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Cool Dude Explains - 10 Expensive Apps You Don't Need to Pay For

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Community upload. AI output has not been independently verified.
Author: Cool Dude Explains
Categories: Technology Creativity & Design
Tags: technology, creativity
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 14:35 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: Use free alternatives to ten paid apps, since each one covers most everyday needs for little or no cost. The video pairs each paid tool with a free counterpart, from Pixlr instead of Adobe Photoshop to Bitwarden instead of 1Password. It presents the free options as sufficient for most users, while acknowledging they lack some advanced features.

Key Points

  • The ten promised pairings, numbered from 10 down to 1: (1) Pixlr vs. Adobe Photoshop, (2) Wings 3D vs. Autodesk Maya, (3) Vectr vs. Adobe Illustrator, (4) Kdenlive vs. Adobe Premiere Pro, (5) RawTherapee vs. Adobe Lightroom, (6) OnlyOffice vs. Microsoft 365, (7) MediBang Paint vs. Adobe Photoshop (digital painting), (8) Ocenaudio vs. Adobe Audition, (9) ScreenRec vs. XSplit, (10) Bitwarden vs. 1Password.
  • Each paid option is listed with its approximate annual cost, such as Adobe Photoshop at $19.99 a month and Autodesk Maya at $2,100 a year.
  • The video repeatedly notes that the free tools are less powerful for advanced or enterprise work, but sufficient for everyday, student, hobbyist, or small-business use.
  • Several free options are described as open source, including Wings 3D, Kdenlive, RawTherapee, and Bitwarden.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: Download or open the free tool that fits your need, such as opening Pixlr in a browser with no install, downloading Wings 3D, Vectr, Kdenlive, RawTherapee, MediBang Paint, Ocenaudio, ScreenRec, OnlyOffice, or Bitwarden, then starting with its basic features and templates.
  • For photo editing with RawTherapee, edits are non-destructive: changes are saved as a recipe and the original RAW file is never altered.
  • Bitwarden's free version includes unlimited passwords and device syncing, plus a password generator, auditor, and two-factor authentication; the video says the paid version adds only a few advanced features.
  • OnlyOffice opens and saves DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files and includes a PDF editor, real-time collaboration, and cloud storage.
  • ScreenRec is described as having no watermarks, no time limits, and no subscription, though the video notes it lacks XSplit's live-streaming and multi-source features.
  • The video mentions that Bitwarden's community includes independent security audits and reviews.

Bottom Line

Free alternatives can replace most paid subscriptions for typical needs, with the trade-off being reduced advanced functionality for specialized professional work.