I was paying for apps that Windows 11 now does for free

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Released Oct 22, 2026, 7:01 AM EDT

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned independent author from Ahmedabad, India. As a veteran Windows and Android user, he has comprehensive understanding of both running systems and concentrates on developing how-tos and fixing guides.

Pankil has actually been blogging about Windows, Android, and iOS considering that 2021. He has actually edited 2000 posts throughout trustworthy publications like MakeUseOf, Android AuthorityGuidingTechand TechWiser

Beyond his composing undertakings, Pankil is a passionate football fan and enjoys to prepare his worldwide journeys with his better half in his downtime.

There are a lot of things that frustrate me about Windows, however I need to offer Microsoft credit where it’s due. A few of the integrated apps have actually gotten so excellent that they’re offering third-party paid tools a genuine run for their cash. In my case, these integrated tools have actually made me stop spending for 4 apps I ‘d been utilizing for many years.

CCleaner

Windows currently has automated storage cleansing, chauffeur updater, and more

CCleaner was among those memberships I kept restoring, generally since it used a great deal of benefits that Windows wasn’t proficient at. Its storage clean-up tool is still the primary emphasize, however the paid variation consists of tools like a chauffeur updater, a start-up optimizer, a health checker, and set up automated cleansing.

Windows 11 can now do the majority of this out of package. Storage Sense can immediately clean up old upgrade files, short-term files, and whatever’s inside the Recycle Bin. You can arrange it to run daily, monthly, or just when the storage runs low.

Motorist updates are now managed through Windows Update. It instantly look for important motorist updates whenever it looks for system updates. All the optional chauffeur updates appear under> Windows Update> Optional updates> Driver updates

CCleaner likewise assures to increase start-up times by disabling unneeded services, however that’s truthfully very little of a problem with systems with SSDs. I just recently went through the start-up apps list to disable undesirable apps which sufficed to lower start-up times.

The health checker tool and every other upkeep tool CCleaner uses is mainly unneeded at this point. As long as you do not do anything silly, Windows does a respectable task of keeping your PC healthy.

TeamViewer

Quick Assist and Remote Desktop made TeamViewer redundant for me

TeamViewer is generally associated with remote gain access to, and I utilized it free of charge for several years with no concerns. About a year back, the business began splitting down on industrial usage, which appeared reasonable, however its detection reasoning was flawed. It likewise began flagging routine users like me, basically requiring a switch to the paid prepare for not doing anything in a different way than previously.

Windows 11 in fact has 2 functions to cover the majority of what TeamViewer deals. The Quick Assist tool is fantastic for assisting family and friends, and it comes pre-installed, so starting is likewise simple. It’s not as feature-packed as TeamViewer, however it does cover annotation, talks, multi-monitor assistance, and simple reconnection.

For accessing my own PC, there’s Remote Desktop. It does need Windows Pro on the PC you’re linking to, which wasn’t an issue considering that I currently had it. All I had to do was head to Settings> System>> Remote Desktop and make it possible for the function on my primary PC. I can now link to my primary PC from another Windows PC, Mac, Android or iPhone.

Snagit

Snipping Tool is underrated

My work includes taking lots of screenshots every day, so a feature-packed tool is non-negotiable for me. Snagit covers whatever, consisting of area capture, scrolling screenshots, video recording, and a GIF maker. It even has annotation tools, a feature-rich editor, a color picker, and plenty more. I’ve utilized it for several years, and it’s still an excellent software application. At almost $40 a year, it’s not precisely low-cost.

Windows 11’s Snipping Tool has actually captured up on the majority of what I really require, and it’s totally free. It now has a screen recorder, postponed screenshots, OCR, and all the fundamental annotation tools you ‘d anticipate. It even functions as a fundamental editor. You can annotate, include shapes, blur out delicate details, or hand the screenshot off to Paint with one click.

Snagit still has a couple of innovative things like scrolling screenshots and a feature-rich editor, however Snipping Tool is more than sufficient. Yes, Snagit is another membership I was delighted to let go.

Anti-virus program

Microsoft Defender is all you require

My Lenovo laptop computer included a McAfee anti-virus pre-installed, however it was just complimentary for 30 days. After that, there were pop-ups all over asking me to update. As somebody who deals with a PC throughout the day, it seemed like something worth spending for.

The thing is, Windows currently comes with Microsoft Defender built-in, and it’s simply as capable as the paid tools on the market. It consists of ransomware defense, managed folder gain access to, a firewall program, and SmartScreen for obstructing questionable downloads. Independent screening laboratories like AV-Test have regularly ranked it along with McAfee and other popular anti-virus tools for malware detection.

At this moment, it’s quite apparent why most antivirus programs lean so difficult on bonus like a password supervisor or a bundled VPN to validate the rate. That’s great if you desire those particular functions, however I wasn’t ready to pay $50 a year for something Windows currently provides for totally free.

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