The internet is a wonderful place: you can find answers to the most random questions you ever have, you can listen to music, watch movies, get something to eat without stepping foot outside, connect with people on the other side of the world, and other awesome things.
You know what is more awesome? That there are so many useful websites, apps, and services that are totally free. Redditor_2017 asked “What free things online should everyone take advantage of?“ and people came with an abundance of various resources, ranging from educational sites to ones giving financial services.
So here is a compilation of the amazing things that can be found online for free. Don’t forget to upvote the ones which you would use and feel free to add to the list in the comments!
More info: Reddit
#1 Dolly Partons Imagination Library
Dolly Partons Imagination Library if you have a child younger than 5. The send an age appropriate book once a month. It’s amazing! I have so many books for my daughter since I signed up and she loves getting them in the mail!
Image source: dirtpunkgirl, Dolly Partons Imagination Library
#2 Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg. Lots of free classic books.
Image source: hello_friend_, Project Gutenberg
#3 Photopea
Photopea. It’s a Photoshop clone that is completely free (unintrusive side banner ad, can be removed by a one time payment) and has all the basic features of Photoshop, using basically the same interface. If you’re used to Photoshop and just need to get something quick done, there’s nothing better out there. Best of all, it’s completely contained within your browser. There’s no installation, no local files, not even an account or sign in.
Image source: 11_1000_11, photopea
#4 Khan Academy
Use Khan Academy for literally everything. It’s free knowledge that you can use to clep out of university courses, or to simply invest your time in a worthwhile topic. Free quality education is best education.
Image source: [deleted], Khan Academy
#5 Skiplagged
Skiplagged for flights. It’s so good that United sued them and lost.
They essentially exploit the pricing manipulation that airlines use. Example, if you want to go from Phoenix to Atlanta, sometimes a ticket from Phoenix to Ft. Lauderdale connecting through Atlanta is cheaper. This website finds those flights for ya. Just don’t check in a bag!
Image source: thomasdantas, skiplagged
#6 Scihub
Scihub. Endless Free college books
Image source: commandament, Scihub
#7 My 90s TV
This is more of a novelty website, but I think it’s pretty cool and you can lose yourself for hours with nostalgia. It basically uses YouTube videos to simulate watching TV in 90s and you can specify what year you want and what categories you want to see when you change channels.
There is also a My 80s TV and a My 70s TV
Image source: -eDgAR-, My 90s TV
#8 Freecycle
Freecycle its litterly people giving away stuff they dont need/want any more that they can’t/don’t care enough to sell
Image source: TheAwkwardDyslexic, freecycle
#9 Archive
Archive has lots of old but free content. For example a lot of DOS games, directly playable through the browser.
Image source: purringfox, Archive
#10 Gimp
GIMP, it’s a free version of photoshop.
Image source: RobloxianNoob, GIMP
#11 Unsplash
Unsplash is where you can get free photos of just about anything, provided by the photographers themselves, to do with what you like.
Image source: Elin-Calliel, Unsplash
#12 Duolingo
Duolingo I have been using this for quick Spanish lessons with my morning coffee for a couple years now. It doesn’t override the need to take classes for college credits, but I recently had to take a course and it was a breeze. There are a few hundred languages that it teaches and the mobile app makes it easy to do anywhere while waiting.
Image source: justadrtrdsrvvr, Duolingo
#13 1aauto
1aauto. It is a car parts supplier, but their videos show exactly what tools you need, what parts you need, and how to do a repair yourself. Great money saver if you don’t know much about mechanics. Someone I knew was going to get screwed by their mechanic (700 bucks for a water pump replacement). Showed them that, they did it themselves for 30 bucks. It makes it quicker too, knowing what tools you need ahead of time for your particular car.
Image source: Creepysideboob, 1aauto
#14 Futureme
You can write letters to yourself (or other people) in the future! I personally love this type of self reflection and self support from my past self.
This way, I’ll always have someone wishing me a happy birthday, even if it’s just past me.
Image source: lenerz, futureme
#15 Zotero
Maybe not everyone, but for students Zotero is a lifesaver. It will store your sources, import them to a bibliography in whatever citation style you need, and even create in-text citations in your paper. It saves hours of work.
Image source: secondhandbanshee, Zotero
#16 Camelcamelcamel
Camelcamelcamel is really nice to track online prices to help you get the best deal. Also Black Friday is a myth and the sales aren’t good at all.
Image source: Magikarp_King, Camelcamelcamel
#17 Openlearn
OpenLearn from the UK’s Open University – free courses for all levels of study, samples of university materials, study skills nd tie-ins to BBC documentaries. Everything under Creative Commons licence so you can use it as you see fit:
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
Image source: iCowboy, OpenLearn
#18 Library Genesis
Library Genesis, a great place to look for and download college/university textbooks for free, as well as other books.
Image source: EarlyHemisphere, Library Genesis
#19 Waze And Google Maps
Google Maps and Waze are so useful if still blows my mind that they are free. Waze does have ads that show up when you are stopped but it’s still free and had a lot of great features. They have slowly been moving the more popular features to Google Maps too like speed trap reports and current speed/speed limit.
#20 Terms Of Service; Didn’t Read
Terms of Service; Didn’t Read.
A free site for people too lazy to read the entire ToS.
Image source: numbers909, Terms of Service; Didn't Read
#21 Heavens Above
Astronomer here! You can look up all the satellites flying over your house tonight, including the ISS, Hubble Space Telescope, those pesky Starlink satellites, and whatever else your heart desires, complete with star maps and precise timing. The website is called Heavens Above and there is an Android app, but unfortunately no iOS one last I checked. (For iOS I use “Sputnik!” which is free and tells me the ISS and Hubble passes overhead.)
It should be noted btw that many if not most of these objects are visible even in a city if on a good pass right above you. So out and see some cool stuff! :)
Image source: Andromeda321, Heavens Above
#22 Top Class Actions
Top Class Actions basically a site that lists active class action lawsuits you might qualify for. I’ve used it for trivial things like suing red bull for a free case because it “didn’t give me wings” but on a serious note. It made me aware of the suit against Equifax for leaking my data. That should be a settlement worth over a $100. It’s a cool way to hold corporations semi accountable, and score some money/freebies for any wrongdoing that went under the radar.
Image source: Zee_Ventures, Top Class Actions
#23 Free File
If you’re in the USA and you earn less than a certain amount of money — currently $69,000 — you can use the same software to file your taxes for free.
The system is called Free File, and companies that sell you tax software are trying very hard to make it difficult to find. Don’t let them.
Image source: Portarossa, Free File
#24 Melody Ml
I recently found this
Use it. I swear.
U can isolate vocals, drums, bass from mp3. Files You’ll need an email address to download the isolated files
Image source: actionshooter74, melody ml
#25 Blender
Just started using Blender, an open source video editor and animation tool. Good for making YouTube videos.
Image source: WichitaLineman, Blender
#26 Flightradar24
It allows you to see plane traffic live
Image source: Karlottobenz, Flightradar24
#27 Codecademy
Codecademy is an awesome site to learn how to use some programming languages. Doesn’t get into the really advanced stuff, but it’s good for a start.
Image source: LeowRojas, Codecademy
#28 Thenounproject
Thenounproject has a wide selection of icons. I use them for presentations!
Image source: czarthedrummer, thenounproject
#29 Nexus Mods
Nexus mods has thousands of video game mods, made by independent content creators, available to download at no cost.
I recently downloaded a bunch of mods for a new Fallout 3 playthrough from nexus! The game still crashes every 15 minutes but damn it’s still soo good.
Image source: TrampStampChamp_, Nexus mods
#30 The Anki Flashcard
The anki flashcard app for laptops is really dope for committing things to long-term memory and is free
Image source: hystorymystory, The anki flashcard
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