Free YouTube Download isn’t quite as convenient as software that lets you search for videos without opening your web browser, but it’s straightforward, uncluttered, and very simple to use.

Unfortunately, Free YouTube Download has one major drawback: you can’t download videos longer than three minutes unless you pay for a premium subscription. This is currently discounted to a modest $9 (about £7, AU$12) annually, or US$19 (about £15, AU$25) for a lifetime, and includes all of DVDVideoSoft’s other media software, but  if you’re looking after the pennies then you’ll be better off with a tool like aTube Catcher.

Bear in mind that you should only download videos if you have the copyright holder’s permission. Here we’re using Free YouTube Download to make a handy archive of our own YouTube channel for posterity.

When you install Free YouTube Download, an addition icon labelled Free Studio will appear on your desktop. Don’t be alarmed – this isn’t an extra program that’s been sneakily installed without your permission, it’s just a link that gives you quick access to all the DVDVideoSoft applications you have installed. If you don’t want it, just delete it.

Provided your chosen video is short enough, you can take your pick from a variety of video format and quality settings, or you can choose to just download the audio if you prefer. This is a welcome touch; some desktop programs and most online video downloaders only let you save standard resolution MP4 files. 

You can queue multiple videos before saving them in a batch – just use the green 'Paste' button to add each URL before clicking 'Download'. 

Take a peek into the Options menu and you’ll find a surprisingly comprehensive list of settings. You can specify the output folder (it’s your Videos directory by default), set a naming convention, shut down your PC when it’s finished (ideal if you’re grabbing lots of files at once), and paste URLs from the clipboard automatically to save time.

Free YouTube Download is a great tool for grabbing and converting clips from the world’s biggest video hosting site, but the three-minute limit is a real shame. If you really like how the software looks and works, consider upgrading to the premium version now while the price is deeply discounted.

Free YouTube Download doesn't have many flaws – it's well designed, with an excellent choice of export options – but the time limit on downloaded videos is a major drawback.

aTube Catcher is one of a growing number of tools that download videos from the likes of YouTube, Dailymotion and Metacafe. While it's often easy to browse the web on your phone will you travel, there are times when there's no connection available. This is when it pays to have downloaded videos in advance.

The videos you download can be converted to a number of popular formats, suitable for playback on a variety of devices. So whether you're looking for the best possible quality to view on a high resolution monitor, or the emphasis is on smaller file size to fit on your smartphone, aTube Catcher can do the job for you.

There's also a screen recorder that can be used to capture video from your screen, and a disc burning option.

You might not expect it from what many people would not consider 'serious' software, but aTube Catcher includes an automatic updater that ensures you're always using the most recent, most secure, and most feature-packed version of the program.

For hardcore users, there is the option of batch processing files so you can download multiple videos at once. This is a somewhat hands-on task that requires the creation of a text files to tell the software what to do. It's a little inelegant and long-winded, but it works.

It's nice to see the option to not only convert videos between formats, but also to create VCDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs from the content you record or download.

As with many free tools these days, you need to take care when installing aTube Catcher to ensure that you aren't accidentally duped into also installing a browser toolbar. Thankfully, this is not selected by default, but it's worth keeping an eye out for.

After firing up the program, a neat splash screen provides an inviting introduction to what aTube Catcher has to offer. Rather than forcing you to hunt through endless menus to find what you're looking for, a series of clear buttons provide instant access so you can get to work without delay.

The initial interface is pleasingly unintimidating, and downloading videos from any of the supported sites – of which there are many – is a simple matter of copying and pasting the URL, choosing the format you'd like to save the video in, and clicking 'Download'. There are several formats to choose from, and in many cases there's a variety of preset resolutions to choose from.

Note that you should only download videos if you have the copyright owner's permission. YouTube's terms of service prohibit unauthorized downloading.

The screen recorder feature is very nice too, and can be used in a number of ways. You could use it to record whatever you're doing on your computer, but it is also possible to use to capture live streaming video that you would not otherwise be able to download. Just draw a selection box around the video you want and you're good to go.

Even if you don't download videos very often, this is a great piece of software to keep to hand for occasions when you do. Its built-in screen and sound recorders complete the package.

Freemake Video Downloader is much more than a simple YouTube downloader. It supports more than 500 audio and video formats, which helps explain why it has so many users (93 million and counting). 

Unlike some video downloaders, MP4 isn't your only option – WebM and 3GP are also available.

It's extremely convenient, able to grab and convert videos from any of the major video hosting sites, but sadly the latest release has one major flaw: you can no longer download videos longer than three minutes without upgrading to the Freemake Premium Pack.

VideoPad Video Editor is a beginner-friendly video editing package that makes an ideal replacement for the defunct Windows Movie Maker. In just a few minutes you’ll have mastered its well designed toolkit and be ready to start creating your own masterpiece ready to upload straight to YouTube or Facebook, or in a format optimized for any playback device.

Shotcut proves that a top-notch video editor doesn't have to cost a fortune. It’s available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and is totally free with no ads, bundled adware, or features hidden behind a paywall. 

If you’re looking for a free video editor that can replace Windows Movie Maker, Shotcut is a particularly good choice. This open source app contains all the tools you know and love from Microsoft’s classic video editing software, plus a raft of extras that bring it up bang up to date.

In just a few easy steps, you can use Shotcut cut your video footage to a specified length before converting it to a format of your choice. You can also edit your projects with a selection of filters and effects. 

Shotcut also includes a recording function lets you save and edit footage from your webcam, and it can handle streaming in HTTP, HLS, RTMP, RTSP, MMS and UDP formats.

Shotcut’s standard interface is smart, but sparse. Don’t be put off, though; clicking the buttons along the top bar (peak meter, properties, playlist and so on) adds modules to the display so you can configure it to your liking.

The process of importing video clips, audio and images is a familiar one. Just select your media files, then drag them to the timeline at the bottom of the screen. You can create multiple tracks for audio, video, and handy tools like snapping make it easy to join clips together neatly.

Splitting clips is as easy as positioning the playhead, then clicking a button. Trimming clips is a piece of cake too, and there are copy and paste tools for chopping and changing sections. The history timeline makes it easy to track changes, and undo any by simply tapping the Delete key.

Shotcut’s best feature, however, is its raft of video and audio filters, which are fully customizable and can be layered and combined in all sorts of interesting ways. Simply choose a filter and click the plus icon to apply it, then make adjustments using the simple system of checkboxes and sliders. It’s a brilliant system that makes even advanced effects simple to understand.

There’s no way to preview a filter before applying it, but removing an undesirable effect is so simple that this isn’t much of a hardship. Overall, Shotcut is very hard to fault, and its huge array of export formats is the icing on the cake. It would be nice to have optimized profiles for specific devices, but that’s really nit-picking. Shotcut is a remarkable video editor. Give it a try – there’s nothing to lose.

A remarkable free video editor that makes even advanced editing straightforward, Shotcut is a brilliant tool for novice videographers.

Professional-grade photo editing software that's free for home users.

The closest thing to Windows Movie Maker – fast, free and easy to use.

Advanced non-linear video editing made straightforward.

VSDC Free Video Editor is a feature-packed non-linear video editing suite that can compete with even expensive editing software. There are no extra programs bundled in the installer – just the occasional prompt to upgrade to the premium edition.

With VSDC Free Video Editor you can create video projects from a combination of video clips, still images and audio files, with a resolution of up to 1,980 x 1,080 (full HD) and a maximum frame rate of 30fps. There's also a built-in screen capture tool for recording video and taking still images from your desktop – ideal for software reviews and tutorials. VSDC Free Video Editor also offers an extensive range of video and audio filters, plus stylish transitions. 

You can export finished projects in a variety of formats, with handy ready-made profiles for popular devices. VSDC Free Video Editor also provides a way to burn your project onto DVD – a feature rarely available in free editing software.

Videos in VSDC Free Video Editor are made up of 'objects', which include video clips, images, audio files, sprites, animations and many other elements. You can layer these in various ways, including blending, overlaying, and masking. If you're interested in picture-in-picture or watermarking effects, this is an incredibly simple way to do it.

You can also add charts and text, which makes VSDC Free Video Editor a brilliant tool for creating presentations with much more impact than a standard slideshow. 

Each object you add can be edited, moved and cut independently – nothing is final until you export your finished project. The audio and video effects are well worth exploring. They include various Instagram-style filters, as well as special effects like fire, smoke and water – all of which are fully customizable.

If all that isn't enough, VSDC Free Video Editor receives regular updates that add even more features. The latest version is significantly faster than previous iterations, and includes a stabilization tool that's ideal for footage shot with a shaky smartphone. It also enables you to upload multiple files to YouTube (if a project has been split into multiple parts, for example), and there's a new smart export profile for Instagram.

The premium version of VSDC Video Editor is even faster thanks to integrated hardware acceleration, but this isn't available in the free program and you won't be able to export your project if it's enabled. To disable hardware acceleration in the free editor, select the cog icon in the top right, click 'Acceleration options' and uncheck the box marked ‘Use hardware acceleration for encoding video’. 

A brilliant free video suite for Windows. Edit and cut videos to a professional standard, and apply special filters and effects.

Professional-grade photo editing software that's free for home users.

The closest thing to Windows Movie Maker – fast, free and easy to use.

An amazing video editor that makes even advanced tasks straightforward.

Lightworks is a remarkably powerful video editor, packed with professional quality tools that will make your clips shine. It's fast, flexible, and once you get used to its unusual workflow you'll find it remarkably easy to use.

Whatever kind of project you have in mind, Lightworks can help you achieve it. If you simply want to trim a video to size, or combine several short sections of footage before uploading them to YouTube, Lightworks’ well designed timeline will help you get the job done in moments. Once you’re done, Lightworks has preset profiles so you can export your work in the right format for your chosen video-sharing site automatically.

Equally, if you’re working on your own short film and need an advanced tool for post-production, Lightworks is packed with everything you need to get your audio and visuals just right. Real-time effects and color correction help you achieve the perfect look, and complex rendering and encoding processes take place in the background so you can continue working while they complete.

As you might expect, it will take a little while to master Lightworks’ powerful toolkit. This is no mere Windows Movie Maker substitute, and its professional roots show in its interface, which borrows terms from the world of tape-based filmmaking.

You begin by creating a project and setting a frame rate for the finished video – probably 30fps or 60fps. You’re then ready to get to work. Lightworks lets you record video directly from cameras, and import existing clips (both audio and video). Once you have all your resources, you can start adding them to your timeline to create your first cut. It looks intimidating at first, but is surprisingly intuitive once you’ve spent some time experimenting.

Lightworks is packed with advanced realtime effects to help you perfect your video, including color correction, blurs and masks. There are dozens of preset effects, or you can create your own manually.

The professional edition of Lightworks was used to edit box office hits including Shutter Island, Pulp Fiction, The Departed, 28 Days Later and Mission Impossible. Now it's your turn.

Lightworks 14 adds lots of new fixes and features, including:

An amazing video editor that makes even advanced tasks straightforward.

The closest thing to Windows Movie Maker – fast, free and easy to use.

Advanced non-linear video editing made straightforward.

Lightworks is free for home users. The only restriction of the free license is that you can only export your finished videos in MP4 format, and you'll need to register for a free license code periodically (the software will give you instructions explaining how to do this).

For more export options, or to use the software commercially, you'll need to upgrade to Lightworks Pro.

WPS Office Free isn't just an alternative to Microsoft Office – it manages to mimic pretty much the entire look and basic set of features. Available completely free of charge (although there are ads associated with certain features), this office suite comprises a word processor, presentation tool, spreadsheet and more, and is fully compatible with Microsoft document formats.

There's a lot to like here. The cloud element is a very nice touch, and while 1GB of free storage is nothing to get too excited about, it's useful for small files like text documents.

Other additions – such as the ability to convert PDF files into Word format – give WPS Office Free an edge over other free office suits, and the incredibly low system requirements mean it's ideal for installing on even the oldest of Windows PCs.

For anyone who likes the idea of working on the move – and taking advantage of the cloud storage – there are iOS and Android version of the software available, as well as one for Linux. With a raft of supported language, this is an incredible versatile suite.

If you've ever used a recent version of Microsoft Office, WPS Office Free will feel immediately familiar. It employs the same ribbon interface, and all of the most common tools and options are intuitively placed so you won’t spend ages searching for the setting or tool that you need. Performance is swift too, thanks to the light system requirements.

Not everyone will be happy with the ads that need to be endured to gain timed access to certain features of WPS Office Free, but that's the only sacrifice you have to make to enjoy this otherwise superb software suite.

This suite goes a long way towards proving free software can be simply incredible. For day-to-day office needs, and beyond, it has everything.

Free security software Panda Free Antivirus uses cloud processing to protect your PC, eliminating the need for hefty software updates and demanding scans. This collective intelligence should lead to more harmful programs being detected while using a fraction of the system resources.

According to the antivirus testers at AV-Test, Panda Free Antivirus right on the industry average in terms of virus detection, sitting at around the 98% mark for zero-day attacks and a hair under 100% for established threats. 

Those are good numbers, and Panda is good software – providing you remember to deny it permission to take over your browser’s home page and search facility upon installing. Its process monitor is very useful, it scans quite quickly, and it’s simple enough in its presentation for even the most technophobic user to find their way around.

Download here: http://www.pandasecurity.com/homeusers/solutions/free-antivirus/

Type: Antivirus

Developer: Panda Security

Operating system: Windows

Version: 18

You might not realise at first, but Panda Free Antivirus begins scanning as soon as it's installed to ensure your PC is protected immediately. You can also perform three types of manual scan: full, critical areas, and custom.

The suite's other tools include a process monitor, which lets you see active processes and whether they are using a secure connection. Processes that don't are blocked, but you can undo this manually if you're confident it's safe.

There's also a handy vaccination tool that checks attached USB drives for malicious software. We recommend changing the settings so it runs automatically to pick up any threats as soon as possible.

If one of your PCs has been locked by a malicious program, Panda Free Antivirus can create an emergency rescue USB drive that you can use to scan the affected machine. This feature uses Panda Cloud Cleaner – a specialist scanner that detects viruses and malware other scanners might miss.

All of of these options are presented in a clear dashboard, with moveable tiles that you can customize to suit your preferences or remove if you never use a particular feature.

Unfortunately, in our tests, Panda Free Antivirus still had a significant impact on system performance, despite its cloud-based approach. Its emergency cleaner and USB vaccination tools are well worth investigating, but if you're looking for a free antivirus tool that will have a minimum impact on other system processes, you might want to look elsewhere.

This cloud-based free antivirus suite promises to delegate the bulk of its processing work to Panda's cloud servers, but it still had a significant effect on our test PC's speed. Its detection rates and security tools are excellent, however, and make it worth investigating.

Something of a stalwart of the antivirus world, AVG Antivirus's popularity has been eaten into by a number of other free security tools. So does that mean that the software is any less worthy of attention? Far from it.

While AVG Antivirus Free may appear to be a relatively simple piece of protective software, there is an awful lot going on in the background. However, it's worth noting that while AVG says "whatever your device, we've got you covered", this only applies to Windows, Mac and Android – there's no iOS or Linux version available.

AVG Antivirus Free manages to cater to two types of people: those who just want protection and don’t want have to get involved in the process, and those who want control over everything that's going on. This, really, is quite a feat.

It's reassuring to know that AVG Antivirus Free will automatically protect against rogue software, malicious emails, dangerous websites and more – you don’t need to do anything; the software will just spring into action when it is needed.

But for the more experienced user, AVG Antivirus Free offers pages of options for configuring exceptions, choosing how and when checks are performed and much more. It's a delicate balancing act that AVG manages to pull off with aplomb.

Where to download: http://www.avg.com/

Type: Antivirus

Developer: AVG Technologies

Operating system: Windows, Mac, Android

Version: 2017 

It's hard to get away from the fact that AVG Antivirus Free badgers users into upgrading to a paid-for version of the software. Right from the start – the moment of installation – you're prompted to install a trial of AVG Internet Security (in fact, you're actively encouraged to go down this route). Even if you opt not to install this software, you'll still find that the interface of AVG Free is littered with links to components that are not free. It can be annoying.

Get past this, though, and AVG Antivirus Free's interface is simple and pleasing to use. Learn to turn a blind eye to the pestering, and this is a great piece of software.

AVG Antivirus Free may serve as a gigantic advert for other AVG software, but it does its protective duties well.

You would think that software manufacturers would like to make a good impression right from the start, and on this front Avira Free Antivirus is an immediate disappointment. The installation of the antivirus tool not only takes an age, but it’s littered with advertisements for other Avira software. Sure, they're all free tools, but it's annoying to have to ensure the ads nonetheless.

Once you get past this, however, things start to pick up dramatically. Performing a full system scan can be slow – this can probably be put down to the fact that Avira doesn’t hog resources like some antivirus software – but lab tests show that detection rates are very high indeed.

For households with multiple systems, Avira Free Antivirus is available not only for Windows, but also Android and Mac, providing protection for all your devices.

Despite the name, there is not just protection against viruses on offer – the program can also be configured to look out of games, 'joke' programs and other potentially unwanted elements. There's a lot to like in Avira Free Antivirus, it won't be to everyone's liking.

Avira Free Antivirus's interface is like stepping back into the 90s, and you're constantly reminded that you're using the free version of the program thanks to the fact that there are greyed-out links to numerous settings that you're unable to use without upgrading to the premium version.

Outside of the virus protection side of things, Avira Free Antivirus provides handy access to Windows' own built in firewall, offering what many people will find an easier way to adjust settings. Virus scans are highly customizable, allowing you to choose the level of heuristic detection that's used, and opting to exclude certain files, file types and folders from scans.

If you're looking to tweak settings, however, be prepared to spend a while drilling down Avira's raft of options.

If you can ignore the ads and the slow scans, this is a high capable tool which will do a great job of protecting your computer.

Avast is one of a number of free antivirus tools vying for attention and it fares well against the competition in lab tests for rates of detection. It provides great protection against viruses and malware, displaying a casual warning when anything nasty is detected rather than making a song and dance about things.

So the program's headline feature works well – but it doesn’t end there. You're also treated to a password managed, a VPN, system performance enhancements and a game mode that prevents interruptions while you play.

It's not all great news, though. After the installation there is a slightly disturbing – but refreshingly honest – warning that user data may be collected and shared with third parties. While Avast points out that this can be switched off, you have to manually hunt down the opt-out setting; it would have been nice to have been presented with it immediately. Instead you have to head to Settings > General > Privacy and uncheck the 'Participate in data sharing' option.

There's also the question of what essentially amount to advertisements. There are links within Avast Free Antivirus – such as the firewall and secure DNS – that are not actually available until you upgrade to the paid-for version of the program. It feels a little sneaky.

Download here: https://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Type: Antivirus

Developer: Avast Software

Operating system: Windows, Mac, Android

Version: 17

For the most part there's little to worry about when it comes to the virus protection side of things; Avast will just run in the background and stay out the way until it's needed, and you can perform a manual scan if you want. Venture into Settings, however, and prepare to whimper. There's not only a seemingly endless selection of settings, they are very inefficiently laid out. It's good to have options, but they are probably best left to advanced users.

Overall, the program's interface is great to use, easy to navigate and intuitively set out – but you might find the nags to upgrade somewhat annoying after a while.

This is not only a fantastic antivirus tool, there are so many free extras thrown it that it becomes impossible not to recommend it.

Windows 10 comes with a built-in antivirus tool – Windows Defender – so you might wonder why it’s worth installing a third-party security program like Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.

The answer is superior protection from viruses and other threats, and a far more convenient approach to scans. Bitdefender makes very light work of keeping your computer secured against viruses, as well as offering protection against phishing attacks, fraud and signs of suspicious activity.

The great thing about Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is that it’s been designed for anyone who just wants to keep their computer secure without having to worry about the details. Once the program is installed, you'll probably never have to look at it again – everything is taken care of for you in the background, and there's no complex configuration to worry about.

BtiDefender Antivirus Free Edition uses a multi-pronged approach to detection, meaning it has an excellent track record of picking up both known and unknown threats, and quarantining accordingly.

For the most part, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is very much a case of set-it-and-forget-it. The beauty of the program is that it will happily whirr away in the background, ensuring that your computer is free from nasties, but you may decide that you want to perform a full system scan or check individual files manually.

Checking files is a simple matter of dropping them onto the program window, and a full scan is an equally simple – if lengthier – process.

Security suites can appear intimidating to the average user, but Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition manages to avoid this pitfall thanks to its clear and simple interface.

The perfect way to keep your PC, Mac or Android device protected if you don’t want to have to think about ongoing maintenance.