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Free Online Resources

Free Online Resources 3

 

Free Online Resources

There are many places online that offer free resources. A quick Google will often find many. Anything that is online or cloud based is suitable for most computers; Chromebook, Apple and Windows. Most of the “offline” software is for Windows.

In a few cases the resources mentioned are not necessarily free — such as domain registrars — but are mentioned because they are the best value AND provided additional services free — that other domain registrars usually charge extra for.  Note: It is highly suggested that your web host and domain registrar are different companies.

These Resources are constantly changing and updating. They were correct at the time of writing, but from today, they may have changed. Please do not take the suggestions on this page as absolutely correct, but instead use the any reviews as a starting point and do due diligence.

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Domain Registrars

The domain names are inexpensive, around US$10 / year. Both include owner privacy,  free and on site. Other sites can charge more or have a secondary site that administers the privacy. As a rule of thumb, register the .com version rather than others. If you have a country URL, (.au or .co.uk ) always see if you can get the .com. (There is no need for the .net, .org, or .biz… no matter how many registrars — suggest you ‘protect’ your brand. Also, watch out for domains that are first registered for cheap, the first year and then the renew price is much more expensive for following years. …read more about websites

 

 

 

 

Web Site Hosting and Online Web based Builders

There are many paid webhosts that are relatively easy to use and create quite reasonable product. These web-hosts usually provide free hosting and use proprietary website builders, however, it is not that easy to move your site. There are paid upgrades. …read more about websites

 

Groove is striving to be an all-in-one concept with 17 integrated modules including;  shopping cart, webinar and email. It even has a built in booking and scheduling feature, which would be ideal for a hypnotist practice. Currently they are running a life time deal before they go to a monthly charge. But, the best news is they have a free version where you can access all the modules. The free version is a great way to see if it works for you.

 

The free version hosted by WordPress. Website builder WordPress.com is a decent low-cost choice for blogging, but competitors with more up-to-date tools make it easier to build custom websites. It is fine for a basic ‘brochure’ site, but limited in what you can do, restricting the use of plugins unless you pay $25 / month.

 

Wix’s drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create a professional website – without having to know a line of code! With hundreds of templates and great tools Wix lets you build and sell through your site. Beginner-friendly and scalable, Wix is suitable for anything from personal online portfolios to small business websites. Unfortunately the free version has ads.

 

Weebly is an easy-to-use site builder with a free option. It lets you create and publish attractive, responsive-design sites, blogs, and online stores, but could use more themes and a better photo repository. The free option comes with a few limitations. Your site will have just 500MB of storage, a Weebly-based domain name, Square ads, and a 10MB maximum file size.

 

 

Offline Website Builders

The offline builders are installed  on your PC. Web builders have tended to fall out of fashion as many now use the online web based software and hosting

 

Mobirise is a free, modern, responsive, drag & drop web builder using the block concept. Good for a basic site, it is relatively simple, choose a template and then customize it with your details. However, it helps to know your way around the internet when it comes to uploading to your webhost. Mobirise has a paid option for purchasing their Special Blocks. Wait a week or two and they will often send an email with a massive “90 – 93% Off” discount allowing you to “save 1,500+ if purchased separately” and get all the blocks for “ridiculously low price” (usually USD$97 – $149 depending upon promotion) and support for a year. You can choose not to renew, and you can keep using those blocks, and they but you no longer receive support should a block develop a bug. You’ll need to renew the licence to get that upgrade.  One caveat, should you lose the blocks from your computer, they can only be reinstalled with a new licence. They cannot be reinstalled from a backup.

 

 

Images – Photos – Clipart – Music

Never, never, never use a image found on the internet with  a search engine, such as google! 

There is software that specialize in looking for stolen copyright images. And lawyers who will chase you like a rabid dog. By all means pay for an image from company, such as Shutterstock, but remember as well as the initial purchase price, there may also be ongoing royalty payments. Be careful using logos, make sure you check each site for any special terms or conditions.  Use free images that are royalty free and donated for any use at all, these are some of the best sites. 

 

Pixabay is probably the best site for free, royalty free images. Nearly all photos on this site come from here and are edited with PhotoFiltre. While not mandatory, avoid ads by uploading 10 of your own images. Suggestion: do not upload pictures of friends or family. Use your smart phone and take a few minutes to walk around take photos for texture images: shoot photos of walls, fences, doorways, trees, hedges. Upload the full size photos, add some tags and you will be ad free when you login. Do make sure they are good quality and in focus or they will be rejected. Tip: If you don’t upload 10 photos, watch out for the Shutterstock images that are strategically placed as they are ads and cannot be used for free.

 

 

 

Royalty Free and Copyright Free Music

This is a massive topic and many similar rules apply for music as for images and is definitely a trap for the unwary. Using music that is copyrighted or has royalty requirements could see you in serious trouble

  • Legismusic.com is a website  that can assist you to understand more and has recommendations about which sites provide royalty free music.

Opinion: don’t use music in sessions or recordings. For some people music can be a distraction.

 

 

Online Image Editors

 

Canva is an incredibly useful cloud-based graphic design application that offers an intuitive interface, a wide range of templates, and features that enable users to create high-quality designs for various purposes. With Canva, anyone can create professional-looking designs for social media posts, presentations, flyers, posters, and more without needing to have any prior graphic design experience.

Canva Pros:

  • Canva offers a huge range of templates, graphics, fonts, and photos, making it easy to create visually appealing designs.
  • The user-friendly interface allows for quick and easy editing, resizing, and customizing of designs.
  • Canva offers a free version, which is perfect for those on a budget, and a paid version that offers additional features and functionality.

Canva Cons:

  • Canva’s pricing plans can be a bit steep for individuals or small businesses who do not require the full range of features offered in the paid version.
  • Some users have reported that the platform can be slow or laggy at times, which can be frustrating when working on complex designs.
  • While Canva offers a wide range of customization options, some users may find the level of customization limited compared to other graphic design tools.

 

Pixlr is a popular cloud-based photo editing application that also offers desktop apps for Windows and Mac. The platform provides a user-friendly interface that enables users to edit, enhance, and transform their images quickly and easily. With Pixlr, users can create collages, remove backgrounds, add filters and effects, and much more.

Pros:

  • Pixlr offers both cloud and desktop applications, making it accessible to users regardless of their preferred platform.
  • The platform has a broad range of editing tools, including a comprehensive set of filters and effects, that are easy to use and deliver high-quality results.
  • Pixlr has a free version, making it an excellent option for users on a budget who don’t require advanced editing features.

Cons:

  • Some advanced features are only available in the paid version, which can be costly for users who need them.
  • Pixlr’s desktop app can be slow and laggy at times, particularly when working with larger files.
  • Some users may find the platform’s user interface to be cluttered, making it challenging to find specific tools or features.

 

PixTeller is a cloud-based graphic design application that offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of design features. With PixTeller, users can create various types of graphics, including social media posts, banners, flyers, posters, and more, without needing any prior design experience.

Pros:

  • PixTeller photo editor is free to use, and provides access to most features and resources, making it easy to create visually appealing designs.
  • The platform’s user interface is intuitive, making it easy for users to edit and customize their designs quickly.
  • PixTeller’s pricing plans are reasonable, making it an affordable option for individuals and businesses alike.

Cons:

  • Free program has some limits with photo editing, as well as a storage limit.
  • Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
  • Some users may find that the platform’s design options are limited compared to other graphic design applications.

The Pick

PixTeller stands out from Canva and Pixlr due to its intuitive interface, affordability, and vast selection of design templates, photos, graphics, and fonts. While it may not offer as many advanced editing features as Pixlr or Canva, it is an excellent option for users who want to spend less time learning a platform and want to be able to provide images quickly with a user-friendly, affordable, and efficient graphic design tool.

 

 

Cloud storage & Online Backup

 

DropBox is probably the most popular cloud storage. If you build a website with WordPress, you can use a back-up plugin and back up your site automatically to DropBox. You can also back up your own files, especially your important files. It is also a great way to share files with friends or family. It has an offline capability, so you can also save files like a copy of your passport or travel documents that might not always be accessible when travelling.  Dropbox also has a mobile application that allows you to use the program not only on the computer but also on the iPhone or iPad. Since the program is synchronized, you will definitely be sure that all your files will be in place. To upload a file to Dropbox, I just drag it to the correct folder, it’s easy and fast.

 

 

 

Tech Support Alert — Review Site for Free Software

This review site comes highly recommended if you are looking for reviews and recommendations of free software a.k.a Gizmo’s Freeware

 

 

 

 

 

Image / Photo Editing Software

 

PhotoFiltre is a desktop photo editing application that offers a range of basic editing features, including cropping, resizing, and color correction. It also includes a variety of filters and effects to enhance your images further. The platform’s user interface is straightforward and easy to navigate, making it an ideal option for those who are new to photo editing.

One of the most significant benefits of PhotoFiltre is its simplicity. It is easy to use, even for beginners, and it doesn’t require any prior photo editing experience. Additionally, the program is free to use, which makes it a cost-effective option.

However, one downside to PhotoFiltre is that it may not be suitable for advanced photo editing needs, as it lacks some of the more advanced features offered by other photo editing tools. Overall, PhotoFiltre is an excellent choice for those looking for a straightforward, no-frills photo editing application.

IrfanView is a popular desktop image viewing and editing application that has been around since the mid-1990s. It is a lightweight, fast, and versatile application that offers a wide range of features, including basic image editing, batch processing, and file conversion.

One of the main benefits of IrfanView is its speed and efficiency. It loads and processes images quickly, making it an excellent choice for users who need to work with large image files or who need to process many images at once. Additionally, it is a free application, which makes it a cost-effective option.

However, one downside to IrfanView is that its user interface can be a bit cluttered and overwhelming, which can make it challenging to find specific tools or features. Additionally, it may not offer as many advanced editing features as other photo editing applications.

Overall, IrfanView is an excellent option for users who need a fast, efficient, and free image viewing and editing application. It may not offer all of the advanced features of other photo editing tools, but its speed and versatility make it a valuable addition to any image editing workflow.

  • GIMP – Advanced

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a powerful and versatile desktop photo editing application that offers a wide range of features for users with varying levels of expertise. It is a free and open-source program that is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

One of the most significant benefits of GIMP is its advanced editing capabilities. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for image retouching, color correction, and compositing, making it an excellent option for professional photo editors. Additionally, its open-source nature means that users can customize and extend its functionality with plugins and scripts.

However, one downside to GIMP is that its user interface can be somewhat intimidating for beginners. It has a steep learning curve, and users may need to invest some time in learning how to use its various tools and features.

Overall, GIMP is an excellent choice for users who need a powerful and versatile photo editing application but don’t want to pay for a proprietary software package. While its user interface may be challenging for beginners, its advanced editing capabilities make it a valuable tool for professional photo editors and graphic designers.

 

 

Vector Graphic Software

 

Inkscape is used for creating vector graphics  — scalable graphics that won’t blur when you resize them. It’s a serious alternative to premium tools like Adobe Illustrator.  It is a feature-packed open source alternative created by a team of dedicated and talented enthusiasts. It’s hugely adaptable and powerful, and an excellent tool for graphic designers.

 

 

 

Office Software – Word Processor, Spreadsheets etc

There is no need to spend a small fortune on “Office” software.

 

LibreOffice has everything you could want from an office suite, fully compatible with Microsoft formats and totally free to use – even commercially. The suite contains six programs to cover every common office task: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math and Base. The last three are tools you won’t find in many other free office suites, and are designed for vector diagrams, mathematical functions and databases, respectively.

 

A feature-packed free office suite for Windows, Linux and Android. If you work collaboratively, or switch between a PC and a Mac, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides should be your first port of call. For anyone who’s already deep into the Android/Google ecosystem, this suite will be a natural choice.

 

 

 

Scanning Software

 

NAPS2 — Not Another PDF Scanner 2 —  is a free, open-source utility. Straightforward to use, it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles but is still very functional. It has a bare-bones interface that lets you set up multiple scanning profiles, each with its own name, resolution, document size, scan source, and so on. When the time comes to scan, you just pick a profile and scan. If you’re doing a lot of scans on a flatbed, you can set it up to automatically scan every at a fixed time interval — say 5 seconds — allowing you to just lift the lid & place the sheet and not have to be continually clicking buttons.

 

  • IrfanView – See Image Editors