Best apps for Windows
276 apps
Top Windows apps ranked by the community
Microsoft Excel is the spreadsheet in Microsoft 365, used in many organisations for budgets, financial models and data analysis. It offers hundreds of functions, pivot tables, charts, Power Query for importing and cleaning data, VBA macros and Python in Excel, plus Copilot in eligible plans. It runs on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web, where a free version is available with a Microsoft account.
8 Microsoft Excel alternativesPros
- Standard tool for financial models and business analysis
- Power Query, pivot tables and macros handle complex data work
- Huge range of functions, templates and learning resources
Cons
- Full desktop features require a Microsoft 365 subscription
- The free web version lacks many advanced desktop features
- Advanced features have a steep learning curve
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesAirtable combines the look of a spreadsheet with a relational database, letting teams link records across tables and view them as grids, kanban boards, calendars, galleries or forms. Interfaces, automations and AI features turn bases into lightweight internal apps for content calendars, product roadmaps or inventories. A free plan exists, with paid plans adding capacity and admin features.
12 Airtable alternativesPros
- Linked records give spreadsheet users real relational database power
- Grid, kanban, calendar, gallery and form views on the same data
- Interfaces and automations turn bases into lightweight internal apps
Cons
- Free plan limits on records and automations are reached quickly
- Paid seats get expensive for larger teams
- Complex bases can slow down and take effort to maintain
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryGrist is a relational spreadsheet from Grist Labs that combines a familiar grid with typed columns, linked tables and custom layouts. Formulas are written in Python, and granular access rules control who can see or edit each row or column. It is open source under Apache 2.0, can be self-hosted or run as a desktop app, and is also offered as a hosted service with a free tier.
8 Grist alternativesPros
- Formulas are written in Python, a big plus for technical users
- Granular access rules down to individual rows and columns
- Open source and self-hostable, with a desktop app option
Cons
- Less familiar than a classic spreadsheet for Excel users
- Smaller template and integration ecosystem than Airtable
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsPowerPoint is the presentation app in Microsoft 365, whose .pptx format is the common exchange format for slides. It offers themes, animations and transitions, Designer layout suggestions, presenter view with speaker notes, live subtitles and recording, plus Copilot to draft decks in eligible plans. It runs on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web, where a free version is available.
10 Microsoft PowerPoint alternativesPros
- The .pptx format is the standard for exchanging slides
- Extensive control over animations, transitions and layouts
- Available on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web
Cons
- The full desktop app requires a Microsoft 365 subscription
- The free web version lacks many advanced features
- Copilot deck drafting is only available in eligible plans
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPitch is a presentation tool from Berlin-based Pitch Software, built for teams that create decks together, from sales proposals to investor updates. It offers shared templates and brand settings, comments and slide assignments, link sharing with engagement analytics, and an AI agent that drafts decks from prompts and files. It runs in the browser, on desktop and on mobile, with a free plan and paid team tiers.
9 Pitch alternativesPros
- Built for decks made as a team, with comments and slide assignments
- Brand settings and shared templates keep decks consistent
- Link sharing with analytics shows how viewers engage
Cons
- Fewer advanced animation options than PowerPoint or Keynote
- Advanced team features are reserved for paid plans
- Exporting to PowerPoint may not keep every design detail
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesPrezi is a presentation tool known for its zoomable canvas, where topics are laid out on one large surface and the presentation moves between them instead of flipping linear slides. It also offers Prezi Video for appearing on camera next to your content, and AI help to turn text into a presentation. A free plan publishes presentations publicly with a watermark; paid plans add privacy and exports.
9 Prezi alternativesPros
- Zoomable canvas offers a non-linear alternative to slides
- Prezi Video puts you on camera next to your content
- AI help turns text into a first presentation draft
Cons
- Free plan presentations are public and watermarked
- Overused zoom effects can distract or disorient the audience
- Designing a good canvas takes longer than building classic slides
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesSlidev is an open source presentation tool that builds slide decks from a Markdown file, aimed at developers giving technical talks. It supports code highlighting, live code editing, Vue components, LaTeX, diagrams, themes and a presenter mode with notes, served locally and shown in the browser. Decks can be exported to PDF, PPTX or PNG, or built as a static site to host anywhere.
7 Slidev alternativesPros
- Slides written in Markdown are easy to keep in version control
- Code highlighting, live coding and Vue components suit technical talks
- Free and open source, with PDF, PPTX and static site exports
Cons
- Requires Node.js and comfort with code, so not suited to non-developers
- Custom layouts often mean writing CSS or Vue components
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesAdobe Acrobat is the PDF application from Adobe, the company that created the format. The free Acrobat Reader views, annotates and signs files, while paid Acrobat Standard and Pro add text and image editing, OCR, conversion to and from Office formats, redaction, comparison and e-signature requests. An AI Assistant can summarise documents and answer questions about them.
11 Adobe Acrobat alternativesPros
- Reference PDF tool from the company that created the format
- Free Reader for viewing, annotating and signing
- Pro adds editing, OCR, redaction, comparison and signature requests
Cons
- Editing and conversion require a costly subscription
- Heavy app with frequent prompts to upgrade
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesFoxit PDF Editor is a commercial PDF editor from Foxit Software, positioned as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat for businesses. It edits text and images, runs OCR on scans, converts to and from Office formats, protects and redacts documents and handles e-signatures, with an AI assistant for summaries and translation. It is sold by subscription with a free trial, and the separate Foxit PDF Reader is free.
10 Foxit PDF Editor alternativesPros
- Full PDF editing, OCR, redaction and e-signatures
- Lighter alternative to Acrobat with a familiar ribbon interface
- Available on Windows, Mac, mobile and the web
Cons
- Subscription required after the free trial
- The Mac version has fewer features than the Windows one
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesSmallpdf is a Swiss PDF platform with simple tools to compress, convert, merge, split, edit and sign PDFs from the browser, plus desktop and mobile apps. It is aimed at individuals and teams with quick, occasional PDF tasks. Free users get a limited number of tasks per day, while the Pro plan removes limits and adds OCR, batch processing and AI tools for summarising documents.
8 Smallpdf alternativesPros
- Clean, simple tools for quick PDF tasks in the browser
- Compress, convert, merge, edit and sign in one place
- Desktop and mobile apps alongside the web version
Cons
- Free users get only a few tasks per day
- OCR, batch processing and AI tools require Pro
- Files are processed online, a concern for sensitive documents
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesiLovePDF is a web-based PDF toolkit from a company based in Barcelona, with single-purpose tools to merge, split, compress, convert, rotate, watermark, OCR and sign PDF files. Desktop and mobile apps cover the same tasks, and a developer API is offered separately. Most tools are free with file-size and usage limits, and a Premium subscription removes them.
8 iLovePDF alternativesPros
- Simple single-purpose tools for merging, splitting and compressing
- Most tools work free in the browser, with nothing to install
- Developer API for automating PDF tasks
Cons
- Free use has file-size and usage limits
- Uploading files to a web service may not suit sensitive documents
- Text editing is basic compared with desktop editors
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesSumatra PDF is a small, fast document reader for Windows that opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, XPS, DjVu and comic book files. It focuses on quick startup and a minimal interface rather than editing, with basic annotation support and a portable version that runs without installation. It is free and open source under the GPLv3.
6 Sumatra PDF alternativesPros
- Very fast startup and a minimal interface
- Opens PDF, EPUB, MOBI, DjVu and comic book files
- Portable version runs without installation
Cons
- Available on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version
- No PDF editing and only basic annotations
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesPlatformsPDFgear is a free PDF application from Singapore-based PDF Gear Tech for reading, editing, converting, merging, compressing and signing documents. It includes OCR for scanned files and a Copilot assistant that summarises PDFs and carries out edits from chat requests. It is available on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, without watermarks or a required account.
10 PDFgear alternativesPros
- Free editing, conversion and signing without watermarks
- No account required to use the apps
- Copilot assistant summarises PDFs and applies edits from chat
Cons
- Text editing is less precise than in Acrobat or Foxit
- Younger product with less of a track record than established editors
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategoriesNitro PDF Pro is a commercial PDF editor from Nitro Software for Windows and Mac, aimed at businesses replacing Adobe Acrobat. It edits text and images, converts PDFs to and from Word, Excel and PowerPoint, runs OCR, manages pages and includes Nitro Sign for sending documents for signature. It is a paid product with a free trial.
7 Nitro PDF Pro alternativesPros
- Office-style interface that feels familiar to Word users
- Solid conversion to and from Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Nitro Sign included for sending documents for signature
Cons
- Desktop only, with no mobile apps
- Paid product after the trial, with no free tier
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesPDF24 Tools is a free collection of PDF utilities from the German company Geek Software, covering merging, splitting, compressing, converting, OCR, editing, signing and redacting. The tools run in the browser, and the PDF24 Creator app for Windows offers the same features offline along with a virtual PDF printer. There is no paid tier, and the website shows ads.
10 PDF24 Tools alternativesPros
- Completely free, with no paid tier
- Wide range of tools, including OCR, redaction and signing
- Windows app works offline and adds a virtual PDF printer
Cons
- The website shows ads alongside the tools
- The desktop app is Windows only
- Interface is functional rather than modern
Cost / LicenseFreeProprietaryCategoriesOkular is the document viewer developed by the KDE community, opening PDF, EPUB, DjVu, XPS, comic books and other formats in one application. It supports highlighting, notes and other annotations, form filling and digital signatures for PDFs. Okular is free and open source, is usually installed with the KDE Plasma desktop on Linux and is also available for Windows.
6 Okular alternativesPros
- Opens PDF, EPUB, DjVu, XPS and comics in one viewer
- Highlights, notes, form filling and digital signatures
- Free and open source, with no ads
Cons
- Cannot edit the text or images of a PDF
- Works best on KDE Plasma and feels less native elsewhere
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesQuickBooks is Intuit's accounting software for small businesses and self-employed people, offered mainly as the cloud-based QuickBooks Online, with desktop editions for Windows. It handles invoicing, bank feeds, expense and receipt tracking, sales tax, reports and payroll, and connects to many third-party apps and accountants. Intuit Assist adds AI help, and plans are paid after a free trial.
12 QuickBooks alternativesPros
- Widely known by accountants, which eases collaboration
- Large ecosystem of connected third-party apps
- Covers invoicing, bank feeds, sales tax and payroll
Cons
- Subscription costs add up, especially with payroll on top
- Features vary a lot between countries and editions
- Takes longer to learn than simpler invoicing apps
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesSage is a UK software company whose range spans small-business accounting such as Sage Accounting and Sage 50, payroll and HR tools, and Sage Intacct for mid-sized finance teams. Products and features vary by country, covering invoicing, bank feeds, tax returns, payroll and reporting, often used alongside an accountant. Most products are paid subscriptions, some with a free trial.
8 Sage alternativesPros
- Range scales from small-business books to mid-market finance
- Payroll and HR tools available from the same vendor
- Long-established and familiar to many accountants
Cons
- Confusing product lineup that varies by country
- Older desktop products feel dated next to cloud rivals
- Mostly paid subscriptions, with no lasting free plan
Cost / LicenseFree trialProprietaryCategoriesGnuCash is a free, open source desktop accounting program for tracking personal finances or keeping small-business books with double-entry accounting. It manages bank and credit card accounts, investments, multiple currencies, customers, vendors, invoices and bills, and can import QIF, OFX and CSV files or fetch transactions online. It runs offline on Windows, macOS and Linux and is licensed under the GPL.
7 GnuCash alternativesPros
- Free, open source double-entry accounting
- Works offline, with your data kept on your own computer
- Imports QIF, OFX and CSV files from banks
Cons
- Dated interface that feels clunky next to modern apps
- Double-entry concepts can confuse non-accountants
- No built-in cloud sync between devices
Cost / LicenseFreeOpen sourceCategoriesPower Automate is Microsoft's automation service, part of the Power Platform, for building cloud flows between Microsoft 365, Dynamics, Azure and hundreds of third-party connectors. Its desktop app adds robotic process automation for Windows applications and websites, and Copilot can draft flows from a description. Basic use is included in many Microsoft 365 plans, with premium licences for advanced connectors.
8 Power Automate alternativesPros
- Deep integration with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint and Dynamics
- Desktop RPA automates Windows apps and websites without APIs
- Basic use is included in many Microsoft 365 plans
Cons
- Licensing is complex, with premium connectors behind extra licences
- The flow designer can feel clunky and errors are hard to debug
- Less convenient outside the Microsoft ecosystem
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesGoogle Drive is Google's file storage and sync service, included with every Google account and shared with Gmail and Google Photos. Files can be shared by link or with specific people, and documents open directly in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides for real-time co-editing. Desktop apps for Windows and Mac can mirror folders or stream files on demand.
12 Google Drive alternativesPros
- Real-time co-editing in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
- Free storage included with every Google account
- Strong search across files, including text inside PDFs and images
Cons
- Free storage is shared with Gmail and Google Photos
- No official desktop client for Linux
- No end-to-end encryption for personal accounts
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesDropbox keeps a folder in sync across your devices and lets you share files or folders with a link, including with people who have no account. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux as well as mobile, keeps previous versions of files and can back up phone photos automatically. Paid plans add more storage, large file transfers and team administration.
12 Dropbox alternativesPros
- Reliable, fast sync across Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile
- Share files by link, even with people who have no account
- Version history and automatic photo backup included
Cons
- The free plan offers little storage and limits linked devices
- Files are not end-to-end encrypted on standard plans
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesOneDrive is Microsoft's file storage service, built into Windows and included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions. It syncs folders across devices, can back up the Desktop, Documents and Pictures folders, and lets several people edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files at the same time. A Personal Vault adds an extra verification step for sensitive files.
12 OneDrive alternativesPros
- Built into Windows and File Explorer, with files on demand
- Real-time co-editing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files
- Storage comes bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions
Cons
- Windows nudges you into folder backup, which can relocate files unexpectedly
- No official Linux client
- The free plan offers little storage
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesiCloud Drive stores files in Apple's cloud and keeps them in sync across Mac, iPhone and iPad, with access from Windows and from a browser on icloud.com. It is built into the Finder and the Files app, can sync the Mac Desktop and Documents folders, and supports shared folders. Optional Advanced Data Protection extends end-to-end encryption to iCloud Drive.
8 iCloud Drive alternativesPros
- Built into Finder and Files, with seamless sync across Apple devices
- Desktop and Documents folders can sync automatically
- Advanced Data Protection adds end-to-end encryption
Cons
- Small free storage, quickly filled by device backups and photos
- No Android or Linux app, and Windows support is more basic
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesBox is a cloud storage and file sharing platform aimed at companies that need control over their documents. It offers granular permissions, version history, single sign-on, compliance tooling and integrations with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack and many business apps, plus Box AI for asking questions about stored content. A free individual plan is available.
10 Box alternativesPros
- Granular permissions and compliance tools for regulated companies
- Integrates with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack and many business apps
- Box AI answers questions about stored documents
Cons
- The free plan is limited in storage and file upload size
- Aimed at businesses, less appealing for personal use
- Many admin and security features sit in higher-tier plans
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesMEGA is a cloud storage service from New Zealand that encrypts files on your device before upload, with keys derived from your password. It offers sync clients for Windows, macOS and Linux, mobile apps with camera uploads, encrypted share links and built-in chat and video meetings. A free plan is available alongside paid plans with more storage and transfer quota.
11 MEGA alternativesPros
- Files are encrypted on your device before upload
- Clients for every major desktop and mobile platform
- Built-in encrypted chat and video meetings
Cons
- Transfer quotas can slow down downloads on free accounts
- Losing both your password and recovery key means losing your data
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriespCloud is a Swiss cloud storage service that mounts your storage as a virtual drive on Windows, macOS and Linux, so files stay online until you open them. It includes link sharing, automatic phone photo backup, file history and a built-in media player. The paid pCloud Encryption add-on provides client-side encryption, and storage is sold as a subscription or a one-time lifetime plan.
12 pCloud alternativesPros
- Virtual drive saves local disk space on Windows, macOS and Linux
- One-time lifetime plans as an alternative to subscriptions
- Swiss provider with a built-in player for music and video
Cons
- Client-side encryption is a paid add-on
- Collaboration and office editing are limited next to Google Drive or OneDrive
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesSync.com is a Canadian cloud storage service with end-to-end encryption, which means the company cannot read the files you store. It syncs folders on Windows and macOS, backs up photos from iOS and Android, keeps previous file versions and offers share links with optional passwords and expiry dates. Business plans add team folders and admin controls.
11 Sync.com alternativesPros
- Zero-knowledge encryption means the provider cannot read your files
- Share links with optional passwords and expiry dates
- Version history and photo backup from iOS and Android
Cons
- No desktop client for Linux
- Syncing and uploads can be slower than with mainstream services
- Few integrations with third-party apps
Cost / LicenseFreemiumProprietaryCategoriesProton Drive is the encrypted cloud storage service of Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Files and file names are end-to-end encrypted, the apps are open source and files can be shared through password-protected links. It offers desktop sync on Windows and macOS, mobile photo backup and a free plan, with more space in Proton's paid bundles.
12 Proton Drive alternativesPros
- Files and file names are end-to-end encrypted
- Open source apps from a Swiss privacy-focused company
- Password-protected share links and mobile photo backup
Cons
- No desktop app for Linux
- Fewer third-party app integrations than mainstream clouds
- The free plan offers limited storage
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategoriesNextcloud is an open source platform you install on your own server to sync and share files, keeping data under your control instead of with a third-party cloud. Beyond file storage with desktop and mobile clients, its app store adds calendars, contacts, video calls (Talk), online office editing and many other extensions. Self-hosting is free, and Nextcloud GmbH sells enterprise support.
12 Nextcloud alternativesPros
- Keeps files on your own server instead of a third-party cloud
- App store adds calendars, contacts, Talk calls and office editing
- Desktop and mobile clients for every major platform
Cons
- Installing, securing and updating the server is your responsibility
- Performance can be sluggish without careful server tuning
- Quality varies across third-party apps
Cost / LicenseFreemiumOpen sourceCategories
