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The Best Windows Apps You Should Install in 2026
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A new Windows PC doesn't need to cost you a fortune to become genuinely useful.
While Windows already comes with plenty of built-in tools, there are some excellent free applications that can improve everything from productivity and file management to security, media playback and screenshots.
The best part? Many of these apps are completely free, and several are open source.
I've put together some of the best free Windows apps to try in 2026 — including a few that you might not have heard of.
1. Microsoft PowerToys – The Must-Have Windows Utility
If you only install one app from this list, make it Microsoft PowerToys.
PowerToys is a collection of free, open-source utilities from Microsoft designed to add extra functionality to Windows.
Rather than being one single application, PowerToys gives you a whole collection of useful tools.
Some of my favourites include:
- FancyZones – Create custom layouts for your windows.
- PowerToys Run – Quickly launch applications and search your PC.
- Always On Top – Keep a particular window above everything else.
- Color Picker – Pick a colour from anywhere on your screen.
- Image Resizer – Quickly resize images.
- Text Extractor – Copy text directly from parts of your screen.
- Keyboard Manager – Remap keys and shortcuts.
- Awake – Prevent your computer from going to sleep.
Microsoft continues to add and improve utilities, making PowerToys one of the easiest recommendations for Windows users in 2026.
Best for: Productivity and power users.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Everything – Find Files in Seconds
Windows Search has improved considerably, but if you've ever spent five minutes trying to find a file you know is somewhere on your computer, Everything is worth installing.
Everything is a lightweight Windows file-search application that focuses on finding files and folders by name extremely quickly. Its developers say a fresh Windows 11 installation with around 250,000 files can be indexed in roughly five seconds.
Simply type part of a filename and the results appear almost instantly.
You can also use filters and search operators to narrow things down.
For example, searching for:
*.jpg
can show your JPG files, while searches can also be limited by location, file type or date.
It uses very little system resources and is one of those applications that you don't realise you needed until you've installed it.
Best for: Anyone who has lots of files.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. 7-Zip – The File Compressor You Should Have
If you've ever downloaded a ZIP, 7Z or other compressed archive, you'll probably have come across 7-Zip.
It's free, open-source software that can create and extract compressed files. It supports formats including 7z, ZIP, TAR, GZIP and many others.
One of the things I like about 7-Zip is that there are no subscription fees or registration requirements. It's free to use, including on commercial computers.
It also supports AES-256 encryption for 7z and ZIP archives, which can be useful when creating password-protected archives.
Best for: File compression and extracting downloads.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. VLC Media Player – Play Almost Anything
Windows can play plenty of video and audio formats out of the box, but VLC Media Player remains one of my favourite free media players.
VLC is free and open source and supports a huge range of multimedia formats, including common video and audio files, DVDs and various streaming protocols.
The big advantage is that you generally don't have to worry about hunting down additional codec packs just to play a video.
It's simple enough for beginners but has plenty of advanced settings for people who want more control.
Best for: Movies, music and media files.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. ShareX – A Screenshot Tool on Steroids
Windows' Snipping Tool is useful, but if you regularly take screenshots, ShareX takes things considerably further.
ShareX is a free, open-source Windows application that combines screenshots, screen recording, GIF creation, image editing and file sharing.
You can capture a specific window, part of your screen or the entire desktop.
You can then edit the screenshot, add arrows and text, blur sensitive information and more.
It also includes tools such as OCR, a colour picker, QR-code tools, image comparison and clipboard features.
For someone who writes tutorials or blog posts, this is particularly useful.
Best for: Bloggers, students, support staff and anyone who takes lots of screenshots.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. LibreOffice – A Free Microsoft Office Alternative
Don't want to pay for Microsoft 365?
Take a look at LibreOffice.
It's a free office suite containing applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and more.
The current 26.2 release is available for Windows, including both x86-64 and ARM64 versions.
LibreOffice is particularly useful if you need to create documents but don't want another monthly subscription.
It's also continually updated, with the 26.2 branch receiving maintenance and stability updates during 2026.
Best for: Students, home users and anyone looking for a free Office alternative.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
7. Bitwarden – A Free Password Manager
If you're still using the same password for multiple websites, please stop.
A password manager can make it much easier to use unique passwords without having to remember dozens of them.
Bitwarden is one of the strongest free options available.
Its free plan provides basic password management, while the Windows application is available for Windows 11 on x86, x64 and ARM64 systems.
You can also use Bitwarden across your other devices and browsers, making it convenient if you regularly switch between a PC and smartphone.
Best for: Everyone.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. OBS Studio – More Than Just a Streaming App
You might know OBS Studio as the software used by streamers on Twitch and YouTube.
But you don't have to be a streamer to benefit from it.
OBS is a free, open-source application for video recording and live streaming. It supports Windows 10 and Windows 11.
You can use it to record your desktop, capture a particular application, record from your webcam or combine multiple sources.
It's also useful for creating tutorials.
For example, if you're writing a "How to use Windows" article, OBS can record your screen while you demonstrate the process.
Best for: Content creators, gamers and tutorial makers.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. WizTree – Find Out What's Eating Your Storage
Running out of storage space?
Instead of manually opening folders trying to work out what's taking up all your disk space, install WizTree.
WizTree analyses your storage and gives you a visual representation of what's using your hard drive or SSD.
This makes it much easier to spot huge folders and forgotten files.
The Windows version is available as both an installer and portable application, with version 4.31 released in March 2026.
It's particularly useful if you've got a laptop with a relatively small SSD.
Best for: Storage management.
Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Which Apps Should You Install?
You certainly don't need every application on this list.
If I had to narrow it down, these would be my recommendations:
| App | Best For | My Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PowerToys | Windows productivity | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Everything | Finding files | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 7-Zip | Compressed files | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| VLC | Video & music | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| ShareX | Screenshots | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| LibreOffice | Office documents | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
| Bitwarden | Passwords | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| OBS Studio | Recording & streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| WizTree | Storage management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
My Top 5
If you're setting up a new Windows PC and don't want to install dozens of applications, I'd start with:
- 1. Microsoft PowerToys – The best all-round Windows utility.
- Everything – You'll wonder how you managed without it.
- 7-Zip – A simple, free tool that everyone should have.
- VLC – Handles almost anything you throw at it.
- Bitwarden – One of the most useful apps you can install for your online security.
Final Thoughts
One of the great things about Windows is the enormous range of software available for it.
You don't have to spend hundreds of pounds turning your PC into a capable workstation. A handful of well-chosen free applications can make Windows faster to use, easier to manage and considerably more useful.
And unlike some of the software that comes pre-installed on a new PC, many of these apps are lightweight and focused on doing one job particularly well.
If you're setting up a new Windows PC in 2026, I'd definitely recommend giving a few of these a try.
What free Windows app couldn't you live without?
Let me know in the comments — I'm always interested in discovering new apps worth adding to the list.
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