The Best Free Software for Students
Life at university comes with its fair share of challenges. Whether it’s managing deadlines, staying organised, collaborating with classmates, and making ends meet on a strict budget. One are where students can make big savings is by taking advantage of the wealth of high quality free software available. These easy to use tools can help support your academic progress and enhance your productivity, without adding to your already lengthy list of expenses.
Why Free Software Matters
Utilising cost effective tools are essential for students balancing financial pressured with academic demands. The best free software for students help to remove the barrier of high licensing fees, making it it easier to access the same capabilities as premium alternatives. It also helps students develop their digital skillset by learning how to use platforms that are widely recognised within professional industries.
There are so many free systems out there that offer advanced features and reliable performance, students can build a robust digital toolkit without spending a thing.
It is also helpful to be aware that not every platform on offer will be useful to your course or hobbies. This is important to note as many of the systems that are offered for free can be large downloads that take up space on your devices. To prevent them running slowly, you should use as modern a device as possible and only download the software you think you’ll actually use during your studies.
Top Free Software Every Student Should Try
1. Notion
Purpose: Note taking, organisation, and planning
Why it’s helpful: Notion offers a flexible workspace that allows students to create lists, track assignments, build calendars, and even collaborate on group projects. Its simple interface means it’s easy to use, and a modular format helps it to adapt to any academic routine.
2. LibreOffice
Purpose: Writing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
Why it’s helpful: This powerful open source office suite is a reliable alternative to Microsoft Office is your university does not provide free access to it (many do, so make sure to check). LibreOffice is fully compatible with DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX formats, meaning you can open and save work seamlessly across different platforms. It’s ideal for essays, reports, and coursework that doesn’t require a constant internet connection.
3. Canva
Purpose: Designing graphics and other digital content
Why it’s helpful: Canva boasts one of the most user friendly design studio experiences anywhere on the web. It’s intuitive drag and drop interface means even the most novice of designers can use it, and it’s free templates you can create content for anything from Instagram to CV’s. Whether you’re a societal social media officer, or collaborating on a new project, Canva helps give your work a professional edge that other platforms can’t offer.
Consider upgrading to the premium version of Canva if you’re a design student who’ll use the platform regularly, and for more complex projects.
4. Mendeley and Zotero
Purpose: Referencing and citation management
Why it’s helpful: Finding and managing citations can be a stressful learning curve for new students. Both of these free resources allow you to upload and store your sources, annotate PDF’s, and generate citations in the referencing style you request.
Each feature plug-ins for Microsoft Office and Google Digital Services that help streamline the process of referencing once and for all.
5. Slack
Purpose: Collaboration and communication within teams
Why it’s helpful: Slack is a very common messaging and collaborative work space app that’s widely used by both educational institutions and workplaces. There’s a good chance one of your lecturers will ask you to download this one upon the beginning of your course.
The system allows you to create group chats, share important files, and talk to others using its video chat features. It’s a more streamlined approach than lengthy email chains, keeping all of your teams’ conversation in one place.
It can also be helpful to create sub-groups, or even an entire cohort group chat on Slack in order to cater for those that don’t use social media.
6. Microsoft Clipchamp and DaVinci Resolve
Purpose: Video editing and production
Why it’s helpful: It may not be the most powerful video editing software out there, but Microsoft’s free to download editing platform is helpful for those that want to edit shorter clips for social media.
If you need a more high level video editor, then try out DaVinci Resolve. It’s a professional grade system that’s been used in the film industry. You’ll need a modern device with fast processing speeds to ensure it works well though.
Visit Microsoft Clipchamp and DaVinci Resolve
What’s Included at University?
Many UK universities offer free software for students that can be accessed via your student login. Make sure to set up your email account early on to make sure you make the most of your access. If you haven’t already, check if you can use premium programmes such as:
- Microsoft Office 365
- MATLAB or SBSS (both are commonly used in science and engineering courses)
- EndNote reference manager
Upon enrolment, take a look through your school’s IT services or student portal for more detailed guides on how to access your free software.
For those living in student heavy cities such as Nottingham, Sheffield, or Leeds plenty of local libraries and digital spaces may also offer free or discounted access to specialist software and workshops that’ll further enhance your researching prowess.
To learn more about what your new city offers beyond the classroom, explore our dedicated city pages.
How to Use Free Tools Effectively
Learning how to use some of the free software available to students can be overwhelming at first, but with time you can become an expert and carry the knowledge into your future career.
- Research the tools already on offer to you.
- Use cloud services such as Google Drive to keep your work backed up, avoiding any unfortunate losses of USB sticks (it’s not a valid excuse for late submissions).
- Take the time to actually learn how to use the tools you’ve been given. It’ll come in handy when deadlines loom large.
- Watch videos or join online forums to discuss tips, and get free support from other users.
Honourable Mentions
Here’s a list of some other free platforms students can utilise that didn’t quite crack our main checklist:
- Trello
- Grammarly (Free Version)
- Audacity
- Asana
- Duolingo (just for a bit of fun)
Get More From Student Life
Whether you’re studying from home, commuting, or adjusting to life in a new city, the right digital tools can make a big difference to the efficiency of your research. By downloading the right software, you’re not only saving money but building employable skills that will continue to serve you well long after graduation.
Want more advice on living your best life as a student? Read more of our blog posts.
Let’s Get to Work
The best free software for students goes far beyond basic word processing. These cutting edge platforms help you to stay organised, refine your research style, and collaborate with ease. All without putting additional strain on your student budget.
Try out as many as you can, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if they’re a bit complicated. Your digital arsenal should fit your course, and help you succeed in your studies.
You’ve got the tools, so you’re already heading in the right direction.