Free programs are often just as useful as commercial ones.
Myriad free programs are available, created by lone programmers and the largest corporations alike, and most are downloadable. The two most popular Web browsers, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, are both free. Another freebie is StarOffice, a fully integrated, Microsoft Office-compatible suite of productivity applications. You can even get entire operating systems, like Linux and FreeDOS, without spending a dime. This site categorizes and rates free programs.