Explore Software

Sublime Text is a proprietary text editor prized for its raw speed and minimal footprint, even when working with very large files that would slow down heavier IDEs. Its Goto Anything feature lets developers jump to files, symbols, or lines with just a few keystrokes. Multiple selections allow simultaneous editing of many lines or instances of a word at once, a feature that has since influenced editors across the industry. A Python-based plugin API and Package Control repository let developers extend the editor with community-built packages. While it lacks the built-in language server integrations and native AI features of newer editors, its speed and low resource usage keep it popular among developers who prioritize a lightweight, distraction-free environment.

✦ Best for developers prioritizing speed and simplicity

1Password is a password manager that securely stores passwords, passkeys, credit cards, and sensitive documents behind a single master password and a locally-stored secret key, adding an extra layer of protection beyond typical password managers. Its zero-knowledge architecture means 1Password itself never has access to unencrypted vault data. Browser extensions and native apps autofill logins across every major platform, while Watchtower proactively flags weak, reused, or breached passwords so users can fix security issues before they become a problem. Passkey support lets users move away from passwords entirely for supported sites. 1Password Business adds team vaults, granular access controls, and integrations with identity providers like Okta and Azure AD, making it a common choice for company-wide credential management alongside individual use.

✦ Best for individuals and families seeking strong password security.

GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that provides inline code completions, whole-function suggestions, and a chat interface directly inside popular editors like VS Code, Visual Studio, and JetBrains IDEs. It is trained to understand context from open files and comments to suggest relevant code as developers type. Copilot Chat lets developers ask questions about their codebase, request explanations of unfamiliar code, or generate unit tests conversationally, while Copilot Workspace extends this into planning and implementing multi-file changes from a single natural language task description. Business and Enterprise tiers add organization-wide policy controls, code referencing filters, and integration with GitHub Enterprise for teams that need governance over AI-assisted development.

✦ Best for professional developers seeking ai-driven code completion.

Obsidian is a note-taking and personal knowledge management app built around plain markdown files stored locally on your device. Rather than a rigid folder hierarchy, Obsidian encourages a networked structure through bidirectional links, backlinks, and an interactive graph view that visualizes how notes connect. Because notes are just markdown files on disk, Obsidian is fast, works fully offline, and keeps your data portable - there is no proprietary lock-in. A large community plugin ecosystem extends the core app with everything from spaced-repetition flashcards to kanban boards and calendar views. Obsidian Sync and Obsidian Publish are optional paid add-ons for cross-device syncing and publishing notes as a website, but the core app is free for personal use.

✦ Best for advanced note-takers and researchers

Zoom is a video communications platform known for reliable, low-latency video calls that scale from one-on-one meetings to large webinars and virtual events. It became a household name during remote-work adoption and remains a default choice for external client calls and conferences. Beyond core meetings, the Zoom Workplace suite bundles team chat, whiteboarding, and Zoom Phone for VoIP calling, positioning it as a broader collaboration platform rather than just a meetings app. AI Companion, Zoom's built-in assistant, provides meeting summaries, smart chapters, and follow-up task suggestions automatically after calls end.

✦ Best for businesses and remote teams

Bitwarden is an open-source password manager offering end-to-end encrypted storage for passwords, passkeys, and secure notes, with a notably generous free tier that includes unlimited passwords across unlimited devices. Its open-source codebase has been independently audited multiple times, appealing to security-conscious users. Browser extensions, desktop apps, and mobile apps cover every major platform, and a built-in password generator and security health reports help users identify weak or reused credentials. For organizations, Bitwarden offers self-hosting options in addition to its cloud service, giving companies full control over where vault data is stored, plus Secrets Manager for securing infrastructure credentials like API keys alongside end-user passwords.

✦ Best for budget-conscious security enthusiasts

GitLab is a web-based DevOps lifecycle tool that provides a Git-repository manager providing wiki, issue-tracking and continuous integration.

✦ Best for engineering teams seeking all-in-one devops solutions

Discord is a communication platform organized around servers and channels, hugely popular with gaming and online communities but increasingly used by all kinds of groups. It combines text, voice, and video with rich bots and integrations.

✦ Best for gaming and online communities

Redis is an in-memory key-value data store used for caching, session storage, queues, and real-time features, prized for its speed. It supports rich data structures beyond simple key-value.

✦ Best for high-traffic real-time web apps

ExpressVPN is a premium consumer VPN known for fast speeds, a large global server network, and a very easy setup, with an audited no-logs policy. It is a mainstream, polished choice.

✦ Best for casual users seeking ease and streaming support

Dropbox is a cloud storage and file synchronization service that keeps files up to date across all of a user's devices and makes sharing large files with others simple via shareable links. It was one of the earliest mainstream cloud storage products and remains widely used for its reliability. Smart Sync lets users see and access all their files without needing to download everything locally, saving disk space while still providing quick access when a file is opened. Dropbox Paper offers lightweight collaborative document editing alongside file storage. Dropbox Dash adds AI-powered universal search across connected apps and cloud storage, helping users find files, links, and documents scattered across many different tools from a single search bar.

✦ Best for teams needing stable file sync

Proton VPN is a security-focused VPN from Proton (of Proton Mail fame), featuring a strong no-logs policy, open-source apps, and a genuinely usable free tier. It is Swiss-based with a privacy-first reputation.

✦ Best for privacy enthusiasts on a budget