Openoffice

In many ways, simply the best programme available on the web. It is hard to believe that it is completely free of charge given the quality of product you receive. Openoffice is essentially a rival to Microsoft Office, incorporating applications for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation (similar to PowerPoint) and design. Indeed, it's so good that PC Pro magazine rates it as better than Microsoft Office, saying: "We firmly stand by our assertion that it offers a more compelling proposition than Microsoft Office."

Openoffice is also fully compatible with Microsoft files, so if someone sends you a Word attachment, you can open it, edit it and then save it as a Word document, all without the cost of buying Microsoft Word.

For more information on Openoffice, including links to download it for free, click here.

Biz-Plan 3.0

Writing a business plan from scratch is a nightmarish proposition. In fact, the amount of work involved is probably enough to ensure that many good ideas never make it as far as paper. But for anyone who has an idea, but doesn't have the inclination to write a 60-page report, Biz-Plan is ideal. Essentially, Biz-Plan is a 60-page guide that is packed full of advice, examples and templates. It can't come up with the ideas for you, or write the plan, but it can make the whole task much easier and help you focus on the key questions.

For more information, including links to download it for free, click here.

Forecaster

Wouldn't it be great if you could look into the future? Wouldn't it be even better if you could see the future without having to cross a palm with silver? Thanks to this download, you can. By taking a few bits of basic information, this programme will work out your retirement income, cashflow and other essential information. Naturally, it panders to the American market, but it is easily adaptable to the humble pound.

For more information, including links to download it for free, click here.

Mozilla Thunderbird

No, not an American muscle car, Mozilla Thunderbird is actually an invaluable little tool for anyone with multiple email accounts. Easy to install and run, Thunderbird allows you to keep track of all your emails in one place and, for added security, it also comes complete with junk mail and spam filters. It even advises you when an email might be a phishing scam (see scamwatch for further details on phishing scams).

For more information, including links to download it for free, click here.

Typing Tutor

Need to bang out a report, but worried that your two-fingered approach will let you down? If so, it might be time to take a free typing course. Packed full of challenges, advise and analysis, Typing Tutor is well worth a look money – especially as it's free!

For more information, including links to download it for free, click here.

Budgeting

The most basic of the free programmes featured, but potentially the most useful. Simple budget works out how much money you have left over each week, month and year by taking simple details of your income and then deducting outgoings. Be warned, though: this programme can lead to palpitations if you overspend each week – the effect over the course of a few years can be remarkable…

For more information, including links to download it for free, click here.

Let us know of any other great software packages that are available for free by emailing us at production@fpb.org.