The Best Things In Life Are Free
Usually, when you see something on the internet for free, you assume it’s a scam. However, there are dozens of resources and sites that are the real deal. From free books to free courses to free software, there are 20 things everyone should take advantage of. Have you ever used any of these sites? Or do you have any recommendations we missed?
1. Audiobooks
You’ve probably heard of Audible, which is a service that offers lots of books in audio formats. Monthly subscriptions can be costly, and there are actually totally free sites you can go to instead. While their selection is a bit smaller, sites like Chapter and Verse and Calibre are a great way to get your hands on e-books and audiobooks.
2. Digital Art
Learning art is already hard enough, but having to pay for expensive software can be discouraging. In fact, lots of creatives find digital art inaccessible, and so they never pursue the hobby or skill. But luckily, there are lots of free 2D editing and digital art software you can use, such as Krita, GIMP, and Pixlr.
3. Terms of Service Reader
You’ve probably heard about how terms of service can have crazy rules and regulations you may not realize you’re agreeing to. Websites will make these agreements hard to understand, and there are usually dozens of tech-heavy pages to read through. Terms of Service: Didn’t Read is a site that will explain the agreement in easy English and will even rank sites on how demanding they are.
4. Video Editing
There are also lots of free video editing software available. This is a great way to up your skills or create high-end videos without having to fork over hundreds or thousands of dollars. Specifically, take a look at DaVinci Resolve and Handbrake as go-to sources.
5. Audio Editing
Whether you want to start a podcast or make some music, audio editing is a key tool you’ll need. Luckily, there are applications like Musescore and Audacity, that are cutting-edge and pretty easy to use. This means you can achieve that great sound quality without worrying about the price.
6. Game Engines
Lots of people dream about becoming a game developer, and it can be a daunting task. Learning a new system is especially hard, and you’ll lock yourself into one system if you end up buying it. Luckily, lots of cutting-edge systems are totally free, including Godot, Unity, and Unreal Engine.
7. Tracking Flights
Isn’t it annoying to have to go to the airport to learn about flight traffic? Or perhaps you’ve always wondered how many planes are flying about and how safe they truly are. Well, with Flightradar24, you can track plane traffic live, which is a cool and entertaining way to explore the world of aviation.
8. Free Stuff
What if you simply want free stuff? Sure, you can find deals on Facebook Marketplace or perhaps Kijiji. But sites like Freecycle are a place people can list stuff they want to get rid of and simply don’t have the time or energy to sell. This is a great way to snatch a free instrument or piece of furniture.
9. Learn Psychology
Many students fork over hefty tuition fees for a chance to learn with top professors and educators. The Noba Project makes this level of education more accessible and has compiled modules and lessons from a variety of university professors in the field. That means you can access high-level education for free!
10. Free Icons
Whether you’re making an app or just want some cute icons for your business design or a presentation, The Noun Project has you covered. This site features millions of easy-to-use and vibrant icons for all sorts of projects. This is a great way to outsource art skills while developing your products or presentations.
11. Open Learn
There are lots of options for learning online, and many of them are free. But if you specifically want university-level courses, then Open Learn is another site to consider. They offer free courses for all levels of study and have sample university materials.
12. Maps
Interestingly enough, there was a time when you’d have to buy a map or an atlas if you wanted to get a grasp of your surroundings. However, now traveling is easier than ever, thanks to applications like Google Maps and Google Earth. Thanks to these additions, you can check out any part of the world for free.
13. Free Certifications
A lot of jobs require certifications to get hired, and then further training to get promotions or advance in your field. There are actually numerous online courses and certifications available for free. On Web Employed, you can find links to certifications for everything from information technology to engineering to finance.
14. Free Boxes
Isn’t it annoying to find boxes when you’re trying to move? Not to mention, you’ll probably need some bubble wrap and packaging tools as well. Turns out that UPS and USPS both will deliver these items to your house for free. You can literally get 50 boxes at a time.
15. Unsplash
Photos are needed for numerous things, from populating your site to fitting in with a presentation. Copyright can be a barrier to finding good photos, and you may not want to pay a premium just for one or two pieces. Luckily, sites like Unsplash provide free photos for quite literally everything.
16. Free Taxes
Doing taxes is quite annoying, and usually you have to hire out help or spend hours figuring it all out. Well, the IRS will offer U.S. citizens making $84,000 or less a free software that does the work for you. You can find this guided free software on their site!
17. College Books
An unexpected but prevalent money-eater in college is the books. However, Sci-Hub offers many of these books for free and can also help you access academic journals. This can easily save you hundreds of dollars every semester.
18. Easy Bibliography
If you’re in school, you’re familiar with the process of having to cite your sources. Well, Zotero can save you hours on this because it will store all your sources and import them into a bibliography in any style you need. It’s literally the easiest tool to use and will also integrate with Google Docs.
19. 3D Editing
If 2D editing is hard, then 3D editing is probably even harder! But you won’t have to worry about software, as one of the industry-defining 3D modeling tools around, Blender, is free. Blender is used by numerous game developers to create cutting-edge models, and there are other options too, including FreeCAD and MakeHuman.
20. Project Gutenberg
Like libraries, Project Gutenberg is dedicated to making classic books accessible for all. Similar to Open Library and Archive, these sites have thousands of books on offer, so you might want to see if they’re available next time you get a book assigned for school reading. Plus, there are lots of titles here for leisure reading.
