Windows comes with a lot built in, but there are a handful of free third-party tools that are genuinely better than what Microsoft ships. Here are the ones we recommend to almost every client.
1. Malwarebytes (Free Version)
What it does: Finds and removes malware that your regular antivirus misses
Windows Defender is a decent antivirus for real-time protection, but Malwarebytes is significantly better at cleaning up infections that have already gotten through. The free version doesn't run in the background — you run it manually when something feels off.
We run this on nearly every computer we work on. It finds things other tools miss.
Download: malwarebytes.com
2. Bitwarden
What it does: Manages all your passwords securely
Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager. It generates strong, unique passwords for every site you visit, stores them securely, and fills them in automatically. It works in every browser and on your phone.
The free version has everything most people need. There's a premium upgrade for $10/year that adds some extras, but it's genuinely not necessary.
Download: bitwarden.com
Why open source matters: Bitwarden's code is publicly available for anyone to inspect. Independent security researchers have reviewed it and found it to be trustworthy — something you can't say about most "free" tools.
3. VLC Media Player
What it does: Plays any video or audio file you throw at it
VLC plays literally everything: MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, FLV, MP3, FLAC, and dozens of other formats. No codecs to install, no prompts to upgrade to a paid version, no ads. It just works.
If you've ever tried to open a video file and gotten an error about missing codecs, install VLC and you'll never see that error again.
Download: videolan.org/vlc
4. 7-Zip
What it does: Opens and creates compressed files (ZIP, RAR, 7Z, and more)
Windows can handle ZIP files natively, but 7-Zip handles everything else: RAR files, 7Z files, TAR files, ISO disc images, and more. It's lightweight, free, and has no ads or upsells.
Whenever you download something and it comes in a format Windows doesn't recognize, 7-Zip is your answer.
Download: 7-zip.org
5. Backblaze
What it does: Backs up your entire computer to the cloud automatically
Technically this one costs $9/month — but for unlimited, automatic cloud backup of your entire hard drive, it's the best value in software. It runs silently in the background and continuously backs up any file you change.
If your hard drive fails tomorrow, you can restore everything. If you accidentally delete a file, you can recover it. If your laptop gets stolen, your data is safe.
For anyone who doesn't have a reliable backup system, this is the most important thing on this list.
Download: backblaze.com
Want help installing and configuring any of these? We can set them all up for you in a single session and make sure everything is working correctly before we disconnect.