Top 8 Digital Software Picks Ranked
Best for: Ideal for families wanting comprehensive online security across multiple devices.
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Adobe Creative Cloud worth the subscription in 2026?
For professionals who rely on Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, or After Effects daily, the Creative Cloud subscription pays for itself quickly. For casual users who occasionally edit photos, there are strong free and one-time-purchase alternatives like Affinity Photo (which offers a one-time licence), GIMP for basic editing, or DaVinci Resolve for video. If you need just Photoshop and Lightroom, Adobe's Photography Plan at around $16/month is considerably more affordable than the full Creative Cloud suite.
What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and a one-time Office purchase?
Microsoft 365 is a subscription that includes the latest Office apps, 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage, and ongoing updates. A one-time purchase of Office (Office 2024 Home and Student) gives you Word, Excel, and PowerPoint permanently but with no future version upgrades and no cloud storage included. For most households, Microsoft 365 Family at around $169 AUD/year covers up to six users and provides much better overall value than buying separate licences.
Can I use Microsoft 365 on multiple devices?
Microsoft 365 Personal allows installation on up to five devices simultaneously (PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone) under one account. Microsoft 365 Family extends this to six separate users, each with their own account and five-device access. This makes it practical for households with multiple computers. All devices must be signed in to activate the subscription, and the licence follows your Microsoft account, so changing devices or reinstalling is straightforward.
What antivirus software do I actually need in 2026?
For most Windows users, Windows Defender (built in and free) provides solid baseline protection and has tested comparably to paid alternatives in independent security audits. Paid suites from brands like Bitdefender or Kaspersky add features like VPN, password managers, and parental controls. Mac users have lower risk but are not immune. The most important protection is keeping your operating system and software updated promptly, using a password manager, and avoiding suspicious downloads, regardless of which antivirus you run.