There’s no denying that just a handful of giants dominate most of our browsing experiences nowadays. Even so, smaller websites that can make a real impact still exist. Here are some of the most essential ones everyone should visit at least once. Best of all, they’re completely free.
DuckDuckGo
Remember when Google was actually useful and didn’t bombard you with sponsored content or insist on AI-generated summaries before genuine results? DuckDuckGo is a search engine that blends the right kind of useful nostalgia with a focus on privacy. It doesn’t track your searches or note your browsing habits. Plus, the search results page is refreshingly straightforward and, most importantly, relevant.
For an added layer of privacy, consider pairing DuckDuckGo with the right types of VPN. It hides your IP address, keeps your traffic encrypted, and stops your ISP or random networks from seeing what you’re searching.
A Soft Murmur
For many of us, modern life means being constantly exposed to noises that distract or put one on edge. A Soft Murmur lets you reclaim your sanity by allowing you to generate custom ambient audio. You can incorporate natural sounds, such as waves or raindrops, to achieve a meditative calm, or use white noise to block out conversations and other grating noises.
Ninite
- Having to hunt down and set up all your programs is by far the most grating part of a fresh OS install.
- Ninite is a godsend, as it rounds up and installs everything back-to-back with a single click.
- It covers everything from web browsers and development tools to document readers, game launchers, and multimedia apps.
- Just tick the boxes beside what you need, and Ninite will create a custom installer for you.
Khan Academy
It’s mind-blowing that a resource as invaluable as Khan Academy is free to use (donations are encouraged)! Much of its content is about the most dreaded of all subjects — math. However, both students and lifelong learners can also take advantage of hundreds of pro-grade courses tackling everything from history and science to practical life skills. Your curiosity is the only limit.
If you plan to create accounts on platforms like Khan Academy, using a data-removal service can be a smart move. You may wonder if data removal services like Incogni are effective. They help wipe your personal info from data brokers, lower your digital footprint, and give you a cleaner slate when signing up for new tools.
Hemingway Editor
Do people have trouble reading the long-winded messages you write? Do you ever wonder if using that word you found in a thesaurus instead of the more common one is a good idea? The Hemingway Editor will highlight all the stumbling blocks and pretentious foibles in your text, making it easier to read and reach a wider audience.
Unsplash
GenAI might be present everywhere, but it still can’t compete with genuine human creativity. Unsplash celebrates creatives, whether they’re photographers, 3D artists, or illustrators. It hosts thousands of images and videos you’re free to use or get inspired by, downloadable in different resolutions and with no fuss.
Archive Today
Paywalls aren’t only annoying; they help misinformation thrive by locking internet users out of access to impactful and verified content. We encourage you to support the outlets you trust! However, Archive Today will come in handy whenever you don’t want to sign up for yet another subscription just to read a single article. You can use it to access or take snapshots of most websites. These are then saved for posterity, minus the restrictions.
AlternativeTo
It seems like almost every useful piece of software is either going subscription-based or its existing subscription is becoming more expensive. Why spend all that money when outstanding free options exist? True to its name, AlternativeTo offers an extensive library of alternatives to thousands of paid programs. You can compare features and read what others are saying to make a more informed decision.
Project Gutenberg & Retroflix
Next up is a public domain twofer! Project Gutenberg is the internet’s largest repository of free e-books. It contains more than 75,000 titles ranging from literary classics to obscure writings and old magazines. Meanwhile, Retroflix offers a substantial collection of public domain movies and cartoons, also in the public domain. Best of all, you can simply visit the site and start streaming — no sign-ups required.
Conclusion
These tools won’t replace the internet’s giants, but they make the web feel a little more useful, a little more human, and a lot less cluttered. Try a few of them out and see which ones resonate with you.