It also fully integrates with the right-click context menu on Windows 11, so you can carry out basic tasks—such as adding a file to an archive or extracting the contents of a ZIP file—without needing to open the application itself.

NanaZip also provides support for advanced security features that may be useful to more experienced users.

6 BitWarden

Remembering passwords is frustrating enough, and keeping them synced across multiple devices is even worse. BitWarden, an open-source password manager, completely eliminates this issue.

##### Why I Use Bitwarden

The best option available (for me).

Posts 4 Every time you log in somewhere, BitWarden will securely store your credentials so you can instantly access them from any of your devices.

If you're struggling to come up with a unique password for a new account, BitWarden can generate a strong, secure password or passphrase to ensure you don’t reuse one.

Once you've saved a login, you can organize it into folders for better management.

BitWarden works seamlessly across all major desktop and mobile operating systems, ensuring cross-device compatibility.

Moreover, it allows you to store passkeys (password alternatives), credit card details, and SSH keys.

5 VLC

While Windows 11 comes with several built-in media players, none match the versatility and functionality of the open-source VLC media player.

##### 6 Hidden Features of VLC Media Player That You Should Be Using

It offers far more than just media playback.

PostsVLC has remained popular for years thanks to its intuitive interface, flexibility, and customization options. It supports nearly every media format by default and can even convert between formats. If you're not satisfied with how a video looks, you can fine-tune it using VLC’s tools.

4 VSCodium

VSCodium is a slightly modified version of Visual Studio Code (VS Code), a widely used general-purpose code editor.

##### This IDE Actually Made Me a Better Programmer

One IDE to rule them all. You won't want to use anything else after trying it.

Posts 20 Neither VSCode nor VSCodium are "true" integrated development environments (IDEs), but they offer such a wide range of extensions and plugins for almost every programming language that they come very close. Unless I need something very specific, VSCodium is my go-to editor when coding on Windows or Linux.

Recently, I’ve been using it together with Rust-Analyzer for some embedded systems projects, and everything has worked smoothly.

The main difference between VSCode and VSCodium lies in telemetry: VSCode sends usage data back to Microsoft, while VSCodium removes that functionality. There are also a few extensions exclusive to VSCode, though most essential ones are still available in VSCodium.

3 KDE Connect

KDE Connect is an open-source tool that enables you to control your phone from your PC—and vice versa. You can wirelessly send and receive files over your local network, reply to messages, and manage notifications.

In many ways, it functions similarly to Microsoft's Phone Link, but without requiring a user account.

KDE Connect supports Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android, making it easy to bridge different platforms if needed.

2 PowerToys

PowerToys is arguably the most flexible collection of utilities available for Windows, all of which are free and open source. It includes tools ranging from a color picker to an enhanced window manager to the Command Palette, which has entirely replaced the Start Menu in my daily workflow.

##### PowerToys Is the Ultimate Work From Home Companion App

Working remotely often means sacrificing convenience. Here’s how I use PowerToys to make working from home smarter, not harder.

Posts 2 I use around a dozen PowerToys utilities every day, both for work and personal projects. All of them can be enabled and configured directly within the PowerToys app—no need to search for configuration files or install additional software.

1 Firefox

Few applications are used more frequently than web browsers, making it crucial to choose one that suits your needs.

Firefox prioritizes privacy and offers a vast array of extensions. Furthermore, it is one of the few remaining browsers not based on Chromium (the engine behind Google Chrome, Brave, and Microsoft Edge).

Because it uses a completely different foundation, Firefox continues to support certain extensions and features unavailable in Chromium-based browsers.

Beyond the browser itself, Firefox is developed by the Mozilla Foundation, which has a solid reputation for protecting user privacy and security—an important consideration in today’s digital world.

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Although some software doesn’t have exact open-source equivalents, it’s always worth checking for one first. Open-source applications offer transparency (for those who want to inspect the code), flexibility, and—most importantly—they’re free.

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