You probably use the internet for just about everything: shopping, learning, communicating with friends — the list goes on. But just when you think you’re making the most of it, you’re surprised to find out you can do even more to maximize your experience on the World Wide Web. There are dozens of websites out there that you won’t understand how you ever lived without. Check out the sites below to change the way you use the internet!
For College Students: Grammarly
As the saying goes, the difference between a B and an A grade on a school paper comes down to a final revision. No matter how many times you reread your paper, a few typos manage to escape your eye. Having a proofreader isn’t always an option, and that’s where Grammarly makes a huge difference for students who type essays on their computers.
The free version of the online typing assistant can spell-check your work and fix clumsy sentence structure to make your writing clearer and stronger. For more features, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid subscription.
If you’re ready to improve your writing, head over to Grammarly and download the program to upload your documents for review or install the plug-in and have your writing analyzed online.
For Busy Professionals: Canva
There comes a time in every busy professional’s career when they have to give a presentation in front of their team. The assignment can be difficult to juggle on top of other work responsibilities and deadlines, and it only gets worse for people with kids at home.
Introducing Canva, a free graphic-design tool that helps you put together presentations, flyers, videos, social media posts, resumes, and more. The website is free and offers a large inventory of free templates for your projects. Ditch Microsoft PowerPoint and impress your coworkers with your graphic design skills, all while saving time.
For Real Cooks: Just the Recipe
If you’ve ever looked up a recipe online, you probably had to scroll down multiple paragraphs, photos, and ads before actually getting to it. For a mess-free experience, bookmark Just the Recipe.
Just the Recipe is a free and simple website that gives you any recipe without the usual clutter of other sites. You won’t have to worry about ads, pop-ups, or unrelated content that almost convinces you to order takeout instead. How it works is easy: Copy the URL of the recipe you want to try and paste it into the search bar. Voila! You have your breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
For Adventurers: Atlas Obscura
If you enjoy traveling and exploring, you know hidden gems are better than touristy spots. Finding off-the-map attractions can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be — at least not with Atlas Obscura.
Atlas Obscura is the ultimate guidebook for unique locations and happenings. Simply enter a ZIP code to gain access to a list of unusual but attractive locations, especially ones you can’t find on Yelp. You can also use the website to find places to eat and plan your next vacation.
For Freelancers: Upwork
One of the most challenging aspects of being a freelancer is finding assignments and invoicing clients. But there’s a website that simplifies the whole process.
Upwork brings together businesses and individual professionals around the globe to create meaningful projects. The website is easy to use and, most importantly, inspires confidence among users. One thing to note is that freelancers without work portfolios may have a harder time than others landing job offers.
For Cinephiles: Kanopy
Did you know some online streaming services don’t cost a single penny? Next time you’re staying in for the night and can’t decide what to watch, give Kanopy a chance.
Kanopy is a video streaming service featuring classic movies, independent cinema, and award-winning foreign films. All you need is a library account to gain access to a breathtaking inventory that’s sure to entertain the whole household. You can stream from all your favorite devices, including smart TVs, smartphones, laptops, tablets, and more.
For Savvy Shoppers: RetailMeNot and Groupon
With inflation climbing, you can use all the savings you can get. Lucky for you, plenty of websites track the best prices and discounts across the board.
RetailMeNot is a deal finder that gives you the best coupons, promo codes, and cash back offers all in one spot. You can use RetailMeNot to find amazing deals on retail, travel, food, and just about anything else you can imagine.
Groupon is similar. What sets it apart is that it also features events and experiences at a discount. You can find cheap yoga classes, for example, for up to 80 percent off the regular price.
For Households With Young Children: PBS Kids
The internet can be a double-edged sword when it comes to young children. There’s always the risk of dangerous content, but the internet can also be a helpful tool when used correctly.
PBS Kids is an educational site with games and videos featuring your kids’ favorite fictional characters. They can find Curious George, Wild Kratts, and everyone else from the PBS universe covering subjects such as math, social sciences, and civics. The best part is that, unlike the newest toy or fad your child is into, PBS Kids is completely free. Just make sure to monitor your child’s screen time, since children develop unhealthy habits from excessive online use. Or install parental controls for your child’s safety.
For Music Lovers: Shazam
Imagine you’re at the grocery store, on a night out, or driving in your car when you hear a song you really like but don’t know the name of. Frustrating, right? In the old days, you would try to look up the lyrics and reverse-engineer it. But there’s an easier solution.
Shazam is a website and app that lets you identify the music playing around you. It uses a music-recognition algorithm to find the exact song you’re hearing, and it will even give you a list of streaming platforms where you can listen to the song. It can also easily connect to music platforms such as Apple Music and Spotify to simplify your listening process even more.