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Capsule CRM review 2026

7:46 pm | November 11, 2019

Capsule is an intuitive and affordable customer relationship management (CRM) solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses. Its user-friendly interface and gentle learning curve make it approachable even for non-technical users.

Despite its competitive pricing, Capsule provides a robust set of core features for managing contacts, identifying opportunities, tracking communications, and overseeing sales pipelines. Standout capabilities include the ability to store up to 30,000 contacts for just $18/month, a simple "projects" feature that can function as a basic helpdesk, and useful integrations with popular apps like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp, and Xero.

In my experience, Capsule excels at delivering the key CRM platform essentials in a streamlined package. The well-designed layouts and intuitive workflows can help small teams quickly get up to speed. However, some advanced features like marketing automation are limited compared to pricier competitors. But for small businesses seeking an affordable and capable CRM without unnecessary complexity, Capsule is well worth considering.

Capsule CRM core capabilities

Capsule is a streamlined customer relationship management system designed to help small businesses efficiently manage their customer interactions and sales processes. Its core capabilities revolve around simplifying the most essential aspects of CRM.

It allows users to easily store, organize, and access customer data in one centralized location. Beyond basic info, it enables linking contacts to relevant opportunities, cases, and notes, providing a complete view of each customer relationship.

Sales teams can take advantage of visual pipeline tracking to monitor the progress of deals. Drag-and-drop functionality makes it simple to move opportunities from one stage to the next. Customizable pipelines ensure they fit the unique sales processes of each business.

Opportunity records give a snapshot of key data like value, win probability, and expected close date. This rolls up into sales forecasting reports and analytics to predict revenue and identify trends. The reporting features are a bit basic compared to higher-end CRMs, but they cover the essential needs of small businesses.

Where it really shines is in its ease of use and mobility. The interface is clean and intuitive, with a minimal learning curve to get a team up and running. And it gets full marks for its mobile-friendliness — a fully featured mobile CRM that makes it a breeze for sales reps and account managers to work on the go.

Integration options ensure the CRM isn't isolated but connected to the other systems businesses rely on. It hooks into popular small business tools for email, ecommerce, marketing automation, customer support, and productivity.

With a robust feature set yet simple interface, Capsule checks the boxes small businesses need in a CRM at a very affordable price point. The core capabilities are there, without a lot of extra bells and whistles that tend to bog down other systems. If complex and fine-grained customization isn't a requirement, Capsule is an excellent option.

How easy is Capsule CRM to use?

Capsule is widely praised for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design that makes it easy for new users to navigate and quickly become proficient with the platform. The simple layout focuses on the core CRM features small businesses need most, without unnecessary complexity.

I found the straightforward dashboard a breeze to use from the get-go. Key functions like contact management, opportunity tracking, task scheduling, and reporting are easily accessible. The visual sales pipeline is also simple to understand at a glance.

Capsule offers a good degree of customization to tailor the tool to your specific needs and processes. You can create custom fields, tags, filters, and views to track the exact information you need for contacts, opportunities, cases, and more. It's quick to set up dropdown menus, checkboxes, and date fields. You can also customize your sales pipeline stages and milestones.

The platform makes onboarding painless with a wide array of self-service training resources. These include tutorial videos, step-by-step guides, webinars, and an extensive knowledge base. The intuitive UI and wealth of educational content make it realistic for most users to get up and running in a couple of hours.

Capsule also has an active user community for Q&A, best practices, and feature suggestions. For more hands-on help, email support is responsive and thorough in my experience. All plans include customer support at no extra charge.

If your small business needs an affordable CRM without a steep learning curve, Capsule is well worth considering. Its thoughtfully designed interface, customization options, and strong support make it one of the most user-friendly CRMs that I've tried. Most teams should be able to deploy it quickly and see rapid user adoption.

Integrations

When it comes to integrations, Capsule really shines. The system offers an impressive array of pre-built integrations and connectors that make it easy to sync data with other business apps. There are official integrations for popular tools like Mailchimp, Xero, FreshBooks, and Google Workspace. So if you're already using those in your workflow, getting them connected is a breeze.

But the integration options don't stop there. Capsule also supports leading iPaaS vendors like Zapier and Make. This opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to connect Capsule with thousands of other web apps without needing any coding skills. You can automate data syncing, trigger workflows based on events, and much more. Zapier integration, in particular, is very well done.

For those with more technical needs, Capsule provides a robust API. This allows developers to integrate the system more deeply with custom or third-party applications. In my experience, the API is well-documented and reliable.

I've found the data syncing to be fast and seamless. Once you have an integration set up, you can count on your data always being up-to-date across all tools. The system also handles data conflicts gracefully.

Little touches, like being able to easily map custom fields when setting up an integration, make the whole process very user-friendly. And if you ever run into issues, CapsuleCRM’s support team is very knowledgeable about integrations and quick to help.

How good is Capsule CRM customer support?

Capsule offers some customer support options, though it may not be as comprehensive as larger competitors. Users can access live support via email, with the friendly customer service team typically responding within one business day, Monday through Friday. However, phone and live chat support do not appear to be offered at this time.

Where the CRM really shines is in its self-service support resources. The company provides an extensive knowledge base filled with helpful articles and step-by-step guides covering everything from getting started to more advanced features and use cases. The Capsuleblog and YouTube channel are also fantastic resources, offering insightful tips, video tutorials, and customer success stories to help users make the most of the platform.

While researching CapsuleCRM's support, I was impressed by the largely positive customer reviews and high ratings the company has earned on third-party sites like G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. Many users praise the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team, noting that they received prompt and effective assistance despite the lack of live support options. However, a few reviewers did mention that the lack of phone support could be an issue for some customers.

It's worth noting that Capsule doesn't have a dedicated user forum or community at this time. While the knowledge base and tutorials are undoubtedly valuable, having a space for customers to connect, share ideas, and help one another could further enhance the support experience.

Capsule CRM plans and pricing

Plan	Free	Starter	Growth	Advanced	Ultimate
Price	$0/user/month	$18/user/month	$36/user/month	$54/user/month	$72/user/month
Best For	Individuals testing CRM functionality	Small businesses needing basic CRM tools	Growing businesses requiring more contacts and automation	Larger teams needing extensive features	Large teams needing premium support and advanced CRM features
Features	2 users and 250 contacts Single sales pipeline Email sending	30,000 contacts AI email assistant Shared mailbox	60,000 contacts Workflow automations Multiple pipelines	120,000 contacts Contact enrichment Multiple project boards	Everything in Advanced Premium onboarding Dedicated account manager
Limitations	Limited contacts and users	No advanced reporting or automations	Limited project boards and contact enrichment	Higher cost, requires setup	Higher cost, best suited for larger organizations

Capsule CRM employs a per-user per-month pricing model with five tiers ranging from a limited free plan up to $72 per user monthly. The free version supports up to 2 users, 250 contacts, and 10 AI content assists, but lacks workflow automations, project management features, and advanced customizations.

In my view, Capsule's pricing is fairly standard for a CRM, with the per-user monthly cost increasing as more robust features and higher usage limits are unlocked. The Starter plan, at $18 per user per month, should suffice for small teams just needing core CRM functionality. However, growing businesses will likely need at least the Professional plan at $36/user/month to access workflow automation capabilities that can significantly boost productivity.

One downside is that many features SMBs would want, like sales pipeline management, email templates, and custom fields, are limited or unavailable on the free and lower-tier plans. Capsule does offer a free plan and trial to test out the software, but the free version is quite limited compared to some competitors.

On the plus side, Capsule's pricing is transparent and straightforward, without any hidden fees or required add-ons. Discounts are provided for annual billing and new customers. The monthly price maxes out at $72 per user for the Ultimate plan, which is reasonable compared to enterprise tiers of many other CRMs.

SmallPDF review

5:25 pm | September 25, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Comments: Off

SmallPDF is an online PDF editor with a wide variety of tools to help you edit, convert, encrypt, merge, sign PDFs and more. In addition to working with PDF files online, the company also offers mobile apps for Android and iOS as well as a desktop app for Windows. While SmallPDF features plenty of tools, is it enough for your needs?

Having tested the best PDF editor and even the best free PDF editor tools, we were keen to see if this popular software could still hold its own against - so, we put the latest version to the test.

SmallPDF during our latest review process — The Redaction tool is easy to use, and unlike PDF Candy, actually prevents you from selecting the redacted text (Image credit: SmallPDF)

SmallPDF: Pricing & plans

SmallPDF has various subscription plans on offer, mostly geared towards businesses, but do include an option for individuals. All allow you to pay yearly or monthly (the latter’s much more expensive).

‘Personal’ will cost you the equivalent of $9 a month on a yearly contract, or $12 on a month-by-month basis. ‘Team’ is for two to one hundred people, and will cost $7 or $10 respectively per account. The ‘Business’ plan (for over 100 people) is simply listed as having custom pricing that should be tailored for your unique business needs

Both ‘Personal’ and ‘Team’ offer you a seven-day free trial, and you can also check out the Free plan. However, although you can use 21 of Small PDF’s available tools with it, the Free account has a serious limitation: only allowing two conversions per day (that’s switching to and from PDFs); there doesn’t appear to be limits when using other non-premium tools.

SmallPDF: Features

SmallPDF’s main page showcases its six most popular tools, namely, PDF to Word, Merge PDF, JPG to PDF, eSign PDF, Edit PDF, and Compress PDF. The full gamut of features is revealed by clicking on the big blue ‘See All PDF Tools’ button beneath those, or by clicking on ‘Tools’ menu at the top of the page.

You’ll find 32 icons to choose from, allowing you to do anything with a PDF, including important features such as merging or splitting documents, redacting or watermarking files, scanning, locking, or signing PDFs.

There are even some AI tools to summarise or generate questions from a document. The conversion tools work both ways, but are limited to Microsoft file formats (Word, Powerpoint and Excel), and going to or from JPGs. Interestingly, there’s an OCR version which helps turn an image or an un-selectable PDF into selectable text.

The newest feature is the ability to edit the existing content of a PDF. This was severely lacking up to now, and it’s a great and important addition for anyone having to work with such files. It is however reserved for paying customers (or those using the free trial).

SmallPDF: Interface & experience

SmallPDF is a cloud based service, but also allows for offline working through its downloadable software, of which the mobile versions are even available with the ‘Free’ plan. You can grab a copy of it for Windows, iOS and Android. Sadly the Mac isn’t supported. SmallPDF also offers integration with Google Chrome, Google Drive and Dropbox.

We found the interface quite intuitive. After you’ve selected your first tool and uploaded your chosen document, You’ll find a list of features to the left. Mouse over some of them to reveal additional ones. What’s not clear at first is that selecting a new tool necessitates either uploading a new document, or opening one already in your SmallPDF account - you cannot work on the same file directly; you must first finish your work with one tool, save it, select another tool, and open your file from there once more. It’s convoluted, but you get used to it. And yes, you need to register and log in even if you’ve chosen the ‘Free’ account; doing so is free, and allows you to keep some files in the SmallPDF servers.

The Sign feature is great, as it not only lets you fill in forms and sign them, but lets you email documents to others and track their progress, just like any dedicated PDF Signing service. The Redaction tool is easy to use, and unlike PDF Candy, actually prevents you from selecting the redacted text.

SmallPDF: Support

SmallPDF has a full help desk on their site with an FAQ set up with additional ability to write in another question and/or suggest a new feature.

The frequently asked questions are quite helpful for a plethora of basic questions, however the more detailed questions will require further assistance. For these questions, SmallPDF has a contact form that allows for file uploads, categorical questions, and a textbox to ask whatever questions you may have.

SmallPDF: Final verdict

Small PDF is in a very crowded market, and although it’s not the sleekest service and downloadable software out there, it has made remarkable strides recently, even including new and crucial features. The interface is mostly nice to work with, and aside from the less than ideal way of switching between different tools, it does function very well, whatever you need to do with your PDF documents.

Do even more with PDF files with one of the best Adobe Acrobat alternatives

I tested Jira Service Management, an ITSM platform with powerful service management capabilities, excellent workflow automation, and request tracking

10:38 pm | September 12, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: ITSM | Comments: Off

Jira Service Desk is an IT support platform from Atlassian. It has now evolved into Jira Service Management. This software serves as a hub for customers and employees to report issues, request help, and access knowledge articles through a simple portal. Atlassian created it in 2013 after discovering that about 40% of their customers used Jira for service requests. In 2020, they expanded it into a separate suite with lots of new features

With Jira Service Management, you can manage and track incoming requests from many sources. These include email, chat tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, and customizable customer portals. The platform organizes tickets into queues, sets up automated workflows, and establishes Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for timely responses. This helps your team prioritize work, reduce manual effort, and ensure important issues are addressed.

Jira Service Management is great for IT departments, but it also supports HR, legal, and finance teams. Over 5,900 companies worldwide use the software, mainly in the United States and the United Kingdom. It’s popular among medium-sized businesses with 50-200 employees, but it also serves startups and large enterprises. The platform's customizable templates and automation make it easy to adapt to each team’s needs without extensive setup.

As a technically-minded help desk tool, Jira offers real-time reporting and analytics to track performance metrics like resolution time and customer satisfaction. Its knowledge base integration provides self-service options, allowing customers to find answers on their own. Whether you manage internal tech support or customer service, Jira's tools help you deliver great service experiences.

Jira Service Management pricing — (Image credit: Jira/Atlassian)

Jira Service Management: Plans and pricing

Jira Service Management has a tiered pricing structure for all organizations, from small teams to large enterprises. It offers four main plans: Free, Standard, Premium, and Enterprise. Each plan provides more functionality and support than the last.

The Free plan costs $0 per agent per month. It supports up to three agents with 2GB of storage. This plan is great for small teams or those testing the platform. It includes multi-channel support, customizable forms, workflows, queues, an embedded knowledge base, and incident and problem management.

The Standard plan costs $17.65 per agent per month (or $19.04 for 75 users). It includes everything in the Free plan along with a custom-branded help center, alerts, on-call schedules, incident escalation, unlimited email notifications, audit logs, and multi-region data residency. This plan supports up to 20,000 agents and unlimited customers, making it ideal for growing organizations.

For teams needing advanced features, the Premium plan costs $44.27 per agent per month (or $47.82 for 75 users). It adds AI-powered service, a virtual agent for support, asset and configuration management, deployment gating with CI/CD tools, advanced alert integrations, real-time incident monitoring, and a 99.9% uptime SLA.

The Enterprise plan requires contacting sales for pricing. It offers the most features, including cross-product insights with Atlassian Analytics and Data Lake, advanced admin controls, enterprise-grade identity and access management, unlimited automations, multiple instances (up to 150), and a 99.95% uptime SLA.

Jira's ITSM has both monthly and annual billing options. The annual plan provides cost savings of up to 17%. For those wanting to try paid plans, Atlassian offers a 7-day free trial for the Standard or Premium plans. You can extend this to a maximum of 30 days upon request. This flexible pricing structure helps organizations choose a plan that fits their needs and budget while supporting growth as requirements change.

Jira Service Management: Features

Jira Service Desk, now called Jira Service Management, offers a full range of features for managing service requests. It combines ticketing, automation, knowledge management, and reporting tools, helping teams provide excellent service. Since its evolution into Jira Service Management in 2020, the platform has added many advanced ITSM capabilities for IT, HR, legal, finance, and other service teams.

Jira serves as a central hub for managing requests from various channels. Your users can submit requests via email, chat tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, or through customizable portals. Meanwhile, you can set up custom workflows and automation rules tailored to their needs. Whether handling simple support tickets or complex change requests, Jira Service Management offers the tools needed to standardize and optimize service delivery.

Service hub

The service portal is the main contact point where customers and employees can ask for help. This customizable interface offers a straightforward way to submit requests, track their status, and access self-service resources. Organizations can adjust the portal to highlight different services, making it easy for users to find the right request type and get assistance quickly.

With a well-designed service portal, your team can reduce the time that users spend looking for help. Guided forms enhance request accuracy, leading to a better service experience. The global Help Center allows users to search across all service desks they can access, with machine learning improving search results based on past interactions.

Request management

Jira's request management features allow teams to collect requests from various sources into organized queues. Teams can classify service requests, incidents, problems, and changes, directing them to the right agents based on expertise or workload. The platform also enables cross-team collaboration, allowing requests to move easily between projects.

This structured approach helps organizations standardize service delivery and reduce response times. By managing requests effectively, teams can prioritize their work, balance workloads, and boost both employee productivity and customer satisfaction.

Self-Service knowledge base

The self-service knowledge base works with Confluence, letting organizations create and share articles, guides, and FAQs. As customers enter requests into the portal, the system suggests relevant knowledge articles that may help before they submit a ticket.

All of this cuts down on repetitive requests, allowing service teams to focus on complex issues. In the meantime, organizations can measure the effectiveness of their knowledge base through different metrics and user feedback, continuously improving content.

Service level agreements (SLAs)

SLA management features let teams create and track service agreements. They can set multiple SLA policies based on severity levels, issue types, and other factors. This helps teams monitor deadlines and prioritize requests, using automated escalation rules to avoid breaches.

By managing SLAs well, your support team can ensure consistent service delivery and meet customer expectations. Different reports also provide insights into team performance and service quality. This helps managers identify bottlenecks, allocate resources better, and maintain compliance with service commitments.

Automation

Jira Service Management’s automation features help teams simplify repetitive tasks like ticket creation, routing, and notifications. A no-code automation builder allows teams to create custom rules and workflows without needing technical expertise, making it easy for all service teams to use.

By automating routine tasks, organizations can cut down on manual effort, reduce errors, and speed up response times. This boosts team efficiency and improves the customer experience through faster, more reliable service. Automation also standardizes processes across teams, ensuring that all requests adhere to established best practices and compliance standards.

Jira Service Management reports — (Image credit: Jira/Atlassian)

Jira Service Management: Analytics

Jira Service Management provides a full set of analytics tools to help teams make data-driven choices and improve service delivery. The platform features ready-made dashboards that track request management, incidents, changes, and service performance. This gives teams quick insights into their operations. With pre-configured reports, service teams can monitor key metrics like average resolution time, SLA compliance, and CSAT easily.

For organizations that need deeper insights, Atlassian Analytics (for Cloud Enterprise customers) offers a flexible way to visualize data from Atlassian products and other sources. Built on the Atlassian Data Lake, it combines data from development and operations tools. It gives teams a complete view of the work happening across support, development, and IT. The interactive visualSQL builder helps teams create custom reports and dashboards that fit their needs, leading to richer insights and faster decision-making.

Jira Service Management's reporting also covers areas like asset management. Here, teams can analyze their objects and data stored in Assets. These reports provide key insights for inventory management, lifecycle management, and employee productivity. The platform includes service project reports that help teams track trends in their projects, such as workload distribution, customer satisfaction ratings, and knowledge base effectiveness.

Real-time reporting is a key feature of Jira Service Management's analytics. It allows teams to spot and fix bottlenecks quickly, make better decisions on resource allocation and staffing, and monitor the business's status. The platform's dashboards can be customized for different stakeholders and embedded in Confluence pages, Atlas tickets, and Trello cards. This makes it easy to share information with various audiences.

Jira Service Management interface — (Image credit: Jira/Atlassian)

Jira Service Management: Ease of use

Jira has a very clean and attractive interface that takes the well-worn path of having hierarchical menus on the left and the contents on the right. It’s generally very easy to follow, even if those who aren’t familiar with it might encounter a few idiosyncrasies here and there.

However, working with Jira Service Management, you will occasionally need to access settings or features that exist as part of the larger service called Jira Cloud. But these can take you to a web page where there is no obvious way back to the top-level menu, disrupting the workflow. These other sections can also have a very different visual style, confusing new users.

Still, we appreciate how the administration login allows the look and feel of the product to be changed — adding colours, logos, and icons to fit whatever style your company uses. Jira's interface is nothing revolutionary, but it gets the job done.

Jira Service Management: Security

When anyone assesses security, they have a list of features that they’d like to see offered. As an ITSM platform, Jira Service desk has most of those important features covered. However, what you don’t get is SAML single sign-on, 2-step verification, password policies, and user provisioning as standard.

To get any of those, you need a license subscription to Atlassian Access. It costs $30 per month for the first 10 users, then it works out at around $3/agent. This service controls access and security across all the Atlassian Cloud services, plus it can be linked to Okta, Idaptive, Google Cloud Identity, Azure AD, Onelogin and ADFS.

There aren’t any tiers separating the enterprise-grade security controls of Atlassian Access. So, you are forced to pay for the entire suite of security upgrades even if you only want 2FA. This adds more complexity to scaling the solution, because the costs can add up quickly as you expand.

Jira Service Management: Support

Much like other Atlassian products, Jira Service Management offers different levels of customer support based on the selected plan.

The Free plan provides basic support via the Atlassian Community. Users can ask questions and receive help from other users and Atlassian experts. This community support is good for teams with simple needs or those just starting with the platform.

Standard plan subscribers enjoy 9/5 regional support. This means support is available from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday, in the customer's local timezone. Initial response times are 2 business hours for critical "Application Down" issues, 6 business hours for serious degradation issues, 1 business day for moderate issues, and 2 business days for low-impact inquiries.

Premium plan customers get enhanced support with 24/7 coverage for high-impact issues. Critical issues receive a response within 1 hour. This level of support is vital for organizations that depend on Jira Service Management and cannot afford extended downtime.

The Enterprise plan provides the most comprehensive support. It includes 24/7 help for all technical issues, a dedicated senior support team, and the fastest response times (30 minutes for critical issues). Enterprise customers also have a dedicated phone support number. They benefit from named contacts who can reach Atlassian's top engineers directly, ensuring expert assistance is readily available.

Atlassian's support covers incident assistance, root cause analysis, help with installation and upgrades, bug reporting, implementation guidance, and integration support with other Atlassian products. However, support does not cover end-of-life or beta releases, customized versions, development questions, third-party integrations, end-user support, product training, or system performance tuning. For these needs, customers should reach out to the Atlassian Community or contact Atlassian Partners who offer various additional services.

Jira Service Management: The Competition

ServiceNow is the main competitor of Jira Service Management, especially for large organizations requiring extensive ITIL. But, Jira Service Management connects well with Atlassian's tools with a lower starting price.

Freshservice is a user-friendly option with an easy-to-use interface. It requires less time to set up, while still covering key areas like incident management and change management at a competitive price.

Finally, Zendesk Service is a strong choice for companies focused on customer support only. It excels in omnichannel support, helping manage customer interactions via email, chat, phone, and social media.

For smaller teams or those on a tight budget, options like osTicket or Zoho Desk might also offer affordable solutions. These platforms provide basic ticketing and support at a lower cost, but they don't benefit from the same advanced automation and reporting features.

Jira Service Management: Final Verdict

Despite a convoluted pricing structure, Jira users typically swear by its ITSM platform thanks to its strong feature set and seamless integation. Still, we’d recommend proper cost planning before you deploy any time and resources into implementing this suite.

For those looking to use other Jira/Atlassian products and services, Jira Service Management is the obvious choice since it interlocks with Confluence and Jira Core perfectly.

Even when used in isolation, this is still a decent solution that's reasonably priced for a standalone tool. But you don’t get to reap the benefits of integrating with other Atlassian products. Plus, there are cheaper solutions in the market if that's all you're looking for.

Check out our list of the best IT management tools.

GoToMyPC review: Still a powerful remote desktop solution

1:08 am | June 3, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

If you need to set up the best remote desktop software, GoToMyPC is one option well worth considering. It allows you to access multiple remote computers very quickly and without fuss from anywhere. Adding to its overall appeal is its ease of use, with a simplistic interface that anyone can master.

GoToMyPC has also been around for quite some time, so it has already built a solid following. While there are many rival remote desktop software products out there, GoToMyPC continues to have appeal. Much of that is down to its versatility and a trio of package options suitable for all types of users.

GoToMyPC is remote desktop software that allows users to access and manage their computers from any other computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Developed by LogMeIn, Inc., it's designed for individuals and businesses looking for an efficient way to access their PCs or Macs remotely.

GoToMyPC: Plans and pricing

GoToMyPC offers three different plans: Personal, Pro, and Corporate. The Personal plan costs $35 per computer each month and is suitable for a single user with one or more computers to access. The Pro plan is priced at $33 per computer each month and is popular among small teams needing access for multiple users. The Corporate plan, priced at $28 per computer each month, is tailored for larger teams requiring invoiced billing and a higher level of administrative control. All plans come with a free trial. If you have specific requirements, you can contact the GoToMyPC sales team for assistance.

GoToMyPC review — GoToMyPC includes a bulk file transfer utility. (Image credit: LogMeIn Inc.)

GoToMyPC: Features and utilities

After examining GoToMyPC more closely, it becomes evident that while its initial interface may seem straightforward, the software offers many compelling features. Although its appearance may appear modest, the platform provides various practical functions that fulfill multiple needs. Additionally, GoToMyPC boasts impressive speed, allowing users to create desktop icons to access remote machines conveniently. The drag-and-drop capability of shared clipboards and remote printing further enhances its usability, while the bulk transfer tool proves invaluable for managing extensive file volumes.

Moreover, GoToMyPC is compatible with iOS, Android, and Kindle devices, making it highly accessible and user-friendly. This multi-platform support enhances its versatility and ensures seamless usage across different devices.

GoToMyPC: Setup

Once you've signed up for one of their packages, you must provide some basic information and choose a subscription plan that suits your needs. After creating an online account, you can easily download the GoToMyPC remote controller software onto the computer you want to access remotely. The software installation process is straightforward and doesn't require advanced technical knowledge.

Launching the remote controller software will prompt you to create a secure password for remote access. This password adds an extra layer of security to ensure that your remote desktop is accessed only by authorized users.

Once set up, you can log in to your GoToMyPC account from any device with an internet connection. You'll have access to all the computers you've added for remote access. This centralized management allows you to conveniently view and access your remote desktops from anywhere.

GoToMyPC: Interface and performance

GoToMyPC is great in terms of its interface, as there is very little to get your head around, although it could be spruced up a little on the looks front. Available devices are shown in a list, and more in-depth access to account information can be found via a side menu.

The GoToMyPC viewer software allows you to launch your remote computer, and we like how this can be easily customized. This means that it’s much easier to distinguish between remote desktops, which is a real plus if you’re working with multiple machines. We’ve been impressed with the stability of connections, even when connecting using cellular devices. Moving larger volumes of files also proves dependable, which has helped with that bulk file transfer tool.

GoToMyPC: Security

GoToMyPC prioritizes security for its remote desktop access products. The platform requires a unique online account password and access code for each machine to achieve this. It also enforces a policy that prohibits password reuse. Two-factor authentication is implemented to bolster security further.

Each remote desktop's access code is only known to the user, as GoToMyPC does not store them electronically. Additionally, the recent security update includes LogMeIn Antivirus software with all packages for an added layer of defense.

GoToMyPC: Support

Considering the costs involved with GoToMyPC, we’d like to see a little more user-friendliness associated with the support side of things. While GoToMyPC has a 24/7 support structure, it isn’t always easy to contact them, primarily via the phone. It would benefit them to improve their phone support system and possibly consider adding live chat as an alternative communication channel.

However, the website has plenty of resources, including a searchable database that answers many common queries. You also get the benefit of tutorials, documentation, videos, and access to webinars, which make up for some of the fundamental shortcomings outlined above. It would be ideal to enhance their support resources with more interactive troubleshooting tools or a community forum where users can engage with each other and share knowledge and tips.

GoToMyPC: Pros and cons

The GoToMyPC platform is designed with a strong focus on simplicity and user-friendliness. Its intuitive interface makes it an excellent choice for users who may not be very tech-savvy. It ensures security through robust encryption methods, multi-factor authentication, and other measures to keep remote sessions secure and private.

In terms of performance, GoToMyPC offers high-speed connections and minimal lag, enabling effective task performance even over slower internet connections. This ensures a smooth and responsive user experience. The platform supports a wide range of devices, including Windows and Mac computers and iOS and Android mobile devices. This broad compatibility provides users with flexibility in connectivity options, allowing them to work from various devices seamlessly.

One of the standout features of GoToMyPC is its ability to facilitate the seamless transfer of files between computers and data synchronization. This functionality benefits individuals working from multiple locations, enabling them to access and manage their files effortlessly.

It's important to note that while GoToMyPC is feature-rich and user-friendly, it may be pricier compared to other remote desktop solutions, particularly for small businesses or individuals needing access to multiple PCs. Additionally, not all features available for Windows users are available on macOS, which could be a drawback for some users.

As with all remote desktop software, GoToMyPC's performance heavily depends on the internet connection quality. A stable and fast internet connection is essential for experiencing the full benefits of this platform.

GoToMyPC: Who's it for?

Whether you're a business professional, a remote worker, or someone who likes to travel, reliable remote desktop software is paramount. GoToMyPC is a solution designed for anyone requiring immediate, secure access to their PC or Mac from any location. Let's explore who can benefit from GoToMyPC and why it's essential for these users.

The rise of remote work has created a massive demand for tools that enable productivity from afar. GoToMyPC is tailored for remote employees who need full access to their work computer, including all files, applications, and network resources, as if they were sitting right in front of it. With GoToMyPC, working from home or a coffee shop becomes seamless and efficient without compromising task performance.

IT staff and support teams manage and troubleshoot issues across organizational computers. GoToMyPC allows IT professionals to remotely log in to any computer they have been given access to, making it easier to provide support, manage updates, or configure settings without physically visiting a workstation. This capability is invaluable for maintaining an efficient IT infrastructure while minimizing downtime.

Frequent travelers, especially those with a digital nomad lifestyle, must stay connected to their home or office computers. GoToMyPC allows these users to access their desktops from anywhere in the world, ensuring they can meet deadlines, access important documents, or even resolve unforeseen issues that crop up while they're on the move.

For small business owners, GoToMyPC offers a simple and cost-effective way to stay connected to the business without being tied to the office. Whether accessing financial software, client databases, or managing orders, GoToMyPC allows them to maintain control and oversight from any location, potentially increasing productivity and enabling a better work-life balance.

In an educational context, teachers and students may need to access specific software or files on a school computer. GoToMyPC enables this remote access, facilitating continued learning and teaching outside the classroom. This can be especially useful for out-of-hours learning, educational flexibility, and attending to urgent academic matters.

The competition

You don't have to look far in order to find plenty of remote desktop access alternatives to GoToMyPC. What’s more, many of them are rather more competitively priced. One such example, especially if you’re an individual is AnyDesk. This is actually free for personal use, while the paid-for edition is only $10.99 per month for one user plus an unlimited number of endpoints.

Businesses should also consider something like RemoteUtilities for Windows, which has a one-time cost of $99 per user and $29 endpoint for up to 20 remote computers. This is exclusively for Windows machines though, so if you have more demanding needs on all platforms than RemotePC, Parallels Access, LogMeIn Pro or TeamViewer are all worth having their specifications investigated too.

GoToMyPC: Final verdict

GoToMyPC is a decent choice if you're looking for a reliable remote desktop access package. However, it is pretty expensive, regardless of the package you choose. The security features and user interface are good, but whether it justifies the price is uncertain, especially compared to its competitors.

GoToMyPC provides a reliable remote desktop experience with ease of use, strong security measures, and high performance. Despite being more expensive than some competitors and having limitations for Mac users, it's worth considering for those needing dependable remote access. When choosing a remote desktop solution, consider the features, specific needs, and budget to find the best fit for you or your business. With the right tool, you can work flexibly and efficiently from anywhere.

What to look for when choosing a remote desktop solution

Remote desktop solutions have become crucial for business operations. This technology allows employees to access their work environment from anywhere in the world, supporting the growing trend of remote work and ensuring consistent productivity. With numerous options available, choosing the right remote desktop solution is essential.

Seamless Connectivity and Accessibility: An efficient remote desktop solution must provide smooth, easy-to-establish connections, allowing users to access their desktops and applications with minimal effort. It should be compatible across various devices and operating systems to ensure connectivity for all team members.

Security Features: Security is critical, and a suitable remote desktop tool should offer robust measures such as end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates to protect against cyber threats. The ability to set access controls and monitor user activity can enhance the security of organizational data.

Performance and Reliability: A good remote desktop solution should provide a smooth, lag-free experience, similar to working directly on the host computer. High reliability with minimal downtime and quick recovery options ensures uninterrupted work and maintains high productivity levels.

Support and Scalability: A scalable remote desktop solution that allows for easy addition of new users and resources is important as businesses grow. Responsive customer support is equally vital, saving time and resources when issues arise.

Cost-Effectiveness: While essential features should not be compromised, cost is significant for most organizations. The ideal solution would offer a transparent pricing model that scales with your needs. Long-term expenses, including updates and support, should also be evaluated.

User Experience: The user experience is key. A user-friendly interface, minimal latency, and the ability to personalize settings can greatly impact daily operations. The solution must have intuitive controls that don't require extensive technical knowledge.

Choosing the right remote desktop solution requires balancing performance, security, ease of use, and cost. As businesses continue to evolve, the ability to work remotely efficiently becomes even more critical. Evaluating options based on these criteria is crucial to ensure that your choice meets your current needs and provides a viable long-term solution as your organization grows. Insights from current users and expert reviews can also provide valuable perspectives during the selection process, helping to narrow down the choices to the solution best suited to your unique requirements.

We've listed the best help desk software here.

BigCommerce review

9:00 pm | June 4, 2018

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: SEO | Comments: Off

BigCommerce is a leading ecommerce platform designed to help you create, launch, and grow your online store—no coding needed. Our team at Techradar has spent thousands of hours testing over 140 website builders, so we know what makes a platform stand out. For anyone wanting to weigh their options, don’t miss our expert guides to the best website builders and the best ecommerce platforms.

We’ve seen BigCommerce land high on both lists, offering rich commerce features for ambitious stores. Still, if pure website building is your focus, our top pick for 2025 is Wix. See our latest Wix review to find out why it’s the best all-round builder for most people.

Put simply: BigCommerce excels at advanced store management. But, it’s not the most user-friendly if you crave simple design tweaks or unlimited styling options.

BigCommerce: 2-minute review

BigCommerce is a heavyweight in the ecommerce world. Its platform blends flexible store management with built-in tools for SEO, multi-currency selling, product variants, and sales analytics. Over the years, BigCommerce has become a favorite for fast-growing brands who want more power and customization than entry-level platforms.

BigCommerce’s standout feature is its ability to manage multiple storefronts under a single account. This, plus its deep native features and lack of hidden fees, mean you get a lot of bang for your buck. However, its website editor feels more basic than the drag-and-drop wizards you’ll find elsewhere. If your priority is deep commerce tools, though, BigCommerce delivers where it counts.

What is BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is an online store builder that lets anyone, even total beginners, launch a shop, list products, and sell to the world. As with most other tools in this category, you don’t need to know a line of code. The dashboard is straightforward: you add products, set up payments, and choose a design template. With guided setup and support at every step, you’re never lost.

But, BigCommerce isn’t only for beginners. As your business grows, you can add more advanced features: custom discounts, shipping rates, and even multiple stores, all managed from one place. If you want to focus on selling, BigCommerce handles the technical side for you. That means security, hosting, and updates happen automatically behind the scenes.

Features

With multiple storefronts, you can have different versions of your store for different customer segments or locations. For example, if you have an international presence, each country can have its own version of the store in its native language and currency. This makes it easier to target customers in specific countries and regions without them needing to search through multiple languages or convert currencies. It also allows you to keep track of customer data and sales more easily since everything is segmented by storefronts.

BigCommerce enables you to create unique, seamless customer experiences that span multiple channels with its Headless Commerce feature. During our test, we were able to leverage external content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress or Adobe Experience Manager, while still leveraging the powerful API-driven B2B and B2C commerce capabilities of BigCommerce. This allows for greater flexibility when creating custom digital experiences for customers across all devices and channels.

BigCommerce offers B2B and wholesale solutions that allow businesses to provide special pricing and discounts on large orders or special deals for select customers. This helps make it easier for you to expand your customer base and reach new markets without having to put extra effort or resources into managing different pricing models.

With omnichannel capabilities, you can create a seamless experience across all channels (online, in-store, mobile). This includes providing customers with the ability to make purchases from any device or location, as well as offering them access to unique experiences both online and offline. Additionally, this feature makes it easy for customers who are shopping online or in-store to convert their purchase into an online order if they need further assistance or information before completing a purchase.

International Commerce-as-a-Service (CaaS) feature allows you to easily expand your business into new markets with localized checkout flows and currencies. With this feature, you can accept payments from customers in different countries without having to manage multiple stores or currency conversions. This feature provides tools such as automated tax calculations and support for the localization of product listings across multiple markets.

The Emerging Brands feature makes it easy for startups and entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground quickly and affordably. With this feature, you can easily create a custom store design with pre-built templates that are optimized for mobile devices. Additionally, the Emerging Brands feature provides access to advanced marketing tools such as automatic discounts, coupons, abandoned cart reminders, Google shopping ads integration, and more.

For small businesses that need more control over their website and store design, BigCommerce offers a range of features tailored specifically for them. These include drag-and-drop page-building capabilities for creating custom layouts, access to third-party app integrations, powerful shipping tools, real-time analytics, customer segmentation capabilities, integrated email marketing solutions, and more.

If you’re running a large enterprise business with multiple stores or sites around the world, BigCommerce offers an enterprise solution that is tailored specifically to your needs. This includes customizable templated designs, built-in scalability options, full API access, unlimited order management capabilities, advanced merchandising tools, dedicated account managers, and much more.

Finally, if you already have an existing website or store on another platform like Shopify or Magento 2, BigCommerce offers its migration tool which allows you to easily transfer all of your existing data over quickly and painlessly so you can get up and running on BigCommerce right away.

Tools

BigCommerce apps — (Image credit: BigCommerce)

BigCommerce uses Google Cloud Platform infrastructure, Google AMP, and Akamai Image Manager to give your store blazing-fast speed. Customers don’t have to wait around for pages to load, plus you get unlimited customizability. Here are some of its best tools:

Product management

List unlimited products, create options and variants (like sizes or colors), and organize your catalog. Batch editing and flexible custom fields make managing large inventories easy.

Multi-storefront business

Run several storefronts — each with its own design, products, and checkout, using just one account. Perfect if you’re selling in different regions or to different audiences.

SEO and marketing

Built-in SEO tools help your shop rank on Google. You can edit page titles, descriptions, and URLs, plus take advantage of automatic image optimization and product review features. Marketing tools include coupon codes, gift certificates, and abandoned cart recovery.

International & multi-currency stores

Sell globally with automatic currency conversion, translation options, and support for the world’s top payment gateways. Real-time shipping quotes and tax calculations keep things running smoothly.

Reporting & analytics

From high-level dashboards to granular sales reports, BigCommerce’s analytics help you track growth and spot trends. Export data for more detailed analysis, or connect to third-party tools.

App marketplace

Add functionality with a range of integrations — think shipping, accounting, CRM, and more, by browsing the BigCommerce app store.

Ease of use

BigCommerce editor interface — (Image credit: BigCommerce)

BigCommerce offers a strong suite of features that make it easy to build a website from scratch. The drag-and-drop builder makes it easy for users to customize their site without needing any coding skills.

The platform also offers plenty of features to help you manage your store once it's up and running. You can easily add products, manage orders, process payments, track inventory levels, and more. It even makes it easy to create custom discounts, coupons, loyalty programs, and other promotions to attract customers. All of this requires little setup time, but you may have to spend some time with the documentation for advanced user flows.

Pricing

Plan	Starting rate (paid annually)	Renewal rate (paid annually)
Standard	$29/month	$29/month
Plus	$79/month	$79/month
Pro	$299/month	$299/month
Enterprise	Custom/Quote	Custom/Quote

BigCommerce offers four main pricing tiers: Standard, Plus, Pro, and Enterprise. Each plan is billed annually and rates don’t jump on renewal, so what you start with is what you pay going forward. The Standard plan is tailored for new or smaller stores, while Plus and Pro unlock more advanced features and higher sales limits. The high-end Enterprise tier is custom-quoted for big brands needing extra support or customization.

There are no hidden fees, bandwidth charges, or transaction costs. Every plan includes unlimited products, staff accounts, and storage. As you move up tiers, you’ll get added features like advanced marketing tools, customer segmentation, product filtering, and custom SSL certificates. BigCommerce provides strong value for growth-focused stores, though its initial pricing is higher than freelance-friendly rivals.

Security

The Fortnite server status — (Image credit: Epic Games)

BigCommerce puts security first with strong encryption, PCI DSS Level 1 compliance, and automatic SSL certificates for every store. All data exchanges (from credit card info to logins) are encrypted using the latest TLS standards, plus regular security audits help keep storefronts safe from evolving threats. Robust role-based access controls ensure staff only access what they need, while two-factor authentication protects your admin account from unauthorized changes.

The platform’s security credentials mean you’re protected from the biggest headaches. There are zero manual security patches or PCI checklists to worry about. If you need extra customer trust, you can add extended validation SSLs for more prominent browser indicators.

Support

BigCommerce help center — (Image credit: BigCommerce)

Every BigCommerce customer gets 24/7 live support via chat, phone, or email. We’ve found the support team quick, knowledgeable, and proactive. There’s also an extensive self-help portal, packed with step-by-step articles, video tutorials, and troubleshooting guides.

Higher-tier plans unlock priority routing and access to ecommerce strategists, helpful for scaling businesses. But even Standard users can reach out at any hour to expect real solutions. If you prefer not to contact support directly, the searchable knowledge base often answers common questions in minutes.

A small caveat is the occasional wait times can occur during peak hours, though most users have positive experiences with both the expertise and the friendliness of the help team.

Alternatives

One of the most popular ecommerce website builders on the market is Shopify. It provides users with a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help them build their online stores quickly and easily. With Shopify, you can choose from hundreds of professionally designed themes, and customize your store's look.

WooCommerce is another popular choice for businesses looking for an e-commerce website builder. Unlike many other platforms, WooCommerce is free and open-source software that lets users customize their store however they want. You can add products from any source (including third-party sites like eBay), manage inventory levels, set up taxes and shipping costs, accept payments via PayPal or credit cards, and more, all without any coding knowledge needed!

Magento is another great option for businesses looking for an ecommerce website builder solution. The platform offers a wide range of features including customizable templates, product catalogs with advanced sorting options, multiple payment options including credit cards and PayPal integration, detailed analytics reports to track sales performance over time, SEO optimization tools to help increase visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs), customer loyalty programs, order management tools, and more.

Is BigCommerce right for you?

BigCommerce delivers serious ecommerce power and flexibility, especially for ambitious stores with an eye on global success. Some design limitations and higher entry costs keep it from being perfect, but it's easily one of the best options for growth-focused brands in 2025.

Also, BigCommerce offers an extensive range of features that can help you customize your website exactly how you want it. From drag-and-drop page builders to integrated ecommerce options, the possibilities are nearly endless. And, BigCommerce offers great customer service that is available 24/7.

But the one downside to using BigCommerce is its cost. If you are on a budget, consider options with cheaper starting plans.

FAQs

Is BigCommerce suitable for beginners?

Yes, BigCommerce is user-friendly enough for beginners and provides guided setup, helpful tutorials, and 24/7 support. The dashboard is straightforward, so you can launch a store with no coding experience. As you grow, you’ll find more advanced tools available, but you aren’t forced to use them until you’re ready.

Does BigCommerce take a cut of my sales?

No, BigCommerce does not charge transaction fees on any plan, even if you use third-party payment gateways. You’ll only pay standard payment processor fees set by your chosen provider, like PayPal or Stripe.

How does BigCommerce compare to Shopify and Wix?

BigCommerce holds its own against Shopify and Wix. Generally, BigCommerce is stronger for multi-store or international selling and has more built-in features, while Shopify offers the biggest app marketplace and Wix wins for easy design. Each has strengths, so your best pick depends on your priorities.

Can I try BigCommerce before buying?

BigCommerce offers a risk-free trial with instant access, no credit card required. This lets you test core features, templates, and tools before committing to a paid plan.

What happens if my store grows too quickly?

BigCommerce’s plans scale automatically as your sales rise. Higher tiers unlock more advanced features and higher sales caps. If you hit those limits or need custom solutions, the Enterprise plan offers limitless scalability, priority support, and dedicated account management.

Also check out our complete list of the best small business website builders.

Polaris Office review

6:56 pm | March 2, 2018

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

Polaris Office, a remarkable cross-platform office suite and Microsoft Office alternative, is a familiar name to Samsung smartphone users, as it comes pre-installed on many of the Korean brand's handsets. This multifaceted software provides users with a comprehensive set of tools for creating, editing, and managing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

At its core, Polaris Office offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and perform various tasks. The word processor allows for seamless text editing, formatting, and layout customization, enabling users to create professional-looking documents. The spreadsheet editor, on the other hand, provides robust features for data analysis, calculations, and formula creation. Additionally, the presentation tool offers dynamic templates and animations to craft engaging and impactful presentations.

Polaris Office: Features

One of the key advantages of Polaris Office is its cross-platform compatibility. Whether you're working on a Windows PC, a macOS laptop, an iOS device, or an Android smartphone, Polaris Office ensures seamless synchronization and access to your documents across different platforms. This flexibility allows you to continue working on your projects from anywhere, at any time.

The free version of Polaris Office is a great option for users who need basic office functionality. It provides ad-supported access to all the essential features and allows you to share and sync your work across three devices (one desktop and two mobile). However, if you require more advanced features, such as cloud storage integration, real-time collaboration, and offline editing, you can upgrade to the premium version.

Polaris Office has gained popularity among Samsung smartphone users for its seamless integration and compatibility with the brand's devices. Additionally, its availability across various platforms and its feature-rich interface make it a versatile and convenient choice for professionals, students, and anyone who needs a comprehensive office suite.

Polaris Office stands out from most free office software suites by offering a generous 1GB of cloud storage for your documents. This storage space allows you to keep your important files securely backed up and easily accessible from any device with an internet connection. Additionally, Polaris Office provides the flexibility to connect your preferred cloud storage service, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive, for even more storage space. If you prefer to keep your documents locally, you can save them directly to your device.

One of the key strengths of Polaris Office is its compatibility with Microsoft file formats. The apps within the suite, including Polaris Word, Polaris Excel, and Polaris PowerPoint, can open, edit, and save files in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats. This compatibility ensures seamless collaboration with others who may be using Microsoft Office. Polaris Office does an impressive job of maintaining the original formatting of documents, ensuring that your content remains consistent when shared or viewed on different platforms.

Furthermore, Polaris Office offers a range of features that enhance productivity and collaboration. The apps include real-time co-editing, allowing multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously. There's also support for comments and annotations, making it easy to provide feedback or ask questions about specific parts of the document. Polaris Office also seamlessly integrates with various cloud storage services, enabling easy access to your files from anywhere.

Polaris Office: User experience

Contrary to LibreOffice and OpenOffice, which are open-source initiatives driven by volunteers, Polaris Office is a commercial product. Consequently, it is not surprising that the free version is ad-supported.

In the mobile applications, this translates to advertisements on the menu screens- although not present during document editing, while in the desktop software, you may encounter additional pre-installed software, such as browser extensions, included in the installation process.

Polaris Office provides premium subscriptions that offer various benefits to enhance the user experience. By upgrading to a premium subscription, users can eliminate limitations and access additional advanced features such as PDF editing and shared-document annotations. This functionality is comparable to popular services like Google Docs, allowing users to collaborate on documents with others in real-time and make annotations or edits directly in the PDF format.

A unique feature of Polaris Office is the ability for users to create their own reusable templates. This feature sets it apart from many other similar office suites, as it empowers users to design and save custom templates tailored to their specific needs and preferences. However, it's worth noting that the selection of pre-installed templates in Polaris Office is somewhat limited, and there is currently no option to download additional templates separately.

When it comes to the user interface, Polaris Office offers a modern and intuitive experience. The apps within the suite feature a ribbon layout that resembles recent versions of Microsoft Office. This layout provides easy access to various tools and options, and it can be customized to suit individual preferences. The overall look and feel of the interface is clean, organized, and user-friendly, making it easy for users to navigate and perform tasks efficiently.

Polaris Office: Mobile

For individuals who frequently need to work on the go or require access to documents while away from their workstation, Polaris Office presents a compelling solution. If you already utilize the mobile version, exploring the desktop version is highly recommended, as it facilitates seamless synchronization of documents, enhancing productivity and convenience.

Polaris Office: Final verdict

Polaris Office is a suitable alternative to Google Docs for working with Microsoft documents, offering more flexibility and features. While Google Docs may be simpler for basic tasks, Polaris Office excels in handling Microsoft documents. However, it's worth noting that the mobile versions of Polaris Office can be somewhat more challenging to use compared to online-only tools like Google Docs due to the constraints of a smaller screen. Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms depends on personal preferences and specific needs.

We feature the best free office software.

SoftMaker FreeOffice review

11:00 am | August 18, 2017

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

SoftMaker FreeOffice is a free Microsoft Office alternative that offers seamless editing of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. This software is available for Windows and Linux systems, along with a companion app for Android devices. Additionally, it provides hassle-free export options for files in EPUB and PDF formats.

The FreeOffice suite comprises three applications: TextMaker for word processing, PlanMaker for spreadsheets, and Presentations for slide creation. Although the free version doesn't have some advanced features like tabbed browsing and a thesaurus, it efficiently addresses common office work requirements. However, unlike some other free choices such as LibreOffice that is freeware with no paid tier to upgrade users to, FreeOffice does have the incentive to not include all the features in three lowest, free tier.

SoftMaker FreeOffice: User experience

Prior to downloading SoftMaker FreeOffice, you will be prompted to provide your name, country, and email address. Subsequently, you will receive a complimentary registration code, although entering it is not a prerequisite for utilizing the software.

When you start utilizing SoftMaker FreeOffice, you will discover its user-friendly interface and rapid performance. It closely resembles earlier versions of Microsoft Office in appearance and offers seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office files created since 1997. Furthermore, it supports the OpenDocument format, which is also employed by LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice.

SoftMaker FreeOffice offers PDF creation, a feature that is often cumbersome in Windows. Furthermore, its spreadsheet application efficiently performs database tasks in addition to handling numerical calculations.

TextMaker

TextMaker is the word processor included in SoftMaker FreeOffice, a free alternative to Microsoft Office.

TextMaker offers a surprising amount of functionality for a free word processor, including things you might expect to find only in paid software. While the desktop version is completely free, also keep in mind that the mobile app needs to be paid for. On balance, many users consider the price reasonable for the features you get, but keep in mind that there is a limit to what comes on the free tier.

TextMaker offers cross platform compatibility, as it works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. This makes it painless to transfer between devices and collaborate on documents. Also, there is excellent file format support as TextMaker can open and save to a wide range of file formats, including DOCX, ODT, and its own formats. This makes it compatible with most other word processing software. Finally, this software is notable for the user-friendly interface that is similar to older versions of Microsoft Word, making it easy to learn for those already familiar with Word.

However, as with anything in this world, there are some drawbacks as well. They start with the limited comment features which are considered somewhat limited and can cause compatibility issues with heavily commented Microsoft Office documents. Furthermore, the free mobile version has limitations, such as the inability to print or convert documents to PDF, as these features get pushed to the higher tiers, and therefore require a paid subscription. Finally, it's an annoyance that the thesaurus is only available in the premium version, but we can accept that there have to be some concessions on a freeware project.

TextMaker stands out as a formidable contender in the landscape of free word processors, catering specifically to individuals who seek an intuitive and feature-rich alternative to Microsoft Word without the need for excessive functionalities. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive toolset make it an ideal choice for professionals, students, and home users alike.

Beyond its file format support, TextMaker boasts an impressive array of features. It offers a tabbed interface for effortless navigation, allowing users to work on multiple documents simultaneously. The program provides advanced formatting options, including styles, templates, and themes, enabling users to create visually appealing and professionally polished documents.

TextMaker's robust editing capabilities are on par with premium word processors. It includes a comprehensive spellchecker and grammar checker, ensuring accuracy and consistency in your writing. The program also features a variety of editing tools, such as find and replace, advanced search options, and a thesaurus, facilitating efficient and precise document editing.

Moreover, TextMaker offers robust collaboration features, making it an ideal tool for team projects and shared editing. Users can easily track changes, insert comments, and collaborate in real-time with colleagues or classmates, enhancing productivity and communication.

Overall, TextMaker is an exceptional choice for individuals seeking a free word processor that combines ease of use, rich features, and extensive file format support. Its user-friendly interface, advanced editing capabilities, and compatibility with popular formats make it a powerful tool for creating professional-quality documents. Whether you're a student, a professional, or someone who simply needs a reliable word processor for personal use, TextMaker is a top contender that delivers on all fronts.

SoftMaker FreeOffice: Final verdict

SoftMaker FreeOffice is a remarkable alternative to Microsoft Office, catering to users who seek a feature-rich yet free office suite. While it may not offer all the bells and whistles of commercial software, it provides seamless editing, compatibility, and export capabilities. The intuitive interface makes it easy to adapt for those familiar with Microsoft Office.

Despite certain limitations in the free version, like the absence of a thesaurus, SoftMaker FreeOffice stands out as a robust solution for word processing, spreadsheet management, and presentations. While SoftMaker FreeOffice provides a superb free suite capable of serving many users, it lacks the same breadth of tools offered by LibreOffice. Notably, FreeOffice does not include tools for mathematical formulae or diagrams.

For users seeking a reliable and cost-effective office suite, SoftMaker FreeOffice is an excellent choice, combining user-friendliness with practical functionality

We list the best free office software.

Comodo Firewall review

6:46 pm | July 3, 2017

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Comments: Off

When some people describe the internet, they say it’s a jungle out there. And that’s true - if it’s a jungle where every single creature is lined up and tooled up, ready to attack you the second you arrive. The internet is so full of malicious software that it’s not a matter of whether an unprotected PC will get infected with something serious; it’s a matter of how quickly it’ll happen.

Enter Comodo, whose free firewall is designed to make sure your PC doesn’t become a statistic. It blocks malicious software from getting onto your PC, and if there’s already malware on your PC it stops it from communicating with villains over the hills and far away.

Comodo Firewall offers safe web browsing and it works on the basis of what’s called Default Deny Protection with Default Allow Usability. In plain English, that means it assumes unknown software is guilty until proven innocent.

The firewall knows the details of over two million safe apps, so the likelihood of a false positive flagging a reputable app is very low.

For even more power, Comodo will often gently push you towards upgrading to its Internet Security package, which promises to deliver a complete antivirus suite for all your protection needs, plus some special features.

The basics include its Defense+ tech (a Host Intrusion Prevention System - HIPS) that protects critical system files and blocks malware before it installs, the automatic sandbox, which runs unknown files in an isolated environment where they can cause no damage, cloud-based antivirus, spyware scanning, online banking and shopping security and, of course, its firewall.

In terms of extras, this package throws in a $500 virus-free warranty, 50GB of cloud storage, on-the-go Wi-Fi protection, and unlimited live expert virus removal - all that for just $29.99 per year if you need coverage for one device or $39.99 per year for three devices (no increases upon renewals).

Supported devices include Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and any FireTV device running Android 5 or above.

Accepted payment methods include credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal.

Comodo Firewall — (Image credit: Comodo )

User experience

Like with many free (and sometimes even paid) apps, it’s a good idea to pay attention when you’re installing Comodo Free Firewall; if you don’t, you may discover a new browser or an extra service that you didn’t ask for. While this might be okay with some, others might not appreciate the sneaky installations so readily.

That said, the setup was quick and painless - just download the installation file from the website, run it, and follow the prompts. Before you begin, however, make sure to uncheck the option to download and install the COMODO Dragon Web Browser and/or Internet Security Essentials if you don’t want them. They can be found in the ‘Components’ tab at the top of the installation window.

Again, at the end of the installation process, you’ll again be asked to keep some extra options enabled, including changing your DNS provider to COMODO Secure DNS (improved security online, faster resolution of web pages), turning on the cloud-based behavior analysis of untrusted files, sending anonymous usage statistics to the company, and setting Yahoo! as your homepage, new tab, and default search engine on all supported browsers.

Once installed, Comodo Free Firewall is simple enough to use, if a little vocal - it tells you when files are okay as well as when they aren’t, but there’s a silent mode to turn off notifications - and the secure browsers are easy to access and use. The threats database lives in the cloud so you’re always using the most up-to-date version. That’s very important because new threats emerge daily.

The interface is pleasant and intuitive enough, considering it’s packed with plenty of features and options. Its simultaneous simplicity and exceptional configurability make it suitable for beginners who don’t want to bother themselves with deeper settings and advanced users who would appreciate them.

In this line, you can choose whether the app will show in the basic (beginner-friendly) or advanced (expert-supported) view. The former will only display your system’s security status and the options to manage networks, unlock applications, update the program, and run a virtual container. You’ll also see a Live Support button at the top.

Meanwhile, the latter will give you a whole host of deeper actions, such as access to advanced firewall settings, inbound/outbound connections, auto-containment, HIPS, VirusScope, and website filtering, as well as a view of network intrusions, blocked apps, contained apps, and unrecognized files. The basic view’s Live Support button is replaced by the Logs button, providing an in-depth view of all the security events related to the device.

The platform itself can also be pushy at times, especially if you were shrewd enough to stop the undercover installation of its browser and try to get you to install it later as you’re using its current (free) capabilities. There’s also the constantly present ‘Upgrade’ button at the bottom left of the interface taking you to the page where you can purchase the full Comodo Internet Security service.

Protection

Comodo Firewall keeps vigil over your system’s security in real time and allows you to scan your device on demand. Mind you, there’s only one type of scan, and it seems to be the quick kind that other cybersecurity suites have in addition to full and customized scan options. But considering this is ‘only’ a firewall solution, it’s more than enough.

The first scan took about five minutes to finish, and each subsequent scanning action was completed in an even shorter time - usually in less than a minute.

In terms of third-party antivirus testing labs, SE-Labs analyzed Comodo Antivirus in its April-June 2024 Home Endpoint Protection report, assigning it an AA score, as it reached 90% total accuracy and 2% score in terms of false positives.

SE Labs Comodo — (Image credit: SE Labs)

AV-Test last tested Comodo Internet Security Premium in August 2019, when it scored 6/6 in protection, 5.5/6 in performance, and 5.5/6 in usability, earning a ‘certified’ award, which is nothing to write home about as there were others among the competition that did much better.

Meanwhile, MRG Effitas tested Comodo’s VPN service in its Q4 2023 Android 360 Assessment Programme, in which it did poorly, but perhaps the fact that antivirus wasn’t its primary function was a part of the problem. However, the results weren’t much better when it came to Comodo Mobile Security Antivirus.

Its industry peer, AV-Comparatives hasn’t been interested in testing Comodo at all.

Features

Comodo Firewall offers plenty of features, even for free users. The app’s operations are divided into four main categories - general, firewall, containment, and advanced tasks. The general tasks involve scanning your device for viruses and spyware, checking for program updates, unblocking apps previously blocked by Comodo, and getting live support.

In terms of firewall tasks, there’s the option to choose the apps you want to allow to connect to the internet through a file picker, as well as the same option for blocking apps, a controller for the device’s network visibility, a network manager, a quick switch to stop/restore all network activity to and from the device, and a viewer of all apps connected to the internet.

The containment tasks are a bit upper-level, such as the virtual container for running apps, an option to create the storage space shared between virtual and real applications, an active processes viewer, and a Comodo killswitch and virtual desktop. The latter two weren’t installed with the Firewall app but were one click away.

Finally, advanced tasks are intended for expert users in the cybersecurity field, as they include a task manager, a viewer of security events, activity, and alerts, an option to create a bootable CD or USB flash drive to clean up heavily infected PCs, an endpoint cleaner in the form of Comodo Cleaning Essentials to deal with persistent infections, a quarantine viewer, and a feature that allows you to submit files for analysis to Comodo’s team.

Digging deeper into the app’s advanced settings, accessible from the gear icon at the top left corner of the window, you can get the full Comodo Firewall experience, starting from its appearance, which you can control by selecting one of the four themes in the app’s settings.

Furthermore, there’s a list of supported languages you can choose, alongside other options to fully customize your experience, such as allowing notifications, sounds, messages from the Comodo Message Center, information messages when tasks are minimized/sent to the background, a welcome screen, a desktop widget, as well as setting up a password.

You can also set the program update schedule and rules, and define logging options to manage the recording of critical events like caught malware, firewall actions, and the like. There’s also a section that lets you import, export, and switch configurations for the program.

Naturally, the app’s firewall options are the most detailed, facilitating the selection of the type of firewall (safe mode, training mode, block everything, and custom ruleset) for inbound and outbound traffic, Trustconnect alerts, and traffic animation effects.

You can also set rules for safe applications, alert frequency and timeout, and additional capabilities, including filtering IPv6 traffic and loopback traffic, blocking fragmented IP traffic, performing protocol analysis, and enabling anti-ARP spoofing.

Application Rules and Global Rules allow you to add, remove, and manage firewall application rules and global rules active on your computer, and add/remove/edit rulesets defined on the device. Network Zones can automatically detect private networks and let you manage network zones on your PC. Also, you can manage the defined portsets (HTTP, POP3/SMTP, privileged).

Users can also manage the Host Intrusion Protection System (HIPS), the component monitoring critical operating system activities to protect the PC against malware actions, its alerts and rules, protected objects, HIPS groups of objects, adaptive mode, and so on.

When it comes to containment settings, they cover shared spaces between contained and other applications, automatic startup for services installed in the container, detecting programs that require elevated privileges, like installers and updaters, the Virtual Desktop options, and auto-containment management.

You can also enable/disable file ratings via Cloud Lookup and control related settings (such as alerts, automated detections, and others), manage file groups (like executables, important files, temporary files, etc.) and file lists, see submitted files, and add/remove trusted vendors.

Further down the list of advanced settings is the Advanced Protection section, with additional options that include the VirusScope subsystem which dynamically analyzes the behavior of running processes and keeps a record of their activities, scan exclusions for skipping defined files and folders while performing the scan.

Then there’s Device Control which blocks devices of a client computer from accessing, such as USB drives, Bluetooth devices, printers, serial, and parallel ports, Script Analysis where you can manage the list of apps for which you would like to perform script analysis based on containment rules, and Miscellaneous options, including automatic shellcode injections, alerts for software trying to modify browser settings, and more.

Lastly, you can opt in or out of the Website Filtering feature to filter websites according to the user-defined rules and profiles (allowed vs. blocked sites, adding/removing/editing/moving rules, and the like).

Final verdict

All things considered, Comodo Firewall is a capable device protection system that, for the most part, is free to use, exceptionally easy to navigate but complex enough so those who wish to tinker with the more detailed settings and configurations can freely do so. Still, it doesn’t entirely replace a full antivirus suite, so combining it with Microsoft Defender or a similar solution might be the best course of action.

Check out our rundown of best firewall software

Comodo Firewall review

6:46 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Security | Comments: Off

The firewall knows the details of over two million safe apps, so the likelihood of a false positive flagging a reputable app is very low.

Supported devices include Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and any FireTV device running Android 5 or above.

Accepted payment methods include credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal.