recommendations are mainly aimed at Windows users, but some of them are also available on macOS and Linux.
All of them are free, and most are open source.
BROWSING AND MULTIMEDIA
File compression and extraction tool compatible with a wide range of formats: 7z, zip, rar, iso, cab, tar, etc.
A Chromium-based web browser focused on privacy, with built-in ad and tracker blocking.
An audio player with a modular design that makes it fully customisable. It plays all kinds of audio files: Audio CD, MP3, FLAC, AAC, WAV, AIFF, Ogg Vorbis, ALAC, WavPack, etc.
A media player for Windows with a minimalist interface. It plays all kinds of media formats, although I use it exclusively for DVDs, MKV (H264 / H265), MP4, MPEG, AVI, etc.
CUSTOMISATION AND SYSTEM CONTROL
A Windows tool focused on fan control. It allows you to adjust your system’s cooling precisely and create multiple profiles for different situations.
An application that lets you unify RGB lighting control across your entire computer, without relying on the manufacturer’s apps. It is compatible with a very wide range of products.
A free utility for adjusting advanced and hidden Windows operating system options through a very convenient interface.
DIAGNOSTICS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
A utility for checking the health status of HDD and SSD storage drives. It supports SATA, USB, and NVMe.
A tool for measuring the read and write speeds of storage drives and shared resources.
A file synchronisation tool designed to create and maintain backups. It allows automation through scripts that are easy to schedule.
A tool for testing the stability, temperature, and behaviour of the GPU (graphics card).
A monitoring, stability testing, and benchmarking suite for CPU, GPU, and PSU testing.
A tool for scanning the network and locating available devices, printers, and services.
Remote access and remote support software. It is a good open source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk.
A disk space analyser. It is excellent for detecting excessive usage by specific folders and files.