Guides

How to get a job done, and which software helps.

• How to choose a VPNTwo very different tools are both called a VPN. Here is how to tell which one you need, and when Proton VPN, Mullvad, Tailscale or WireGuard fits.18 October 2026
• How to block ads on every device at homeA browser blocker covers one device; a network blocker covers your whole home, including phones, TVs and game consoles. Here is how Brave, Firefox, Pi-hole and AdGuard Home compare.18 October 2026
• Self-hosting at home: where to startRunning your own photo backup, media server or password vault is easier than it sounds, but each app is yours to update and back up. Here is a sensible order to start in.18 October 2026+2
• Which AI assistant should you use?A plain comparison of ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity and Le Chat (now Mistral Vibe) by free plan, price and platforms, plus options for keeping data on your own computer.16 October 2026+3
• How to edit a PDF for freeMerge, split, compress and convert PDFs at no cost with PDF24 Tools or PdfCraft. Here is what each one does well, and when Adobe Acrobat Pro is worth paying for.16 October 2026
• Free alternatives to PhotoshopGIMP, Krita, darktable and PhotoCraft are free Photoshop alternatives. See which one fits your work, how mature each is, and when Photoshop is still the right call.16 October 2026
• How to record your screen for freeOBS Studio records your screen for free on Windows, macOS and Linux. Camtasia adds editing for a yearly fee. Here is how to choose between them.16 October 2026
• Free alternatives to Microsoft 365LibreOffice is a full free office suite. WordCraft, GridCraft and DeckCraft are free but early alpha. See what each covers, and when Microsoft 365 is worth paying for.16 October 2026
• How to build a website without paying for a builderWordPress and Ghost software are free, but hosting is separate. Compare them with Wix and Squarespace to see what you actually pay for, and which fits your site.16 October 2026