Nov
No Cost Business Tools: 37 Free Applications That Make Your Life Easier, Free of Charge
The other day I came across a Squidoo lens all about these new web apps that are basically free replacements for your typical computer software. Whoever did the list must be awesome. (Ok I admit it, I wrote it…) 
Since Squidoo was overrun by spammers and subsequently bitch slapped by Google, I figured why not add to it and post the list here?
So here goes:
Operating Systems
Yes, there are entire operating systems you can run over the web (or download for free.)
Ubuntu
A free, Linux-driven OS. It’s a great base for a low-cost or non-Microsoft system.
Eye OS
Access your “desktop” from anywhere.
Nivio
Like running Windows from your browser!
Desktop on Demand
Lots of apps, just like your desktop OS.
Office Suites and Apps
No need to shell out for Microsoft Office anymore. These free tools get the job done.
Zoho
Zoho is a web-based office suite.
Google Docs
Includes word processing and spreadsheet software, with the possibility of presentation software, too.
Open Office
This is one you have to download, making it very similar to Microsoft Office… but it’s free. Great for Linux users.
Think Free
A full-featured, online office suite.
Finance
From personal finance to billing, there are interesting online apps to get you started. 100% cheaper than Quickbooks!
Wesabe
A full-featured financial package to track your finances. It even integrates with your bank account.
DimeWise
DimeWise lets you budget and keep track of all your expenses.
NetWorthIQ
Track your finances and net worth, and even compare them to other companies who are using the service.
Fresh Books
An easy way to bill clients online.
InstaCalc
Online calculator that works instantly.
Calcoolate
Cool online calculator.
Sales and Marketing
Making it easier to separate people from their money.
Veetro
Offers project management and sales functions, such as lead tracking and customer support.
Qoop
Create logo merchandise, such as calendars, the easy way. (A bit more advanced than CafePress.)
No need for Outlook anymore. There are a number of free email clients, and some of them have more features than Outlook.
Gmail
Google’s version of email. The best, IMHO.
Google Calendar
Integrate this with Gmail and it blows away Outlook’s calendar.
Yahoo Mail
Now with unlimited storage.
Yahoo Calendar
Integrate this with Yahoo Mail.
Thunderbird
A free email client you can download and run on your computer or server. From the people that brought you Firefox!
Web Browsing
Internet Explorer sucks.
Firefox
Browse the web with Firefox, it’s better and safer.
Online Radio
What kind of business doesn’t have a radio playing in the front office? But if your local FM radio station just doesn’t cut it, try this.
Pandora
Your own personal radio station with song recommendations and more.
Networking
When you can’t attend the local mixers or big conferences, keep in touch online.
Linked In
It’s like Myspace and Facebook, but for entrepreneurs and business professionals.
Collaboration
Work together while you’re apart.
Meebo
The do-it-all instant messenger.
Basecamp
An online collaboration tool from the great guys at 37Signals.
Concept Share
Collaborate in real-time without messing up the original document.
Security
This stuff will come in handy, especially if you spend your days on warez or pr0n sites!
AVG Anti-Virus
A free anti-virus software.
Spybot
Get rid of spyware.
Video Editing
You have to be on YouTube. And to do that, you’ll need some nice-looking video.
JumpCut
Edit in your browser.
Motion Box
Full-featured online video editing.
Photo Editing
Flauntr
A simple but powerful online photo editor.
Photo Storage
Flickr
The place to store and display your photos.
Computer Backup
Mozy
Free 2GB of storage space through an easy-to-use control panel that allows automatic backups.
Xdrive
Your own online storage for private storage or file sharing.
Gspace
Turn your Gmail account into a virtual hard drive.
File Synchronization
BeInSync
Sync your files between 2 computers, share up to 5 folders, and backup up to 1 GB of data.
There you go, a total of 37 free pieces of software!
Quick, Pop Quiz!
Why did I go to the effort of posting this list?
(a) To help you save money.
(b) Just cause I’m nice.
(c) Gurus are great and I’ve decided to quit making fun of them.
(d) Because it gave me a great place to weave in some affiliate links so I can make bank.
Once you’ve made your choice, post it in a comment below and we’ll see how many people get it right!
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What a great list! You should add Flock to the browsers. I use it as well as Firefox. Now I am going to try out Veetro.
I was going to say D, but unless you have some super secret way of cloaking, it must be B.
@DJ
I used Flock before after hearing good things, but I never saw it as more than Firefox with a few extra buttons.
@CDF
I took the “start with a bunch of normal links, then throw in just a couple affiliate links towards the end” route.
Pandora is nice indeed. Only it’ isn’t available anymore for none-U.S. users.
http://www.WinWeb.com should definitely also make this list. Its an office powerhouse for small businesses. Free Accounting software component PLUS 24/7 tech support.
One really effective tool that you left of Collaboration software is Communiclique. I have been using it in my company for the last 6 months and it has really improved organizations productivity.
Hi Sucker (haha… I like the feeling of this),
Thanks for the great list of resources, esp those on Finance and Sales & Marketing. These are great free tools that I have been looking for.
You have just saved me lots of hours.
Free is good! Actually I use several of the applications that you mentioned and will be looking into a few more that I did not know about.
And LinkedIn is only good if you pay for the Premium Level…so it is not like Facebook and MySpace..unless Facebook and MySpace have some premium level memberships I am not aware of…I know they have a ton of PRIVATE Groups in Facebook that are the groups business people want in, they are not paid memberships like LinkedIn.
Uh, cause you’re nice? Thanks for sharing this list – I found some great new tools I wasn’t aware of. Thanks again!
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!
If it’s free… it’s me!
Great blog… consider yourself subscribed.
Thanks for your article. I found that what I searched. Tons of useful information.
And for free… great!
I hadn’t seen the Flauntr online image editing site before.
That’s pretty cool.
Awesome list!
Damnn, thats a lot of useful stuff there!
Thanks
Nice list, I love free stuff
Very nice post. But I don’t really like Pandora.
Good, Thanks a lot. And spl thanks to you finace section
Hi,
(a) To help you save money.
A nice idea, but probably not
(b) Just cause I’m nice.
Possible, but unlikely
(c) Gurus are great and I’ve decided to quit making fun of them.
I can’t see that happening
(d) Because it gave me a great place to weave in some affiliate links so I can make bank.
If they are free software products I can’t see that being right either
How about……..
(e) Adding all the product names to your blog, may just attract a bit more traffic.
Well that’s how I got here!
these tools will definitely make my life a lot easier.
I think although firefox is a better alternative, after installing so many add-ons it is getting worse
For me Opera and sometimes safari are other good alternatives and mostly opera is much more quicker compared to others… IMHO of course…
Good list.
I don’t know if you people had any problems with anti-virus. I feel i was getting more trouble when i had anti-virus on my computer. I tried f-secure and i think this is the only one i would recommend. I tried all sorts of paid and free ones but couldn’t remove everything(even mcaffee and norton) but f-secure just removed every last dirt. I don’t use any antivirus , just firwall. Don’t try hacking me though
. I have only three port open 
Wow, great list! I’ve been using meebo for a while now. You are definitely getting bookmarked. ^_^
Thanks!
Solid resources for those with an internet business and little start up funds. Well done.
Great list and great site. Thanks for putting it together!
Spybot and Firefox are my two recommended FREE APPS online. Nice list and nice method of inserting your affiliate links. – Rif Chia
Great applications indeed. I can’t believe it took me so much time to find them. Thanks for the links and reviews and do keep up the good work!
How about http://www.gimp.org (gimp) for photo editing?
Solid resources for those with an internet business and little start up funds. Well done.
Open Office will be great for any business owners whom wish to save on the overall costs of having to install Microsoft Office on each on your computers, especially if audit checks in your country is common.
Awesome list. As far as antivirus goes, I would add Avira Antivi, it’s shown to have higher detection rates than AVG.
I am interested in Google Docs
Great Great List Buddy Free Applications as well as trouble free.
without any search u given good list. Thx
Thanks a bunch there a few that are really cool.
I must say the resources you have published here are great.All of them bing free to use is another great point as well.Thanks for sharing!
hey! thanks for sharing this list. I haven’t tried all but will try soon.
I hadn’t seen the Flauntr online image editing site before.
That’s pretty cool.
Awesome list!
thanks for the cool links, everything you need right there! thanks
This is a really nice list of useful free apps and thanks for this, very helpful!
This is truly innovative and insightful information- thanks a lot for the post.
This is a great list of tools. Zoho is really cool
Nice list, I especially liked the links to personal finance software like dimewise. I use a different version myself but it is so much easier to use this for keeping track of your money and budgeting than using excel or pen and paper.
Solid list, thanks.
Those financial planning tools seem great.
That’s a pretty nice list of applications free of charge, I still have to give Ubuntu a try!
Great, Great post. Total tools in a box.
Thanks for the list, it’s very useful.
Amazing list of online business tools. Great stuff. Thanks for sharing good list.
I’m thinking…. all of the above? Is that an option? If not, I go with “A”
I already use most of these applications, but I will check out the ones I don’t use.
Also, I would love a list of most useful, free iPhone apps…. think that might be coming soon?
Thanks!
Great list of tools including all types of online business tools. Thanks for great help.
Great compilation! Also I love Pandora but since they made it “Us-only” service I had to stop using it. Too bad, the algorithm was awesome.
You should throw Google Chrome in that list for browsers. I am pretty impressed with it. I still love Firefox but will use Chrome just for fun as well.
I have used Open Office in my previous company. It is the most widely used free application. Many big organizations are using it just to reduce the licensing cost. The biggest advantage of Open Office is, it is fully compatible with Microsoft Office.
nice list. and above all, free.
good posting…i like it
there is nothing wrong with a free list.
Never seen such huge listing. wordless only say is ThankYou
this is definitely a great list. Thanks for sharing this.