Whether you’re a healthcare worker or a digital artist, there are tons of apps and programs that we all have to learn to do our job better and more efficiently. Many industries have become so dependent on software, in fact, that even minor maintenance breaks could mean heavy losses. The costs of purchasing or subscribing to the software itself are also rising, straining the budgets of businesses and individuals alike. What are the best ways to save money on software?
1.Free online software
Not all software must be purchased to use – there are tons of freeware alternatives available on the internet that will allow you to do most (if not all) of what paid applications have to offer. Instead of using Microsoft Office, try using the free LibreOffice. Instead of paying for speech to text apps, use CapCut’s free online editor.
CapCut is a free online video and image editor with plenty of features that make creating pictures and films for social media or marketing simple. Speech to text, text to speech, automatic transcription or AI-powered background removal – CapCut offers a robust set of features that make it a free, yet very powerful graphic design solution.
2.Open-source alternatives
Open-source programs often offer a free alternative to expensive programs released by major tech brands like Microsoft, Adobe, or Apple. Developers from all around the globe contribute to these projects, working for free to create open, freeware software that’s free of corporate agenda. Whether you need an operating system or office suite, there are tons of alternatives available. For operating systems, you have Linux. For office suites, you have projects like OpenOffice. These programs offer robust features at zero cost, removing your software expenses, at least in part.
3.Cloud-base subscriptions
Software that is available in the Cloud can be accessed from a range of devices wherever you’re currently located. This type of software is most often bought as a subscription, allowing users to access to software online for a monthly (or yearly) fee. While most software licenses are a big expense, a monthly subscription is a much more manageable cost. You also won’t need any extra hardware (like a dedicated server) and most cloud-based apps install updates on the fly, without interrupting your work.
Before you commit to a subscription, make sure what you’re looking for isn’t available for free. For graphic and video designers, CapCut is a powerful free tool that incorporates artificial intelligence algorithms to provide seamless color correction, image and video upscaling, photo restoration, and more. Just upload your picture or video, select the features that interest you, and – with only a couple of mouse clicks – the work is done.
4.Second-hand licenses
If you need specific software that is only available as a paid license, you can try looking for cheaper second-hand licenses. Many websites offer software license keys at affordable prices, but make sure you’re dealing with a reputable retailer before you finalize the purchase – licenses that look too cheap to be true often are. Also, since second-hand licenses are often region-locked, remember to verify that they’ll work at your location.
Image and article originally from www.savingadvice.com. Read the original article here.