The Most Popular Computer Software, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the computer software you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 12, 2024 06:34
Choosing the right computer software can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With countless options available, figuring out which tools will best serve your needs is no small task. A reliable way to sift through this abundance is by looking at what software others are successfully using, which is where a ranked list becomes invaluable.
This site allows you to both view and participate in the shaping of such rankings. By casting your vote for the software you trust and prefer, you contribute to a broader community insight, helping others make informed decisions. See how various software stacks up according to collective user appreciation and find out which tools might be worth embracing in your own digital toolbox.
What Is the Most Popular Computer Software?
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171votes
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft CorporationWindows is the most popular operating system for personal computers, with over 1 billion active users globally. It is known for its user-friendly interface, compatibility with a wide range of software, and regular updates to improve security and performance.Microsoft Windows is a widely used operating system that was first introduced by Microsoft Corporation in 1985. It revolutionized personal computing by providing a user-friendly graphical interface for IBM-compatible PCs.- Release Date: November 20, 1985
- Current Version: Windows 10
- Market Share: Over 75% of the global PC market
- GUI Interface: Introduced graphical user interface for PC-based operating systems
- Multitasking: Supports multitasking for running multiple applications simultaneously
Microsoft Windows in other rankings- Position 3 of 10 in Most successful products of all time
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218votes
Microsoft · Public domainMicrosoft Office
Microsoft CorporationMicrosoft Office is a suite of productivity software that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other applications. It is widely used in offices, schools, and homes for word processing, spreadsheet analysis, presentations, and more.Microsoft Office is a suite of productivity software applications developed by Microsoft. It includes various applications designed to enhance productivity and efficiency in personal and professional settings.- Word Processing: Microsoft Word
- Spreadsheets: Microsoft Excel
- Presentations: Microsoft PowerPoint
- Email and Calendar: Microsoft Outlook
- Note-Taking: Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft Office in other rankings- Position 6 of 10 in Most advanced software
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321votes
Megamanfan3 · CC BY-SA 4.0Google Chrome
GoogleGoogle Chrome is the most popular web browser in the world, with over 60% market share. Its speed, security features, and ease of use make it a favorite among internet users.Google Chrome is a fast, secure, and customizable web browser developed by Google. It provides a user-friendly browsing experience with features like quick access to popular websites, a minimalist design, and seamless synchronization across devices.- Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Engine: Blink (WebKit-based)
- Release Date: September 2, 2008
- Latest Version: 87.0.4280.88 (as of December 2020)
- Tab Management: Supports multiple tabs, tab grouping, and tab pinning
Google Chrome in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most useful computer program
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular Google products
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular PDF reader
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421votes
Screenshot: Own work Photograph: Frederic Eugene Ives (1856–1937) · Public domainAdobe Photoshop
Adobe Inc.Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing software that is widely used by professional photographers, graphic designers, and artists. Its powerful tools for image manipulation and editing make it a go-to option for creative professionals.Adobe Photoshop is a powerful image editing software that allows users to manipulate, enhance, and create digital images. It is widely used by professional photographers, graphic designers, and digital artists.- Layers: Support for multiple layers to organize and edit different elements of an image.
- Image Manipulation: Extensive tools for cropping, resizing, retouching, and adjusting color and tone.
- Filters and Effects: A wide range of filters and effects to apply creative and artistic enhancements to images.
- Selection Tools: Various selection tools like lasso, magic wand, and quick selection for precise editing.
- Brushes and Painting: Customizable brushes and advanced painting tools for digital artwork and photo enhancements.
Adobe Photoshop in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular drawing software
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular Adobe products
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular Adobe app
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular editing app
- Position 3 of 10 in Most useful computer program
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514votes
Adobe Acrobat
Adobe SystemsAdobe Acrobat is a software suite that includes tools for creating, editing, and viewing PDF documents. It is widely used in offices, schools, and government agencies for document management and sharing.Adobe Acrobat is a versatile software application for creating, editing, and managing PDF documents. It allows users to convert files from various formats to PDF and vice versa, enabling easy sharing and viewing across different platforms and devices. With its powerful features, Adobe Acrobat is widely used in businesses, education, and personal use.- Version: Continuous Release
- Platform: Windows, macOS
- Supported File Formats: PDF, DOC, XLS, PPT, HTML, TXT, RTF
- Features: Create, edit, and annotate PDFs Combine multiple files into a single PDF Convert PDFs to other formats Collaborate and comment on PDFs Fill, sign, and send PDF forms Secure and protect PDFs Integrate with cloud storage services
- Available Editions: Standard, Pro, DC
Adobe Acrobat in other rankings- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular Adobe products
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68votes
Oracle Database
Oracle CorporationOracle Database is a popular relational database management system used by businesses and organizations for storing and managing large amounts of data. It is known for its scalability, security, and high performance.The Oracle Database is a popular commercial relational database management system (DBMS) developed by Oracle Corporation. It is widely used for enterprise-level applications and offers advanced features and capabilities for data storage, retrieval, and management.- ACID Compliance: Full
- Scalability: High
- High Availability: Built-in
- Security: Advanced
- Partitioning: Available
Oracle Database in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular commercial DBMS
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79votesWordPress is a popular content management system used for building websites and blogs. Its user-friendly interface, customizable themes, and plugins make it a favorite among bloggers and website owners.WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) used primarily for blogging and website creation. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing content, themes, and plugins. WordPress is highly customizable, making it suitable for a wide range of websites such as personal blogs, e-commerce stores, and corporate portals.
- Open-source: Yes
- Flexibility: Highly customizable
- Ease of use: User-friendly interface
- Content management: Manage content efficiently
- Themes: Supports a wide range of themes
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84votesQuickBooks is a financial management software used by small businesses for accounting, invoicing, and payroll. Its user-friendly interface and powerful features make it a top choice for small business owners.QuickBooks is a widely used accounting software designed for small businesses. It provides comprehensive tools for managing financial data, including invoicing, tracking expenses, managing sales and inventory, and generating financial reports. The software offers both desktop and online versions, catering to user preferences. With a user-friendly interface and robust features, QuickBooks streamlines financial processes, improves accuracy, and helps businesses stay organized and compliant.
- Invoicing: Create and send professional invoices to customers.
- Expense Tracking: Track and categorize business expenses.
- Sales and Revenue Management: Manage sales, track income, and generate sales reports.
- Inventory Tracking: Track and manage inventory levels.
- Financial Reporting: Generate financial reports, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
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910votesZoom is a video conferencing software that has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its easy-to-use interface, screen sharing capabilities, and virtual backgrounds make it a favorite among remote workers and students.Zoom is a popular video conferencing app that allows users to connect and collaborate remotely. It provides features for hosting and joining online meetings, webinars, and virtual events. Users can join meetings from their desktops, laptops, smartphones, or tablets, making it a versatile communication platform.
- Platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Video Conferencing: Up to 1000 participants
- Screen Sharing: Yes
- Recording: Cloud recording
- Chat: Text-based chat
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109votesSalesforce is a customer relationship management software used by businesses for sales, marketing, and customer service. Its cloud-based platform, customizable features, and integrations with other software make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes.Salesforce is a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) platform that allows businesses to manage their sales, marketing, and customer service operations efficiently. It provides companies with a unified view of their customers' data and enables a streamlined workflow for managing leads, deals, and support cases.
- Cloud-based CRM: Salesforce is a cloud-based platform, providing easy accessibility and scalability.
- Customer Relationship Management: It enables businesses to manage customer interactions, sales, and support activities.
- Unified Data View: Salesforce offers a consolidated and real-time view of customer data across multiple channels and departments.
- Lead Management: It helps organizations capture, track, and manage leads effectively.
- Sales Management: Salesforce provides tools for managing sales pipelines, tracking opportunities, and forecasting sales.
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Ranking factors for popular computer software
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Number of usersThis is an important indicator of how popular a software is. The more users a software has, the more popular it is considered.
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Market shareThe percentage of the market that the software occupies in its particular category (e.g., operating systems, photo editing, etc.) is another important factor to consider. A higher market share typically indicates greater popularity.
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User satisfaction and reviewsPositive user feedback and high satisfaction ratings are crucial in determining the popularity of a software. Users who have had a good experience with the software are more likely to recommend it to others, increasing its popularity.
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Features and functionalitySoftware that offers a wide range of features and options, or that fulfills a particular requirement effectively, will naturally be more popular.
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Ease of useSoftware that is user-friendly and easy to learn will likely have a larger user base, contributing to its popularity.
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Compatibility and interoperabilitySoftware that works well with other software, devices, and platforms or has good cross-platform support is often more popular.
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Pricing and affordabilityCost plays a significant role in the popularity of software. Free and open-source software, or software with various pricing options, can attract a larger user base.
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Availability and accessibilitySoftware that is easily available for download, installation, and activation will be more popular than software that is difficult to access or requires complicated installation procedures.
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Customer support and documentationA strong support system, including helpful documentation and responsive customer service, can contribute to a software's popularity.
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Regular updates and innovationSoftware that is regularly updated with new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements will generally be more popular, as it shows that the developers are committed to improving the user experience.
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Brand reputation and trustSoftware from well-established and reputable companies often enjoys greater popularity due to the trust users have in the brand.
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Media coverage and marketingSoftware that receives extensive media coverage and has successful marketing campaigns will be more visible to potential users and therefore, more popular.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular computer software. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Program is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 3847 views
- 173 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Program once every 24 hours. The rank of each Program is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular computer software
When it comes to computer software, there are countless options available for users. From productivity tools to entertainment applications, there is something for everyone. However, with so many choices, it can be difficult to determine which software options are the most popular amongst users.
To answer this question, we turned to our vast database of polls and rankings on StrawPoll. After analyzing the data, we found that some of the most popular computer software includes Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Chrome, and Spotify. These programs are favored by users for their usability, versatility, and overall effectiveness in enhancing productivity and entertainment on their computers.
Whether you are a student, professional, or just looking for ways to streamline your computer usage, knowing which software options are the most popular can help you make informed decisions about which programs to use. At StrawPoll, we strive to provide valuable insights and information on a variety of topics, including the most popular computer software.
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