There are many guides on the internet listing the best freeware applications that provide a decent solution to many computing tasks. These lists tend to be long, the software briefly mentioned and inaccurately reviewed, sometimes it can be difficult to narrow down the right tool for your specific job.

I make a point of sourcing and employing freeware applications on my computer, taking time to test them against their paid-for counterparts to see if they will enable me to the job I am after. This can be a lengthy process but it is all the more worthwhile when you can recommend these tools to friends and family, saving them time and money when outfitting their computers with the software they need.

I would like to share with you 10 really useful and free applications that I would be lost without on my Windows machine. I will try to include all relevant information, links and screenshots so that you can make an informed decision before you decide to download an use them.

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How many times to you use the right button on your mouse? How often do you right click? For me, I tend to use the mouse as much as possible and leave the keyboard to doing what it does best, typing. You can send files, cut, paste and play certain files with a right click, so why not add more functionality to it?

FileMenu Tools is a great little freeware application that runs intelligently in the background of your computer and allows you to add a whole lot of functions to a simple right click.

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One question that springs to mind when I am visiting a webpage for the umpteenth time to download the latest version of an application is: “Why isn’t there one centralised place for software update notifications?!”. Lots of pieces of software have in built updaters, but most don’t and rely on you physically checking to see what software needs updating.

Today I wish to share with you five tools (across all platforms) that will allow you to check, at a glance, what software needs updating and where to get them from.

1. FileHippo Update Checker (Windows Only)

FileHippo Update Checker is a Windows only tool that sits quietly in your system tray. It works by scanning your computer for installed software, checks the versions and then sends this information to FileHippo.com to see if there are any newer releases. The results of the scan are displayed in your browser, along with the links for you to download.

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Finding the right text editor for your needs can be a frustrating experience. On a Windows machine, I swear by Notepad++, an app we reviewed last month, for it’s clever features and lightweight filesize. If I am ever installing programs on someone’s Mac, I will always suggest the inclusion of Smultron, an equally powerful editor with the all important price point: Free.

Smultron is designed to work perfectly for a whole variety of needs, including internet programming, script editing and to do lists. All socuments open within the application are ordered on the left hand sidebar, a la iTunes, enabling you to copy and paste code from one document to another without having to select different files from your dock. If that doesn’t work for you, configure the application to display them in tabs, it’s all down to the user.

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We have all been there at one time in our lives, having to share a computer with your family. No matter what you do, you feel as if your computer habits are being spied upon and all you want to do is make sure that nobody can access your information.

EncryptOnClick is a clever application that allows you to encrypt your personal files and folders in just a few simple clicks.

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