Software → Free Software Every Student Should Use in 2025: Features vs Price

In 2025, students face endless choices when it comes to digital tools—word processors, note-taking apps, design software, research tools, and more. Premium apps often come with heavy subscription fees, but the truth is: some of the best software is available for free, offering features that rival or even surpass paid alternatives.

1. LibreOffice 2025

Features: Full office suite with Writer, Calc, Impress, and Draw. Now includes AI-powered formatting and cloud syncing.
Price: $0 vs Microsoft Office’s $70+/year.
Verdict: A complete, free replacement for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Let’s explore the best free software every student should use in 2025, and examine how their features stack up against the price (zero dollars).

2. Notion (Student Free Plan)

Features: All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, and projects. AI templates make study planning simple.
Price: $0 vs Pro plan ($96/year).
Verdict: Perfect for students who want premium-level productivity without paying a cent.

3. Grammarly Free + AI Writing Assistant

Features: Grammar checks, tone adjustments, and sentence rewrites.
Price: $0 vs $144/year for Premium.
Verdict: Free version already covers 80% of student needs, especially for essays and reports.

4. Obsidian

Features: Markdown-based note-taking with knowledge graph and plugins.
Price: $0 vs $50/year for sync/cloud features.
Verdict: Free local storage is enough for most students, making it a power-packed option at no cost.

5. GIMP & Krita

Features: Professional-grade photo editing and digital painting tools.
Price: $0 vs Photoshop ($240/year).
Verdict: Students save hundreds while accessing tools powerful enough for design and art coursework.

6. Zotero

Features: Automatic reference management, citation styles, and integrations with Google Docs/Word.
Price: $0 vs EndNote ($249 one-time license).
Verdict: Free, powerful, and essential for research-heavy students.

7. DaVinci Resolve (Free Edition)

Features: Professional video editing, audio mastering, and color correction.
Price: $0 vs Adobe Premiere Pro ($240/year).
Verdict: Free edition rivals industry software, making it unbeatable for student projects.

Features vs Price: The Big Picture

Cost Savings: Students save hundreds of dollars annually.
Professional-Grade Tools: These apps deliver features comparable to expensive subscriptions.
Accessibility: Being free makes them available to everyone, leveling the playing field regardless of budget.

In 2025, free software is no longer “basic”—it’s powerful, reliable, and often better supported than paid apps. For students, the trade-off between features vs price is an easy win: full productivity at zero cost.