Software

LastPass has tripled its price, but the service is still one of the best bargains in password management.

Dashlane has surpassed LastPass in flexibility and features, but you'll pay more for those extras.

Surfshark's offers strong security and a variety of features at an affordable price.

TunnelBear is a provider that focuses on making VPN technology accessible to all.

Windscribe provides an attractive VPN offering, notable for its generous free tier, and affordable Pro plans.

Romanian and German-based CyberGhost is a popular VPN provider whose mix of power and ease of use has won over more than 30 million users.

StrongVPN is a solid VPN service, it has an excellent performance and allows you to browse on multiple devices.

VyprVPN is a Swiss-based VPN with a true devotion to privacy, with range of unblocking capabilities

Corel PaintShop Pro remains our top program for photo-editing novices but the new version adds only a handful of interesting features.

Qustodio monitors Mac and PCs as well as mobile devices, but it can get pricey.

HitFilm Express is maturing as an app, as exemplified by Version 12's interface overhaul, publishing features and under-the-hood performance enhancements.

Efax Plus offers what you'll find at rival online fax services, but at a higher price that the competition soundly beats.

The latest version of Photoshop Elements doesn't have a lot of new features, but new users and anyone with an older version of the app will appreciate the changes that are there.

LifeLock offers the most comprehensive personal-data monitoring and a great deal on antivirus software, but it's pricey.

The cloud-based Adobe Lightroom is a powerful photo editing app that lets you work on all your full-resolution images on all your devices.

1Password has improved its Windows and Android software, but the password manager still feels like a legacy Mac app overall.

There's a lot to like about RingCentral Fax, particularly its flexible features and strong support. But faxing gets lost in the shuffle here.

RoboForm offers all the basics of a password manager, but it needs an overhaul to compete with LastPass or Dashlane.

Media Composer | First is a powerful pro-level app for Media Composer aspirants, but it's not for the faint of heart.

Speedify is amazingly fast, but gives you only 5GB of free data monthly.

Hide.me's free VPN offering is decent if unspectacular, with 2GB of free monthly data and midrange speeds.

Hotspot Shield offers a generous 15GB of free data per month, but there are details that may put you off.

Credit Karma Tax lets you file your federal and state returns without spending a dime. But there are a few catches to this free tax software.

TurboTax and H&R Block get the attention, but TaxAct may meet your tax-filing needs if you don't require a lot of handholding.

Provided its evolving apps keep you educated and entertained, this unique musical instrument will let you play and record music no matter your ability.

H&R Block uses thoughtful, efficient design and fair pricing to deliver a superior tax-preparation product.

The popular tax preparation service adds live tax help in its latest version. Will that be enough to make TurboTax your tax software of choice?

Private Internet Access focuses on a higher level of anonymity, along with an affordable plan that is substantially discounted when purchased annually.

Hotspot Shield is an affordable VPN, notable for its fast speeds, and superior performance.