The following is a list of (mostly) free useful tools, software and apps available online. It is by no means exhaustive! I will add to it as I come across new useful tools (or at least things that are new to me). And I’ll try to delete anything that gets out of date.
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Updated September 2026
Quick Picks
| I want to… | Quick pick |
|---|---|
| Capture, edit and automate Windows screenshots | ShareX |
| Take straightforward screenshots on Windows | PicPick |
| Annotate screenshots on Windows, Mac or Linux | Flameshot |
| Create a simple free form or questionnaire | Google Forms |
| Keep survey responses on UK/EU-based servers | SmartSurvey |
| Create surveys within Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Forms |
| Build attractive forms with generous free allowances | Tally |
| Find a calculator for an everyday problem | Omni Calculator |
| Work through an algebra or calculus problem | Symbolab |
| Draw and explore mathematical graphs | Desmos |
| Write and print sheet music | MuseScore Studio |
| Record or trim audio in a browser | Sodaphonic |
| Generate rhythm-reading exercises | Rhythm Randomizer |
| Make music using a computer keyboard | aQWERTYon |
| Shorten an occasional web address | Tiny.cc |
| Track a small number of branded links | Bitly |
| Turn a PDF into an online flipbook | FlipbookPDF |
| Create a harmonious colour palette | Paletton |
| Convert between colour-code formats | RGB.to |
| Create detailed mind maps | Freeplane |
| Organise and convert e-books | calibre |
| Measure something against the screen | iRuler |
| Learn coding with blocks and text | Microsoft MakeCode |
| Add dozens of useful features to Windows | Microsoft PowerToys |
| Send files between nearby devices | LocalSend |
Screenshot Tools
Most computers already include tools for taking basic screenshots. Windows users can press the Windows key, Shift and S together, while Mac users can press Command, Shift and 3 or 4. Some browsers can also capture an entire webpage: Vivaldi includes a Capture Page tool, while Chrome users can open Developer Tools, press Ctrl, Shift and P—or Command, Shift and P on a Mac—and type “screenshot”. The specialist tools below provide additional editing, annotation and automation features.
ShareX
ShareX is a powerful screenshot, screen-recording and file-sharing utility. It can capture a selected area, window, monitor, scrolling page or screen recording and includes tools for annotation, cropping, blurring, pixelating and extracting text using OCR.
Best for: Powerful screenshot capture and automation on Windows
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows
Worth knowing: ShareX offers an enormous number of options and can initially feel complicated. Uploading is optional; check its destination and after-capture settings before working with confidential information.
PicPick
PicPick combines screenshot capture with an image editor, colour picker, pixel ruler, magnifier and other design tools. It can capture a full screen, active window, selected area or scrolling window and then add text, arrows, shapes and effects.
Best for: Straightforward screenshot capture and editing on Windows
Cost: Free for personal, non-commercial use; paid licence required for business use
Works on: Windows
Worth knowing: The free Home version cannot legally be used at work, for client projects or in another commercial context.
Flameshot
Flameshot is a simple, open-source screenshot tool with an editing toolbar that appears as soon as you select an area. You can add arrows, text, highlights, numbered steps, shapes and blurred or pixelated areas before saving the image.
Best for: Quickly annotating screenshots on several operating systems
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: It is easier to approach than ShareX but has fewer automation, recording and file-sharing features.
Surveys and Forms
SmartSurvey
SmartSurvey is a UK-based survey service for creating questionnaires, forms, quizzes and polls. Its free Basic account includes unlimited surveys, up to 15 questions per survey and 100 responses each month.
Best for: Surveys where UK/EU data storage is important
Cost: Free Basic plan; paid plans available
Works on: Web browsers
Worth knowing: Responses above the free monthly allowance are parked until the allowance resets or the account is upgraded. Response data is stored on UK/EU-based servers.
Google Forms
Google Forms creates surveys, questionnaires, quizzes, registrations and other simple online forms. Several people can collaborate on a form, responses can be viewed in real time, and the results can be saved to Google Sheets.
Best for: Simple free forms and questionnaires
Cost: Free with a Google account
Works on: Web browsers and mobile devices
Worth knowing: Certain options, including file-upload questions and restricting people to one response, require respondents to sign in to Google.
Microsoft Forms
Microsoft Forms creates surveys, quizzes and polls and displays response information through automatically generated charts. Results can be exported to Excel, and forms can be shared through a link, QR code, Outlook, Teams or a website.
Best for: Surveys and quizzes used alongside Microsoft 365
Cost: Free with a personal Microsoft account; also included in eligible Microsoft 365 plans
Works on: Web browsers and mobile devices
Worth knowing: A free personal account currently allows up to 200 responses per form. Work, education and paid accounts have different allowances.
SurveyMonkey
SurveyMonkey provides templates, different question types, survey distribution and analysis tools. A Basic account is available free, but it is now considerably more restricted than many people expect.
Best for: Trying a well-established professional survey platform
Cost: Limited free Basic plan; paid plans available
Works on: Web browsers and mobile devices
Worth knowing: Free surveys are limited to ten questions, and only a restricted number of responses can be viewed. SurveyMonkey now asks users to sign in to see their exact Basic response allowance.
Tally
Tally is a modern form builder that works rather like writing a document. Its free plan includes unlimited forms and responses, conditional logic, calculations, file uploads and many other features that competing services reserve for paid plans.
Best for: Attractive forms with conditional questions and generous free allowances
Cost: Generous free plan; paid Pro and Business plans available
Works on: Web browsers
Worth knowing: Custom domains, removal of Tally branding, additional customisation and some team features require a paid plan.
Calculators and Maths Tools
Omni Calculator
Omni Calculator provides thousands of specialised calculators covering everyday life, conversions, finance, health, construction, food, science, sport, statistics and mathematics. Each calculator explains the information required and the formula being used.
Best for: Solving practical calculation problems without building a spreadsheet
Cost: Free
Works on: Web browsers, iOS and Android
Worth knowing: The site now contains more than 3,900 calculators. Health, financial and construction results are estimates and should not replace appropriate professional advice.
Symbolab
Symbolab solves problems involving algebra, calculus, trigonometry, matrices, geometry and other areas of mathematics. It can interpret a typed equation, display graphs and provide worked solution steps.
Best for: Understanding how to solve a mathematics problem
Cost: Limited free use; paid subscription available
Works on: Web browsers, iOS and Android
Worth knowing: Basic answers and calculators are free, but complete step-by-step explanations and several learning features require a subscription.
Desmos
Desmos provides free graphing, scientific, geometry and three-dimensional calculators. Its graphing calculator can plot equations, points and data, add interactive sliders and animate changes to mathematical expressions.
Best for: Plotting and exploring equations visually
Cost: Free
Works on: Web browsers, iOS and Android
Worth knowing: Desmos is excellent for exploring and checking mathematics, but students should still understand and show the method required by their course or examination.
Music and Audio Tools
MuseScore Studio
MuseScore Studio is professional music-notation software for writing, arranging, playing and printing sheet music. Scores can be entered with a mouse, computer keyboard or MIDI keyboard and exported to several music, audio and document formats.
Best for: Creating, playing and printing sheet music
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: Download the program from musescore.org. MuseScore.com is a separate score-sharing service that offers paid subscriptions.
Rhythm Randomizer
Rhythm Randomizer creates an unlimited supply of rhythm-reading exercises. Users can select note values, rests, time signatures and exercise length before generating a new example.
Best for: Music students and teachers practising rhythm reading
Cost: Free
Works on: Compatible web browsers
Worth knowing: It generates notation exercises rather than playing or marking them, so a teacher or confident musician may still be needed to check the performance.
Sodaphonic
Sodaphonic is a browser-based audio recorder and editor for recording, trimming, reversing, fading and censoring sound. It can also convert between several common audio formats and export edited work as an MP3 or WAV file.
Best for: Making quick audio recordings and edits without installing software
Cost: Free ad-supported plan; optional Pro subscription
Works on: Web browsers on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS
Worth knowing: The free plan includes up to one hour of saved audio and very limited transcription. Longer storage, advertisement removal and additional transcription require Pro.
aQWERTYon
aQWERTYon turns the rows of a computer keyboard into a musical instrument. Users can choose different sounds, keys and scales and play along with an embedded online video.
Best for: Experimenting with melodies and musical scales using a computer keyboard
Cost: Free
Works on: Desktop web browsers
Worth knowing: It works best with a physical keyboard. Its interface is rather old-fashioned, and embedded videos may occasionally be unavailable.
Everyday Utilities
Paletton
Paletton uses a colour wheel to create complementary, adjacent, triadic and other coordinated colour schemes. Palettes can be previewed in sample layouts and exported in several formats.
Best for: Creating a harmonious colour palette around a starting colour
Cost: Free
Works on: Web browsers
Worth knowing: The interface looks a little dated, but the underlying colour-wheel tools remain useful. A newer beta version is also available.
RGB.to
RGB.to converts colours between HEX, RGB, HSL, HSV and other formats and displays possible matches in several named colour systems. It can also suggest related colour schemes.
Best for: Converting a colour code into another digital format
Cost: Free
Works on: Web browsers
Worth knowing: Matches to physical printing and paint systems should be treated as approximations because screens display colour differently from ink, paint and printed materials.
Freeplane
Freeplane is a powerful mind-mapping and information-management program descended from the older FreeMind project. It can organise ideas, plans, notes, links and tasks within expandable visual maps.
Best for: Detailed mind maps and structured project planning
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux
Worth knowing: Freeplane is considerably more current and capable than FreeMind, although its extensive menus can initially feel technical. A portable version can run from removable storage.
calibre
calibre is a comprehensive e-book library manager, reader and converter. It can organise books using authors, titles, covers and tags, transfer books to many e-readers and convert between dozens of unprotected e-book formats.
Best for: Organising, reading and converting an e-book collection
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS and Linux; portable Windows version available
Worth knowing: It supports many rather than literally every file format. Its large collection of tools can make the interface feel complicated at first.
iRuler
iRuler displays a centimetre and inch ruler directly on the screen. It attempts to identify the display automatically and allows users to enter the screen size manually if the scale is incorrect.
Best for: Making an approximate physical measurement when no ruler is available
Cost: Free
Works on: Web browsers
Worth knowing: Check or calibrate the scale against a bank card, sheet of paper or real ruler before relying on it. Browser zoom, display scaling and a second monitor can all affect accuracy.
Microsoft MakeCode
Microsoft MakeCode is a free learning platform that introduces programming through colourful blocks before allowing users to progress to text-based code. It provides projects and simulators for devices and environments including the BBC micro:bit, MakeCode Arcade and Minecraft.
Best for: Learning coding through blocks, JavaScript and Python
Cost: Free
Works on: Web browsers; some editors and devices have additional apps
Worth knowing: Many activities can be tried using an on-screen simulator, although a compatible physical device is required to run hardware projects in the real world.
Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys adds a large collection of productivity utilities to Windows. These include a colour picker, bulk file renaming, image resizing, text extraction, file previews, custom window layouts, keyboard remapping, a screen ruler and tools for keeping windows on top.
Best for: Adding useful productivity and customisation features to Windows
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 11
Worth knowing: PowerToys contains more than most people will need. Enable only the utilities you intend to use and explore them gradually.
LocalSend
LocalSend transfers photographs, documents, folders, text and other files directly between nearby devices over the local network. It does not require an account, cloud-storage service or internet connection.
Best for: Sending files privately between phones, tablets and computers
Cost: Free and open source
Works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Fire OS
Worth knowing: Both devices must normally be connected to the same local network, and restrictive workplace, guest or public Wi-Fi networks may prevent them from finding each other.
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Note: Before you download or use any software, please read the disclaimer.