2019 Computer Freebies: Software, Educational Resources, and Hardware Programs

The year 2019 offered a diverse landscape of free digital resources and hardware opportunities for U.S. consumers, students, and technology enthusiasts. From fully functional software licenses to educational development tools and institutional hardware support, various organizations provided no-cost alternatives to expensive tech products. The following overview analyzes these opportunities based on verified source material, focusing on software giveaways, student developer bundles, and educational laptop programs.

Weekly Video Game Giveaways

A major ongoing promotion in 2019 involved the Epic Games Store, which initiated a weekly free video game program. According to source material, this program began in 2019 and continued into 2025, distributing over 250 games during that period. The distribution followed a specific schedule: every Thursday at 8:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM ET, Epic Games released one to three free games.

These giveaways were structured as limited-time checkout offers. Users had a one-week window to "purchase" the game at zero cost through the Epic Games Store interface. Notably, no payment method was required to claim these titles. Once claimed, the games were permanently added to the user's library, allowing for unlimited re-downloads even after the promotional period ended. The store interface displayed both the current week's free titles and a preview of the upcoming week's offerings.

In November 2019, specific examples of these giveaways included ScourgeBringer, valued at $16.99, and Songs of Silence, valued at $29.99. ScourgeBringer was described as a fast-paced, free-moving rogue-lite platformer set in a post-apocalyptic world, developed by the creators of NeuroVoider.

Software and Utility Freebies

Beyond gaming, 2019 saw numerous opportunities for free software and utility programs. A dedicated deals platform listed several high-value software titles available at 100% off, effectively making them free. These included:

Ashampoo WinOptimizer 2020 (PC)
Norton Security Premium (PC)
HitFilm Express 2021 (PC & Mac)
Bitdefender Total Security (PC, Mac, Android, & iOS)
Dashlane Premium (PC, Mac, Android, & iOS)
BLACK & WHITE Projects 5 (PC & Mac)

Additionally, promotional bundles offered significant value. One offer presented a three-year license for Adobe Acrobat 2024 Pro and a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2019 for a discounted price of $89.99 (regularly $553). While not entirely free, this bundle provided a low-cost alternative to purchasing full-price software. Adobe Acrobat 2024 Pro allowed users to create, edit, convert, password-protect, and redact PDF files.

Other free software mentions included AOMEI Backupper Professional, offered as a giveaway for World Backup Day (March 31st), and Wise Video Converter Pro, available for free to specific readers for a limited time. A blog post also highlighted the "Visual Studio Dev Essentials" program, which, while not exclusive to students, provided free training and utilities, including a 3-month subscription to PluralSight and $200 in Azure credit.

Student and Developer Educational Resources

Students in computer science and IT fields had access to specific bundles designed to facilitate learning and development. The "GitHub Education Pack" required verification via a valid .edu email address. This pack offered resources intended to help students build products and businesses. Specific benefits included:

$50 of DigitalOcean credit: Sufficient for approximately 10 months of a basic web server.
One year of domain registration: Specifically for a .me web address.

Another resource mentioned was the "Visual Studio Dev Essentials" program, which provided a 3-month PluralSight subscription and $200 in Azure credit. These resources were positioned as tools for students to gain practical experience without financial investment.

Digital Content and Aesthetics

For users interested in desktop customization, free digital content was available. A blog post from Every-Tuesday.com offered free March 2019 desktop wallpapers. These wallpapers were created using Procreate and Photoshop and were available in two resolutions: 1280x1024px and 1920x1080px. The download included versions with and without dates, allowing the "no-dates" versions to be reused in future years.

Hardware and Laptop Programs

Hardware support in 2019 was primarily available through educational institutions and nonprofit organizations rather than direct consumer promotions. A Forbes article detailed free laptop programs offered by various schools across the United States. These programs generally targeted students with financial need or specific enrollment statuses.

Examples of institutional programs included:

Berea College: Provided laptops to first-year students (On campus).
Dakota State University: Available to all students taking 6+ credits (On campus).
Duke University: Offered to undergraduates at Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Pratt School of Engineering (On campus).
Normandale Community College: Targeted low-income students (Both online and on campus).
Ohio State University: Available to students with financial need (Both online and on campus).
University of Arkansas Grantham: Available to degree-seeking students (Online).

Several nonprofit organizations were also mentioned as sources for refurbished computers for those in need, though specific organization names were not detailed in the provided source material.

Conclusion

The freebie landscape in 2019 provided substantial value for U.S. consumers, particularly in the digital and educational sectors. The Epic Games Store established a sustainable model for free game distribution, while various software platforms offered limited-time access to premium utilities. Students benefited from verified educational packs that provided cloud credits and development tools. For hardware, free laptops remained largely confined to specific student demographics through institutional or nonprofit programs, rather than broad consumer availability.