Review of Best Free Software for Students

We'll share a review of the best free license software for students for installation and use of which you do not have to pay a penny.

By Claudio Pires
Updated on March 7, 2024
Review of Best Free Software for Students

We’ll share a review of the best free license software for students to install and use, for which you do not have to pay a penny. There’s a price to pay for everything in life. This ancient unwritten law, along with the law of energy conservation, has been in force and will always be in force. However, there are loopholes in any law. In this article, we will consider the helpful software for students.

Best Free Software for Students: Try, Test & Review

So, let’s imagine you are a progressive student of the 21st century, a happy owner of a laptop, a smartphone, and a tablet. You’ll agree that using all this wealth and power exclusively for playing games, watching movies, and other entertainment is completely inefficient.

Perhaps, this is what I want to do, but we are firmly against this approach. That’s why, below, we have collected valuable and free software, which you can install to facilitate significantly your student life. Let’s talk about it right away – here, we do not consider “crack” programs but rely on the self-awareness of citizens.

Useful software for students

Let’s start with Microsoft Office for Students. After all, doing anything without such programs is simply impossible: you need somewhere to edit coursework from a paper writing service, make a presentation, make a table, and make up a schedule. Students have the opportunity to use the full version of Office for free. To obtain a license, you need to specify a valid e-mail address in your school’s system. So, top students software review to check.

MS Office: Free top software for students

What if there is no e-mail address in the school system? Fortunately, if you do not have the opportunity to install MS Office, it has a decent free alternative – the Open Office package. It is true that while working with Open Office, there will be problems with reading and formatting documents. In this case, there is one more alternative variant. Cloud service with excellent Google Drive functionality, which requires only an Internet connection.

Besides Microsoft, many software developers support students. So, while you are a student, you can use Autodesk’s software products absolutely for free. For example, to install free AutoCad, you only need to register and get a license, which is issued for three years.

JetBrains

Another company that provides free licenses for students is JetBrains. This company produces software and allows future developers to use most products for free. It would help if you went to the JetBrains Student section of the website. Register, and you will receive an email soon with your license activation data. The license validity period is one year, after which you must confirm that you are a real student, not a former one, and get a new license.

GeoGebra

GeoGebra is a free program for mathematicians. It is a cross-platform math application supported by Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Android. Geogebra is a great helper for students whose mathematics courses go beyond school. As a result, top students software review to check.

The program’s interface is simple; you can download it for free. Geogebra – graphical calculator for functions, statistics, and geometry. Need to build 3D graphics of hyperbolic paraboloid? Geogebra can do it! Try to use it, and the math will be more precise and manageable. So, it is one of the best free software for students.

Finally, if Geogebra is better suited for visualizing geometrical tasks, then Maxima is better suited for everything else. Maxima is a system for working with symbolic and numerical expressions. It knows how to differentiate and arrange a function in a row. So, knowing the Laplace transform will help solve the differential equation and facilitate work with matrices and polynomials.

LibreOffice – The Comprehensive Productivity Powerhouse

  • Detailed Overview: LibreOffice stands out as a formidable open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, offering a full suite of productivity tools including Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math, and Base. Each tool is designed to cater to different aspects of student work, from crafting detailed reports and analyses to creating compelling presentations and managing databases.
  • Extended Benefits for Students: Its compatibility with Microsoft Office formats and extensive range of features make it an indispensable tool for students across all disciplines. Whether you’re drafting a literary analysis, compiling statistical data, or presenting a scientific project, LibreOffice equips you with the necessary tools to do so effectively and efficiently.
  • Practical Applications: Beyond basic document creation, LibreOffice allows for the embedding of multimedia, generation of mathematical formulas, and even the design of vector graphics, providing a versatile platform for academic assignments of all types.

Zotero – The Ultimate Research Organizer

  • Detailed Overview: Zotero is a game-changer for students engaged in research-intensive projects. It excels in managing and organizing scholarly articles, books, PDFs, and other research materials. Its integration with browsers simplifies the process of collecting sources, while its citation features streamline the creation of bibliographies in various citation styles.
  • Extended Benefits for Students: Zotero’s collaborative features, such as shared libraries and group functionalities, make it an excellent tool for group projects and research teams, facilitating seamless collaboration and information sharing.
  • Practical Applications: Beyond traditional research papers, Zotero is invaluable for thesis writing, literature reviews, and any academic endeavor that requires meticulous source management and citation.

GIMP – The Digital Creative Studio

  • Detailed Overview: GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a robust image editing program that rivals premium alternatives. It provides a wide array of tools for photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring, catering to the needs of budding photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists alike.
  • Extended Benefits for Students: GIMP is particularly beneficial for students in the arts, media, and design fields, offering a cost-free solution for developing portfolios, project visuals, and marketing materials for student organizations and events.
  • Practical Applications: Its versatility extends beyond simple image editing to include animation, graphic design elements such as logos and icons, and even web design components, making it an all-encompassing tool for creative projects.

How to Choose the Right Software for Your Needs

With the plethora of free software available, selecting the right tools can seem daunting. The key lies in a clear understanding of your specific needs and objectives. Are you seeking assistance with organization, research, creative tasks, or collaboration?

Identifying your primary challenges and goals is the first step. Subsequently, explore software options that address these specific needs. Utilize trial periods, explore tutorials, and read reviews to get a comprehensive understanding of what each tool offers.

Your academic and personal workflow preferences should guide your selection process, ensuring that you choose software that not only meets your needs but also integrates seamlessly into your daily routine.

Conclusion

The landscape of free software presents a wealth of resources that can significantly enhance the academic and creative endeavors of students. By leveraging these powerful tools, students can elevate their productivity, creativity, and learning efficiency, all without financial investment. The key to maximizing these benefits lies in selecting software that aligns with your individual needs and learning style, ensuring a tailored and effective enhancement to your academic journey.

Claudio Pires

Claudio Pires is the co-founder of Visualmodo, a renowned company in web development and design. With over 15 years of experience, Claudio has honed his skills in content creation, web development support, and senior web designer. A trilingual expert fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to his work. Beyond his professional endeavors, Claudio is an active YouTuber, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. Based in Brazil, Claudio continues to push the boundaries of web design and digital content, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.