software
Important things to consider when purchasing software & mobile app
What is the software for? (e.g. office work, design, programming, security)
License types
Perpetual license: Once purchased, use for life time.
Subscription: Monthly/annual payment required. e.g. Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Cloud).
Open source: Usually free (e.g. LibreOffice, GIMP),
Buy from official sources
Buy directly from the developer/distributor’s website or from authorized resellers (e.g. Microsoft Store, Adobe website, JetBrains).
Security and privacy
Data security standards supported by the software (GDPR, encryption).
Free Trial / Demo
Most premium software offers a trial version (e.g. 30-day trial). Check the facility in it.
Check user reviews and ratings
Tech forums (e.g. Reddit) and sites that provide software details (G2, Capterra).
Backup & Refund Policy
Is there a refund if there are problems after purchase?
Take a backup of the license key/activation.
Important software categories:
Office Suite: Microsoft 365, LibreOffice
Antivirus: Norton, Kaspersky, Bitdefender
Design/Editing: Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, AutoCAD
OS: Windows 11 Pro, macOS
⚠️ Note: Be especially careful not to use software that is not officially licensed.
Must-Have Software Categories & Where to Buy
Below is a list of some of the major software available online, all of which should be purchased only from authorized institutions.
1. Office & Productivity Software
Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) – Microsoft Store
Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Drive) – Google Workspace, LibreOffice (free office suite)
2. Antivirus & Security
Norton Antivirus – Norton
Kaspersky Internet Security – Bitdefender – Malwarebytes
3. Design & Multimedia
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere Pro) Canva Pro (Design Made Easy) – Canva
Figma (UI/UX Design) – Figmahttps://www.figma.com
AutoCAD (Engineering Design) – Autodesk
4. Operating Systems
Windows 11 Pro – Microsoft Store
macOS (Apple products only) – Apple
Linux Distros (Ubuntu, Fedora – usually free)
5. Development & Programming
JetBrains Toolbox (PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA) – JetBrains
Microsoft Visual Studio – Visual Studio
GitHub Copilot (AI-Assisted Coding) – GitHub
6. Cloud & Storage
Dropbox (Cloud Storage) – Dropbox
Google Drive – Google Drive
Microsoft OneDrive – OneDrive
7. Remote Work
Zoom (Video Meeting) – Zoom
TeamViewer (Remote Access) – TeamViewer
Slack (Team Communication) – Slack
8. Gaming
Steam (PC Games) – Steam
Epic Games Store – Epic Games
consider befor buying:
✔ Buy only from the official website (avoid piracy/unauthorized software).
✔ Try the free trial first if there is one.
✔ Compare Subscription vs Permanent License.
💡 Useful Links:
Microsoft Store: https://www.microsoft.com
Adobe Store: https://www.adobe.com
JetBrains: https://www.jetbrains.com
mobile apps
Some important Mobile Apps that can be purchased online?
What are the things you need to know before buying mobile apps?
1. Check the authenticity of the app.
Name: Check if it is an official developer (e.g. “Adobe Inc.” for Photoshop) on the Google Play Store/Apple App Store. Reviews & Rating: 4.0+ rating and real user reviews (avoid those with 1-2 stars). Download Count: Apps with 1 million downloads are reliable.
2. Free and Payment Method.
Free or paid: Free apps may have in-app purchases with advertising. Do you have to pay for full features? Subscription Model: Apps that require monthly/annual payments (e.g. YouTube Premium, Duolingo). Don’t forget to turn off auto-renewal too! Will I get a refund?
3. Data Security & Privacy
Permissions: Does the app ask for access that it doesn’t need (e.g. contacts access for a calculator app)? Privacy Policy: If data is collected, check the website for how it is used.
4. Validity of features
Free trial: Try premium apps (e.g. Tinder Gold) and see for yourself.
Offline support: Does it work without the internet? (e.g. Spotify Premium offline playback).
5. Device compatibility
OS version: Which version of Android/iOS do you need? (e.g. iOS 15+ only).
6. Backup & Data Migration
Does it sync with cloud services? (Google Drive, iCloud). Will I lose data if I switch apps?
7. Alternative (free/open source) apps
You can use free apps instead of paid apps (e.g. Photoshop → Snapseed (Google Play) Microsoft Office → LibreOffice Viewer.
8. Purchase source
Use Play Store (Android) / App Store (iOS) only. Do not download from third-party sites.
9. Support & Updates
Is there a developer contact? (e.g. email/support forum).
Do you get regular updates? (Old apps are a security risk).
Important mobile apps?
1. Productivity
Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) – For office work.
Google Drive/Docs – Cloud storage and team collaboration.
Evernote/Notion – For taking notes and managing tasks.
CamScanner/Adobe Scan – For scanning documents and converting them to PDF.
2. Security & Privacy
Bitdefender/Norton Mobile Security – Mobile antivirus.
VPNs (ProtonVPN, NordVPN) – Secure internet usage.
Authy/Google Authenticator – Two-factor authentication (2FA).
3. Social & Communication
WhatsApp/Telegram – Secure messaging.
Instagram/Facebook – Social media.
Zoom/Google Meet – For video calls.
4. Finance & Banking
Google Pay/PhonePe (India) – UPI payments.
PayPal – International payments.
Splitwise – To share and track expenses with friends.
5. Health & Fitness
Google Fit/Apple Health – Fitness tracking.
MyFitnessPal – Calorie counting.
Medisafe – Medication reminders.
6. Entertainment & Streaming
Spotify/YouTube Music – To stream and download music.
Netflix/Amazon Prime Video – Movies and TV shows.
Audiobook Apps (Audible, Storytel) – Audiobooks.
7. Travel & Maps
Google Maps – Location/Traffic tracking.
Uber/Ola – Taxi/Ride booking.
Booking.com/MakeMyTrip – Hotel/Flight booking.
8. Photo & Video Editing
Snapseed/Adobe Lightroom – Photo editing.
CapCut/InShot – Video editing.
Canva – Graphic Design.
9. Education & Language Learning
Duolingo – Language Learning.
Khan Academy/Byju’s – Online Courses.
Wikipedia – Knowledge Source.
10. Gaming
PUBG Mobile/Call of Duty Mobile – Battle Royale Games.
Among Us/Clash of Clans – Multiplayer Games.