20 free and lightweight software to give new life to old notebooks

If you have an old laptop that no longer meets your needs, don't despair! Today, there are several alternatives free software and lightweight that can revitalize your device, providing improved performance and new features. In this article, we will present a selection of 20 best programs that can transform your notebook, making it more efficient and useful in everyday life. Check it out:

Audacity

To start our list, we have the Audacity, a free and open-source digital audio editor that lets you record and edit audio files with ease. With an intuitive interface and a wide range of tools such as audio effects, equalizer, noise removal, and amplification, it is ideal for both beginners and advanced users.

O Audacity is compatible with Windows, macOS e Linux.

Notepad + +

Notepad + + is a free text and source code editor designed as a more advanced alternative to Notepad do Windows. It supports multiple programming languages ​​and offers features like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, advanced search and replace, and a multi-tab interface.

Notepad + + is only compatible with Windows.

OBS Studio

O OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free and open source software for recording and live streaming, widely used by streamers and content creators. It offers a flexible and customizable interface, as well as support for multiple media sources, multiple scenes, audio and video filters, and integration with multiple streaming platforms.

OBS Studio is compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux.

QBittorrent

O QBittorrent is a free and open-source BitTorrent client that offers a clean and easy-to-use interface, as well as a wide range of advanced features. It allows fast file downloads, download scheduling, magnet link support, built-in search filters, and remote control via a web interface.

O QBittorrent is compatible with Windows, macOS e Linux.

Lubuntu

Lubuntu is a distribution Linux lightweight, Ubuntu-based operating system designed to be fast and efficient on computers with limited hardware. Using the LXQt desktop environment, it offers a fluid and responsive experience, even on older machines. The system includes a selection of essential applications for productivity, navigation and entertainment, and is compatible with a wide range of hardware.

7-Zip

O 7-Zip is a free and open source software for compressing and decompressing files, known for its high compression ratio and support for various formats, such as 7z, ZIP, RAR, TAR e GZIP. In addition to being light and fast, 7-Zip offers advanced features such as AES-256 encryption, large file management, and Windows context menu integration.

O 7-Zip is compatible with Windows.

BleachBit

O BleachBit is a free and open-source system cleaning tool that helps free up disk space and maintain user privacy. With it, you can remove temporary files, cookies, logs and other unnecessary data from over 70 applications, including web browsers and productivity apps. In addition, the BleachBit can wipe data irreversibly, making recovery virtually impossible.

O BleachBit is compatible with Windows e Linux.

Foxit Reader

O Foxit Reader Foxit Reader is a free PDF reader known for its lightness and speed. It offers a variety of features, including the ability to view, annotate, and print PDF documents, as well as support for filling out forms and digital signatures. Foxit Reader's intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate and manipulate documents, making it a popular alternative to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

O Foxit Reader is compatible with Windows, macOS e Linux.

ClamWin

ClamWin is a free and open source antivirus software that offers basic protection against malware, viruses, spyware and other threats. It has a simple and easy-to-use interface, automatic virus definition updates, and the ability to perform scheduled and on-demand scans. Although it does not offer real-time protection, ClamWin It is still a good option for those looking for a lightweight and free solution to protect their computer. It is worth remembering that it is often used in conjunction with other antiviruses to ensure greater security.

O ClamWin is compatible with Windows.

VLC Media Player

O VLC Media Player is a free and open source multimedia player known for its compatibility with virtually all audio and video formats. In addition to its playback capabilities, VLC also offers advanced features like media conversion, streaming content, audio equalizer and subtitle support.

O VLC Media Player is compatible with Windows, macOS e Linux.

Inkscape

O Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor widely used by designers and illustrators to create drawings, logos, icons and other graphic elements. With a user-friendly interface and a wide range of tools, Inkscape allows you to create and edit vector graphics efficiently. It supports a variety of file formats, such as SVG, AI, EPS, and PDF, making it an excellent option for those looking for a free alternative to programs like Adobe Illustrator.

O Inkscape is compatible with Windows, macOS e Linux.

LibreOffice

O LibreOffice is a free and open source productivity suite that includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, drawing, and databases. Fully compatible with Microsoft Office, LibreOffice offers a familiar interface and a wide range of features that meet the needs of both home and business users.

O LibreOffice is available for Windows, macOS e Linux.

Midori

Midori is a lightweight and fast web browser, designed to consume few system resources while providing fluid navigation. Based on the WebKit rendering engine, it supports the latest web standards and has a simple and intuitive interface.

O Midori is compatible with Windows, MacOS e Linux.

PeaZip

O PeaZip is a free and open source archiving utility that supports a wide range of file formats such as ZIP, RAR, TAR e 7Z. It allows you to create, extract and manage compressed files efficiently, with a user-friendly interface and advanced features such as strong encryption, file splitting and creation of self-extracting archives.

PeaZip is compatible with Windows e Linux.

SumatraPDF

O SumatraPDF is a PDF reader known for its speed and efficiency. In addition to PDFs, it supports several other document formats, such as ePub, MOBI, XPS, DjVu e CBZ. With a minimalist interface, the SumatraPDF prioritizes simplicity and performance, providing a fluid reading experience.

O SumatraPDF is compatible with Windows.

Recuva

O Recuva is a free file recovery tool that helps restore accidentally deleted files from hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and other storage devices. It offers a deep scan mode that increases the chances of recovering lost data and allows you to preview recoverable files before restoring them.

O Recuva is compatible with Windows.

FastStone Image Viewer

O FastStone Image Viewer is an image viewer known for its speed and comprehensive functionality. In addition to viewing images, it offers tools for basic editing, such as resizing, cropping, adjusting colors, and applying effects. The software supports a wide range of image formats and also allows you to create slideshows with music.

O FastStone Image Viewer is compatible with Windows.

KeePass

KeePass is a free and open-source password manager that keeps your credentials safe and organized. It stores passwords in an encrypted database that is only accessible via a master password. It also offers features such as secure password generation, form auto-fill, and entry categorization.

O KeePass is compatible with Windows, MacOS e Linux.

PotPlayer

O PotPlayer is a free and powerful media player developed by Daum. It supports a wide range of audio and video formats, and offers advanced features such as hardware acceleration, 3D video playback, and subtitle support. The customizable interface of PotPlayer allows you to adjust the software to your preferences, providing a pleasant and flexible viewing experience.

O PotPlayer is compatible with Windows.

Greenshot

Greenshot is a free and open-source screenshot tool that allows you to quickly capture images of your computer screen. With it, you can capture the entire screen, specific windows or selected areas, and it also provides options to annotate, highlight and edit the captures in an intuitive way. Greenshot It also allows you to save images in different formats and share them directly via email or cloud applications.

O Greenshot is compatible with Windows.

Which of these software Are you going to download it on your notebook? Tell us about it Comment!

See also:

The best mice for PC and Mac

Sources: PCMag, PC World e XDA.

reviewed by Gabriel Princessval in 05 / 02 / 2025