Free open-source archiver with excellent compression and broad format support.
- Windows
- Linux
- 7z format
- RAR extract
- AES-256
- Context menu
SoftwareToolApps
The score-first lab for software that actually earns its install.
Independent reviews and sharp how-tos for Windows, Mac, security, and everyday tools — built for US & UK readers who want a clear verdict.
Hands-on installs
We install and run tools on real Windows & Mac machines.
Scored out of 10
Speed, safety, value, and support — weighted, not vibes-only.
Affiliate-honest
Commissions never buy a higher STA Score or Editor's Choice.
Methodology overview — how we test and how we earn.
Tool engine
Dynamic software & tool engine
Try GIMP, TinyWow, or IONOS — filter by Web app / OS, pricing, and topic.
Operating system
Pricing
Topic
Showing 12 of 728 matches · 728 in catalog
Browser support tables for CSS, JS, and HTML features.
- Web
- Support tables
- Search
- Free
Friendly editor that explains cron schedule expressions in plain English.
- Web
- Explain cron
- Examples
- Free
The universal command-line tool for transferring data with URLs.
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- HTTP/S
- FTP/SFTP
- Scripts everywhere
- Libcurl
Instant NTFS file/folder search that indexes drives in seconds.
- Windows
- Instant results
- Tiny footprint
- Regex search
- HTTP server optional
Distributed version control — essential for any software workflow.
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- Branching
- Open source
- Git Bash
- Credential helpers
Check if your email or password appeared in known data breaches.
- Web
- Breach search
- Notify me
- Pwned passwords
The missing package manager for macOS (and Linuxbrew/Linux).
- Mac
- Linux
- brew install
- Casks
- Bottles
- Huge formulae
The canonical reference for HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and web APIs.
- Web
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- Web reference
- Guides
- Browser compat
- Trusted
Advanced open-source relational database for serious applications.
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- SQL standards
- JSON/JSONB
- Extensions
- MVCC
Industry-favorite iPad painting app for illustration and sketching.
- iOS
- iPadOS
- Apple Pencil
- Brush studio
- Time-lapse
- Animation Assist
Versatile language runtime for scripting, data, and web backends.
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- pip
- venv
- Batteries included
- Everywhere
Tip: pick a topic or Web app to narrow results faster.
Score Lab
Compare before you install
One table. Clear scores. No carousel fluff — just the picks we would put on our own machines.
| Software | STA Score | Best for | From | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System Mechanic ProfessionalEditor's Choice | 8.8 | Windows cleanup & startup speed | $49.99/yr | Review → |
| Chrome speed & security tune-up | 8.4 | Browser performance (any OS) | Free guide | Review → |
| Mac keyboard shortcut system | 9.0 | macOS productivity muscle memory | Free guide | Review → |
Want deeper tables? Browse all head-to-heads →
Featured review
Deep-dive ratings with pros, cons, and an honest buy/skip call.
Review
Keeper Password Manager
Keeper Password Manager review for US & UK buyers—business vault strengths, BreachWatch, pricing, and honest comparison to Bitwarden, 1Password, and Dashlane.
10 min read · Security
Review
Recuva
Honest Recuva review for Windows users—free vs Pro, SSD TRIM limits, deep scan tips, when to stop DIY recovery, and STA verdict for US & UK buyers.
10 min read · Data Recovery
Review
LastPass
Honest LastPass review—security incident history, free tier limits, current features, and why most US & UK users should migrate to Bitwarden, 1Password, or Keeper.
9 min read · Security
Review
AdGuard
AdGuard review for US & UK buyers—DNS and system apps vs free uBlock Origin, HTTPS filtering caveats, Brave Shields comparison, and when paid blocking is worth it.
10 min read · Security
Review
Authy
Honest Authy review—Twilio ownership, multi-device sync convenience, desktop app discontinuation history, trust concerns, and when to prefer Aegis, Bitwarden/1Password TOTP, or platform authenticators.
10 min read · Security
Review
Avast One
Avast One review for US & UK buyers—protection features, free vs premium, privacy controversy context, pricing renewals, and quieter alternatives.
9 min read · Security
Review
Backblaze
Backblaze review for US & UK buyers—Personal Backup vs B2, restore realities, encryption/password caveats, and when Time Machine plus cloud is enough.
10 min read · Backup
Editor's Choice
Bitwarden
Bitwarden review for US & UK buyers—free vs Premium, passkeys, self-hosting, Families pricing, and why it is our editors’ choice password manager.
9 min read · Security
Review
Brave Browser
Brave Browser review for US & UK users—Shields, Rewards controversy, Tor windows, and how Brave compares to Firefox+uBlock Origin, Edge, and Chrome.
10 min read · Browsers
Review
Dashlane
Dashlane review for US & UK buyers—autofill quality, dark web monitoring, VPN extras, free-tier limits, and why it costs more than Bitwarden.
9 min read · Security
Review
DuckDuckGo Browser
Honest DuckDuckGo Browser review—tracker blocking, Fire Button, Email Protection, search tradeoffs vs Google, and how it compares to Firefox+uBO and Brave for US & UK users.
11 min read · Browsers
Editor's Choice
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox review for US & UK users—uBlock Origin, containers, sync, enterprise, honest performance vs Chrome/Edge/Brave, and when Firefox is editors’ choice.
10 min read · Browsers
Review
GlassWire
GlassWire review for Windows & Android—network monitor and firewall visualization, Free vs paid plans, vs built-in firewalls and Little Snitch-class tools, and who actually needs it.
10 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
Have I Been Pwned
Have I Been Pwned review for US & UK users—Notify Me, Pwned Passwords, breach response playbook, and how HIBP differs from password-manager monitoring. Editors’ choice.
11 min read · Security
Review
KeePassXC
KeePassXC review for US & UK buyers—offline open-source vault, DIY sync, browser integration, TOTP, and how it compares to Bitwarden and 1Password.
11 min read · Security
Review
Malwarebytes Browser Guard
Malwarebytes Browser Guard review for US & UK users—scam/ad blocking, overlap with Malwarebytes Premium, and honest comparison vs uBlock Origin and AdGuard. When free is enough.
10 min read · Security
Review
Mullvad VPN
Mullvad VPN review for US & UK buyers—anonymous accounts, flat pricing, WireGuard, audits, and how it stacks up against Nord, Express, Surfshark, and Proton.
10 min read · Security
Review
MXToolbox
MXToolbox review for US & UK IT/email admins—MX/DNS lookups, blacklist checks, SMTP tests, free tools vs paid monitoring, and honest scope for deliverability work.
10 min read · Security
Review
pCloud
pCloud review for US & UK buyers—lifetime deal caveats, Crypto folder add-on, EU options, and how it compares to Google Drive, Dropbox, Tresorit, and Backblaze B2.
11 min read · Cloud & Backup
Review
Proton Mail
Proton Mail review for US & UK buyers—free tier limits, Bridge for Outlook/Apple Mail, Proton VPN ecosystem, and E2EE limits when emailing Gmail users.
10 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
Proton VPN
Proton VPN review for US & UK buyers—free tier limits, Secure Core, NetShield, Plus pricing, and when Surfshark or Mullvad fits better.
8 min read · Security
Review
Revo Uninstaller
Revo Uninstaller review for Windows users—Free vs Pro, Hunter mode, leftovers cleanup, vs IObit and built-in Settings, with STA pricing and FAQ guidance.
10 min read · Windows
Editor's Choice
SecurityHeaders
SecurityHeaders review for US & UK webmasters—HTTP header grades (CSP, HSTS, XFO), how to interpret A–F scores, real limitations, and why it is not antivirus. Editors’ choice.
10 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
Signal
Signal review for US & UK buyers—E2EE defaults, usernames, groups vs WhatsApp, nonprofit model, and why it earns our editors’ choice for private messaging.
10 min read · Security
Review
Surfshark
Surfshark VPN review for US & UK buyers—unlimited devices, CleanWeb, pricing vs renewal, streaming notes, and when Nord or Proton is smarter.
9 min read · Security
Review
Tresorit
Tresorit review for US & UK buyers—Swiss/EU E2EE cloud storage, pricing vs Dropbox, Google Drive, and pCloud, and who actually needs encrypted files.
11 min read · Cloud & Backup
Editor's Choice
uBlock Origin
uBlock Origin review for US & UK users—MV2 vs MV3 reality, Firefox vs Chrome, filter list hygiene, and how it stacks up against AdGuard and Brave Shields.
11 min read · Security
Review
URLScan.io
URLScan.io review for US & UK analysts—URL/website sandbox scans, public result privacy, when to use private scans, and why it is not a casual ‘scan everything’ toy.
10 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
VirusTotal
VirusTotal review for US & UK users—file/URL multi-engine scanning, privacy caveats, false positives, when to use it, and why it is not a substitute for safe download habits. Editors’ choice.
10 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
1Password
Hands-on 1Password review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for password manager shoppers.
9 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
Bitdefender Total Security
Hands-on Bitdefender Total Security review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for antivirus shoppers.
8 min read · Security
Review
CCleaner
Hands-on CCleaner review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for PC cleanup shoppers.
9 min read · Windows
Editor's Choice
CleanMyMac X
Hands-on CleanMyMac X review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for Mac cleanup shoppers.
8 min read · Mac
Editor's Choice
ExpressVPN
Hands-on ExpressVPN review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for VPN shoppers.
9 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
Let's Encrypt
Hands-on Let's Encrypt review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for free SSL shoppers.
9 min read · Business
Review
Malwarebytes Premium
Hands-on Malwarebytes Premium review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for malware cleaner shoppers.
9 min read · Security
Editor's Choice
NordVPN
Hands-on NordVPN review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for VPN shoppers.
9 min read · Security
Review
Norton 360 Deluxe
Hands-on Norton 360 Deluxe review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for security suite shoppers.
8 min read · Security
Review
Sectigo SSL
Hands-on Sectigo SSL review for US & UK users—features, pricing reality, pros/cons, alternatives, and who should buy. Updated STA take for SSL shoppers.
9 min read · Business
Editor's Choice
System Mechanic Professional
Hands-on System Mechanic Professional review covering PC cleanup, startup optimization, real-world performance gains, pricing, and whether iolo's suite still earns a spot on Windows PCs.
11 min read · Windows
Review
Entrust SSL Certificates
Hands-on Entrust SSL/TLS certificate review for US & UK site owners—validation levels, warranty, support, pricing context, alternatives, and whether Entrust still earns a place on production domains.
9 min read · Business
Guides that ship muscle memory
Step-by-step tutorials with a recommended tool callout when it helps.
Guide
11 Android Settings That’ll Strengthen Your Security
Lock down your Android phone with the security settings that matter most — app permissions, Google Play Protect, lock screen, and safer browsing defaults.
6 min read · Android
Guide
10 Helpful iPhone Tips to Use at Work
Practical iOS training for workdays — Focus modes, shortcuts, files, mail triage, and privacy toggles that keep iPhone productive without the clutter.
6 min read · iOS
Guide
28 Essential Mac Keyboard Shortcuts to Double Your Productivity
Master 28 essential Mac keyboard shortcuts for Finder, screenshots, Mission Control, text editing, and Spotlight—practical shortcuts Mac users in the US and UK need every day.
6 min read · Mac
Guide
How to Get Android 14’s Notification Powers Working in 2026
Master notification channels, regional preferences, notification history, lock-screen privacy, and partial-screenshot habits on modern Android—without rewriting your messaging tips.
7 min read · Android
Try a lab tool
Interactive utilities — more memorable than another static listicle.
Weekly Score Drop
One email. Fresh STA Scores. No fluff.
Every week: the highest-intent reviews, a head-to-head pick, and one tool we would actually install — for US & UK readers.