awesome-free-apps/filter/recommended-only.md

<p align="center">
    <img alt="Logo" src="../.github/afa.png">
</p>

<p align="center"><a href="windows-only.md">Windows Only</a> — <a href="macOS-only.md">macOS Only</a> — <a href="linux-only.md">Linux Only</a> — <a href="open-source-only.md">Open-source Only</a> — <a href="recommended-only.md">Recommended Only</a></p>
<p align="center"><a href="../MOBILE.md">Mobile version</a> — <a href="android-only.md">Android Only</a> — <a href="iOS-only.md">iOS Only</a></p>

| Icon | Meaning              | Icon | Meaning                       |
|------|----------------------|------|-------------------------------|
| 🪟   | Available on Windows | 🟢   | Open-source (Repository Link) |
| 🍎   | Available on macOS   | ⭐   | Recommended by us             |
| 🐧   | Available on Linux   |      |                               |

> [!IMPORTANT]
> Maintaining this project requires a lot of time. [Donate to support me!](https://patreon.com/axorax) ❤️
>
> [Discord server](https://discord.gg/nKUFghjXQu) — [Patreon](https://patreon.com/axorax)
>
> Want to add something to the list? Check -> [contributing.md](contributing.md)
>
> If you want to become a maintainer, check this -> https://github.com/Axorax/awesome-free-apps/issues/28

> [!IMPORTANT]
> **Looking for the mobile version of this list?** -> [MOBILE.md](MOBILE.md)

## Contents

<!-- AF-TOC : Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 09:57:23 AM UTC -->

- [Audio](#audio)
  - [Audio Players](#audio-players)
  - [Audio Recording](#audio-recording)
  - [DJ Software](#dj-software)
  - [Music Notation](#music-notation)
  - [Music Production](#music-production)
- [Browsers](#browsers)
- [Communication](#communication)
  - [Messaging](#messaging)
  - [Email Clients](#email-clients)
- [Compression and Archiving](#compression-and-archiving)
- [Customize](#customize)
  - [System Customization](#system-customization)
  - [Wallpaper Tools](#wallpaper-tools)
- [Data Management](#data-management)
  - [Copy and Move](#copy-and-move)
  - [Sync and Clone](#sync-and-clone)
- [Developer Tools](#developer-tools)
  - [API Development](#api-development)
  - [Database](#database)
  - [Network Analysis](#network-analysis)
  - [Game Engines](#game-engines)
  - [Virtualization](#virtualization)
- [Documents](#documents)
  - [Office Suites](#office-suites)
  - [E-book](#e-book)
  - [PDF Tools](#pdf-tools)
- [Note Taking](#note-taking)
- [Text Editors](#text-editors)
- [Download Managers](#download-managers)
- [Games](#games)
  - [Cloud Gaming](#cloud-gaming)
- [Mobile Emulators](#mobile-emulators)
- [Other Emulators](#other-emulators)
- [Graphics Tools](#graphics-tools)
- [3D Modeling and Animation](#3d-modeling-and-animation)
- [Security](#security)
  - [Antivirus](#antivirus)
  - [Password Managers](#password-managers)
- [Image Viewers](#image-viewers)
- [Remote Access](#remote-access)
- [Video](#video)
  - [Video Editors](#video-editors)
  - [Video Players](#video-players)
  - [Video Streaming and Recording](#video-streaming-and-recording)
  - [Video Converters and Compressors](#video-converters-and-compressors)
- [VPN and Proxy Tools](#vpn-and-proxy-tools)
- [Utility](#utility)
  - [Clipboard Management](#clipboard-management)
  - [Metadata](#metadata)
  - [Window Management](#window-management)
  - [File Management](#file-management)
  - [Application Management](#application-management)
  - [Screenshot](#screenshot)
  - [Space Visualizer](#space-visualizer)

<!-- AF-END -->

## Audio

- [FXSound](https://fxsound.com) - Boost sound quality, volume, and bass. Has a beautiful modern UI. 🪟 🟢 ⭐

### Audio Players

- [Foobar2000](https://foobar2000.org) - Lightweight and highly customizable audio player with support for many formats. 🪟 🍎 ⭐

### Audio Recording

- [Audacity](https://audacityteam.org/download) - Audio editor for recording and editing sounds. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

### DJ Software


### Music Notation


### Music Production

- [LMMS](https://lmms.io) - DAW for creating music with virtual instruments and MIDI support. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

## Browsers

- [Tor Browser](https://torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html) - Privacy browser routing traffic over the Tor network. 🪟 🍎 🐧 [🟢](https://gitlab.torproject.org/tpo/applications/tor-browser) ⭐

## Communication

### Messaging

- [Discord](https://discord.com) - Communication platform for text, voice, and video, popular with gamers. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

### Email Clients


## Compression and Archiving

- [7-Zip](https://7-zip.org/download.html) - Archive manager supporting 7z, ZIP, and other formats. 🪟 🟢 ⭐

## Customize

### System Customization


### Wallpaper Tools

- [Lively Wallpaper](https://rocksdanister.com/lively) - Tool to set animated and interactive wallpapers. 🪟 🟢 ⭐
- [Rainmeter](https://rainmeter.net) - Desktop customization tool offering widgets, skins, and live stats. 🪟 🟢 ⭐

## Data Management

### Copy and Move


### Sync and Clone

- [FreeFileSync](https://freefilesync.org) - Tool for comparing and syncing files or folders. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

## Developer Tools

- [livewinsize](https://github.com/Axorax/livewinsize) - Visualize window size in pixels and other units. 🪟 🟢 ⭐
- [TkForge](https://github.com/Axorax/tkforge) - Drag & drop in Figma to create a Python GUI with ease. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

### API Development

- [Insomnia](https://insomnia.rest) - Simple API client for REST and GraphQL development. 🪟 🍎 🐧 [🟢](https://github.com/Kong/insomnia) ⭐
- [Postman](https://postman.com) - API development platform with advanced testing and collaboration tools. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

### Database

- [DBeaver](https://dbeaver.io) - Universal database tool for SQL databases like MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Apache Family, and more. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

### Network Analysis

- [Wireshark](https://wireshark.org) - Leading tool for capturing and analyzing network traffic. 🪟 🍎 🐧 [🟢](https://gitlab.com/wireshark/wireshark) ⭐

### Game Engines

- [Godot](https://godotengine.org) - Game engine for 2D and 3D games with an easy-to-learn scripting language. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐
- [Unreal Engine](https://unrealengine.com) - Powerful, fully-featured game engine for high-quality 3D games. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

### Virtualization

- [Docker](https://docker.com) - Containerization platform for operating-system-level virtualization. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐
- [VirtualBox](https://www.virtualbox.org) - Virtualization software for creating and managing virtual machines. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

## Documents


### Office Suites

- [LibreOffice](https://libreoffice.org) - Popular and easy to use office suite. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐


### E-book

- [Calibre](https://calibre-ebook.com) - Powerful e-book manager. 🪟 🍎 🐧 [🟢](https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre) ⭐

### PDF Tools

- [Sumatra PDF](https://sumatrapdfreader.org/free-pdf-reader) - Fast, lightweight PDF reader. 🪟 [🟢](https://github.com/sumatrapdfreader/sumatrapdf) ⭐

## Note Taking

- [Inkless](https://github.com/Axorax/inkless) - Minimal, shortcut based app to take notes and use for light coding. 🪟 [🟢](https://github.com/Axorax/inkless) ⭐
- [Obsidian](https://obsidian.md) - Knowledge base app with powerful linking and markdown support. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

## Text Editors

- [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com) - Code editor with debugging, integrated Git support, and a vast extension marketplace. 🪟 🍎 🐧 [🟢](https://github.com/microsoft/vscode) ⭐

## Download Managers

- [AB Download Manager](https://abdownloadmanager.com) - Easily download files from anywhere. 🪟 🐧 [🟢](https://github.com/amir1376/ab-download-manager) ⭐
- [Free Download Manager](https://freedownloadmanager.org) - Modern download accelerator. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

## Games

- [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com) - Platform for buying and playing PC games. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

### Cloud Gaming


## Mobile Emulators

- [BlueStacks](https://www.bluestacks.com) - Android emulator for playing mobile games on PC. 🪟 🍎 ⭐

## Other Emulators

- [RetroArch](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch) - Open-source, cross-platform emulator that allows to play games from a wide variety of retro gaming consoles and platforms. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

## Graphics Tools

- [GIMP](https://gimp.org) - Versatile image editor for tasks like photo manipulation and graphic design. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐
- [Inkscape](https://inkscape.org/en) - Vector graphics editor used for creating logos, illustrations, and more. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐
- [Krita](https://krita.org) - Digital painting software designed for illustrators and concept artists. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

## 3D Modeling and Animation

- [Blender](https://blender.org) - 3D creation tool supporting modeling, animation, rendering, video editing, and more. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

## Security

### Antivirus


### Password Managers


## Image Viewers

- [ImageGlass](https://imageglass.org) - Lightweight, versatile image viewer. 🪟 🟢 ⭐

## Remote Access


## Video


### Video Editors

- [DaVinci Resolve](https://blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve) - Professional video editor with advanced color correction and effects. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐

### Video Players

- [PotPlayer](https://potplayer.daum.net) - Feature-rich video player with advanced playback options. 🪟 ⭐

### Video Streaming and Recording

- [OBS Studio](https://obsproject.com) - Software for live streaming and recording video. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

### Video Converters and Compressors

- [FFmpeg](https://ffmpeg.org) - Powerful tool for format conversion and multimedia editing. 🪟 🍎 🐧 🟢 ⭐

## VPN and Proxy Tools


## Utility

- [AutoHotkey](https://autohotkey.com) - Scripting language for task automation and custom hotkeys. 🪟 [🟢](https://github.com/AutoHotkey/AutoHotkey) ⭐
- [PowerToys](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys) - Utilities for file renaming, resizing, and productivity tools. 🪟 [🟢](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys) ⭐
- [yt-dlp](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp) - Command-line tool for downloading audio and video. 🪟 🍎 🐧 [🟢](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp) ⭐

### Clipboard Management


### Metadata

- [ExifTool](https://exiftool.org) - Command-line tool for editing metadata in various file types. 🪟 🍎 🐧 ⭐


### Window Management

- [FancyZones](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys) - Snap and arrange windows in multi-monitor setups. 🪟 🟢 ⭐
- [Rectangle](https://rectangleapp.com) - Efficient window manager with keyboard shortcut support. 🍎 ⭐

### File Management

- [Everything](https://voidtools.com) - Fast file search tool indexing the entire file system. 🪟 ⭐

### Application Management

- [Bulk Crap Uninstaller](https://www.bcuninstaller.com) - Powerful tool for uninstalling multiple applications and cleaning leftovers. 🪟 🟢 ⭐

### Screenshot

- [ShareX](https://getsharex.com) - Powerful screenshot and screen recording tool with advanced editing options. 🪟 🟢 ⭐
- [Snipaste](https://snipaste.com) - Free, Customizable, Portable snipping tool.

### Space Visualizer

- [WizTree](https://diskanalyzer.com) - Fast disk space analyzer that scans drives and shows file size distribution. 🪟 ⭐