How to get free tech

We live in precarious times. Economic uncertainty followed the pandemic, complete with a struggling currency, rising inflation, labour shortages, stifled  productivity, trade disruptions due to Brexit and the invasion of Ukraine, and so on.

 

And now, to top it all off, we have been hit by a cost-of-living crisis, one caused by high inflation and low wage growth and exacerbated many of the  factors mentioned above.

 

So it’s a tough time for all of us. And it is especially tough for charities. The cost-of-living crisis has led to a cost-of-giving crisis, with less appetite for donations. That means charities, at the exact moment they face increased service user demand, have less funds to meet that demand.

 

The vast majority of economic crises are ephemeral, and we’ve already noticed signs of optimism on the horizon, but organisations still need to take steps to address declining funds, practice economic resilience, and ensure long-term financial viability. That’s why free tech is so important, as it promises a quick and easy way to cut expenditure in the present and future.

 

But too many charities are simply unaware of their options or fail to take advantage of the opportunities. That’s why we want to help. We want to make the whole process seamless, showing you all the many options available, and highlighting ones that might speak to you.

 

Below we look at the best places to find free tech, the discounts and donations and freebies that can streamline your operations, and the free advice you can receive to make the most of your tech. So, without further ado, let’s start with perhaps the most important part: free tech.

 

Skip to: Free tech for your organisation

Skip to: Discounted tech for your organisation

Skip to: Free tech consultations and advice

Skip to: Free tech education and resources

Skip to: Cheap tech and digital life hacks

 

 

Free tech for your organisation

 

Free tech can revolutionise your operations, streamline your processes, automate certain repetitive and tedious tasks, increase your funds, and broadly improve working life. You just need to find the right tech. That means practicing caution, thinking about needs, and looking at the free options that will meet such needs. Below we explore some of the best free software available, followed by some of the best free hardware, all of which are from trusted sources.

 

 

Free software on the Charity Digital Exchange

 

The Charity Digital Exchange has saved more than 80,000 UK charities more than £300m on the latest hardware and software. As the UK partner of international non-profit network TechSoup, Charity Digital provides registered charities with technology donated by some of the world’s biggest tech companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, and many others.

 

Eligible charities can gain access to Adobe Express, for example, which comes with a donation of one-year membership for one user. Charities can effectively use Adobe Express to create marketing materials for their organisation. The software’s pre-built templates allow users to create a variety of great content without requiring any graphic design experience at all.

 

Adobe Express has incredible content templates, stock images and font libraries, editing and publishing tools, branding assets, and so much more. It’s  a fantastic piece of software, one that aims to save users time and effort. And, of course, it is completely free.

 

Charities should also check out Fiverr, which gives you access to a marketplace of vetted freelancers and collaboration tools. Users get the service for free (usual price is $149 per year) and, on top of that, once you find a freelancer and pay them for their services, you’ll also get a 20% discount on that first service.

 

Another great offer available on the Charity Digital Exchange is the free .charity domain, which comes from our partnership with Public Interest Registry. The free domain comes complete with a host of great extras, including WHOIS Privacy, SSL Certificates, DNS and URL forwarding, email forwarding, email hosting trials, support all year-round, and other great elements.

 

That is just the beginning. There are loads of other completely free options for tech at Charity Digital and loads of discounted options, too. All the following are free, for example:

• Adobe Express
• Okta
• Canva
• Workplace from Meta
• Showpad

We regularly update and bring new tech options onto our system, so check the Charity Digital Exchange again soon to see even more great donated and discounted tech.

 

 

Refurbished computers and laptops for your charity

 

Computers 4 Charity is a registered UK technology charity. The team at Computers 4 Charity has been refurbishing computers since 1996 – more than a quarter of a decade – and their vision is to approach refurbishment with sustainability in mind.

 

They provide end-to-end PC, computer, and laptop refurbishment and reuse and offer a whole new dimension to corporate and individual environmental and social responsibility. On top of that, they’ll securely and safely refurbish any unwanted laptops, computers, or IT equipment and donate them to charities across the UK.

 

Click here to find out more and get involved.

 

 

Free CRM software for charities

 

CRMs have become essential in recent years for charities. And charities can access plenty of free CRM software to help them complete tasks, manage people and projects, and broadly streamline operations.

 

Take Red Cloud, for example. The platform is specifically aimed at charities with free versions of its CRM and donation management software. The software allows charities to manage online and offline donations, supporters, campaigns, and claim Gift Aid all in one place. It offers unlimited fundraising pages, unlimited websites, unlimited checkouts, and much more. 

 

Similarly, Grant Seeker.Fluxx offers free entry-level access to its CRM software. The free platform allows charities to manage unlimited grants and payments, assign unlimited tasks, track unlimited funders, and share impact with your networks across the UK and beyond.

 

 

Free accountancy software for charities

 

There are plenty of options for accounting software. But a lot of that software can be costly and overly complex, especially for the needs of smaller charities. Perhaps a better option is to trial out some of the donated tech that is available.

 

One great free accounting option stands out: Benchmark. They offer incredible software packages, which are completely free to all registered charities, churches, clubs, and non-profit organisations as part of their Free Software for Charities project. There is no catch, full versions of the software available are absolutely free with no limitations and no reduced functionality.

 

And there are lots of packages, which users can demo. These include:

• Core Accounts Package
• Advanced Accounts Package
• Payroll Package
• CRM Package
• Knowledge Management Package

All of the above are available on the Benchmark website. So, if you are in the need for some great financial software, do a little investigating and find the perfect package for your needs. 

 

 

Free software platforms for everyone

 

The above are specific to charities, meaning that commercial organisations do not have access to the same benefits or discounts. But there are plenty of free software options available to all. These are usually more suited to smaller requirements, so can be perfect for charities that do not want to spend a huge amount on software packages that only serve a small purpose.

 

We can start by looking at image libraries, for example. There are lots of great options that are free. The paid options, such as Shutterstock or Getty, are great, but maybe not necessary if perfect imagery is not a priority. In that case, you have the below free options:

• Pixabay
• Unsplash
• Pexels 
• iStock

And you don’t need the latest high-tech options for editing such images. You could check out a platform like Crello, which offers free access for charities and non-profits. Or you can pick one of the below options, all of which will do the simplest tasks free-of-charge:

• Canva 
• Gimp 
• Fotor

Or maybe you’re looking to create infographics to show off your impact. You don’t need to purchase anything when fantastic free options already exist. Consider, for example:

• Piktochart 
• Easel 
• Venngage 

Or consider work management software in its various forms. These tend to improve charity operations, streamline processes, and broadly improve collaboration and communication. But charities don’t need to splash out. Just take advantage of the free options, such as:

• G Suite
• Slack
• Trello

The above is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many tech platforms and high-tech software that can perform tasks, saving you time and money. Many of these options are mentioned in the brilliant Charity Excellence list. And there are many more that you can find with your own research. But, to save you a little time, here are our absolute favourites:

• To create and edit podcasts: Anchor 
• To upload and distribute podcasts: Audioboom
• To track online behaviour and user journeys: Hotjar 
• To manage social media: Hootsuite
• To manage Twitter: TweetDeck
• To create and share surveys: Survey Monkey
• To analyse the conciseness of writing: Hemingway
• To check grammar and punctuation: Grammarly
• To upload videos and webinars: YouTube Studio
• To upload and host videos: Vimeo
• To look after project management: Asana
• To shorten URLs for socials: Bitly 
• To create an easy blog or website: WordPress
• To create a more stylised or niche website: Wix
• To create an eCommerce plug-in: WooCommerce
• To convert PDFs: Freepdfconvert
• To find a URL to host your website: Kualo

The above is just a handful of our favourites. And there are, of course, so many different options that we haven’t tried, or even heard about. So think about your needs, search online, compare the various options available, and try to find the perfect software for you.

 

 

Free recycled and refurbished PCs for charities

 

There are hundreds of options to pick from when it comes to recycled hardware. IT for Charities has collated a database of organisations that supply recycled and refurbished PCs.

 

The list is the most comprehensive list for finding free and discounted hardware. Many of the organisations send IT equipment around the world, helping causes in the UK and abroad.

 

So, if you need some equipment or if you have some equipment you want to donate, check out the list. It is perhaps a little long, with 100 suppliers filtered into only 25 per page, so it might take some time to navigate. But here are some of our favourites:

• Responsible IT
• Digital Links International
• Computer Aid International
• LAMH Recycle
• Pass IT On
• CREATE

These are just a handful of sites. There are many more. So take time, think about precisely what you need, then delve into the options on offer and find yourself some new hardware.

 

 

Computers from Green-Root Tech

 

One of the best places for free tech is Green-Root Tech, a charity designed to support UK charities by providing refurbished computers, IT hardware, and software services. Their vision is a society where everyone has equal access to IT and the power that gives people.

 

Green-Root Tech, as with many of the suppliers in the present article, conduct background checks when working with charity partners. But the equipment they provide is always fully tested, comes with warranties, can be replaced if faulty, and, most importantly, costs nothing.

 

Green-Root Tech collect equipment and decide whether it can be reused, recycled, or disposed. They repair and refurbish equipment that fits the standards and test them to ensure they’re working and ready. Then they simply ensure that the equipment finds a new home.

 

 

Discounted tech for your organisation

 

Discounted tech is another great way for charities to save money. The tech costs money, but a lot of the below initiatives provide drastic savings compared to market price. There are plenty of organisations that are happy to reduce profit margins and sell tech cheaper to charities and non-profits. But, still, charities are not taking advantage. To right that wrong, we have put down the best options for discounted software currently available to charities. 

 

 

Discounted tech on the Charity Digital Exchange

 

The Charity Digital Exchange has a wealth of discounted tech to choose from. Charities can get a one-year subscription to Zoom Meetings for just £54 (including VAT), for example, which is a complete saving of 50% off Zoom’s rates. That means no more 40-minute limits, no more stopping and starting. You can have unlimited chats, forever, if that’s what you want.

 

Or you might prefer the Dell discount programme, which offers eligible charities up to 20% off on all laptops, desktops, monitors, and accessories. The offer also includes free advice from tech advisors for charities and libraries. The discounts are substantial, so anyone looking for some new hardware should check them out – lots of products are available at discount.

 

And there are plenty of other options for discounted tech. Too many to note down in one place, in fact. So we thought, instead,  we’d simply list some of our best deals:

• Lenovo
• AWS
• Avast
• dotdigital
• Calxa
• Autodesk
• Zoom
• Okta
• twilio

As mentioned, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You can access lots more discounted technology  through the Charity Digital Exchange – so have a browse and see what you need.

 

 

Discounted accountancy software

 

Our friends at the SAGE Foundation provide discounted product subscriptions, so charities can save time, reduce costs, prevent errors, and achieve compliance. The subscriptions cover everything you need to manage accountancy, payroll, and people – all at a discounted price.

 

Some of SAGE Foundation’s options include Sage Accounting, which is perfect for smaller organisations, helping them with various areas of finance and accountancy. Another option is AutoEntry, which quickly and efficiently automates data entry, allowing you to simply take a picture, email, or upload information into the system and letting the system work its magic.

 

And, finally, check out Sage Payroll, which ensures charities can pay employees on time, and ensure pensions and HMRC submissions run smoothly. Sage Payroll is an intuitive, cloud-based payroll solution that helps you manage everything payroll related in just a few clicks.

 

All of the above are discounted at 50% of the usual price for charities. Check out the website and see the options that might work best for your charity.

 

 

Discounted hardware for charities

 

As mentioned, lots of organisations offer free hardware. But some organisations deserve a special mention, as they’re helping loads of charities – and could help your charity, too.

 

Take InKind, for example. They are a UK charity focussed on distributing consumer products, donated by charities, to other charity organisations in their network. InKind’s aim is to ensure that everyone has access to the products they need to keep clean, safe, and well.

 

The charity was founded in 1996 by King Charles III. InKind is also very conscious of its environmental impact, always aiming to prevent waste and find a home for all their products.

 

The equipment can be found on the InKind website. To give you a taste of what’s on offer, the website, at the time of writing, had some of the following options:

• HP EliteBook 820 G3 Refurbished Laptop Computer
• HP EliteBook 840 G5 Refurbished Laptop Computer
• Silicone Keyboard Protector Lenovo SK-8825

And, on top of the IT and hardware options available, InKind has loads of other stuff at cheap prices for charities, ranging from office equipment, household items, even toys. You could spend all day on the website, so check it out and see if you can grab yourself something cheap.

 

Another great option is Computers for Charities. They have been supporting charities and voluntary organisations across the UK since 1994 by selling heavily discounted products to anyone eligible. It’s a really simple service. The core stock equipment is outlined on their website. Items online at the time of writing include, among many other items:

• A refurbished keyboard and mouse bundle for £10
• A new USB Microsoft LifeCam HD3000 for £15
• A refurbished 14-inch Acer Chromebook £75

Charities just need to select the item to see availability. You just make an enquiry, send your organisation details, and Computer for Charities will get in touch once checked.

 

 

Free tech consultations and advice

 

You can have all the tech in the world, but it’s useless unless you use it effectively. That’s why seeking guidance and advice, learning best practice tips from the experts, and figuring out the best way to use the tech is so important. With that in mind, we’ve compiled some great organisations that help charities to make the most out of tech. 

 

 

Digital Candle

 

Digital Candle is dedicated to supporting the charity sector. They’ve spent years offering advice to charities of all shapes and sizes. All charities need to do is ask a question via the online form and Digital Candle match you with an appropriate digital expert, make an introduction, and away you go. You’ll receive 60-minutes of free, no-strings consultancy from a digital expert.

 

The organisation depends on a network of 349 vetted digital experts with vast expertise spanning all things digital. They have helped charities with all sorts, including:

• Volunteer management systems
• CRMs, CMS, server management, and coding
• Data strategy, management, and science
• Digital strategy and transformation
• Social media marketing and advertising
• SEO and search advertising
• Service design, user research, and UX design
• Assistive technology

The organisation even promise to help you find an expert if they don’t have one you need on their books. You can head over to Digital Candle’s website for more information.

 

 

Charity Digital

 

We at Charity Digital also offer free tech consultations. The aim of the consultations is to match your organisation with software that suits your capacity, needs, and objectives.

 

You can request a consultation with one of our members of staff today. The consultation will provide help and guidance on, among other things:

• Any questions you may have about your current software
• Cyber security and the best options on the market
• The best software and hardware discounts on offer
• Video communications and how that might work for you
• Free resources that might be available to your charity

Feel free to sign up for a consultation, even if you’re not sure what tech offers you might need. The point is that we will hear your needs and guide you in the right direction – with no obligation for you to take any of the free or discounted tech on offer. 

 

 

donate:code

 

donate:code is a designer and developer volunteer network. The network offers a brilliant way for charities and activists to find people to help them with projects to which they have little or no budget, or for IT professionals hoping to dedicate time to a great cause. donate:code brings together professionals and charities to the benefit of both.

 

The work is diverse, ranging from website updates to setting up social platforms. Charities can find people with a range of skills, all of which can help your mission. And, in turn, charities give back to the volunteers by providing experience and helping them build their portfolios. 

 

 

AbilityNet

 

The brilliant AbilityNet aims to create a digital world accessible to all. They offer a number of services that support a wide range of users. AbilityNet’s tech volunteers are ready and willing to provide IT support to older people and disabled people of any age, anywhere in the UK. 

 

Every volunteer is disclosure-checked and can help with all sorts of IT challenges, from setting up new equipment, fixing technical issues, showing you how to stay connected to family, using online services and much more. Check out the website for more information. 

 

 

The Curve

 

The Curve is a series of free 90-minute workshops for charities run by Third Sector Lab. They’re held regularly and aim to build knowledge of best digital practices, heighten awareness of various digital tools, and broadly help charities improve their impact with digital.

 

The organisation covers all sorts of topics in workshops, ranging from the basics of Google Analytics 4, web accessibility and inclusive design, and writing for the web. If unable to attend, you can watch the videos after the event. Check out previous sessions on The Curve’s website.

 

 

Free tech education and free resources

 

Advice and consultations are essential. But you may feel more comfortable completing research on your own terms, in your own time.

 

Luckily there are plenty of places online that provide information and content, ranging from webinars, podcasts, workshops, short- and long-form articles, and so much more, all dedicated to helping charities maximise the tech they are using. Below we look at some of the best educational resources for your charity. 

 

 

Charity Digital

 

Charity Digital not only offers free tech and discounted tech, but we also offer content of various forms to help you implement, optimise, and generally make the most out of that tech.

 

Charity Digital publishes content daily. Recent articles that have proved particularly helpful include our report on cyber security, our exploration of the best bank accounts for charities, our introduction to NFTs for fundraising, and our analysis of the latest digital trends for 2022.

 

On top of articles, we also publish webinars twice a month on a variety of topics, ranging from how to build a digital strategy to how to use data to inform your planning. And, on top of webinars, we publish our Charity Digital podcast twice a month. Recent episodes include:

• Can technology save the planet?
• How to talk about climate change
• The latest in charity cyber security
• How to grow a podcast
• The main challenges of the Cost-of-Living crisis

Listen to the podcast on the usual apps (Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify), or find each episode on our site when published. Subscribe to the series so you never miss an episode.

 

On top of all that, we  publish several videos each month on topics ranging from effective cash management to animal fundraising ideas to how trustees can champion cyber security.

 

We also host events. All of our events are intended to remove any fear or other barriers for charities embracing digital and share vital expertise from the sector to get them started. We hold massive multi-session events, such as our Digital Fundraising Day.

 

Sign up to our events mailing list to stay abreast of events on the horizon or check out events listings routinely for the upcoming roster of webinars that can help you on your digital journey.

 

 

Digishift

 

DigiShift is a Zoom meeting attended by hundreds of charities and digital experts. The project, launched with Third Sector Lab, has grown to become a collaborative networking space where all can work together, depending on experts in their fields to formulate best practice.

 

The DigiShift events usually run just once per month. But there are occasionally deviations, so best to check the events page for any changes. Recent topics of discussion have included avoiding bias in data, taking the risk out of digital, sustainability, and so many others.

 

They also run a podcast, aptly named DigiListen, in which they talk to experts on the front line about what they’re learning and how charities can make use of digital to help people.

 

 

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations

 

Sector body the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) publishes tons of helpful support and guidance, news and insights, as well as some specific services. They are a trusted voice in the charity sector and the information they publish is always brilliant.

 

Consider, for example, that they’ve published helpful information on donated and discounted tech, offering many of their own suggestions. The NCVO advises charities that software companies often have dedicated non-profit teams, offering deals such as bulk purchase discounts to charities.

 

The NCVO recommends searching software suppliers’ websites or calling them direct. They also advise that you plan what software is needed, why it is needed, and then spend time researching the best options.

 

Strategy is essential, according to the NCVO. They work with Phoenix software to help charities develop a software strategy that best fits budget, shape and size, and circumstances.

 

 

CharityComms

 

Another essential organisation in the UK charity sector, CharityComms, provides best practice advice for charities through their peer-to-peer sharing network.

 

They aim to raise the standards of communication across the sector, to fly the flag for communications as a vital strategic function at the heart of charities, and to connect communications professionals through sharing best practice.

 

The mission includes tons of really helpful content that can help charities of all shapes and sizes.

 

Below is just a portion of what they have to offer:

• Membership
• Events 
• Articles
• Best practice guides
• Mentoring and peer support
• Special interest groups
• Charity Digital Benchmark
• Freelance directory 

That is just the start. Check out the CharityComms website to find out more.

 

 

Charity Finance

 

Last but not least, Charity Finance have a great Knowledge Hub that helps organisations of all shapes and sizes with their finances.

 

The resources include interviews with leaders, analysis of the latest financial and economic developments, and guides supporting you with everything from divestment, the Cost-of-Living, recruitment, and so on.

 

They also produce fantastic webinars and videos that help you get to grips with core financial issues, alongside some useful research into finance and the charity sector. So check out their website if you’re interested in getting started, or building upon, your finance journey. 

 

 

Charities Aid Foundation

 

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) are a leading charity and bank that connects vital organisations, institutions, and individuals working to ensure everyone has a stake in the future. CAF aims to accelerate progress towards a fair and sustainable future for all.

 

To that end, CAF produce loads of great content and resources that helps charities and charity professionals at all stages of their careers. Check out their website for essential information and take a look at how CAF can help you.

 

 

Cheap tech and digital hacks

 

Free and discounted tech options often come with caveats. You need to be eligible, or you need to follow some specified criteria. But, regardless of the shape and size of your organisation, plenty of tech and digital hacks can give your access to cheap or donated tech.

 

The hacks might require minimal effort on your part, but the rewards are plentiful. Check out some of our favourite free and cheap tech hacks below. 

 

 

Facebook Marketplace

 

Facebook Marketplace gives people the chance to buy and sell used or new items locally. Facebook Marketplace has become popular in recent years – for good reason. And the platform has an impressive section dedicated entirely to free stuff – and that includes tech.

 

You will need to sift through and find great deals that you want. You will likely be required to pick the tech up from a particular location, so keep an eye on the journey, but people based near cities should have no problem finding a tech diamond among the rough. 

 

 

Become a product tester

 

Companies want to test their products. And that includes tech companies. Take Phillips, for example. They have a product testing programme that invites people to trial hardware like TVs, speakers, even hair clippers. Some options will certainly help in the modern workforce.

 

And other companies, such as Microsoft, offer even greater opportunities to trial tech. The Microsoft programme is part of their user research offerings, ensuring users can influence the next wave of products, making them easy to use and shaping the future of technology.

 

And that’s just the start. A little research and you’ll find tons of different tech companies offering product testing. Search for your favourite brands and see what they have on offer. 

 

 

Trade with Amazon Trade-In

 

Amazon has launched a Trade-In programme, which allows you to swap tech and get a discount on the purchase of a new device. The programme occasionally runs special deals, meaning you can make more from your purchase.

 

Recently, for example, they offered 20% off a Kindle e-reader for participants of the programme. There are plenty of other great offers, too, so just check out the website and see if you can get great tech and electrics for free. 

 

 

Go second- or third-hand options

 

We’ve already mentioned Facebook Marketplace. But there are loads of other places to find cheap or free second- or third- or even fourth-hand tech that still does the job.

 

Craigslist and Gumtree are two of the most well-known sites, both of which provide loads of great second- or third-hand tech at cheap prices. The sites also provide pretty much anything else you might need, from wardrobes to coffee tables to Pez dispensers, but we’ll stick to tech for the minute.

 

 

Buying in bulk

 

Another money saving tip is to buy in bulk. Often software providers, such as Microsoft, can offer further deals to charities who are buying licences and access to technology in bulk. So bigger charities can buy hardware in bulk to reduce costs.

 

The key to buying in bulk is to first evaluate your needs. You don’t want to buy in bulk with the aim of saving money and then wasted money on excess equipment. Lots of charities will not need to buy in bulk – and therefore should not, regardless of the potential cost savings.

 

After that, you just need to research your options and cross-reference with your needs. Check out vendors, compare the features offered by each, and make a sensible decision.

 

For more information on buying in bulk, check out TechWide’s helpful step-by-step guide on the subject.

 

 

Renting tech

 

Software can also be ‘rented’ by buying it for a limited time. Renting tech can prove much cheaper than buying year or multi-year licences, especially if your charity only wants to use specific software, such as for design or video editing, for a short period of time.

 

Renting tech allows greater flexibility. You can rent for a month, a year, or longer. You can also upgrade equipment at any time, rather than feeling lumbered with the existing equipment you are using. And, importantly, you can end the contract if the tech isn’t right for you.

 

There are plenty of places to rent tech. But here are some of the most popular options:

• Ooodles
• Fat Llama
• Grover
• Lendis
• Tryatec

Renting tech can be great, but organisations are often unaware of the available options. So do your research and find out if you can save money, time, and waste with any of the above.

 

 

In conclusion

 

Charities have so many options available to help them save money on hardware, software, platforms, and tech in general. Many of those options are seamless and take only a few minutes. So just take the first step and use the above to start your research.

 

And please feel free to get in touch with us by leaving a comment below, or calling for a consultation, if you want to discuss anything mentioned in the present article.