Best Free Services that you need to start using Now

Educations

• Khan Academy: Offers free online courses in a wide range of subjects, from mathematics to computer science. Khan Academy is a go-to for free education that likely teaches better than any college out there.

• MIT OpenCourseWare: Provides free access to course materials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Each course material comes with access to text material and practice problems designed in class lecture format which is just enough to get some idea of the classes you will be taking.

• Coursera Audit Option: Many courses on Coursera can be audited for free, allowing you to access course materials without certification. Just like MIT OpenCourseWare, the free version of the course will not have answers to practice problems or allow you to obtain a certificate. Even though, this is a good option for those that want a general understanding on the courses they are taking.

Software and Productivity Tools

• LibreOffice: A free and open-source office suite that includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. LibreOffice is a strong free competitor to the likes of its big Microsoft brother, its file formats are also compatible with Microsoft allowing you to write in LibreOffice at home and open the same document at work on a Microsoft-based software like Word.

• GIMP: A powerful, free, open-source image editing software. Although it doesn't have as many tools and functions as photoshop (paid program), it still does a dang good job, it is also able to save PSD files which can easily be transferred to photoshop if needed.

• Google Workspace: Offers free online applications like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for document creation and collaboration. To me, this is one of the most powerful tools for team-related project work when it comes to documents. Mostly used in education when writing papers and working in group projects.

Communication

• Gmail: a free email service created by Google. With email literally using kilobytes for storage, you will be able to store thousands of emails for free. Although an old service, email is a staple in the internet world as the core fundamental service that chains its existence together. Having a Gmail account is a must to be able to navigate through it all.

• Skype: Provides free video and voice calling, as well as instant messaging. Skype's legacy dates back 20 years in the making, with a ton of features for personal use.

• Microsoft Teams: Used as a communication platform for business and work. Microsoft has outdone itself with a truly work-friendly software that allows companies to work remotely in a seamless fashion. This software is a must in a business setting and is totally free to use.

Content Creation

• YouTube: A platform to upload and share videos. YouTube is a completely free service for content creators that also offers paid incentives for those who get famous off of their videos. Still a winner in the video creation and sharing realm.

• WordPress: Offers a free content management system for building websites and blogs. Today WordPress is still the main website builder for most websites. Although the service is free if you are thinking of making a website, the domain and hosting is not so keep that in mind.

Entertainment

• Public Libraries: Access to free books, e-books, audiobooks, movies, and more are free at local public libraries. For those that also need free internet for education and work use, that is also an option. Just make sure you are a resident of your state to have access to these benefits.

• Podcasts: Many podcasts are available for free on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Although most podcast players work the same across the board, the ones listed are the most used in this case. Although they are all free, ads will be prevalent so keep that in mind when listening to your favorite murder mystery.

Information and News

• Wikipedia: A vast online encyclopedia that is collaboratively edited and freely accessible. Although it is free, take its existence with a grain of salt as anyone will be able to change its context. The only thing keeping it as a reliable source for knowledge is the fact that there are online members constantly trying to keep it that way by checking facts and updating it on Wikipedia.

• NPR (National Public Radio): One of my favorite news outlets that promotes the unbiased spread of US and global news for free. Although they are said to be unbiased, they still lean towards a liberal viewpoint to a degree which isn't that much compared to most other news networks. Make sure to check out their podcast and other subsidiary new outlets like Planet Money and Morning Edition.

Maps and Navigation:

• Google Maps: Provides free maps, directions, and navigation services. Google Maps is the best app service when it comes to navigation with unheard-of 360 visualization of actual ground footage taken as if you were actually there. A must-have for all phones.

Social Media:

• Facebook: Although the platform is a bit aged with a launch dating back to 2004, it is still one of the highest used social media platforms to date. Not only that it is free to use.

• Instagram: more of a simpler form than its Facebook counterpart, Instagram is praised for its easy-to-use interface, with only bare-bones features that are the centerpiece of its design. Used mostly for posting quick updates and sharing photos with followers and friends.

Government Services:

• Public Parks: Access to parks, trails, and recreational facilities are free to the public. Make use of them to have a cost-free day if you want to enjoy the outside world.

• Emergency Services: Access to emergency assistance such as police, fire, and medical. Although not totally free because these services are paid by your taxes, we assume they are just because taxes are unavoidable so make use of them as much as possible to get your money's worth.

Online Communities

• Reddit: A platform for discussions on various topics with a wide range of subreddits. A community that takes itself seriously for the debate enthusiast, Reddit is a place for the most passionate of us all when it comes to discussions and idea sharing.

• Stack Exchange: Provides a network of Q&A communities on various subjects. Stack Exchange is best when you want a clear and concise answer to a specific question, although great in this aspect, it is boring for the debate expert.

File Storage and Sharing

• Google Drive: As a Google user, this is one of my favorite options on the go. Google Drive comes native for pixel users with the ability to save almost everything you need on its cloud-based storage service. One of its strengths is its photo storage feature that makes it easy to take pictures and store them on the go. Google also has work-sharing solutions like Docs and Sheets where team members literally work on the same document at once. For personal use, google allows up to 15GB of free digital storage.

• OneDrive: Microsoft's answer to the cloud storage craze, for those who are signed up it offers 5GB of free cloud storage. With the added advantage of free versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, OneDrive is king when it comes to work-related storage solutions. Unlike Google Drive, OneDrive is seamlessly synchronized to the PC it is installed too as if it were a drive that you physically have.

In conclusion, the abundance of high-quality services that are available for free in today's digital landscape is nothing short of remarkable. These offerings empower individuals, enrich lives, and level the playing field by providing access to essential resources regardless of one's financial status. Whether you seek to expand your knowledge, improve productivity, connect with others, or simply enjoy entertainment, there is a vast array of free options to explore. Do not pass up this services when going through life as every single one of them will offer you ways to improve your life for free.