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Jun 03, 2025Ravie LakshmananWeb Security / Digital Identity Google has revealed that it will no longer trust digital certificates issued by Chunghwa Telecom and Netlock citing "patterns of concerning behavior observed over the past year." The changes are expected to be introduced in Chrome 139, which is scheduled for public release in early August 2025. The current major version is 137. The update will affect all Transport Layer Security (TLS) server authentication certificates issued by the two Certificate Authorities (CAs) after July 31, 2025, 11:59:59 p.m. UTC. Certificates issued before that date will not be impacted. Chunghwa Telecom is Taiwan's largest integrated telecom service provider and Netlock is a Hungarian company that offers digital identity, electronic signature, time stamping, and authentication solutions. "Over the past several months and years, we have observed a pattern of compliance failures, unmet improvement commitments, and the absence of tangible, measurable progress in response to publicly disclosed incident reports," Google's Chrome Root Program and the Chrome Security Team said. "When these factors are considered in the aggregate and considered against the inherent risk each publicly-trusted CA poses to the internet, continued public trust is no longer justified." As a result of this change, Chrome browser users on Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and Linux who navigate to a site serving a certificate issued by either of the two CAs after July 31, will be served a full-screen security warning. Website operators who rely on the two CAs are recommended to use the Chrome Certificate Viewer to check the validity of their site's certificates and transition to a new publicly-trusted CA as soon as "reasonably possible" to avoid any user disruption. Enterprises, however, can override these Chrome Root Store constraints by installing the corresponding root CA certificate as a locally-trusted root on the platform Chrome is running. It's worth noting that Apple has distrusted the Root CA Certificate "NetLock Arany (Class Gold) Főtanúsítvány" effective November 15, 2024. The disclosure comes after Google Chrome, Apple, and Mozilla decided to no longer root CA certificates signed by Entrust as of November 2024. Entrust has since sold off its certificate business to Sectigo. Earlier this March, Google revealed that the CA/Browser Forum adopted Multi-Perspective Issuance Corroboration (MPIC) and Linting as required practices in the Baseline Requirements (BRs) to enhance domain control validation and flag insecure practices in X.509 certificates. Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post. SHARE    

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.If you’ve been eyeing a lightweight, all-purpose Chromebook for casual work, school, or everyday browsing, this open-box ASUS Chromebook CM30 might be worth a closer look. Currently priced at $179.99 (down from $329.99), it’s one of those mid-range 2-in-1s that doesn’t try to be everything, but nails the basics with enough flair to feel premium. The 10.5-inch WUXGA touchscreen is responsive and sharp, and thanks to the Kompanio 520 processor and 8GB of RAM, general multitasking is smooth, whether you’re juggling docs, Google Meet, or your Spotify tab. ChromeOS keeps things lean and fast, and you also get stylus support for quick notes or digital doodles.It helps that the whole device is wrapped in a sturdy aluminum shell (made with 30% recycled materials), giving it that slightly rugged, school-bag-ready feel without adding bulk. The detachable magnetic keyboard is full-sized and easy to type on, and the included stand cover lets you switch between laptop and tablet mode without a fuss. The battery claims up to 12 hours of life, and while real-world usage may land a bit under that, you’ll still comfortably get through a school or work day without hunting for an outlet (which is really all you can ask from a sub-two-pound machine). Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 keep connectivity solid, and the Titan C security chip adds a layer of peace of mind.The Chromebook is an “Open Box” model, meaning that the units aren’t brand new—they’re returns or unsold inventory that may show minor signs of handling. You may find stickers or shelf wear on the packaging, but the product itself should be clean and fully functional, with a one-year warranty included. If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 Chromebook that’s not underpowered like budget models but still doesn’t stretch your wallet, this deal should hit that balance. That said, the 128GB eMMC storage isn’t expandable, and there’s only one USB-C port, so those who need lots of peripherals or file space might want to look elsewhere. For everyone else, especially students or remote workers, it’s a solid, sustainable pick.

It's a mobile world, but we have not fully abandoned the desktop. The real work (and a lot of the play) of computing requires a full personal computing system, and to get the most out of that, you need software.Software can be expensive, but free programs have been a mainstay of the desktop experience for decades, and today's offerings are pretty powerful. Software developers can adopt an ad-based model, donation-ware to keep things afloat, or a shareware/freemium model that charges for extra features.Something to always watch for: Crapware installers. To make ends meet, many creators of otherwise great free software, or the services that offer the programs for download, bundle in things you don't want. Worse, the installation routine obfuscates the steps, so you provide the unwanted program tacit permission to be installed. For more about how to spot and avoid this problem, see How to Rid a New PC of Crapware.A pro tip: Only download desktop software from the maker of the software directly. It's not foolproof—after all, developers want to eat, too—but it helps.Other Criteria:The software must be available directly from the developer/creator/original publisher.The software should (typically) have a Windows-based download—no browser extensions here, because we're not all on the same browser. However, we've included web-based apps that are as good, or better, than most downloadable programs.If the software is on a tiered sales model, the free version cannot be trial-ware. It has to have at least a free-for-life option.Preferably the program had an update in the last year or two.The program should have little or no advertising to support it.Software for productivity is what this list is about; there are plenty of other places to find free PC games.For more free software, check out The 100 Best iPhone Apps and The 100 Best Android Apps.Did we miss any free programs you can't live without? Let us know in the comments. Best Free Audio-Editing Software Audacity 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, LinuxOpen-source Audacity can record and edit audio files on more tracks than you can imagine. It then outputs exactly what you need. It is perfect for noobs and pros alike and works on any desktop OS. Audacity review Best Free Simple Video Editor CapCut 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, webWhile it seems like most video editing today takes place on phones, at least one mobile video editor has jumped to the desktop: ByteDance’s CapCut is on Windows; it's even in the Microsoft Store. In our review of the mobile version, we found it to be fast, easy, and powerful. CapCut review Best Free Advanced Video Editing DaVinci Resolve 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, LinuxHow on earth does Blackmagic Design make DaVinci Resolve so capable as a video editor yet still offer a free version? The hope is that as users get better at making videos, they’ll buy the full suite for the extras, even if it costs $395. Meanwhile, the free version can handle almost any 8-bit format up to 3,840 by 2,160 pixels for editing, color correction, VFX, motion graphics, and audio. DaVinci Resolve review Best Free Video Converter Handbrake 3.5 Good Windows, macOS, LinuxNo one would call HandBrake simple, but few video transcoders—software that converts almost any video format into another video format—can compete when it comes to power and comprehensiveness. It's been around for over two decades and remains open-source. Best Free Cartooning Tool Pencil2D Windows, macOS, LinuxOpen-source and multiplatform, the Pencil 2D Animation tool is what it sounds like: a way to quickly create two-dimensional animations by penciling in each frame. The site is full of video tutorials to help you get the gist. Best Free Video Editing Shotcut 3.5 Good Windows, macOS, LinuxWhile it lacks the slick interface found in most other video editors, Shotcut's got lot of power. It offers a phenomenal number of features and gets frequent improvement updates. Just don't expect it to feel like an Adobe product. Best Free Game-Recording/Streaming Software Streamlabs OBS Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidStream your video game sessions with Logitech's Streamlabs Desktop directly to YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook. You can switch between gameplay and your webcam, so you can show your face as you make commentary. There may be a learning curve, but you can find plenty of help online. Best Free Video Player VLC Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidThe premier way to watch just about any video, no matter the clip's weird codec. VLC media player can auto-rotate smartphone videos taken at the wrong orientation and resume playback from where you left off during a previous session. Seriously, VLC plays back anything on all desktop platforms, and it guarantees no ads, tracking, or spyware. (For more, read How to Play DVDs and Blu-ray Discs in Windows.) Best Free Messaging Software Discord 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS, Android, Xbox, PlayStationMillions of people worldwide use Discord for text, voice chatting, and video chatting—mainly while kicking one another's arses in online games or watching gameplay streams on Twitch or Caffeine. You can spend a fee (starting at $2.99 per month) to go premium for better video and audio quality and to upload larger files. Discord review Best Free Secure Messaging Signal Private Messenger 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidPCMag’s Editors’ Choice Award winner for secure messaging (for mobile or desktop) is Signal, which you may recall from a recent high-level scandal. It does it all: group chat, voice chat, and video chat, all with mandatory end-to-end encryption. You need Android or iOS to register to use Signal, which requires the mobile app, but it also works on your desktop OSes. Perhaps best of all, it’s owned by a nonprofit with no incentive to sell your data.  Signal Private Messenger review Best Free Remote Access TeamViewer 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS, Android, ChromeOSPCMag's top pick for software that can control other computers is TeamViewer, which is only free for personal use. That version has everything you need: desktop sharing, file transfers, and chat with remote users. The setup couldn't be easier. Take control of a remote PC over an internet connection with the app, or use a browser with the TeamViewer extension. Just keep in mind that remote-access tools can be abused, so don't turn one on unless you're on the phone with the person you're allowing access to. And make sure to turn them off after you're done. TeamViewer review Best Free Friends and Family Messaging WhatsApp 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS, AndroidIf you want to avoid the giant corporations that run messaging services, maybe WhatsApp (which is owned by Meta) isn’t for you. But it is a massive service with a loyal user base, an easy-to-use interface, and self-destructing messages and images. It even uses the Signal protocol, so the folks at Meta can’t read what you send. But then again, you could just use Signal. Still, you might opt for WhatsApp if you have an existing platoon of friends and family using it. WhatsApp review Best Free Freeform Drawing Adobe Fresco 4.5 Excellent Windows, iOSYou may think of Adobe Fresco—the company’s painting app—as strictly for mobile devices. But it is also available for Windows, whether you use it in tablet mode or not. The free version has its limits, but overall makes the feeling of drawing on a screen as close as you can get to doing so on paper. Adobe Fresco review Best Free AI ChatGPT 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidDoes ChatGPT hallucinate and make mistakes? You better believe it. But it's still the most advanced and mature generative AI available today, especially considering you can do a lot with it for free (like get unlimited access to the GPT-4o mini, the fastest model offered by parent company OpenAI). It'll generate text and images (a limited amount per day) and even let you use the Deep Research function five times per month. You can do quite a bit without an account, but signing up unlocks features like saved chat history. And if you don't want to use it on the web, you can download ChatGPT apps for the operating systems above.For more, read our full review and note this disclosure: Ziff Davis, PCMag's parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems. ChatGPT review Best Free Painting Software Krita Windows, macOS, LinuxKrita is a powerful, full-fledged painting tool for digital artists. It does come with a bit of a learning curve, but the nonexistent price tag and the vibrant community behind it make it more than worth digging into, especially if you’ve got artistic skills but no desire to pick up paint and brushes IRL. Best Free Desktop Publishing Tool Scribus Windows, macOS, LinuxScribus is the open-source equivalent of Adobe InDesign for desktop publishing, or as close as you can get to it, with a history that goes back almost a quarter century. It has built-in color separation, color management, and a lot more—including its own wiki for documentation. Best Free World-Building Tool Shaxpir Windows, macOSPronounced like the playwright, Shaxpir is essentially a simplistic version of our top-rated Scrivener, with an “everyone” free tier that is very useful. For no charge, you get the full manuscript builder, world-building notebook, progress tracker, offline use, and cloud backup. Still, pros might consider the $7.99-a-month subscription with extra features a bargain after the 30-day trial. Best Free Screenwriting Tool Trelby Windows, LinuxDo you fancy yourself a budding screenwriter but lack the funds for high-end tools like Final Draft? Trelby does a fine job of helping you format scripts correctly, remember character names, and import and export to formats used in Hollywood. Best Free Android Emulation BlueStacks 5 Windows, macOSFor a hot second, Windows 11 had an Android simulator that could play apps from the Amazon store, but that got shut down. The next best option is BlueStacks, which only takes up about 5GB of space and can access the Google Play Store. The emulator will help you map your mouse and keyboard to work with Android games. For more info, read Ways to Run Android Apps on Your PC for Free. Best Free Social Photo Sharing Instagram (for Windows Phone) 3.0 Good Windows, WebSocial media apps don’t have to just be on your phone. Like TikTok, you can get to the 'Gram on your desktop with this app found on the Windows Store. It’ll show you all the amazing images shared by people and brands you follow, as well as the Reels they generate. Best Free Maps Software Google Earth Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, iOS, AndroidAs if high-end software that lets you virtually fly across the globe isn't cool enough, Google Earth Pro for the desktop is totally free. It includes advanced features such as high-resolution printing, distance measuring, and global guided tours. Although it also comes in web and mobile versions, the desktop version is the only one that lets you view satellite images of the moon and Mars. Plus, it has star maps and will even let you go back in time. Best Free Writing Tool yWriter 3.5 Good Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidThe highly structured interface of yWriter can help anyone, from budding to experienced novelists, get a real handle on their story and its characters. The program is full of stats on what you have written, providing you with a data-driven writing experience. It doesn't have the depth of Scrivener, but it's free (or you can make a donation). yWriter review Best Free Media Center Plex TV Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Xbox, PlayStation, Smart TVs, media hubs, NAS devicesIf you don't know or care what a media server is, but you just want to stream your videos and music collection around the house, Plex could work well for you. Install it on all your devices, point it at some media, and those audio and video files become available on everything—even remotely. For more, read How to Set Up a Plex Server, How to Share Your Plex Libraries, How to Organize Your Plex Media Library, and The Expert's Guide to Managing Your Plex Server. Best Free File Viewer and Converter Faststone Image Viewer Windows onlyView, manage, and compare your images with this fast and intuitive freebie. FastStone Image Viewer supports a wide range of image formats, including unprocessed raw files from specific digital camera manufacturers. (For more, read What Are Raw Camera Files and Why Should You Use Them?.) It also has companion apps for screenshots and photo resizing. Best Free Photoshop Replacement GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) 3.5 Good Windows, macOS, LinuxGIMP is a stalwart of the open-source world. It's a full-featured Photoshop alternative with all the functions—including layers, filters, masking, and plug-ins—that image editors need. It may lack the polish and AI extras you get with Adobe’s product, but GIMP more than makes up for that by being really, truly free. You can get it for Windows in the Microsoft Store. GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) review Best Free Graphics Software (Vector Editing) Inkscape 3.0 Good Windows, macOS, LinuxAdobe Illustrator is the high bar of vector image editing, but it has a premium price to match. You can still get cross-platform Scalable Vector Graphic image creation with the free Inkscape. You'll have to work a little harder to learn it, but it may be exactly what a talented (but cash-strapped or subscription-shy) artist needs. Best Free Graphics Software (Bitmap Editing) Paint.net WindowsIs Paint.net a perfect replacement for Photoshop? Nothing is as powerful as Adobe's program, but at this price—free—Paint.net comes close. For any minor (and even some major) picture manipulation, it's fast, comprehensive, and easy to use. Best Free PDF Reader Foxit PDF Reader Windows, macOSJust about any browser can read a PDF. But Foxit PDF Reader is free, not just for reading but also for annotation and collaboration on files. The program allows you to send signed and edited PDF files to friends or coworkers and works seamlessly with the Foxit PDF Editor on mobile platforms. For more, read How to Convert PDFs to Word Documents and Image Files. Best Free Grammar Help Grammarly 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, Web, iOS, AndroidIf you use the internet, you’ve probably heard of Grammarly—the ads are everywhere. The free version provides plenty of insights and suggestions to improve all the words you put on the screen in almost any program. And, yes, it really can up your writing game. Grammarly review Best Cross-Platform Note Taker Joplin 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, iOS, AndroidOur review of Joplin calls it "the ideal note-taking app for users who value simplicity.” It lacks some advanced features, but the open-source tool works on all major platforms to do what you need most: store unlimited notes. You only pay if you want to get into sharing and collaboration. It even has a web clipper browser extension for grabbing notes as you traverse the internet. Joplin review Best Free Kanban Project Management Kanri Windows, macOS, LinuxIf you do any kind of projects or organizing that involve index cards, then you have probably embraced the Kanban board approach. Kanri is a great, free way to Kanban your desktop without signing in or creating an account—it doesn't even need you to be online. As a bonus, it can import boards from big-name products like Trello. Best Free Office Suite LibreOffice 3.0 Good Windows, macOS, LinuxThere aren't many free office suites, and only one is a free, open-source download available for the major desktop operating systems. LibreOffice could be a bit more polished, lacks collaboration features, and sports an overstuffed toolbar interface that might remind you of Microsoft Office a decade ago. But it's powerful nevertheless, and it easily converts and imports files from other systems. It comes with a word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet component (Calc), a presentation program (Impress), a vector drawing program (Draw), and even a full database (Base) and math-formula editor (Math). LibreOffice review Best Free Note-Taking App Microsoft OneNote 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, WebOnce just a part of Microsoft Office, the sublime OneNote has become a free, standalone powerhouse for note-taking across all the major operating systems. It still works with Office, syncs data across all platforms, and has full online access via Office.com, with storage on OneDrive. That's why it's our Editors' Choice pick for note storage. Microsoft OneNote review Best Free Browser Firefox 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidThe venerable browser Firefox remains highly customizable and strong on security, privacy, and performance. It stays cutting-edge without the backing of Big Tech—in fact, the Firefox website brags that its parent, Mozilla, has been "billionaire-free for 20+ years." Mozilla also owns Pocket, so you can easily use Firefox to save what you see online to that read-it-later service. For more, read Which Browser Is Best? and Top Firefox Tips. Best Free Text Editor Notepad++ WindowsNotepad++ is nothing like the anemic Notepad that Windows users grew used to over the decades. This free download has tabs, color-coded nesting text, WYSIWYG printing, and support for macros. It's a must for hand-coders or any writer who wants a minimalist interface. Best Power-User Note Taker Obsidian 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidObsidian’s got a learning curve, but once mastered, it's the best note-taker for power users. The free version is available for personal use—it lacks only support and sync options, but you can get around the sync by storing your Obsidian Vault in a spot where a cloud service backs it up. Obsidian review Best Free Doc Viewer and Annotator Okular Windows, LinuxIf you seek a free and full-fledged PDF editor, Okular can do the job (on Windows—it's in the Microsoft Store—and Linux). It boasts annotations and highlights, even digital signature support. It will also read many other formats, including ePub books, comics formats, and many types of images. Best To-Do List for Everyone Todoist 5.0 Outstanding Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, WebThis is our favorite to-do list app, ever. We give the paid version a full five-star review, but even the free version is fantastic. The Todoist interface is simple perfection on all platforms—even wearables and via email (where you can turn messages into tasks). The free version gives you five projects with five collaborators on each (working across 300 possible tasks), supports uploads of 5MB files, and keeps a one-week active history. Todoist review Best Programming Environment Visual Studio Code Windows, macOS, Linux, webNeed to write some code? Use VS Code from Microsoft. It has everything you’d want in a coding environment, from plug-ins to great organization. And it's easy to get started with this program, even though you have to do a little setup to tweak it to perfection. Best Free Antivirus Avast One Basic 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidOur Editors' Choice award winner for free antivirus this year is Avast One Basic. It's a top scorer against malware in lab tests, and it did great in our hands-on tests, too. It offers more free protection than ever. Avast One Basic review Best Free Secure Browser Bitwarden 4.0 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidDo you want to stop the trackers watching you online dead? Going incognito on a standard browser isn't enough. You need to use a full-on privacy browser, one that blocks cookies and prevents the fingerprinting of your whole browser and computer. Brave is one of a slew of them with a rating for strong protection from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. For details, read The Best Private Browsers. Bitwarden review Best Free Desktop Authenticator Ente Auth Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, webWhen it comes to multi-factor authentication, the downside to most authenticator apps is that they're mobile-only. If you don't have your phone close by when asked for the code, you're out of luck. So, it's very nice to have a desktop MFA authenticator. Authy had one but killed it. Ente Auth is here to take up the slack. Set up your MFA logins with it on the phone or tablet, and all the codes sync with the desktop versions. Plus, it's always previewing your next code, so you don't have to wait, and it lets you share codes with a team. Best Free Password Manager Proton Pass 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, multiple browser extensionsProton already has a great reputation. Its Proton Pass offers the most outstanding password management of the year while charging you nothing. It includes email alias options, dark web monitoring, and password hygiene (it'll tell you when you have reused or weak passwords that need updating, pronto), all while managing an unlimited number of passwords and credentials. You can pay for extra features like credit card storage and data breach monitoring. For more, read our guide to The Best Free Password Managers. Proton Pass review Best Clipping with Annotations ClipClip WindowsClipClip holds multiple copied items in the clipboard, lets you extract text from images to paste, syncs on cloud services, allows history searches, and even does on-the-fly translation. It also allows for full-screen and video captures, plus edits and annotations. Best Synchronization of Clipboards Recuva 3.5 Good WindowsThe clipboard has come a long way, but you can take it further with a tool like Ditto. It’ll not only show you everything you’ve copied, but also handle searches, allow multiple ways to select, and keep the contents of multiple computers’ clipboards synchronized. Best Free Local Search Tool Everything 3.0 Good WindowsEverything has been around a long while and continues plugging along to help people find the things on their PC that built-in search can’t seem to fathom. It can even look inside files, though it won’t index them. If you name files and folders carefully, it will bring you results fast. Best Free Backup and Synchronization Software IDrive 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidIDrive is a PCMag Editors' Choice award winner for cloud storage and file sharing. You get 10GB free from IDrive to back up files from all your devices, an upgrade from the original 5GB. If that's enough capacity for you, you'll find this service more than up to your needs. It'll even back up your photos and videos from Facebook. Bonus: At this price tier, you don't have to give the company a credit card. IDrive review Best Media Viewer and Annotator IrfanView WindowsIrfanView has been letting people view, edit, and organize media and more on Windows for well over a quarter century now. The current version supports Vista all the way up to 11. The list of file format types you can click on, view, and annotate instantly is long, and the program's ease of use is legendary. And it's utterly free for personal use. Best Free Screen Capture Editor Gemoo Snap Windows, macOSWhen it comes to screengrabs, if the Snipping Tool in Windows doesn’t do it for you, Gemoo Snap is an excellent alternative. It's available for the desktop (including on macOS) or just as a Chrome extension if you only capture web pages. You can snap a screen, then annotate it, share it, pull out text, or even “beautify” it with edits and new backgrounds. Best Free File Compression for Archives NanaZip WindowsA lot of people adore the 7-zip archiving software. NanaZip is a fork of the original code, meant to make the archive experience feel more native to Windows 10 and 11 by working right in the context menu of File Explorer. Best Free File Manager for Windows OneCommander WindowsIf you find the Windows 10 and 11 way of dealing with files—via the built-in File Explorer—a chore, consider an upgrade to a third-party file manager. OneCommander has all the extras you'd want, including tab support, file previews, dual-pane browsing, dark and light themes, and a lot more. Best of all: It's fast. And free for home use. Best Free File Recovery and Deletion Recuva 3.5 Good WindowsRecuva (say it out loud) is a must for any techie's tool belt: It's the key to helping recover a lost file. It's easy to understand, but note: Recuva should really be installed before you lose a file. It's a portable application, too, so you have the option to run it from a USB thumb drive. Best for Screen Video Capture ScreenPal 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Android, iOSWant to capture more than a still image? ScreenPal (previously called Screencast-O-Matic) will do it. The free-to-use-forever tier will take still shots, up to 15 minutes of video of your screen (with a watermark), and share to social, plus store as much as you want online. The mobile apps will sync your captured files. We gave it an Editors' Choice award. You can pay $48 a year if you want unlimited full-screen video recording sans watermarks. ScreenPal review Best Free Power Screen Grabber ShareX WindowsWhat ShareX lacks in sexiness it makes up for in power, offering just about every option one could wish for in capturing a Windows screen (including video screen recording and GIF exports). It supports image effects add-ons such as backgrounds and borders, optical character recognition, and pre-set actions for processing captures just the way you like them. Best Free Screen Capture Microsoft Snip WindowsEven those with modest screen-capture needs would say the old Snipping Tool in Windows was...lacking. The new version of Snipping Tool merges it with the Windows Snip & Sketch, which was itself an evolutionary leap. Now it's more revolutionary, as it can also capture things like video and voice. Plus, you can annotate a screengrab. For more, read The Best Screen Capture Apps. Best Free Simple File Backup SyncBackFree WindowsSyncBack dates way back and still rocks at synchronizing backups. That includes the free version, which can copy files in both directions to make a restore as easy as a backup. Best Free Social Media Software TikTok Windows Windows, Web, iOS, AndroidYou probably think of TikTok as a mobile-only phenomenon. However, not only can you access the video wonderland on the desktop at TikTok.com, but there's also a well-done app for it right in the Windows Store. TikTok for Windows won't work with your webcam, but you can use it to upload videos you edit to perfection with desktop video tools. It's all free but has ads for support—just like on the mobile version, they show up looking like videos you might want to see. Best Free File Transfer Program Teracopy Windows, macOS, AndroidSure, Windows itself copies files between folders and drives just fine. But TeraCopy can take over that job and do it faster, and its interface for making copies is better-looking. Plus, it provides more information and feedback, and it can even recover from transfer errors. Best Free VPN Proton VPN (Windows) 5.0 Outstanding Windows, ChromeOS, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidYou probably should pay for a VPN, but you can save cash with a tool like the PCMag Editors' Choice award winner ProtonVPN, albeit with a few restrictions. It's not just our pick for the best free VPN; it's our best VPN overall. With the free ProtonVPN, your bandwidth is not limited, and the focus is mainly on keeping you secure. For more, read The Best Free VPNs. Proton VPN (Windows) review Best Free Video Conferencing Zoom Workplace 4.5 Excellent Windows, macOS, Linux, web, iOS, AndroidWant to host an online meeting for you and 100 of your closest friends? Zoom Workplace will let them all in for free, with a 40-minute time limit. They can join from any device, even a smartphone. Competitively priced premium plans with additional features are also available. Zoom is a PCMag Editors' Choice award winner for communications (with end-to-end encryption) and productivity (even the free version has team chat and whiteboards). Also, check out our top Zoom tips. Zoom Workplace review

If you’re hunting for the best laptop deals this April, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a high-speed gaming laptop, a cheap laptop under $500, or a premium ultrabook, we’ve carefully curated the best deals available right now. With our expert knowledge and hands-on testing, we’ve rounded up the top deals from Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Adorama. Want even more choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now. Best budget laptop deals under $500 Acer Our top pick: Acer Aspire 3, $299.99 ($26.99 off at Amazon) If you’re looking for a dependable laptop that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, the Acer Aspire 3 is a solid choice. For around $300, it covers the basics really well–web browsing, Zoom calls, streaming Netflix, or cranking out school or work stuff. It’s got an AMD Ryzen 3 chip and 8GB of RAM, so it runs smoothly for everyday use. The 15.6-inch 1080p display also looks good and has wide viewing angles, making it great for work and entertainment. Plus, a backlit keyboard is a nice bonus at this price. It’s not fancy, but it’s reliable and sometimes that’s all you need. View Deal Amazon Lenovo IdeaPad 1, Intel Celeron N4500 processor/15.6-inch 1080p display/20GB RAM/1TB SSD, $335.99 ($83.01 off at Amazon) HP 255 G10, AMD Ryzen 3 7330U processor/15.6-inch 1080p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $449.99 ($150 off at Amazon) Best Buy Asus FHD Laptop, Intel Celeron N4500 processor/14-inch 1080p display/4GB RAM/64GB eMMC, $119.99 ($60 off at Best Buy) Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, Intel Core 5 120U processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $449 ($200 off at Best Buy) Adorama HP Chromebook x360, Intel Celeron N5100 processor/11.6-inch 1366×768 touchscreen display/8GB RAM/64GB eMMC, $304.99 ($95 off at Adorama) Asus Chromebook CM30, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor/10.5-inch 1920×1200 display/8GB RAM/128GB eMMC, $419.99 ($29.01 off at Adorama) Newegg Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3, AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $369.99 ($130 off at Newegg) Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1, AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $459.99 ($140 off at Newegg) HP Envy 2-in-1, AMD Ryzen 5 processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS touchscreen display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $498 ($101 off at Newegg) Best mid-range laptop deals ($500-$900) Samsung Our top pick: Samsung Galaxy Book4, $699.99 ($300 off at Adorama) The Samsung Galaxy Book4 is a sleek and lightweight machine with decent hardware. It weighs just 3.42 pounds, which is impressive for a laptop with a 15.6-inch display. Underneath the hood, you’ll find an Intel Core i7-1355U processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage–so it should have no problem zipping through web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. The 15.6-inch display also has a 1920×1080 resolution, which is great for working with documents or watching streaming content. View Deal Amazon Dell Inspiron 5441, Snapdragon X Plus processor/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $749.99 ($50 off at Amazon) Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Snapdragon X Plus processor/13.8-inch 2304×1536 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $799.99 ($200 off at Amazon) Dell Inspiron 16 Plus, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $806.26 ($143.73 off at Amazon) Best Buy Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PC, Snapdragon X Plus processor/13.8-inch 2304×1536 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $799.99 ($200 off at Best Buy) Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x, Snapdragon X Elite processor/14.5-inch 2944×1840 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $899.99 ($300 off at Best Buy) Adorama Asus Vivobook 16, AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $749.99 ($80 off at Adorama) Lenovo ThinkPad 14 G7, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U processor/14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $769.99 ($259.01 off at Adorama) HP EliteBook x360, Intel Core i7-1365U processor/13.3-inch 1200p touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $899.99 ($599.01 off at Adorama) Newegg Acer Swift Go, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/16-inch 1200p touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $699.99 ($300 off at Newegg) Acer Aspire, Intel Core i9-13900H processor/15.6-inch 1080p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $749.99 ($150 off at Newegg) Asus ZenBook, Intel Core i9-13900H processor/14-inch 2880×1800 OLED touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $759.99 ($140 off at Newegg) Best gaming laptop deals HP Our top pick: HP Victus, $849 ($89 off at Newegg) If you’re looking to get into PC gaming (or just want a fast laptop that can handle more), the HP Victus is a great deal at $849. Inside you’ll find a powerful Intel Core i5 processor and an RTX 4050 graphics card, which means you can run modern games at 1080p. With 16GB of RAM and a roomy 1TB SSD, you’ve got plenty of speed and space to work with. Whether you’re gaming, editing videos, or just want something that can keep up with a busy workload, this delivers great performance without going overboard on the price. View Deal Amazon MSI Katana 17, Intel Core i7 processor/RTX 4060 graphics/17.3-inch 1920×1080 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,339.75 ($200.24 off at Amazon) Best Buy MSI Thin 15, Intel Core i5-13420H processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $649.99 ($250 off at Best Buy) Gigabyte G6 KF, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 ($200 off at Best Buy) Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, Intel Core Ultra 9 processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1500 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,479.99 ($520 off at Best Buy) Adorama MSI Cyborg 15 AI, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/RTX 4060 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,299.99 ($349.01 off at Adorama) MSI Stealth 14 AI, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/RTX 4060 graphics/14-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,399.99 ($199.01 off at Adorama) HP Omen Transcend, Intel Core i7-13700HX processor/RTX 4070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $2,049.99 ($569.44 off at Adorama) Newegg Aorus 16X Series, Intel Core i7-13650HX processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 1600p display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,069.99 ($330 off at Newegg) MSI Vector 16 HX AI, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor/RTX 5070 Ti graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/2TB SSD, $2,679.99 ($350 off at Newegg) Best premium laptop deals ($900+) Lenovo Our top pick: Lenovo ThinkPad T14s, $1,254.95 ($445.04 off at Amazon) The Lenovo ThinkPad T14s offers jaw-dropping battery life (almost 24 hours on a single charge!), a robust yet portable design, and a responsive keyboard. It features a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It’ll keep up with light workloads (especially ARM-native applications) and feels, according to our review, “responsive in practice.” While the design may look dated to some, the incredible battery life is just too phenomenal to ignore. If you’re looking for a well-made, long-lasting laptop, we’d definitely recommend the ThinkPadT14. View Deal Amazon Lenovo ThinkPad E16 G2, AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/64GB RAM/1TB SSD, $999.99 ($139.01 off at Amazon) Asus ZenBook 15 Pro OLED, Intel Core i7-13620H processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,099.99 ($100 off at Amazon) Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Snapdragon X Elite processor/13.8-inch ‎2304×1536 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,099 ($300 off at Amazon) Best Buy Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,034.99 ($115 off at Best Buy) MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V, Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,599.99 ($400 off at Best Buy) Adorama Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7, Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor/14-inch 1920×1200 OLED display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,059.99 ($79.01 off at Adorama) LG Gram 15, Intel Core i5-1350P processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $1,499 ($1,626 off at Adorama) MSI Creator A16 AI+, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor/RTX 4060 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/32GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,499.99 ($299.01 off at Adorama) Newegg Microsoft Surface Laptop (Copilot PC), Snapdragon X Elite processor/13.8-inch 2304×1536 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,099.99 ($300 off at Newegg) MSI Creator Z16, Intel Core i7-11800H processor/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,960 ($739 off at Newegg) FAQ 1. How much RAM will I need in my laptop? You’ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don’t buy laptops with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage—though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on how much RAM does a laptop need for more in-depth info. 2. What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop? The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows. Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they’re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don’t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on. 3. When should I look for a laptop deal? You’ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we’d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times. 4. Which retailers offer the best deals? You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we’d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. You’ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep. For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.