Tag: Free
These tools & technologies are either entirely free or have some sort of free tier.
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Tubi
Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service with a library of movies and TV shows spanning multiple genres. Owned by FOX, it requires no subscription and is available across major platforms. Its catalog rotates regularly, giving viewers a cost-free alternative to premium streamers.
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Reddit
Reddit is a social platform organized into communities (subreddits) that discuss a wide range of topics. Users post links, text, or images, and upvote or downvote content, shaping the visibility of discussions in real time.
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YouTube
YouTube is the world’s largest video-sharing platform, hosting diverse content from music videos and tutorials to live streams and short-form “Shorts.” Its recommendation algorithm surfaces related videos, while creators monetize through ads and sponsorships. Google account holders can upload, comment, and build personal playlists.
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iOS
iOS is Apple’s mobile operating system powering iPhone and iPad. Known for its integrated ecosystem, tight security, and polished user experience, iOS features the App Store for downloading vetted applications.
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Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator is a multi-factor authentication (MFA) app supporting time-based one-time passwords (TOTPs) and push notifications. It securely stores credentials for Microsoft services and third-party accounts, helping users defend against unauthorized logins with minimal friction.
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Cloudflare
Cloudflare provides content delivery network (CDN) services, DDoS protection, and security for websites. It accelerates content delivery by caching assets at edge locations worldwide and offers DNS services with built-in performance optimizations.
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Google Keep
Google Keep is a note-taking and organization app that syncs across devices. It lets you create notes, lists, voice memos, and reminders, with color-coding and labels to keep track of ideas and tasks in a minimalist interface.
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Google Takeout
Google Takeout is a service that allows users to export data from Google products such as Drive, Photos, and Gmail. It provides a convenient way to back up, migrate, or archive your personal content in various file formats.
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FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a Unix-like operating system known for its reliability, advanced networking, and robust security features. Widely used in servers and embedded systems, it serves as a foundation for projects like macOS and is maintained by a dedicated open-source community.
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Coinbase
Coinbase is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges, enabling secure trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets. With a user-friendly interface and regulatory compliance, it’s often the first stop for newcomers to crypto investing.
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Flutter
Flutter, by Google, is an open-source UI toolkit for building cross-platform apps. Using a single codebase in the Dart language, it compiles natively for mobile, web, and desktop while offering rich, customizable widgets.
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Cash App
Cash App, by Block (formerly Square), is a mobile payment service that lets users send money, pay bills, and buy Bitcoin. It also offers a customizable debit card, direct deposit, and investing features, including stocks and ETFs.
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Django
Django is a high-level Python web framework emphasizing rapid development and clean, pragmatic design. It offers a built-in ORM, authentication system, and admin interface, making it popular for scalable, database-driven websites.
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Venmo
Venmo, owned by PayPal, is a popular mobile payment service in the U.S. that allows users to send money to friends or businesses instantly. It incorporates social features like activity feeds and emojis, aiming for a more casual peer-to-peer payment experience.
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Flask
Flask is a lightweight Python web framework suitable for small to medium projects. Its simplicity and flexibility allow developers to build APIs or web apps with minimal overhead, adding extensions only when needed.
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PayPal
PayPal is an online payments platform facilitating money transfers, e-commerce transactions, and remittances worldwide. It offers buyer and seller protections, one-touch checkout, and international currency support, making online shopping more seamless.
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FastAPI
FastAPI is a modern, high-performance Python web framework for building APIs. It’s known for its easy-to-use syntax, automatic documentation with OpenAPI, and built-in validation using Python type hints.
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Zelle
Zelle is a digital payments network integrated into many U.S. banking apps. It enables instant peer-to-peer transfers using email addresses or phone numbers, eliminating the need for handling cash or checks.
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Pinterest
Pinterest is a discovery platform where users “pin” images and links to themed boards. Often used for inspiration in DIY projects, recipes, and design ideas, it focuses on curation and sharing of lifestyle concepts.
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TurboTax
TurboTax is an online tax preparation tool developed by Intuit, helping individuals file federal and state taxes. Guided forms, automated calculations, and real-time error checks make it user-friendly, with upgraded tiers offering live CPA support.
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Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social network owned by Meta. Known for its visual focus, the platform offers stories, reels, and IGTV, letting users showcase creative content and connect via likes, comments, and direct messages.
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Telegram
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app offering fast, encrypted chats and file sharing. It supports large group chats, channels, and bots, making it popular for broadcasting messages and maintaining community engagement with robust privacy options.
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Facebook
Facebook is a global social networking site used for sharing updates, photos, and personal milestones. Beyond its core social features, the platform integrates messaging, event creation, and marketplace tools for community engagement.
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Webull
Webull is a mobile-focused trading platform providing commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading. It features extended-hours trading, advanced charting, and a robust community forum, making it appealing to tech-savvy users who want real-time market data and insights.
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Bluesky
Bluesky is a decentralized social media project initially funded by Twitter. Its aim is to create open, interoperable protocols that give users more control over data and content, fostering new models of social engagement.
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PyCharm
PyCharm is a JetBrains IDE designed specifically for Python development. Features include smart code completion, on-the-fly error checking, and robust refactoring tools. It integrates with frameworks like Django and Flask, making it a favorite among web developers and data scientists.
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Atom
Atom is a hackable text editor developed by GitHub, popular for its customization. With a built-in package manager, Git integration, and community-driven plugins, Atom adapts to a wide range of coding workflows.
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Gitea
Gitea is a lightweight, self-hosted Git service offering version control, issue tracking, and code review. It’s community-driven and less resource-intensive compared to GitLab or GitHub. Teams benefit from its simple setup, integrated wiki, and pull-request workflow for collaboration.
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Android Studio
Android Studio is Google’s official IDE for Android app development. Built on IntelliJ IDEA, it offers real-time code analysis, a visual layout editor, and emulators for testing apps on various virtual devices.
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Xcode
Xcode is Apple’s official IDE for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS development. It features a code editor, debugging tools, and an Interface Builder, all integrated to streamline the process of creating and testing Swift and Objective-C applications.
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Swift
Swift is a modern programming language developed by Apple for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. It focuses on safety, performance, and readability, providing a friendly syntax that helps developers build fast, efficient apps.
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Jellyfin
An open-source media server solution that supports movies, TV shows, music, and live TV. Forked from Emby before it went closed source, Jellyfin ensures no data collection or tracking. Users host it locally, maintaining full control over their media library and metadata.
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Spotify
A global music and podcast streaming service with an extensive library of songs and exclusive shows. It offers free ad-supported listening or premium subscriptions for ad-free playback, offline downloads, and higher audio quality. Personalized playlists like Discover Weekly have become a user favorite.
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Wireshark
A free, open-source network protocol analyzer used for capturing and examining traffic in real time. Its extensive filter options help pinpoint issues like packet loss or suspicious behavior. Both educational institutions and cybersecurity professionals rely on Wireshark for in-depth network troubleshooting.
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Pandora
A personalized music streaming and internet radio platform powered by the Music Genome Project. Users create stations based on favorite artists or tracks, with algorithms tailoring subsequent song choices. Its curated approach to discovery remains a hallmark feature in the streaming landscape.
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Plex
A media server platform that organizes and streams your personal movie, TV, and music libraries. It can run on a home server or network-attached storage device, then serve content across devices. The optional Plex Pass unlocks extra features like mobile sync and live TV.
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Suno AI
A startup specializing in audio and speech technologies. It provides APIs for text-to-speech, voice conversion, and other advanced linguistic models. Developers leverage Suno’s offerings to build applications with natural, expressive voices and high-level language processing.
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VirusTotal
A free online service that aggregates antivirus engines to scan files and URLs for malware. Researchers often use it to identify malicious indicators and gather threat intelligence. Its crowd-sourced approach helps quickly detect and catalog emerging security threats.
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Tailscale
A zero-config VPN solution built on the WireGuard protocol, creating secure, private networks among devices. It handles NAT traversal and firewall configurations automatically, simplifying remote access. Teams and individuals use Tailscale to connect services securely without complex IT overhead.
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Ollama
A command-line tool for downloading and running large language models locally. It simplifies model management through a single interface, supporting tasks like text generation or summarization. By operating offline, Ollama maintains privacy while enabling custom AI workflows.
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Jupyter Notebook
A web-based interactive environment for coding, data analysis, and visualizations in Python, R, or Julia. Developers write live code and descriptive text in a single document, making it ideal for data science and educational demonstrations. It promotes reproducible research by storing outputs alongside code.
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AxCrypt
A file encryption tool for Windows that integrates seamlessly with the context menu. With password-based security and AES-256 encryption, it protects files and folders from unauthorized viewing. Users can also share encrypted data by distributing secure keys.
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Rust
A systems programming language that combines high performance with memory safety. Employing a strict ownership model, it prevents common bugs like null pointer dereferencing or data races. Developers adopt Rust for secure, efficient applications, especially where reliability is critical.
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GPT-4o
GPT-4o (often referred to as GPT-4) is OpenAI’s advanced language model, recognized for its improved reasoning, context handling, and creativity. It can perform tasks such as drafting documents, coding, and answering complex questions. With an expanded context window, GPT-4o significantly reduces factual and logical errors.
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Gemini
Google DeepMind’s forthcoming AI project, aiming to merge strengths of large language models with advanced reasoning abilities. It seeks to tackle complex problem-solving scenarios using cutting-edge architectures and extensive training. Expectations are high for breakthroughs in generative and analytic AI.
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Personal Capital (Empower)
Personal Capital, now known as Empower, is a comprehensive financial management platform that consolidates banking, investing, and retirement accounts in one dashboard. Users can track net worth, analyze spending, and receive tailored advice. Paid services include wealth management and professional financial planning.
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Llama
Meta’s suite of large language models, distributed in varying parameter sizes. Optimized for research and commercial NLP tasks, it offers strong performance while running efficiently on modern hardware. The models support text generation, classification, and a wide range of language understanding tasks.
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Roku
Roku provides streaming devices and an operating system that consolidate major platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ into a single interface. With a channel store offering both free and paid content, Roku has become a go-to streaming solution. The brand also produces Roku-branded smart TVs.
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Claude
An AI chatbot developed by Anthropic, designed to generate safer, more reliable text. It excels at conversation, summarization, and content creation, thanks to a unique training process focused on ethical and controllable AI. Its approach aims to reduce harmful or biased outputs.
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Whonix
Whonix is a privacy-centric operating system designed for anonymity via Tor routing. It uses two virtual machines: one as a Tor gateway, and the other as a workstation. This architecture ensures all network traffic is forced through Tor, minimizing data leaks and tracking risks.