Software

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2018 remains the best choice for beginners and experienced users, but some of its new features could use refinement.

PowerDirector 16 makes it easy to edit 360-degree videos, but there are a lot of other great features in this program, too.

PSafe DFNDR is feature-rich and easy to use, but its malware protection is inconsistent and the free version has too many ads.

While simple and free, FaxZero lacks the depth of more full-featured faxing services and doesn't compare well to other free options.

If you're absolutely determined not to pay for your online faxing service, GotFreeFax is the best choice, but be prepared for lots of limitations.

Net Nanny offers the best web-filtering features of any parental control program.

This solid program handles the basics of monitoring a child’s mobile phone, but rival services offer more extensive features.

Avira may not charge for its Mac protection, but other free options provide better malware detection, system impact and design.

The best robot kit for younger kids, Lego Boost turns programming into a game your child will want to play.

This powerful video editing suite could benefit from a more unified interface.

CyberLink PowerDirector 15 Ultra makes the challenge of video editing fun with a colorful, well-designed and inviting interface.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 15 remains a solid option for consumers, especially novices, who want an easy-to-use image-editing product that can grow with you as you learn.

Although its learning curve is too steep for novices, GIMP is free and has a nice set of photo editing tools.

Google Photos is great at organizing and consolidating all your photos from your various devices.

Apple Photos is a free, fun and very-easy-to-use app for accessing, organizing and sharing your photos and videos.

Affinity Photo is our pick for the best budget photo editor for pros.

A great all-around photo editor for novices and hobbyists alike.

BullGuard Antivirus is fairly easy to use and offers lots of customization options, but its malware protection is only so-so.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus has a clean, easy-to-use interface and a light system load. Too bad its malware protection is average at best.

F-Secure Anti-Virus offers excellent malware protection at a bargain price, but it has a heavy system load and a high false-positive rate.

We wish Sony Movie Studio 13 were faster and more intuitive, which would make it easier to take advantage of its flexible features.

Pinnacle Studio 19 caters to a more pro-level video editor, but it doesn't support 4K, and its performance was glitchy.

Extensive controls – particularly for app management, text monitoring, and location tracking – make this a great choice for parents who want some control over their child’s mobile activity.

The iOS version of Norton's monitoring service is a robust, easy-to-set-up tool that keeps parents informed about what their kids are doing with their iPhones.

Qustodio has added more features to its iOS parental control app, but you’re still pretty limited as to what you can monitor.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus combines fast scans with safeguards against ransomware, but its protection isn't perfect and it can be hard to navigate.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus has tough malware scans, little system impact, ransomware protection, a password manager and a file shredder.

Bitdefender Internet Security 2016 has nearly perfect malware protection, a strong feature set and a remarkably light system impact.

ESET Smart Security 9 includes some unique features, like a stolen laptop tracker, but its malware protection isn't good enough.

Kaspersky Internet Security is a solid antivirus package, but is weaker at finding sophisticated malware on Windows 7 than some competitors.