Being a student does not mean paying for expensive software. In 2026 there are dozens of free tools that cover writing, design, coding, video and study, many of them the same apps used by professionals. Here are 15 of the best free software options for students, grouped by what you need them for.
Office and productivity
For essays and assignments, LibreOffice is a complete free office suite that opens and saves Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. Pair it with Grammarly to catch grammar and spelling mistakes, and use Trello to plan projects and deadlines on simple drag and drop boards.
Design and creativity
Creative students are spoiled for choice. GIMP is a free Photoshop alternative, Inkscape handles vector logos and icons, and Blender is a full 3D suite used across games and film. For UI and UX work, verified students get Figma Professional for free.
Video and audio
DaVinci Resolve is professional free video editing software, OBS Studio records your screen and streams with no watermark, and Audacity edits audio for podcasts and projects.
Coding and data
Learning to program? Visual Studio Code is the most popular free code editor, while Google Colab runs Python in your browser with free GPUs. Add an AI study helper like NotebookLM to turn your notes into a personal tutor.
The bottom line
You can build a complete student toolkit without spending a cent. Browse the full, up to date list on our free software for students page and install only what fits your course.
