What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding is an AI-dependent programming technique where you describe what you want in natural language and an AI model generates the actual code for you. The term was introduced by Andrej Karpathy, a co-founder of OpenAI and former AI leader at Tesla, in February 2025 on X. It quickly gained popularity and was recently added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a “slang & trending” noun.

Karpathy described his approach as “fully giving in to the vibes” where “it’s not really coding – I just see stuff, say stuff, run stuff, and copy-paste stuff, and it mostly works”. This is a huge shift from traditional programming, where developers normally need to follow precise syntax, to a more conversational approach where the AI handles the technical details.

The essence of vibe coding is letting AI do the heavy lifting of writing code while you guide it with high-level instructions. It’s kinda like having a very skilled junior dev who can write code incredibly fast but needs clear directions on what to build. Absolutely great for folks like me who never were very good at coding, but love tech and want to create cool websites, apps, and lots more.

Vibe Coding: Pros and Cons

On the plus side, the biggest difference I’ve noticed is just how fast it is to develop working websites, apps and scripts. What used to take me hours of typing and debugging can now be done literally in under an hour. It really is like having a coding superpower.

And speed isn’t the only cool thing about vibe coding. It’s making programming accessible to people who never thought they could code before or who aren’t in the tech field. You don’t need years of experience or a computer science degree – you just need to be able to describe what you want clearly. This means more people can bring their ideas to life, which is great for innovation.

While vibe coding is shaking things up in the world of programming, not everything is that rosy. There are some trade-offs, which I want to mention. Traditional coding definitely gives you more control over complex projects, while vibe coding can sometimes struggle with the big picture. Also, if you’re using the AI code in real-world applications in your business, it could open up security issues or other exploits that a seasoned developed would know how to fix.

But for most projects, the benefits are huge. It frees up developers to be more creative and productive and lets them focus on solving interesting problems instead of getting bogged down in technical syntax. And for businesses, it means faster development cycles and lower costs. It’s not perfect for everything, but for many projects, vibe coding is a big step forward.

Real-World Applications for Vibe Coding

Vibe coding is very new, but already being used in many industries:

• Web Development: Frontend and backend developers are using AI tools to generate HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, speeding up website and web application creation.
• Data Science: Data scientists are leveraging AI to write complex algorithms, clean up huge datasets, and visualize results in new ways.
• Game Development: Game designers are using vibe coding to create scripts, optimize performance, and debug gameplay mechanics.
• DevOps: Engineers are using AI assistance to automate infrastructure setup and write deployment scripts while managing cloud resources.
• Financial Technology: AI-assisted coding is helping financial institutions build secure transaction systems, fraud detection algorithms, and automated trading software.
• Healthcare: Medical technology companies are using vibe coding to develop diagnostic tools and automate patient data management.

The Tools and Platforms to Get Started with Vibe Coding

​Vibe coding is powered by a variety of AI tools that have emerged in recent years. Here are some popular platforms driving the vibe coding movement:

• ChatGPT: OpenAI’s chatbot that can write code from plain English prompts.
• GitHub Copilot: An AI pair-programmer that lives in your code editor, offering code suggestions as you type.
• Replit Ghostwriter: An AI helper integrated into Replit’s online coding platform, capable of writing and fixing code based on instructions.
• Cursor: A specialized AI-powered code editor that allows chatting with an AI agent alongside your code.
• Claude: Anthropic’s AI model that can handle large chunks of text and code, often integrated into other tools.
• Google Gemini: Google’s AI coding assistant, featuring “Gemini Canvas” for sketching out apps with AI help.

These tools use large language models trained on vast amounts of code and natural language, acting as translators between human intentions and actual code. They’re constantly evolving, with new platforms like Windsurf, Loveable, and Bolt also making waves in the vibe coding space.

Tips and Tricks for Vibe Coding

While it is now easy to generate code, there are some steps you can take to ensure the code you get is good and accomplishes the task at hand. Firstly, use detailed, step-by-step prompts to guide the AI and test the outputs frequently to catch errors early.

Next, security is key when working with AI-generated code. Always review critical sections to avoid vulnerabilities, validate user inputs to prevent attacks, and use environment variables for sensitive data like API keys. Regularly audit dependencies to ensure libraries are secure.

Lastly, experienced coders recommend breaking tasks into smaller steps, asking the AI to explain its approach before generating code, and requesting simpler options for solutions. If you can generate images for context or even provide voice dictation, this will enhance communication with the AI, making the workflow smoother and less frustrating. By keeping some simple practices in mind, vibe coding becomes much easier to use and a more powerful way to bring your ideas to life.

The Future of Vibe Coding

As AI continues to evolve, vibe coding is likely to become more sophisticated and widespread. We may see:

• More specialized AI coding assistants tailored to specific domains or technologies
• Enhanced collaboration features allowing teams to work more effectively with AI
• Improved understanding of complex codebases and system architectures
• New programming paradigms that further blend human creativity with AI capabilities

Todd Olson, co-founder/CEO of Pendo, summarizes it nicely: “Vibe coding changes how we build, but not why we build”. The fundamental goals of software development remain the same, but the methods are being flipped upside down.

Conclusion

Vibe coding is revolutionizing software development by making it accessible to everyone. It’s like a superpower that lets newcomers build apps and experienced devs work faster. I’ve seen it firsthand – prototypes that used to take days now take hours.

But here’s the key: vibe coding isn’t a replacement for traditional coding skills. It’s a tool that amplifies what you know. Developers who succeed will be those who can guide AI with clear intentions while understanding the underlying systems and code. So, why not give it a try? The future of programming is looking pretty vibey!

The post Vibe Coding 101: Your Guide to AI-Powered Programming first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

However, these apps also pose quite a few risks, including privacy concerns, misinformation, unintended emotional attachment to virtual characters, inappropriate content, and potential exploitation by predators. While parental controls can attempt to block access, kids often bypass them using clever techniques, highlighting the need for trust and communication over technical safeguards alone.

In our estimation, the best thing parents can do is educate kids about AI, set clear usage boundaries, and encourage critical thinking to question AI responses. Focusing on real-world social interactions also helps kids balance digital engagement, reducing their reliance on AI for emotional support. If you can have an open dialogue with your child and they feel comfortable sharing their experiences with you, this can help mitigate the up and coming safety issues with these tools.

The Rise of AI Character Chat Apps

AI character chat apps leverage natural language processing to simulate human-like interactions, allowing users to engage with customizable characters. For instance, Character.AI boasts over 20 million users, with children enjoying conversations with figures like Harry Styles, Peter Parker or Percy Jackson.

These apps are popular due to their fun, realistic nature. They let kids interact with or create characters that intrigue or excite them. However, their ease of access and appeal raise significant safety concerns, especially for younger users.

Detailed Risks Associated with AI Chat Apps

The risks are significant, impacting privacy, emotional well-being, and safety:

• Privacy Concerns: These apps collect user data, including personal details and conversation histories, which could be misused or shared without consent. An article by Mobicip highlighted that Character.AI’s privacy policy states services are not intended for minors, yet enforcement is weak, potentially exposing children to data leaks and exploitations.
• Misinformation: AI chatbots may provide inaccurate or misleading information, which children might accept without verification. Research from Qustodio noted that Character.AI’s personalized interactions could lead to mislearning, especially given kids’ trust in AI responses.
• Emotional Attachment: Kids might form strong bonds with virtual characters, practically replacing human relationships. A recent study by Ekaterina Pashevich, cited in Safes.so, warned that regular interactions could influence social development, with AI lacking the emotional depth and empathy of human contact.
• Inappropriate Content: Some characters, like a “Toxic Boyfriend” or “Cheating Girlfriend” on Character.AI can lead to harmful or explicit conversations. This risk is further elevated by weak NSFW filters, which kids can bypass, leading to exposure to unsuitable or pornographic content.
• Potential for Exploitation: Predators or scammers also use these platforms to target children, exploiting their immaturity and trust. In 2024, 14-year-old committed suicide after interacting with a Character.ai character, as detailed in this Newsweek article.

According to the 2025 eSafety Commissioner blog on AI chatbots, most of the 100+ AI companions available had little to zero age restrictions, and many were marketed to young users without proper safety controls.

Limitations of Parental Controls

Unfortunately, while parental controls can limit app access or screen time, they are far from being foolproof. Children, who we all know are tech-savvy, can easily bypass controls using friends’ devices or via VPNs. Kids find creative ways of circumventing restrictions, meaning most technical safeguards will not be able to address these issues. These limitations highlight the need for trust and open communication to complement, not replace, these tools.

Building Trust and Open Communication: Strategies for Parents

To mitigate risks, parents must prioritize building trust and maintaining ongoing dialogue. Some key strategies include:

• Educate Children about AI: Parents should explain AI’s workings and risks, such as privacy breaches and misinformation. Parents will have to learn a little on their own if they aren’t familiar with AI and the broader AI space. A 2023 MIT Technology Review article suggests starting conversations early by using open-ended questions like “Did you use any new AI tools this week?” to get the conversation going.
• Set Clear Boundaries: Establish some ground rules on app usage, internet time, etc. and try to explain your reasoning to build trust and get kids on your side. For example, limit chat time using Screen Time on iPhone or block internet usage via your router.
• Encourage Critical Thinking: Teach kids to question AI responses, verifying information from reliable sources. This approach will help mitigate misinformation risks.
• Foster Real-World Social Interactions: Encourage activities like sports or family outings to balance digital engagement, reducing emotional reliance on AI. Studies have shown that emphasizing human connections can counter isolation from AI companions.

Therapists like Emily Hemendinger, from the University of Colorado Anschutz, have backed these strategies. They help address AI’s “empathy gap,” where chatbots fail to understand a child’s emotional needs.

Practical Advice for Parents: What You Can Do

For actionable steps, parents can adopt the following:

• Stay Informed: Keep updated on AI trends via free resources like Bark and Coursera, which list the top AI platforms kids use, including Character.AI and Snapchat’s MyAI.
• Lead by Example: Model responsible tech use, such as limiting personal screen time and avoiding screens during outings or family dinners.
• Seek Expert Advice: If the need arises, consider consulting trained professionals, especially regarding mental health issues. This can help foster open conversations about online activities.

Comparative Analysis: Technical vs. Communicative Approaches

To give you an idea of the balance between technical and communicative strategies, consider the following table comparing the effectiveness:

The best approach is to combine the technical and communicative strategies, but this requires a large upfront effort and continued time and resources for monitoring, talking, and mentoring.

Conclusion and Future Considerations

In conclusion, protecting your kids from AI character chat app risks requires more than just technical safeguards, it also demands active parental involvement through open dialogue and trust-building. By educating your children, setting appropriate boundaries, and fostering real-world interactions, you can reduce the privacy, emotional, and safety risks we discussed above. As AI evolves, staying informed on the latest AI tools and adapting your strategy will be crucial in ensuring your child can navigate the digital landscape safely.

The post Protecting Kids from AI Chat Apps: Why Trust Trumps Technology first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Introduction to AI in Trading

AI has revolutionized the way we approach pretty much everything, including stock trading. By automating repetitive tasks and analyzing large datasets, AI tools can significantly reduce operational costs and enhance trading efficiency for brokers, which benefits retail traders. They also eliminate human biases, ensuring consistent trading strategies and providing exceptional risk assessment capabilities. However, it’s still important to remember that AI systems are only as good as the data they’re trained on, and no tool can fully replace human judgment in highly volatile markets.

Top AI-Enhanced Stock and Options Investing Tools

Let’s dive into some of the best AI-enhanced tools available today:

1. Danelfin

• Features: Danelfin offers an AI Score that rates stocks and ETFs based on their potential to outperform the market. It analyzes over 600 technical, 150 fundamental, and 150 sentiment indicators daily. The platform also provides trade ideas with a proven track record since 2017.
• Pricing: Danelfin offers a free plan and premium plans starting at $12/month (Plus Plan) and $35/month (Pro Plan).
• Pros: Saves time by automating stock analysis, processes large amounts of data for accurate assessments, and offers a free trial for each paid plan.
• Cons: Requires a learning curve for beginners, focuses mainly on stocks and ETFs, and has limited global market coverage.

2. AItIndex

• Features: AltIndex provides unique insights derived from alternative data sources such as social media engagement, job postings, lobbying costs, and more. It offers AI-driven stock recommendations with a reported high success rate, daily stock alerts, a Fear & Greed Index for sentiment analysis, and tracks meme stocks and social media trends. Additionally, it includes an earnings calendar to help investors prepare for upcoming financial reports.
• Pricing: AltIndex offers a free sign-up option, allowing users to access basic features and insights. They have paid plans starting at $199/year (Starter) and $499/year (Pro).
• Pros: AltIndex provides access to unconventional data points that can offer a competitive edge in investment decisions. Its AI-backed stock recommendations have a reported high success rate, which can be particularly valuable for those seeking actionable investment ideas. The platform’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for users to navigate and understand complex data. Additionally, users have praised AltIndex for its exceptional customer service, enhancing the overall user experience.
• Cons: As with many AI tools, AltIndex does not provide personalized financial advice, so users must consult financial experts and conduct their own research before making investment decisions. The accuracy and timeliness of insights depend on the quality of publicly available data, which may not always be reliable or up-to-date.

3. Trade Ideas

• Features: Trade Ideas is an AI-supported stock scanner that helps identify pre-market opportunities and breakout stocks. It integrates with brokers for automated trading and offers a hands-on platform for experienced traders.
• Pricing: Plans start at $1068 annually, making it a significant investment. Higher plans cost up to $2136 per year.
• Pros: Ideal for high-frequency traders, offers AI-generated trading ideas, and integrates well with brokers.
• Cons: Steep learning curve, expensive, and may not be suitable for beginners.

4. BlackBoxStocks

• Features: BlackBoxStocks is a financial technology and social media hybrid platform offering real-time proprietary analytics for stock and options traders. It features a browser-based scanner for stocks and options, live streaming, live Discord for community interaction, trade alerts, educational webinars, and access to dark pools data. The platform also provides penny stock alerts, options flow analysis, and sweeps and blocks alerts. Additionally, it includes a live audio/screenshare feature for users to share trade strategies and market insights.
• Pricing: Costs $100/month with no free trial available.
• Pros: BlackBoxStocks offers a user-friendly platform with real-time market data, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. The community aspect is strong, with daily webinars, active chat rooms, and a supportive environment. The platform provides a continuous flow of trade ideas and is affordably priced compared to similar services. It also offers top-notch customer support.
• Cons: BlackBoxStocks does not offer a free trial, which can make it difficult for potential users to test the platform before committing. The lack of direct trading capabilities means users must execute trades through external brokers, which can add complexity to the trading process. Additionally, while the platform is well-suited for day traders, it may not be ideal for long-term investors seeking more traditional investment tools.

5. Tickeron

• Features: Tickeron offers a comprehensive platform with AI-powered trading bots, portfolio management tools, and chart pattern recognition. It includes features like AI Pattern Search Engine V2 for identifying profitable chart patterns, AI Trend Prediction Engine V2 for predicting entry and exit prices, and AI Stock Screener for real-time stock analysis.
• Pricing: Plans range from free to $250 per month, with discounts available for annual subscriptions. The free plan allows beginners to create portfolios and receive AI-powered investment ideas.
• Pros: Offers a wide range of AI tools, user-friendly interface, and real-time market insights. It also provides a community for sharing trading ideas.
• Cons: Limited customization options for charts, and the stock screener is more suited for short-term trades rather than long-term portfolio building.

6. Options AI

• Features: Options AI provides visual trading tools to simplify options trading. It offers real-time expected move visualizations, options profit calculators, and what-if simulators. The platform helps users generate and compare strategies quickly.
• Pricing: Costs $19/month with a 10-day free trial.
• Pros: Simplifies complex options strategies with visual tools, offers real-time trade management and alerts, and provides access to industry-leading options experts.
• Cons: Limited to options trading, may not be suitable for those looking for broader investment tools.

7. TradeStation

• Features: TradeStation is an award-winning trading platform offering institutional-grade tools for sophisticated traders. It includes deep charting capabilities, extensive customization options, and access to APIs for integrating with other systems.
• Pricing: Commissions, rates and services fees are all listed here and are reasonable compared to other trading platforms.
• Pros: Offers advanced analysis tools, supports multiple asset classes, and provides a robust trading environment for experienced traders.
• Cons: May be too complex for beginners, lacks specific AI-driven features compared to other platforms.

8. Magnifi

• Features: Magnifi offers a unique search engine that allows users to find stocks and funds using natural language. This makes it easy to discover investments by theme or category. Users can open a brokerage account directly with Magnifi, allowing them to buy and hold investments commission-free. Magnifi provides actively managed portfolios with a focus on specific themes. These portfolios come with a 0.23% annual management fee. The Magnifi Personal subscription includes access to an AI assistant that helps with investment decisions and comparisons.
• Pricing: The basic account is free and includes access to the investment search engine and educational resources. There are no commissions on trades. Offers additional features like the AI-powered investing assistant. Pricing is $13.99/month or $131.99/year, with a 7-day free trial available. For financial advisors and professionals, Magnifi offers plans like Selector, Enhancer, and Accounts Dashboard at $150/month.
• Pros: Magnifi’s search engine is intuitive and user-friendly, making it accessible to both new and experienced investors. No transaction fees are charged on non-managed accounts, reducing costs for investors. Allows users to manage investments across multiple brokerages, providing a unified view of their portfolio. The AI-powered investing assistant helps with personalized investment recommendations.
• Cons: Currently does not support options or margin trading, which may limit its appeal for active traders. Some investments are sponsored, which could influence recommendations. Limited to email support, which may not be as responsive as other platforms.

9. TrendSpider

• Features: TrendSpider is an award-winning platform designed for active investors, offering advanced technical and fundamental chart analysis with automated pattern recognition, multi-timeframe analysis, and over 200 built-in indicators. It provides real-time trading ideas through smart watch lists and market scanning. Users can create, backtest, and perfect trading strategies using the Strategy Tester with 50+ years of historical data, all without requiring coding knowledge. The AI Strategy Lab allows users to train custom machine learning models for predictive trading strategies. Additionally, TrendSpider supports building custom studies and indicators using JavaScript and offers automation capabilities for trading alerts and order execution.
• Pricing: TrendSpider offers a free trial, and its pricing starts at $22.40 per month for the basic plan. The Elite plan, which includes additional features like advanced alerts and priority support, costs $69 per month. Discounts are available for annual subscriptions.
• Pros: TrendSpider is highly regarded for its robust technical analysis tools, including automated pattern recognition and multi-timeframe analysis. It provides a comprehensive platform for generating trading ideas and backtesting strategies without requiring coding expertise. The AI-powered features allow users to train custom models and automate trading processes efficiently. TrendSpider also offers a user-friendly interface and excellent customer support.
• Cons: While TrendSpider is powerful, it can be overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive features and customization options. The platform’s focus on technical analysis might not be ideal for investors who prefer fundamental analysis or long-term investing strategies. Additionally, some users have reported issues with navigating the website and managing multiple tabs simultaneously.

10. Zen Ratings

• Features: Zen Ratings uses AI to screen stocks based on 115 factors, providing a comprehensive ranking system. It’s part of the Zen Investor service, which combines AI with human expertise.
• Pricing: Available through the Zen Investor subscription for $99/year (or $79/year for a limited time).
• Pros: Offers AI-driven stock rankings, incorporates human expertise, and provides educational resources.
• Cons: Not a standalone tool; requires a subscription to Zen Investor.

11. FINQ

• Features: FINQ offers a comprehensive AI-driven platform that provides a relative and continuous ranking of financial products within the same asset type. It assesses financial product risk daily using a data-driven approach, breaking down each product into single assets and calculating its actual risk using Big Data models. The platform ensures 100% objectivity by eliminating middleman biases and provides 24/7 market tracking to identify investment opportunities. Additionally, FINQ creates financial profiles for various risk levels, matching investment products to users’ comfort levels through risk-guided investing. Users can also access the history of every transaction decision made by FINQ’s AI, including buying and selling stocks.
• Pricing: FINQ offers two plans (Stocks and Funds), but Funds has not been released yet. Stocks cost $350 a year.
• Pros: FINQ’s AI technology ensures objectivity in investment decisions, eliminating biases that might influence traditional financial advisors. The platform provides real-time market tracking, allowing users to stay informed about potential investment opportunities. Its risk-guided investing feature helps match investment products to individual risk profiles, which can be particularly beneficial for managing volatility. FINQ also claims to outperform traditional investing strategies, potentially leading to better returns.
• Cons: While FINQ emphasizes objectivity and transparency, users should still conduct their own research and consider multiple perspectives before making investment decisions. Additionally, FINQ’s focus on AI-driven strategies might not appeal to investors who prefer more traditional or hands-on approaches to investing.

12. Incite AI

• Features: Incite AI offers a comprehensive platform that leverages advanced AI algorithms to analyze extensive datasets, historical trends, and real-time market conditions. It provides precise financial insights, analysis, and predictions to help investors make informed decisions. The platform includes AI-driven stock picking, technical and fundamental analysis, risk management tools, and personalized investment recommendations based on individual investor profiles. Users can interact with the platform via a chat-like interface, asking questions and receiving real-time answers about stocks.
• Pricing: Incite AI offers a free version of its platform, allowing users to access basic features and insights. However, specific details about premium plans or additional features are not provided in the search results.
• Pros: Incite AI provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the investment process, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced investors. Its AI algorithms analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends that might be difficult for humans to detect, offering valuable insights into market movements. The platform also offers personalized investment advice tailored to individual risk tolerance and goals, helping users optimize their portfolios.
• Cons: While Incite AI offers a free version, there aren’t any pricing details for premium plans at this point.

Strategies for Navigating Volatile Markets

In a volatile market, especially one nearing a bear market, investors need to be strategic. Here are several ways AI tools can help:

• Predictive Analytics and Forecasting: AI tools like Danelfin and AItIndex can analyze historical market data to predict potential future market movements. This allows investors to adjust their portfolios proactively, minimizing losses or capitalizing on opportunities. For instance, if an AI system predicts a market downturn, investors can shift to safer assets or hedge their positions.
  
• Sentiment Analysis: AI-powered sentiment analysis, as seen in platforms like Zen Ratings and FINQ, helps gauge market mood by analyzing news, social media, and financial reports. This can alert investors to potential market corrections or rallies, enabling them to make informed decisions based on how investor emotions are driving market movements.

• Algorithmic Trading: Platforms like Trade Ideas and BlackBoxStocks use AI to execute trades automatically based on predefined criteria. This can help investors capitalize on fleeting opportunities during high volatility, such as executing mean reversion strategies to profit from temporary price deviations.
  
• Risk Management: AI tools like TrendSpider and TradeStation offer advanced risk management features. They can assess portfolio risk by evaluating volatility, correlations, and historical performance, suggesting adjustments to reduce exposure during volatile periods. For example, AI can identify which assets are most exposed to market swings and recommend diversification or hedging strategies.
  
• Portfolio Optimization: AI-powered portfolio management tools, such as those offered by Magnifi and Options AI, can optimize asset allocation based on an investor’s goals, risk tolerance, and market conditions. This ensures that portfolios are dynamically adjusted to maximize returns while minimizing risk during volatile times.

• Diversification and Hedging: AI can recommend diversifying into less volatile assets, such as bonds or real estate, during periods of high market volatility. Additionally, AI can identify the best hedging strategies, such as using options or inverse ETFs, to protect portfolios from significant losses.
  
• Market Timing with AI Insights: AI tools can help investors time their trades more effectively by identifying value discrepancies in real-time. This allows them to capitalize on short-term market movements and adjust their strategies based on predicted market trends.
  
• Personalized Investment Advice: AI systems can provide personalized investment recommendations by analyzing an investor’s financial picture, including spending patterns and career trajectory. This level of personalization helps tailor investment strategies to individual needs, especially during volatile markets when risk management is crucial.

By leveraging these strategies and tools, investors can not only survive but thrive during periods of market volatility.

Conclusion

AI-enhanced stock and options investing tools are revolutionizing the way investors approach the market. While each tool has its pros and cons, they all offer unique advantages that can help navigate today’s volatile market. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just starting out, there’s an AI tool out there that can help you make more informed decisions and potentially boost your returns or mitigate your losses.

As you explore these tools, remember that AI is a powerful assistant but not a replacement for human judgment. Always do your own research and consider multiple perspectives before making investment decisions. With the right combination of AI insights and personal expertise, you can better navigate even the most unpredictable markets.

The post The Best AI-Enhanced Stock and Options Investing Tools first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Sometimes, it’s better to block someone on Facebook and forget rather than engage and regret. Personal disputes, privacy concerns, or simple dislike are all valid reasons to block a Facebook user from your life.

But what if you end up being blocked by a friend on Facebook? You don’t get notified as the blocked person, but you might wonder if (and why) you’ve been blocked by someone. You might not know why, but you can check if you’ve been blocked using a few tried and tested methods below. Depending on their privacy settings, there are also a few ways to view blocked profiles.

How to Check If Someone Blocked You on Facebook

There are a few telltale signs that you can look out for if you think you’ve been blocked on Facebook. Let’s assume that you’re already aware of the person’s profile and you could previously look at it. You can follow these steps to help you determine if another person has blocked you on Facebook or if they’ve just deactivated their account.

First, you should type the person’s name into the search bar on the Facebook website in your web browser or via the Facebook app and a search. Private Facebook accounts should remain reasonably accessible, even if you can’t view much on them, as should locked Facebook profiles. However, the user won’t appear in the search results if you’ve been blocked on Facebook. If they were previously a Facebook friend, you can confirm this by looking at your friend’s list and checking if they still appear or not.

Another way to check is through a third person’s mutual friend list. If the person you believe has blocked you doesn’t appear in their friends list, but you know they’re friends, it’s a good sign that you’ve been blocked.

You could also check shared groups. If any previously made comments from the user are missing in a public group, you might have been blocked. You can also tag people in your comments in those shared groups. If the blocked person doesn’t appear in the drop-down menu, this would be another indicator that you’ve been blocked.

It’s easier to spot if you’ve shared direct messages with the user in the past. In Messenger, you won’t lose the messages you’ve shared in a conversation. Still, you won’t be able to view their profile or any details, including their profile picture or any shared Messenger locations. If those details are hidden or missing, it could mean that you’re blocked. You also won’t be able to send messages to the user again.

If you know the direct URL to their profile, you can also try that. If you’ve been blocked, you won’t be able to access the profile. Facebook won’t tell you that you’ve been blocked, but you will see an error message that tells you that the profile isn’t accessible at the moment.

Finally, you can reach out to shared friends and ask them to check for you if they’re willing to do so. Assuming they’ve not been blocked, they could confirm whether or not the user’s profile is still active and visible. If it is, but their profile page no longer appears for you, then you’ve been blocked.

How to View Blocked Facebook Profile?

You’ve done the legwork and confirmed that someone has blocked you on Facebook. Now what? Well, all’s not lost. While being blocked makes it harder, there are still a few methods to view any blocked Facebook profiles.

You could use a search engine to help you find them. For accounts that are more publicly visible than others, a search on Google (e.g., “name facebook” or “name site:facebook.com”) could help you to locate their profile again and make it visible.

There’s also another method you can try: your friends. If you can’t view the profile yourself, you might be able to employ your network of friends to keep you updated on any changes to the blocked profile. You could also ask to use a friend’s Facebook account directly to view the profile. You can also keep an eye on any interactions your friend might make with that user in shared spaces in your Facebook feed, such as in comments made together in a shared group or on a third person’s profile or profile image.

A stronger option, however, is to create a second Facebook account, unlinked to your existing profile and using a separate email address. You can use it to search for and view the profile, as long as it isn’t locked down enough. However, this might violate Facebook’s terms of service and might be inappropriate, depending on why you’ve been blocked in the first place. You’ll need to use your best judgment to decide whether this is appropriate.

It’s also not a good idea to use third-party apps to help you view information on a Facebook profile, such as viewing profile images. These will violate Facebook’s terms of service and will most likely put your account at risk, so it’s best to give them a miss. Just remember that if an app suggests that it can show blocked accounts, don’t believe it—it’s impossible.

Conclusion

If you think you’ve been blocked on Facebook, remember to do your checks first. Search for the user, check your friend’s lists, and look through your messages and previous comments to see if you can view their profile.

However, if you have been blocked or unfriended, it might be worth taking a quick pause to consider why. Blocking can help maintain healthy social media interactions, and it may just be that the Facebook user doesn’t want to see your profile or interact with you anymore, for good or bad. If that’s the case, you don’t want to push past the block too hard, and Facebook profile stalking may make the situation between you and that person worse.

Remember, any block you have could be temporary or made by mistake. Once the block is confirmed, it’s probably a good idea to sit it out and see if you’re unblocked in the future. You can focus on your Facebook profile in the meantime, making sure to update your privacy settings to configure a private profile that will keep your data safe from other users.

The post How to See Who Blocked You on Facebook first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The “People You May Know” feature is probably Facebook’s most annoying feature, even for those looking for new Facebook friends.

Thankfully, this is a feature you can restrict from the Facebook settings menu on all devices, both on the PC and mobile. Keep in mind that this will not stop friend suggestions entirely; you will still see the suggestions pop up while you browse Facebook. Also, note that the suggestions are for finding new friends to make – you need a different method to find out who unfriended you.

How to Stop Facebook Friend Suggestions on Windows and Mac Devices?

Friend suggestions and friend requests are two different things. If you want to prevent people outside your friends list from viewing your profile, you need to lock your profile.

Let’s look at how to turn off friend suggestions on Facebook:

1. Open Facebook and click the Account icon in the top right corner to bring down the drop-down menu. The first option, Settings & privacy, is what you need.

2. In the second menu that shows up, select Settings.

3. All the settings you can customize on Facebook are listed on the left. Scroll down until you find the Notifications option under the Preferences section and click on it.

4. This lets you adjust all notifications settings, and there are quite a lot of them. Find the People you may know.

5. This brings up the three categories of notifications you can block – Push, E-Mail, and SMS. Or you can just disable the notifications completely using the topmost toggle.

6. Once disabled, the toggle is grayed out, and the subcategories vanish. Now, you will not get friend suggestion notifications on Facebook.

How to Stop Facebook Friend Suggestions on Android, iPhone, and iPad?

Apart from slight UI differences, the mobile versions of Facebook have the same settings menu as in the web app. To disable Facebook’s friend suggestion notifications on mobile devices, follow these steps:

1. Open the Facebook app and open the menu by tapping your profile icon on the top right.

2. In the section below “See more,” you will find the Settings & privacy option. Select that to bring up another sub-menu, and then tap on Settings.

3. This brings you to the settings page. Scroll down until you find the Notifications option and select it.

4. Now you will see another list with all the notification categories listed. A little way down, select the People you may know category.

5. You will see multiple toggles that control the notifications sent through various methods. Simply tap the topmost one to disable them entirely.

6. The toggle will get greyed out, indicating that the friend suggestion notifications are now disabled on your account.

Is There No Way to Completely Stop Friend Suggestions on Facebook?

We have seen how to block the People You May Know notifications on both the web and mobile Facebook app, but what about the in-app suggestions you get while scrolling Facebook? Is there no way to turn these off?

Yes and no. While there is an option to disable these, it only blocks the suggestions for a while. After some time, you will notice that the recommendations will start showing again.

1. To temporarily stop the integrated suggested friends on Facebook, scroll down your news feed until you come across the People you may know snippet.

2. Click (or tap if you are on mobile) on the three-dot menu. This brings you two options – just select Hide people you may know, and the in-app friend suggestions will disappear for a while.

How Facebook Generates Its Friend Suggestions?

Facebook is well known for the amount of personal information it makes available. For example, anyone can track your location with Facebook Messenger.

Only Facebook knows the exact algorithm used to generate its friend suggestions, but the source of its data is the same– your personal information. Depending on how much information you have shared on the platform, it has quite a lot to interpolate from. At its simplest, the algorithm tries to match you to mutual friends from your friend list or members in the same groups.

But then it starts digging deeper. Your synced phone contacts are the first stop since there’s a good chance you want to connect with them. Then it starts looking at your profile – your workplace, the schools you have graduated from, and even your location to find people with the same places listed in their profile information.

That’s not all. The algorithm also keeps track of your Facebook activity, including the posts you have liked or commented on, and suggests the people who have made those posts or are engaging with them.

And the worst part is that you cannot stop this. Even the methods we have explored in this guide can only block the notifications – you will still get in-app suggestions in your news feed. There is an option to disable these as well, but the effect is temporary – after a while, you will start seeing a suggested friend pop in while you browse your news feed.

Setting your profile to private doesn’t even stop the dedicated stalker (there are ways to view private profiles), let alone Facebook’s own algorithm. And while you can keep track of who is observing your Facebook profile, there is no way to know what the algorithm is documenting.

Conclusion

While there is no way to stop Facebook’s friend suggestions coompletely, even cutting down the frequency of these suggestions (and stopping the irritating alerts) is a much-needed step.

The easiest way is to disable the People You May Know feature from the settings menu, blocking the notifications sent to your inbox. This setting is present on both the web app and the native mobile apps, including iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows.

Don’t worry – if you like discovering people through these suggestions, you will still see them elsewhere while using Facebook. This form is far less intrusive than notifications, and you can directly send a friend request to the suggested friend.

The post How to Stop Friend Suggestions on Facebook first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Mobile games have become an increasingly popular way to play video games, and as such, there are many notable games available to play on smartphone devices. Whether you’re looking for action and adventure, puzzle games, strategy, or any other genre, you can find all kinds of games on mobile devices.

We’ve chosen the top 11 best mobile games of 2025 across different genres. These are games you can find on both iOS and Android devices. This list contains Triple A games and games created by indie studios, but all are worthy of being played at least once.

1. Minecraft

Now considered a video game classic, Minecraft is well known as a creative open-world game where players can build structures, gather and craft items, encounter creatures, and much more. The game first rose to popularity in 2012; since then, it has remained popular.

You can play Minecraft directly from your mobile device and play with others in multiplayer mode. You can buy Minecraft for $6.99 on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Download Minecraft for iOS

Download Minecraft for Android

2. Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is a popular role-playing game released in 2020. It features open-world exploration and real-time battles. Gameplay centers mainly on its gacha mechanics, which allow you to obtain new characters to add to your party in-game. The game has been widely regarded for its battle mechanics and expansive environment.

Genshin Impact is available on mobile for free, though the game is monetized through the gacha element. Though you can enjoy the game on a smartphone, playing on a tablet is recommended for an enhanced experience.

Download Genshin Impact for iOS

Download Genshin Impact for Android

3. Pokemon Go

Though the initial hype for Pokemon Go has died down over the years, the game still has a substantial player base that keeps the game going strong. The game is based on catching Pokemon through AR technology, meaning you can see the Pokemon in the real world on your screen through your smartphone’s camera. You can also battle at Pokemon Gyms to vie for control over it with other players.

Pokemon Go is completely free to play and is often updated with new events and Pokemon to capture. You can even send some Pokemon you find into other games within the Pokemon franchise.

Download Pokemon Go for iOS

Download Pokemon Go for Android

4. Roblox

Roblox is another game that has been popular for quite some time. It’s a creative multiplayer game similar to Minecraft, though Roblox is more focused on game creation and programming. Players can also fully customize their avatars and buy and sell virtual items.

Roblox is free to play but monetized through an in-game currency known as Robux. Robux can be obtained through a Premium membership or by creating and selling your own items. Mobile is an excellent platform for playing Roblox, as you can take it anywhere.

Download Roblox for iOS

Download Roblox for Android

5. League of Legends: Wild Rift

League of Legends: Wild Rift is a MOBA, or multiplayer online battle arena. It’s a free to play, mobile version of the original League of Legends game for PC. Like the PC game, the objective is to capture the opposing team’s base. However, in the mobile game, map size is reduced, and respawn time is shortened, among other changes which result in shorter game times. If you’re a League of Legends fan, Wild Rift is the perfect way to take the game on the go.

Download League of Legends: Wild Rift for iOS

Download League of Legends: Wild Rift for Android

6. Monument Valley

This is a puzzle game developed by indie studio Ustwo Games. The focus is on guiding the main character, Princess Ida, through mazes of optical illusions. The game has ten levels, and each is beautifully designed and relaxing to play. This game looks wonderful on any device, but you may want to play on an iPad for the full effect. You can get this game for $3.99, and there’s also an expansion of more levels you can purchase for $1.99.

Download Monument Valley for iOS

Download Monument Valley for Android

7. Stardew Valley

One of the most beloved PC games can also be played on mobile devices, with only minor differences. For example, the mobile version has no co-op mode and is also a bit behind on game updates. However, mobile Stardew Valley does offer automatic saves. If you’ve never played Stardew, it’s a farming simulator where you can build your own farm, gather items, complete quests, and much more. All in a cute and colorful 2D pixel world.

Download Stardew Valley for iOS

Download Stardew Valley for Android

8. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Animal Crossing is a popular console game from Nintendo, but there is also a separate mobile Animal Crossing game that is just as fun to play and free! In this version, you run your campground, and animal campers can come to stay. You can fully customize your campground and character, participate in events, complete daily quests, and more. If you own the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game, you can link it to Pocket Camp to access new, unique items. Although the Pocket Camp is generally free to play, some in-app purchases are available for items or Leaf Tickets.

Download Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for iOS

Download Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for Android

9. Call of Duty: Mobile

The popular Call of Duty franchise has debuted on mobile, providing fans with a first-person shooter similar to its console counterpart. In COD: Mobile, you can play in ranked or unranked multiplayer matches. You can also play multiplayer against friends in a private game. There is also a battle royale mode and even a zombie mode for fans of this feature. The game is free, though you can make in-app purchases for items and skins.

Download Call of Duty: Mobile for iOS

Download Call of Duty: Mobile for Android

10. Subway Surfers

Subway Surfers is a long-time favorite that has increased in popularity in 2023. It’s a relatively simple endless runner game where you swipe to avoid obstacles for as long as possible. It is, however, extremely addicting and is great for beating boredom or killing some time. You can also collect coins in-game that can be used on powerups and customization. The game is free, but you can also purchase more coins and other items in-app.

Download Subway Surfers for iOS

Download Subway Surfers for Android

11. Rubikverse

Rubikverse is a mobile-friendly Rubik’s Cube solving web app that features interactive solvers and detailed step-by-step tutorials, making on-the-go puzzle-solving easy and engaging for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced cubers. This intuitive puzzle platform truly stands out as a fun, educational, and unique entry among the best mobile games.

If you need a new game, you should try one of these as your first choice. Some of them have been favorites of many for a long time, while others are newer but have received praise.

Need more games? Why not check out our list of the best offline mobile games for Android?

The post The 11 Best Mobile Games of 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Watching sports is fun, but sitting in front of the TV is an outdated concept. Sports streaming sites offer the same content, including live games, and you can watch anything you want whenever you want. You can also enjoy a game of football or boxing on your smartphone while traveling. There are advantages to going digital.

In this article, we’re going to help you pick the best sports streaming service. We’ll analyze the most popular sports streaming sites and weigh their pros and cons. So cut the cord and cheer for your favorite teams without having to pay for multiple services.

1. YouTube TV

For a $75 monthly subscription, you gain access to more than 80 channels. In a single package, you get all the broadcast networks like NBC, FOX, CBS, and PBS and live sports channels like CBS Sports Network, NBA TV, ESPN, MLB Network, and NFL Network. The only downside is you also get ads.

Apart from sports channels, a YouTube TV subscription includes several news and entertainment channels, making it a great overall streaming platform. And if that’s not enough, you can opt for optional add-on channels that cost extra. You can subscribe to the NBA League Pass, Fox Soccer Plus, NFL RedZone, and other sports and entertainment channels.

Features

• Live streaming in 1080p/60FPS.
• Free DVR cloud storage with unlimited space and rewind/pause controls. YouTube TV saves your recordings for nine months.
• Stream on up to 3 different devices simultaneously.
• Create up to 6 user accounts with one subscription.
• 4K streaming with the optional 4K Plus add-on.

2. Hulu + Live TV

Like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV is a cable replacement streaming service that offers diverse sports channels. For a $81.99 monthly subscription, you get access to major sports channels like CBS Sports, ESPN and ESPN 2, BTN, NFL Network, and the Olympic Channel. For an additional $9.99/month, you can get the Sports add-on that expands your options with NFL RedZone, Sportsman Channel, Outdoor Channel, and more.

In addition to national and international live games, you can also enjoy local sports. As a Live TV subscriber, you gain access to regional broadcasting channels like CBS, FOX, NBC, FS1, ABC, and more. You can watch local college football games and follow your favorite teams live. The only major downside is that ads are part of the streams unless you upgrade to the $70.99/month plan.

Features

• A mix of live and on-demand content. You get all of Hulu’s library plus more than 75 live channels.
• Up to 2 devices are supported simultaneously. Optionally, you can upgrade to the Unlimited Screens plan.
• Create up to six user profiles with customizable preferences.
• DVR cloud storage is included but limited to 50 hours’ worth of content. For an additional $9.99 you can increase it to 200 hours.
• 4K Ultra HD streaming is available but limited to specific channels that support it.

3. FuboTV

FuboTV is one of the best sports streaming sites because it covers most sporting events. If you want to subscribe to a single service specifically for sports, FuboTV has you covered. Pricing starts at $84.99 per month, but the price is worth it for sports fans. It covers a considerable number of local, national, and international events and leagues. Unfortunately, most streams are limited to 720p frame rates, and that might be a dealbreaker for some, considering other streaming services offer 1080p at least.

Nonetheless, FuboTV offers the most diverse range of sports channels. You’ll find local matches on popular broadcasting channels such as CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC, and national events on NBA TV, FS1, NBC Sports Network, The Golf Channel, and NFL Network. You can also watch live streams on international channels like TUDN and GOL TV. So whether you’re interested in basketball or horse racing, fuboTV is an excellent choice for national and international sports fans.

Features

• More than 100 channels with the starter plan and 150 channels with the elite plan.
• DVR cloud storage is included but limited to 250 hours of content. The elite package extends that space to 1,000 hours.
• Stream on up to 3 devices simultaneously.
• Many add-ons to choose from based on the type of sports you’re interested in.

4. ESPN+

For only $11.99/month or $119.99 annually, you get a lot of live sports to choose from. ESPN+ is one of the best sports streaming sites if you’re particularly interested in contact sports like MMA and boxing. It’s also probably the best option if you follow college sports, including baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and much more. Unfortunately, it somewhat lacks national and international sports compared to other streaming sites on our list.

It’s important to mention that ESPN+ doesn’t include ESPN’s core library. Its own platform that covers a wide range of sports and various in-house ESPN+ productions. However, ESPN+ had recently made a deal with the NHL to get exclusive rights to stream out-of-market NHL games.

Take note that ESPN+ doesn’t offer DVR cloud storage options. This is a huge downside for a streaming service. However, it’s not surprising when you look at the monthly subscription price tag.

Features

• Full HD streaming at 60 fps.
• Supports up to 3 streams simultaneously.
• Offline content can be downloaded on the mobile app.

5. Paramount+

If you’re already familiar with CBS All Access, you’ll know what you can expect from Paramount+, its successor. Paramount+ has one of the most diverse sports programming lineups you can get for the low $7.99/mo subscription (with ads) or $12.99/mo (no ads, and includes Showtime). It’s probably the best budget-friendly deal you can get.

Paramount+ streams live football, basketball, golf, soccer, and more. Watch local NFL games, the NCAA Basketball Championship, UEFA Champions League, and Europa League, and you also get access to CBS Sports HQ as part of the subscription.

What’s great about Paramount+ is that you can stream certain programs in 4K, or download them for offline viewing. The only downside is that you can’t get away from the ads that show up during live events. All in all, Paramount+ is a budget-friendly way to watch live sports next to your favorite shows.

Features

• Full HD streaming at 60 fps.
• Some events and shows are available in 4K with HDR and Dolby Vision support.
• Supports up to 3 simultaneous streams.
• Create and customize up to 6 user accounts.
• Download content for offline viewing.

6. Peacock TV

Peacock TV is owned by NBCUniversal, which Comcast also owns. Its Premium subscription features ads and costs $7.99/mo. The Premium Plus plan costs $13.99/mo, which gets you no ads, the ability to download supported titles to watch offline, and lets you stream your local NBC channel live..

Features

• Full HD streaming for all tiers
• Supports 3 simultaneous streams
• Supports multiple user profiles that can be customized  

Related: Ready to create your own bracket? Check out these free online tournament bracket tools.

7. Sling TV

Sling TV is a cable replacement service that offers extensive programming options. It offers two different packages, Orange and Blue, that you can combine. There are also add-ons you can subscribe to for more variety.

The Orange plan is $45.99 per month, but it only offers ESPN sports coverage. You’ll have to pay $50 for both packages if you also want full NFL coverage and another $10 for the Sports Extra plan for the MLB Network, NBA TV, Golf Channel, and NHL Network. Unfortunately, there’s a lack of regional and local sports channels.

Sling TV may seem expensive at first for sports fans, but if you combine all three plans to unlock all the sports programming you want the price comes close to YouTube TV’s offer. The downside is 4K live streams are unavailable.

Features

• Full HD streaming.
• Up to 3 simultaneous streams for Sling Blue. Orange is limited to 1 device.
• DVR cloud storage for up to 50 hours. You can extend it to 200 hours for $5. The content is saved indefinitely.

8. DirectTV

Formerly AT&T TV, DirectTV is a viable sports streaming site, although there are some limitations. The subscription starts at $89.99 per month, and it covers the big broadcasting channels, but there are no regional sports networks included. To access RSNs you need to pay for the $119.99 plan.

Another disadvantage is that DirectTV doesn’t offer the NFL Network channel, so keep that in mind before subscribing. This sports streaming site is best for fans of local and regional sports.

That said, DirectTV allows 20 simultaneous streams, which is unheard of on other sports streaming sites. Additionally, you get 3 simultaneous streams outside of your home network. So if you have lots of people to share your account with, the cost of a subscription is worth it.

Features

• Full HD streaming but no 4K.
• Up to 20 simultaneous streams at home and up to 3 streams away from the home network.
• DVR cloud storage for up to 20 hours. Can be extended to unlimited storage space for a fee. Data retention is limited to 90 days.

What About Free Sports Streaming Sites?

The only free sports streaming sites worth your time are those that are included with a certain streaming service package. For example, Fox Sports is a free service, but it’s only available as part of other networks.

Another option is to take advantage of 30-day trial periods that guarantee a refund. Most free streaming platforms that aren’t owned by a network are operated illegally. They’re usually safe to watch, but we don’t recommend them because the streaming services are usually pretty bad. The streams are low-quality, you might deal with buffering, and the site will be shut down at some point.

Our advice is to stick to legitimate sports streaming sites like those listed in this article. Which streaming service provider do you prefer? Did you find an alternative that offers better features or a good deal? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The 8 Best Sports Streaming Sites in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Hosting your Minecraft at home using your PC or a server presents a lot of problems. Fortunately, many hosting server companies can help you manage your server while removing most of those hassles. And if you think subscribing to a hosting service company is expensive, some hosts on this list will change your mind.  

This post will list the best Minecraft server hosting options to help you design and run your server instantly. We also considered some of the most important factors, such as server performance, value for money, ease of use, and the amount of customization available. 

The Best Minecraft Server Hosting Companies

There’s no arguing that the best free Minecraft server hosting alternative is your PC or Virtual Private Servers that host multiple users. However, these setups are only ideal for a small community of less than a dozen people. 

If you want your Minecraft server to host more players, you need to rent a dedicated server. Below are some of the top-performing server hosting companies for Minecraft and other online games. 

1. Apex Hosting

Hardware: 3.9 GHz Ryzen 7 3800X NVMe SSD with 15GB DDR4

Control Panel: Modified Multicraft Cpanel

Cheapest Plan: $9.99 per month for 2GB RAM

Most Expensive Plan: $49.99 per month for 10 GB RAM 

No. of Locations: 18 

Apex Hosting is one of the most innovative players in the Minecraft hosting space. The company has 18 locations around the globe, including two in the Middle East. They also disclose the specifications of the hardware they use for each of their sites. North America, for example, features the 3.9 GHz Ryzen 7 3800X NVMe SSD with 15 GB DDR4.

Furthermore, this Minecraft server hosting company has a 24/7 live customer support chat tool. Apex Hosting offers one-click installation of 150 modpacks, including SkyFactory, Pixelmon, and RLCraft. If you are low on budget, you start with their 512 MB Proxy server at just $2.99 per month. 

They also offer server management, which uses custom multicraft back-end panels. The control panel has tutorials and ready-to-go information on the left-hand side of the page to help you with usage issues. 

Moreover, Apex Hosting offers mini-games and downloadable premade worlds.   

Pros

• Full FTP and MySQL Database
• They offer a money-back guarantee
• Strong gigabit per second connections

Cons

• Its plans max out at 7 GB RAM.
• Some plans are more expensive than their competitors.

2. Nodecraft

Hardware: 3.8 GHz Intel Xeon E-2174G; Enterprise Grade SSD; 32 GB ECC RAM

Control Panel: Multicraft Cpanel

Cheapest Plan: $9.98 per month for 2 GB RAM

Most Expensive Plan: $39.98 for 8 GB RAM 

No. of Locations: 12 

If you want a premium hosting service that’s worth the extra money, then Nodecraft is the place to be. You can set up as many server instances as you need and switch your bot between them. 

They also utilize Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection and provide dedicated Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Hence, you can easily switch from any server type, such as a skyblock, to a bucket. 

However, you can only have one kind of active server at any time. This feature is helpful if you want to experiment in a test server or play multiple modpacks with your friends. So far, Nodecraft is the only Minecraft hosting company that can do this. 

Nodecraft also has a one-click install feature, plus it supports about 120 modpacks. You can take advantage of their seven-day free trial to determine if their service is a good fit. Nodecraft offers unlimited player slots across all plans. 

Pros

• It has numerous layers of protection
• Simple layout with a user-friendly dashboard
• Saves a backup of your data daily 

Cons

• Subpar 24/7 customer support

3. Hostinger

Hardware: Intel Xeon processors with SSD hard drive (Full-model not disclosed)

Control Panel: Custom Multicraft panel

Cheapest Plan: $8.95 per month for 2 GB RAM

Most Expensive Plan: $77.99 per month for 16 GB RAM

No. of Locations: 7

Hostinger is the go-to place if you want to get more bang for your buck from your Minecraft server hosting. This Lithuania-based hosting company has been around since 2004. They have since expanded to locations such as the US, UK, Singapore, and the Netherlands.

One of its best features is its custom virtual private server (VPS) control panel, which is easy to operate and navigate. You can easily configure your dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and install new web scripts.

Hostinger’s plans offer DDoS protection and have 99.99% Uptime on their Service Level Agreement (SLA). Consequently, they also provide Free MySQL, access to Web/ FTP files, and automatic off-site backups. 

Hostinger gives you full root access to the Minecraft files in your server should you want to customize game elements. 

Pros

• It has a user-friendly control panel with comprehensive guides
• No downtime and excellent speed
• Uses dual-CPU hardware technology

Cons

• They don’t have phone support.
• Some plans are a bit complicated and can confuse users. 

4. Shockbyte

Hardware: 4.0 GHz Intel Xeon E5-1650v4 

Control Panel: Multicraft control panel NVMe SSDs in RAID 1 with DDR4 ECC RAM

Cheapest Plan: $2.5 for 1 GB

Most Expensive Plan: $40 for 16GB

No. of Locations: 9

Shockbyte is one of the best hosting companies that caters specifically to this popular sandbox game. They offer a wide range of hosting plans with a 99.99% uptime guarantee and robust DDoS protection. Each program also includes a free subdomain and an automated system for instant setup of your Minecraft server.  

Moreover, Shockbytes connections are fast because they utilize a 1Gbps Network port. Shockbyte has one of the cheapest entry costs for anyone who wants to start their Minecraft server at just $2.5 for a 1 GB RAM with 20 player slots. 

The Australian-registered company also has an easy setup feature. While they have 24/7 customer support that utilizes various social media channels and email support, they tend to resolve issues at a much slower pace. 

Pros

• Shockbyte offers MCPC and MCPE Cross-Compatibility 
• Virtually zero downtime 
• Some plans offer a backup feature

Cons

• Hosting in Asia Pacific locations incur additional fees
• Poor customer support response

5. GGServers

Hardware: 4.2 GHz Intel 97-7700k NVMe SSD with DDRR4 2400 MHz RAM

Control Panel: Multicraft Panel 

Cheapest Plan: $3 per month for 1GB

Most Expensive Plan: $36 per month for 12 GB 

No. of Locations: 9 

GGServers is one of the most budget-friendly options for hosting servers across different price points. The company is also well-known for its customer support and fast response time. 

While GGServers offers great standard plans, its premium option is better packaged and has better hardware. Moreover, the premium plan opens up to more locations aside from North America and Europe.  

However, GGServers fall short in the number of modpacks they support at just 92. Their multicraft panel is decently designed with a clean layout and beginner-friendly interface. Furthermore, their website has an intuitive checkout process which makes it easier to fill in your details. 

Pros 

• Excellent connection speed without lag
• It has a wide variety of plans that offer the best value
• Decent 24/7 customer support

Cons

• It supports fewer modpacks
• SSD NVME memory is only available in premium plans

6. BisectHosting

Hardware: 3.4 GHz Intel Xeon NVMe SSD with DDR4 RAM

Control Panel: Modified Multi-Craft Panel

Cheapest Plan: $2 for 1 GB per month

Most Expensive Plan: $159.68 for 32 GB Unlimited Slots per month

No. of Locations: 12

BisectHosting is perfect for Minecraft players looking for a budget option. While the company also offers premium plans, their budget plans aren’t undervalued since they use the same hardware. The company utilizes different models of Intel Xeon processors, depending on your Plan. 

BisectHosting supports 227 modpacks plus a one-click installation feature. Moreover, they have well-designed back-ends that utilize the modified multicraft panel for fast and easy admin navigation.  

However, the budget plans have fewer server locations such as Amsterdam, Canada, and France. So, if you live in the southern hemisphere, you might want to upgrade to premium, which unlocks all 12 locations. Their server management is a bit lackluster, but we’ve seen worse. 

Pros

• Dark mode enabled control panel
• It has tutorials on the dashboard
• Their servers have the most number of modpacks supported

Cons

• Non-disclosure of the specific hardware they are using
• Live chat support is not always available 

Crafting Since Alpha

More than 140 million active players have played Minecraft since its release in 2011. A decade later and its popularity among gamers of all walks of life hasn’t dwindled. If you want to create your world and let your friends or other players explore it, subscribing to the best Minecraft server hosting is worth the investment. 

The post The 6 Best Minecraft Server Hosting Options in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

If there’s one great way to kill time on your computer, it’s with a game. Whether you’re taking a coffee break or just need a minute of relaxation, you can check out a nice collection of popular Google Doodle games.

The good thing about these games is that they don’t require any sign-ups, installations, or special browser add-ons. Now, if you’re ready to break away from your spreadsheet or report, check out these fun Google Doodle games (listed in no particular order).

1. Doctor Who

Celebrating Doctor Who’s 50^th anniversary is a game that has you manipulate your environment to win.

Start by picking your character and then strategize how to move your character to the goal. Select a spot on the path where you want to move. You may need to turn on levers to create additional paths to the goal and avoid the evil characters out to get you.

Move through each lettered level to spell “Google” in the shortest amount of time you can.

2. Champion Island Games

Visit an island filled with sport mini-games like table tennis, skateboarding, and rock climbing in Champion Island Games.

Use your arrow keys to explore the island and interact with objects and characters using your Space key. You use the same keys on your keyboard for controls in games. Join a team, meet interesting opponents, and purr-fect your skills in the sports games as a cat who just wants to have fun.

Your ultimate goal is to win the mini-games, defeat the champion, and collect the sacred scrolls.

3. Halloween 2020

Magic Cat Doodle Academy created a Halloween game in 2016, and this one is a fiendishly fun follow-up.

Once again, you’re a cat being attacked by ghosts. Use your mouse or touchpad to draw the symbols shown above the ghosts’ heads to defeat them. You score for each successful takedown of a ghoul for a happy meow-loween.

Be careful. This cat only has five lives, not nine! If you enjoy spooky games like this, check out our list of the best Halloween games.

4. Quick, Draw

Polish up your sketching skills for an awesome game of Quick, Draw.

You’ll be asked to draw six pictures, one at a time, each within 20 seconds. The “neural network” will try to guess what you’re drawing as you draw each one. You’ll be challenged to draw everything from a snake to a bulldozer, so do your best but be quick!

Once you finish, you’ll see your drawings and those that were guessed correctly. You can then share your masterpieces on Twitter or Facebook for some social love.

5. Baseball

You don’t have to be a sports fan to love this Baseball challenge, another popular Google Doodle game.

Step up to the home plate, wait for the pitch, and try to hit a home run. The opposing team consists of peanuts, the batters are everything from lemonade to ice cream cones, and the spectators are popcorn boxes. All of this makes for a pleasant day at the ballpark.

See how many runs you can score before “You’re out!”. Tip: Watch out for that curveball!

6. Pangolin Love

Pangolin Love is a cute platformer in celebration of Valentine’s Day 2017.

Use your arrow keys to roll your pangolin and your Space key to jump over obstacles. Collect musical notes for a love song and blossoms for a bouquet as you make your way through this adorable adventure in search of the meaning of love.

Travel through each location like China and the Philippines but be sure to enjoy the journey.

7. Pony Express

2015 marked the 155^th anniversary of the Pony Express, and to celebrate, you’ll saddle up and collect the mail.

Pony Express is a side-scrolling adventure, so use your up and down arrow keys to gather the envelopes. Just beware, as there are many obstacles along the way including boulders, rivers, and trees in your path.

See how much mail you can collect in Pony Express.

8. Basketball

Find out how many free throws you can make in 24 seconds in this Google Doodle Basketball game.

You’ll use your Space key to make each shot. It takes a bit of practice to hold and release the key perfectly. But once you do, you’ll sink each shot and score big.

9. Garden Gnomes

Who doesn’t love a good gnome toss? In this Garden Gnomes game, you’ll fling your gnome as far as you can.

Pick one of the colorful gnomes to get started. Press the Space key to launch and then press it again to release the gnome. Watch as your gnome flies through the air, hope for bounces that take your gnome further, and see the numbers add up the farther it flies.

How far can you toss a gnome? There’s only one way to find out!

10. Coding for Carrots

You’re a rabbit in search of those juicy orange treats in Coding for Carrots.

Your goal is to get the rabbit to each carrot by placing the directional markers in the tray. The key is to arrange the markers in the correct order. You’ll use arrows, turns, and loops, all of which are steps in a larger process, just like coding! Press Play to make your rabbit hop and make your way through each fun level.

Coding for Carrots was created during Computer Science Education Week. The game celebrates 50 years since programming languages for children were introduced.

11. Ludwig van Beethoven Puzzle

Celebrate the brilliant works of Ludwig van Beethoven with a puzzling music challenge.

Drag each piece of the broken sheet music to its correct spot. When all pieces are in place, the music will begin. You’ll see a green checkmark for those placed correctly and a red X for those that are not. You can also listen to the individual pieces before you place them.

Switch the pieces until you solve each puzzle and enjoy a few of your favorite Beethoven classics simultaneously.

12. Cricket

For another popular Google Doodle game, it’s crickets versus snails in an entertaining game of Cricket.

Grab your paddle and step onto the cricket pitch. Hit a long shot and you’ll score big. Hit a short shot and run between the wickets as many times as you can before the ball is caught. See how high you can score before you miss a shot.

This cool Google Doodle game was created to celebrate the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy.

13. Pac-Man

Eat the dots before the ghosts catch you in the classic game of Pac-Man.

Just like you remember, this Google Doodle Pac-Man game has you maneuver the maze eating up dots. Use your arrow keys to move about and avoid the ghosts. You’ll also see those power pellets and some fruit mixed in, just like the funky arcade game from the 80s. 

The game was created to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Pac-Man. If you’re interested in something similar, take a look at websites that offer retro games you can play for free.

14. Swing Dancing at the Savoy Ballroom

Go back in time to the Swing Era at the Savoy Ballroom in New York City’s Harlem.

Keep time with the music by pressing the key shown at the right time. Watch the direction of the musical note and be ready to press the key when the note hits it. You continue to score as you keep time with the big band music.

Try not to get distracted with the dancers; keep your eye on the note!

15. Loteria

Celebrate Loteria, the traditional Mexican card game.

This multiplayer game pits you against four others until a winner arises. As each picture card is displayed, scour your cards for the same one. If you have the card, place a bean on it. Your goal is to create the pattern shown, whether it’s a full row or all four corners. The game ends when someone matches the pattern.

If you’re not familiar with Loteria, it’s very similar to Bingo and a game of total chance.

Over to you! Which of these popular Google Doodle games will you try first? For more games, you can play right in your browser, look at our list of the best FPS games.

The post The 15 Most Popular Google Doodle Games in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

You probably don’t hear much about IRC (Internet Relay Chat) these days because social media has stolen all the glory. However, it’s still alive and kicking and we’ve got the best IRC clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. 

Collaborative systems like Slack and Discord are the most popular modern options for chatting, but sometimes you just want access to plain text-based chat servers. That’s what IRC is all about. It lets you join several channels created based on various topics and interests. 

Anyone can create a server and have a #games channel dedicated to chatting about games. No one controls IRC, so everyone is free to host or change servers however they want. So how can you enter the Wild West of online communication? You’re going to need an IRC client, and we’re going to help you find the best one for your system.

IRC Clients for Windows

Not all IRC clients are created equal. Some are compatible with Windows systems only, while more versatile ones work with macOS and Linux.

1. mIRC

Price: Free for 30 days, after which you need a user license that costs $20.

 Key features:

• SSL encryption
• Multi-server connections
• Friend lists
• Customizable vocal messages and sounds
• Message logging
• Notification system
• System tray alerts

mIRC is one of the oldest and most popular IRC clients for Windows. It’s been going strong since 1995 by keeping up-to-date with great functionalities. It’s also user-friendly and easily connects to a server by just entering its information.

You can use mIRC to chat and share files on any IRC network in the world. You can message someone in private or organize group conferences. mIRC comes with the following

2. WeeChat

Price: Free.

Key features:

• Multi-platform support
• Translated in multiple languages
• Supports multiple servers
• Scripts manager
• Customizable bars
• Spell checking
• Smart filter
• Friend list

WeChat is a free, open-source IRC client that works on Windows as well as Linux and macOS. It’s highly versatile and has detailed documentation for every feature and functionality.

WeeChat has plenty of premium features despite being a free app, including smart filtering options, a configurable interface, and multi-server support. Even more impressive is that it supports 8 scripting languages, including Python, C, Ruby, Lua, Javascript, and PHP, thanks to its scripts manager, which means there’s also an active community that creates scripts for WeeChat.

3. Foo IRC

Price: One-time payment of $1.99 in the Microsoft Store.

Key features:

• Supports multiple servers
• Message history
• Auto-reconnect to server
• IRCCloud support
• Scripting support
• Ignore list

Foo IRC is a lightweight app that has a minimalist interface. It can run in the background without you noticing it. It has a simplistic design, it’s easy to use with color-coded text, and you can install various plugins that change the IRC client’s look.

You can save the servers you frequent and your favorite channels so that you automatically reconnect to them when you start your computer.

4. IceChat

Price: Free.

Key features:

• Customizable GUI
• Multi-server and channel support
• Built-in client editor
• Emoticons
• Quick connect option

IceChat is one of the most stable IRC clients that fully supports Windows 10 64-bit. It’s customizable, easy to use, even for those unfamiliar with IRC clients. All you need to do is register a nickname, pick your IRC server, and you’re connected. IceChat also supports multiple servers, so you and your friends can enjoy numerous channels.

You can pick a different GUI theme or use the IceChat Editor to make your changes. Unlike other IRC clients, IceChat comes with integrated emoticons to add some spice.

5. Pidgin

Price: Free.

Key features:

• Supports all major computer platforms
• Multi-server support
• Open-source development
• Notification system
• Supports chat services like MSN
• Integrated emoticons

Pidgin is a free, open-source IRC client with multi-platform support. You can download it for Windows, macOS, and Linux as well.

Pidgin looks more modern than other IRC clients and offers all the functionalities you’d want. You can transfer files, receive notifications, and use emoticons. Connect to as many chat channels as you’d like, including chat services like MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger.

One of the best things about Pidgin is the active global community that contributes to fast bug fixes, feature updates, and plug-ins.

IRC Clients for macOS

Following is a list of Clients exclusively used for macOS.

1. Textual

Price: Free for 30 days, after which you need a user license that costs $7.99.

Key features:

• Address book
• Auto-complete function for commands and names
• Customizable styles
• Notification system
• Inline image embedding
• Multiple-channel support
• Supports iCloud

Textual is a premium IRC client developed for macOS. It has a dedicated development team and receives continuous support and updates. You can submit feature requests to the team.

The first thing you’ll notice is the GUI that looks like any modern communication application and supports several keyboard shortcuts for smooth navigation.

Textual supports all Mac versions. It’s easy to navigate, configure and customize. The client is well-documented, and you can use several programming languages to create your addons. You can save your configurations and plug-in scripts in the client’s dedicated installation folder.

2. LimeChat

Price: Free

Key features:

• SSL encryption
• Chat message notifications and highlights
• Pasted links become automatically clickable

If you want a free, lightweight IRC client for your Mac system, LimeChat is your pick. It’s secured with SSL encryption and allows you to connect to multiple servers simultaneously.

LimeChat is not as gorgeous as Textual, but the performance and functionality are there. It can send chat notifications on every channel you’re connected to; it supports keyboard shortcuts for easy navigation and can stay active in the background.

3. XChat Aqua/Azure

Price: Free

Key features:

• Supports basic scripting
• Encrypted messaging system
• Auto-complete functionality
• Supports file transfers
• Integrated spell-checker

XChat Aqua/Azure is a lightweight IRC client developed for Mac systems. It can auto-complete commands, nicknames, and it protects you from grammatical errors with an integrated spell-checking tool. Additionally, you can transfer files to other users.

XChat is a free app that comes with at least one unique feature that other clients lack. It allows you to encrypt your message, and the receiver can decrypt it with the correct passcode. That’s pretty neat if you’re concerned about security.

IRC Clients for Linux

The Linux community is doing a great job at continuously developing IRC and making security and functionality improvements. Whether you prefer a graphical, console, or web IRC client, there’s something for everyone.

Note: WeeChat, mentioned in the Windows section above, is one of the best IRC clients for Linux and Windows. Make sure to try it out!

1. Konversation

Price: Free

Key features:

• On-screen notifications overlay
• Command shortcuts
• Automatic URL detection
• Channel bookmarks
• Supports DCC file transfer
• Highly customizable with scripts

Konversation is the best choice for people who focus on improving productivity. Several features set this IRC client for Linux apart from others, including the On-Screen Display and Quick Buttons tools.

The GUI looks plain, but you don’t have to keep the client window open to keep an eye out for private messages and chat mentions. The On-Screen Display feature generates an overlay message when someone types your nickname. You can simply configure the client, connect to a server, and then continue your business until someone messages you.

The Quick Buttons feature can turn any command into a Quick Button shortcut. Say ‘goodbye’ to repetitive typing. Add a URL catcher and file transfer support to the mix, and you have a robust IRC client for Linux.

2. Irssi

Price: Free

Key features:

• Customizable with modules, scripts, and themes
• Autologging
• Custom keybindings
• Detects pasted text
• Multi-platform support

Irssi is a command-line IRC client for Linux and other Unix systems. It doesn’t have a GUI, so use Irssi only if you enjoy working with terminal commands. However, you can still customize the client’s looks with various themes.

Irssi is easy to set up and customize. It’s an open-source IRC client, so there’s an active community developing and creating scripts that expand its functionality. You can download hundreds of scripts from the Irssi Script Repository to get features that aren’t available with the standard package.  

By default, Irssi supports remote connection options, custom keybindings, logging, all the basic features you get with most IRC clients.

3. ERC

Price: Free

Key features:

• Multi-server and channel support
• Auto-join channel feature
• Converts URLs to clickable buttons
• Highlighting
• Timestamps
• Notification system
• Logs past actions

ERC is an IRC client with the Emacs text editor, making it easy to modify and customize based on your requirements and style. If you’re into programming, you will appreciate the ability to create your functions and commands.

By default, ERC comes with all the functions an IRC client should have. It supports multiple channels, one-on-one private messaging, keyword and nickname highlighting, and notifications. ERC is the best choice if you want a light IRC client for your Emacs or XEmacs editor.

Bonus: IRC Client for Android

IRC isn’t just for computer geeks. If you want to chat on the go, you can grab an IRC mobile client application for your Android smartphone or tablet.

IRCCloud

Price: Free

Key features:

• Saves your server connection without data access
• Chat history synced to the cloud
• File sharing
• Notification system

IRCCloud is a basic IRC client for Android that lets you connect to your favorite IRC channels. IRCCloud stays online even when you have an unstable connection. The client will keep running, and it will automatically reconnect to the channel you were using. Don’t worry about losing your chat history either because it syncs to the cloud.

Despite being an Android IRC client, IRCCloud works like most computer IRC clients. You can share and receive files, get notifications when someone mentions your nickname, and customize it with scripts.

What’s your favorite IRC client? Let us know in the comments!

The post The 11 Best IRC Clients for Windows, macOS, and Linux in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Open Source software is usually associated with “boring” stuff like Linux or free office suites. Still, there’s a thriving Open Source video game community filling a niche that neither Indie nor big studio games can fill. While Open Source games tend to be humble in production value, they are often limitless in scope. If you’re a true video game enthusiast, you should give these titles a look.

1. The Battle for Wesnoth

This turn-based high-fantasy strategy game takes you to the world of Wesnoth. The game looks as polished as anything you’d get from a traditional publisher in this genre, and the amount of content is staggering. There are 17 official single-player campaigns to plow through, and that’s before you get to the user-made content. 

As for the gameplay itself, Wesnoth sports over 200 unit types, spread across seven factions. So whether you want to play by yourself or take part in massive multiplayer battles, the Battle for Wesnoth has what you need.

2. 0 A.D.

If you loved games like Age of Empires, then prepare to be blown away by 0 A.D. This gorgeous real-time strategy game centers around ancient warfare. The game is (at the time of writing) in its 25th alpha release, but don’t let that put you off. It’s already in playable shape. It’s hard to imagine that a global group of volunteer developers has put together such a cohesive game.

The game has exquisite detail, with unique looks for every culture and faction. It has interesting mechanics, such as getting combat bonuses if you use real historical combat formations. Maps are based on actual geography, historical details are included with an eye toward accuracy, and there are big plans in the future for naval warfare too!

3. CUBE 2: Sauerbraten

Sauerbraten is a Quake-like shooter that you can play by yourself or against other players. It’s not the prettiest game around, but there’s a good reason for that. The philosophy behind the game is to make it possible for the level editor to work in real-time. Therefore, the in-game graphics are always simple enough to allow for this ability to change the look and feel of the game.

Letting the community easily create levels makes Sauerbraten unique, and you’ll find real gems within the selection. The map editor is actually in the game itself, so you have no reason not to try your hand at making the following hit map for the game.  

4. Red Eclipse

Red Eclipse is a fork of Sauerbraten that reimagines the gameplay of the original to include parkour mechanics. You still have the in-game level editor, but Red Eclipse offers improved visuals and a closer feel to Quake III Arena. The developers specifically describe it as an “Arena shooter featuring parkour.” So if that sounds appealing to you, give Red Eclipse a try.

5. SuperTuxCart

Who doesn’t love Mario Kart? It has spawned many imitators on other platforms, but most people don’t know that there’s a brilliant Open Source take on the kart-racing formula.

“Tux” refers to the Linux penguin mascot who takes his place among other mascots in the game’s Mascot Kingdom setting. There’s a whole story about a villain named Nolok and many different characters, each a mascot for an Open Source project.

SuperTuxCart isn’t a Mario Kart clone, as the developers are quick to point out, so it’s worth playing for Mario Kart veterans looking for something different.

6. Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead

Cataclysm is an old-school roguelike game where you find yourself in the post-apocalypse with nothing but the shirt on your back. Your goal is to survive for as long as possible.

Everything seems to be working against your bid for survival, but with luck and smarts, you might just keep breathing for another turn. While the graphics are basic, the story’s depth pales even the biggest-budget titles.

7. FreeOrion

Master of Orion and its sequel are one of the best and most important “4X” strategy games ever made. To this day, they remain amazing games worth playing, and you can still buy them on GoG.com!

FreeOrion isn’t a remake or a clone of those games, but it builds on the same design and premise. You are the leader of an alien race (which may happen to be human). You need to expand your empire by exploring the galaxy, improving your economy and technology, and conquering planets and other races. 

At the time of writing, the diplomacy options in FreeOrion are still basic, but in time it might equal other 4X games. However, you should have no qualms booting up this epic space title unless you wanted to be a complete pacifist.

8. FlightGear

Microsoft’s Flight Simulator might be cheap, thanks to Game Pass, but there’s still plenty of reasons to give FlightGear a try. The community is constantly working to improve the sim model and add more aircraft and other content. Yes, technically, pure flight simulators are not games, but we thought it would be a shame to let FlightGear fly under the radar for this article. Pun totally intended.

There’s not too much to say here since it’s a flight simulator, but if you’re a sim junkie, this should be in your collection.

9. Pioneer

Who can forget the wonder of loading the original Elite by David Braben? While those wireframe graphics might look silly today, at the time, it was amazing that you could fly through space, explore planets while trading and fighting in your ship.

Today, Braben’s latest title Elite Dangerous is still a banger and an essential VR game to boot. However, many people still consider Frontier: Elite II to be the pinnacle of the series.

Pioneer is inspired by that game and aims to bottle the same lightning again in a free and Open Source form.

Pioneer has no set goal; you can do what you want, make money through trade, piracy, or as a mercenary for hire. It uses accurate space flight physics, at least when it comes to conventional space flight. It even uses basic atmospheric drag physics when you land on a planet. While not nearly as beautiful as Elite Dangerous, Pioneer is pleasing to the eye in its own right.

10. FreeCiv

The Civilization series of turn-based strategy games are alive and well, but people feel that the modern games have strayed a little too far from what made the original games so compelling. We love the latest Civ games, but FreeCiv does bring some of that old-school charm back for one more turn. Okay, maybe just one more. 

Are there any open-source video games you are looking forward to that we didn’t mention here? Feel free to let us know in the comments!

The post The 10 Best Open Source Video Games in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Storing all of your pictures only on your device is risky. In the event your device fails or you lose it, you’ll also lose all of your media files for good. One way to avoid this is to make local backups to a USB disk or an external hard drive. However, that requires you to update those backups on a regular basis.

A better solution is to store your images online. There are numerous image hosting sites out there that offer different functionality, like unlimited (or limited) photo storage, sharing your photos across various platforms, image editing, and more. 

In this article, we’ll round up the best free image hosting websites that you can use to store your pictures online.

1. Google Photos

Price: Free, with paid subscriptions available. 

When it comes to image hosting, Google Photos is the obvious option. It’s one of the best-known image hosting sites. Since it’s a part of Google Suite, it makes sense to use Google Photos if you’re already using other Google tools, like Gmail, or Google Docs.

With the free plan, you get up to 15GB of free storage to store your media files. It might not seem like much, especially when other sites offer more storage. However, the biggest benefit here is that Google Photos syncs your pictures with your Google account, making it easier to access them and share them with anyone for free. You can also use the Google Photos app to free up space on your smartphone by uploading your photos and storing them online. 

2. iCloud

Price: Free, with paid subscriptions available. 

If you’re an Apple user, iCloud might be the best choice for you. It’s a built-in cloud-based storage service that you can use instead of an image hosting site.

If you own an iPhone, iPad, or a Mac, you can use up to 5GB of iCloud storage for free. You get it automatically when you sign up. If that’s not enough, you can also join one of the premium subscription plans at a later date. You can use iCloud to upload your pictures, as well as other files like videos or documents. The maximum file size for uploaded files is 15GB. iCloud also allows for easy file sharing via the link, or to apps like Keynotes, Pages, and Notes.

3. Flickr

Price: Free, with paid subscriptions available. 

Flickr is one of the oldest and best-known image-hosting websites. The site is easy to navigate, so anyone can use it to store their images online. However, Flickr caters to those who are looking to take their photography to the next level and get some exposure.

After you create an account, Flickr allows you to upload up to 1,000 pictures with the max uploading size of up to 200MB per file. You can also use Flickr to store your videos online. Once you upload your pics, you can organize them into albums or collections. You can also use keywords to tag your pictures to simplify the search process later.

Flickr also features a beginner-friendly image editor with a number of filters and editing tools to enhance your photos.

4. Imgur

If you’re looking for a way to quickly share a picture with someone, Imgur is the right platform for you. This free image hosting site is often used by Redditors for exchanging media files.

One big advantage of Imgur is that you don’t need to create an account to use it. You can upload your images straight to the site without registering. It supports various file formats, including JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIF, TIFF, PDF, and others.

If you choose to create an account, then you can enjoy unlimited storage space on Imgur for free. You can also use Imgur for exposure and set your images to be public, i.e. share them with Imgur users all over the world.

5. 500PX

Price: free.

500PX is another great image hosting site that you can use to store your pictures online. It’s often used by photographers not just for storing but also for selling their photos.

The site allows you to choose whether you want to keep your uploads private, or to share them with other users (either for free or for a fee). You can use both your computer and your smartphone to upload your images, as well as upload pictures from your social networks, like Facebook or Instagram.

There are no storage or file size restrictions. The only limit that 500PX has is that you cannot upload more than 20 images per week for free. 

6. Dropbox

Price: Free, with paid subscriptions available. 

Using Dropbox might seem confusing at first, especially if you’ve never used an image hosting site before. However, once you create an account and spend a few minutes looking around the site, you’ll realize that Dropbox is pretty straightforward. 

All you need to do is upload your images on the site: literally like dropping your pictures into one box. You’ll then get a link that you can share to your picture or a folder with pictures. That way you get to store all of your files in one place and access them at any time.

Dropbox is a great free image hosting site. The only drawback it has is the limit of 2GB of storage for a free account. You can extend that by inviting others to join Dropbox, or by joining one of the paid subscription plans.

7. Icedrive

Price: Free, with paid subscriptions available. 

Icedrive is a cloud service made in Wales that’s most famous for supporting Twofish Encryption. All the files that you upload on Icedrive are encrypted at the client-side with no knowledge of your data. You can then showcase and share the uploaded files with your friends and colleagues via the link.

The interface is clean and beginner-friendly, and you can easily learn how to manage your files using Icedrive. This cloud service allows you to store files up to 100TB. However, the free plan has a limit of 10GB of storage. Icedrive also comes with a smartphone app so you can access your files from your phone at any time.

8. 4shared

Price: Free, with paid subscriptions available. 

4shared is a file hosting site that allows you to upload your pictures, share them with other users, and download them at any time. Aside from images, you can use 4shared for storing your videos, music, books, and even apps.

After you create an account on 4shared, you get 15GB of free storage and ability to download your files. You can also join one of their premium plans to enjoy other benefits like ad-free sharing and download, 100GB cloud storage, and recovery of deleted files in your cloud.

9. Imgbox

Price: Free.

If you’re looking for a platform that allows for a quick hassle-free sharing of your files, Imgbox is one of the best choices for you. It offers unlimited storage for free, and there’s no expiration date for your uploaded images. The only limitation is that you can’t upload a single file bigger than 10MB.

Imgbox supports JPG, GIF, and PNG file formats, as well as videos. The best thing is that you don’t even need to create an account to start uploading your files. The whole process of uploading a file takes only a few clicks and a few seconds of your time. Then you can easily download your files from a different device, or share them with other users.

10. Free Image Hosting

Price: Free. 

Free Image Hosting is a file hosting platform that might seem a little outdated, but it does the job well. The interface isn’t very modern and rather minimalistic. However, this makes it easier to navigate through the service.

Free Image Hosting doesn’t require you to create an account before you start uploading your files. The image sharing process is very straightforward too: Once you upload your photo, you get an HTML code and a link that you can use to forward the picture to another person, or to integrate it into your website. There’s no limit to how many files you can upload, and there’s no expiration date. However, there’s a file size limit of 3MB per file.

What’s the Best Free Image Hosting Website for You?

Choosing the best image hosting site really depends on your needs. Whether you prefer more storage capacity, or if you’d rather not have to deal with the registration process – all of these will have an effect on your choice of platform.

Have you used an image hosting service before? What website is your favorite and is it on our list? Share your experience with image hosting sites in the comments section below.

The post The 10 Best Free Image Hosting Sites in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

The Tour de France is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious cycling events. This year’s Tour de France is the 112th running of the annual men-only cycling race. Teams will cycle through 21 stages entirely within France’s borders (which hasn’t happened since 2020).

Staying by the road to watch participants cycle is free. Many local and international media outlets will also provide free-to-air coverage via cable or digital streaming. This article highlights streaming platforms where you can watch the Tour de France online without cable TV.

2025 Tour de France: Schedule and Route

This year’s Tour de France will run from July 5 through July 27. There’ll be two rest days and 21 stages—seven flat stages, six hilly stages, six mountain stages, and two individual time trials.

Here’s a rundown of the 2023 Tour de France schedule, route, and stage distance:

Where to Watch Tour de France Online

Live coverage for the 2025 Tour de France will be available in over 200 countries. Some official broadcasters include Eurosport, bein Sport, NBC, FloBikes, Peacock, ITV, and GlobalCyclingNetwork (GCN).

You can watch the 2023 Tour de France on the streaming platforms below if you don’t have cable TV.

Peacock TV

Peacock TV will provide live coverage of all 2025 Tour de France races to Premium and Premium Plus subscribers. The streaming service will also broadcast pre-race shows, post-race highlights, cyclist interviews, stage recaps, and more.

Peacock’s ad-supported Premium plan costs $4.99/month, while the ad-free Premium Plus plan costs $9.99/month.

YouTube TV

You can follow live actions from the Tour de France on YouTube TV through the NBC Sports channel. Subscribe to YouTube TV ($72.99/month) or join a family-sharing group to stream the event on your streaming device.

YouTube TV is available on mobile devices (Android/iOS), gaming consoles (PS5/PS4/Xbox), and streaming media players (Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, etc.). Check out the various devices and platforms that support YouTube TV.

FloBikes

FloBikes is an official partner of the Tour de France bicycle race in Canada. Install the FloBikes app on your streaming device and buy a PRO subscription ($29.99/month or $150/annual) to watch the Tour de France online.

You can also stream the Tour de France on FloBikes’ website using Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.

fuboTV

If you have a fuboTV subscription, you can watch the Tour de France on the NBC channel. All fuboTV plans (starting at $74.99/month) have the NBC channel and a seven-day free trial for new users.

fuboTV is only available in the United States and U.S. territories. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to watch the Tour de France on fuboTV outside supported regions.

Hulu Live TV

You can stream all 21 stages of the Tour de France anywhere on NBC with a Hulu Live TV subscription. Hulu’s Live TV plans include access to Disney+ and ESPN+. The ad-supported Live TV subscription goes for $69.99/month, while the ad-free plan costs $82.99/month.

Sling TV

The 2025 Tour de France will be available to Sling TV subscribers on the NBC channel. With a Sling TV “Blue” plan ($45/month), you can watch the Tour de France online on any Sling-supported device. Although Sling TV doesn’t offer a free trial, new users get a $15 discount on their first subscription.

Eurosport

Eurosport holds the rights to broadcast the 2025 Tour de France in Europe. Buy an Eurosport Pass and install the Eurosport Player or Eurosport app on your streaming device. You can also stream Eurosport on your computer using web browsers.

The Eurosport Pass subscription fee will vary depending on your region/country and the subscription length—monthly or annual. Refer to Eurosport’s support website for more information about Eurosport Passes.

ITVX (formerly ITV Hub)

ITV will broadcast the 2025 Tour de France on the ITV4 channel in the United Kingdom. You can stream all 21 stages on your phone, computer, and other devices through the iTVX app or website.

You need an ITVX Premium subscription (£5.99/month or £59.99/year) to access the ITV4 channel. First-time subscribers get a 7-day trial to test the service without payment.

GCN+

GlobalCyclingNetwork (GCN) is one of the best streaming platforms for cycling content—bike races, shows, documentaries, etc. The streaming provider is a broadcast partner for the 2025 Tour de France in Europe.

Buy a GCN+ subscription ($8.99/month or $49.99/annual) to access the Tour de France live stream on GNC. Stream the races via the GCN app on your smartphone, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, or Samsung TV.

You can also watch via supported web browsers—Safari, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.

Don’t Miss the Action

Peacock TV offers the cheapest plan to watch the 2023 Tour de France online in the United States. Use Eurosport or GNC+ if you’re outside the U.S.

Race highlights, cyclist interviews, and other post-race content will be available on the Tour de France YouTube channel.

The post How to Watch Tour de France Online without Cable in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Crowdsourcing sites like Kickstarter are becoming more and more popular because people are constantly searching for the next best thing. Your business idea might be exactly what someone has been dreaming of for years. Whether you’re into game development or designing the next-generation smartwatch, you can find someone to invest in your ideas through crowdsourcing sites.

If you have a business idea that you believe in but can’t fund on your own, a crowdsourcing site is the best solution. However, not all of them have large enough communities, and some of them impose many restrictions. In this article, you’re going to find out which crowdsourcing site is the best to fund your project and bring your business idea to life.

Kickstarter

You’ve probably heard of Kickstarter because it’s one of the first successful crowdsourcing platforms that came to life. This site helped kickstart more than 210,000 projects with the help of millions of backers. It’s one of the biggest and most diverse fundraising platforms out there. Simply having access to millions of potential investors makes Kickstarter one of the top choices.

Kickstarter campaigns are set up with a reward system. First, you offer your backers various incentives in exchange for their financial support. You can create tiers of rewards that range from a personal thank you to a t-shirt and even exclusive items. For example, an author might offer the unique reward of naming a character in their book after the backer for a serious investment.

That said, Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing kind of deal. You need to set a goal and reach it; otherwise, you can’t access your funds. If you fail to reach the fundraising goal, your backers get their money back. Make sure you start networking early on to start with a core of followers and fans.

Patreon

If your business idea involves any kind of content creation, Patreon might be the perfect crowdsourcing site for you. Patreon is unique because it focuses on creators. This is where visual artists, writers, YouTubers, and musicians come to be crowdfunded by their fans.

Unlike other crowdsourcing sites like Kickstarter, you don’t have to wait for the end of the funding campaign to access your funds. Instead, your patrons can pay a monthly subscription in exchange for certain benefits or services, or they pay per creation. For example, if you’re a writer, a patron could pay monthly to read your work chapter by chapter as it progresses. You can also offer exclusive content, branded goods, and other rewards by setting different payment tiers.

Indiegogo

Indiegogo is often compared to Kickstarter because of its crowdfunding system and popularity. When you first look at it, it might look like Kickstarter under a different name, but it comes with a few unique options. Besides, if you have enough time, you can set up a crowdfunding campaign on both platforms.

Indiegogo lets you start a fundraising campaign with a set goal. This means you need to reach that goal by its deadline before you can access the funds. Sounds familiar? What sets Indiegogo apart is the flexible funding option. You can set up a flexible funding goal instead of an all-or-nothing goal.

The flexible option is ideal when you know you can deliver your product or service even if you don’t raise your goal’s set amount of funds. Instead, you simply use the funds as one of your financial sources. 

In addition, you can keep raising capital even after the end of the campaign. This is useful if your business goes through different stages, such as design, testing, and final production.

Crowd Supply

In a world of intangible apps, it’s nice to see a crowdfunding site dedicated to hardware. That’s exactly what Crowd Supply is. It helps fund hardware projects that are often overlooked because of the software development craze.

If you’re a designer or an engineer looking for funds to create a useful product like a LiDAR camera, an innovative keyboard, or a special motherboard for robots, Crowd Supply is the best place to go. Opting for such a focused platform makes it easier to stand out from the crowd because everyone is interested in hardware and nothing else.

That said, launching your campaign is a bit more challenging than on other platforms. Crowd Supply asks for innovative and useful products. You also need first to have a working prototype to present to the Crowd Supply campaign manager. Based on how you answer any of their questions, they will determine whether the project fits the platform.

Fundable

Fundable is a crowdsourcing site that helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into new businesses. At the moment, only US startups can apply, so if you’re not from the US, you should try one of our other recommendations.

Fundable offers two fundraising options. You can raise funds by selling your products or services or by offering stock shares in your company to investors. Fundable recommends the first option for startups that are looking to raise less than $50,000 and the equity option for more capital.

Fundable is similar to the traditional route of fundraising. You need to show potential investors a business plan, a track record of solid growth and prepare the best pitch you can muster. The downside is that you’ll need to pay $179/month to start the campaign when you pay a fee only after raising the funds on other crowdsourcing sites.

SeedInvest

SeedInvest is similar to Fundable in the sense that it’s an equity crowdsourcing site. Your backers are investors who want to buy into your company and own stock. They’re not just fans or supporters. They will own a piece of your company. So think carefully about what that means before spending time on setting up your campaign.

SeedInvest has been helping startups since 2012 by building a network of more than half a million investors. You’ll find regular people as well as accredited investors looking to fund the next revolutionary business. You’ll need to file an application, go through a screening process, and if accepted, you can launch your campaign.

Take note that most of the companies that receive funding are tech and eCommerce businesses. If your product or service doesn’t fall in these categories, you should focus your energy on other crowdsourcing sites.

Mightycause

Are you trying to start a nonprofit organization that’s trying to solve one of the world’s countless problems? Mightycause might be the best fundraising platform for you.

This crowdsourcing site is easy to use and you don’t need to reach any goals to unlock the funds you raise. Even if you don’t meet your goal, you can keep the funds you received from donors. Another advantage is that you don’t need to go through an exhausting screening process. Simply launch your nonprofit fundraising campaign and work to achieve your goals.

Before you get started, keep in mind that Mightycause charges a $59/month fee paid annually.

GoFundMe

GoFundMe is one of the largest sites for crowdsourcing, thanks to its simplicity and flexibility. Anyone can set up a campaign to raise funds. It’s primarily aimed towards helping individuals, but small businesses can also benefit. 

As the name suggests, GoFundMe isn’t for commercial projects, but it’s a good option for a local business to request support from the community around it. If you have a large personal network, you can use GoFundMe to ask your connections for support.

Fund Your Next Big Project!

Crowdsourcing gave a voice to many companies that started from a garage and grew to have hundreds of employees. Now, tech innovators have the chance to show their prototypes to the public and earn the success they deserve.

There’s no guarantee you’ll get all the funding you need for your business idea, but crowdsourcing sites can be one of your many financial streams.

The post 8 Best Crowdsourcing Sites to Fund Your Business Idea in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Do you need to communicate with others in multiple languages? If so, then using machine translation software or artificial intelligence translators is the way to go. This technology has come a long way since its early days of being rudimentary at best. Now, it’s becoming increasingly accurate and affordable, which is perfect for anyone who wants professional translations without having to pay exorbitant prices.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best machine translation software or AI translators on the market so you can make an informed decision when selecting which one is right for your needs.

What Is Machine Translation Software?

Machine translation software is based on artificial intelligence, and it provides automated translations of text from one language to another. This tool quickly became a part of computer-assisted translation (CAT) workflows, speeding up translation work and making it more affordable. This system is now advanced and capable of quickly translating large volumes of text. That’s why machine translation is very popular among large businesses that need bulk translation of various documents and websites.

Although some users still don’t trust the machine translation’s accuracy, these tools significantly improved over time. That’s all thanks to the new technology known as statistical machine translation (SMT), that’s capable of translating text by analyzing human translations. SMT then applies various algorithms to produce the best possible translation.

SMT was a big step forward when it comes to automated translating. However, it’s less efficient than the latest translation technology, neural machine translation (NMT). The NMT attempts to imitate the human brain and uses deep learning to generate a high-quality text translation. The result is not only almost perfect accuracy, but the translation is natural. So you can now get translations that don’t feel like they’re the result of a bot.

Why Use Machine Translation Software?

Whether you are a linguist or a business manager, you’ll find that translating tools can be of great help. Here are some of the most often cited reasons why machine translation is a better option than traditional solutions:

• Fast results: Without a doubt, machine translation is simply faster than human translation. It can translate text or even images in a matter of seconds, and it’s great when it comes to translating large volumes.
• Easy to use: Machine translation software is as simple as copying and pasting a text and setting the desired language. The rest is done by the tool itself.
• Seamless operation: Some machine translation tools can easily be added to the software you typically use for business. Then, you can avoid copying and pasting the text. Instead, you can have it integrated into your business, as a tool, and make real-time translations on the spot.
• Cost-effective: Yes, machine translation software is not always free. But even if you need to pay a monthly subscription or a license, you’ll still save more money than if you go with a human translator.
• Reliable: The professional tools are vetted by actual translators and native speakers before their release. That is why you can rest assured they are reliable and can produce accurate enough translations.

That said, let’s look at some of the best machine translation tools currently on the market.

1. Google Translate

Price: Free up to 500,000 characters per month / $20 per million characters.

• 132 available languages
• API integration
• Translates PDF, Docs, PPTX, and XLSX file formats
• Quick
• Downloadable app or online translation

Google Translate is the most popular machine translator out there. It’s used by millions of people daily for business, academia, or day-to-day translation needs. Because it’s free, anyone can use Google Translate. It’s available online, as a downloadable app for your PC, and as a mobile app.

Google Translate can translate up to 10MB files and almost unlimited amounts of text, for free. You can copy the text, or upload a document. You can even use URLs and translate website content into any of the 132 different languages. And on top of that, you can integrate it into other software and tools.

That said, the accuracy of the translation done by Google Translate is not the best even though it greatly improved over the last few years. This software has trouble understanding certain language nuances and sometimes idioms. However, it’s completely free and simple to use, so if you don’t need the most accurate translation possible, Google Translate is great.

2. DeepL Translate

Price: Free up to 500,000 characters per month / Different subscription tiers available ranging from $6.99 to $45.99 per month.

• 31 available languages
• Copy text or upload files
• API integration
• CAT tool integration
• Translates PDF, Docx, and Pptx files

DeepL is an AI translator with a similar interface to Google Translate. However, DeepL supports fewer languages and it seems it targets only North America, Europe, and Japan. It also doesn’t support website translation. However, the accuracy of translations is far greater than with Google Translate and this app is very good at translating the tone and context of a given text. It doesn’t rely on word-by-word translation.

Although free, the paid version brings more file security features, including the SOO feature (Single Sign-On). You can also add more than one user, which is great for businesses. But the price of the paid version is a bit higher than for other options. Fortunately, you can opt for the 30-day trial period before deciding to commit to DeepL Translation.

3. Amazon Translate

Free up to 500,000 characters per two months / $15-$60 per million characters depending on subscription tier.

• 75 available languages
• API integration with JSON Code
• Neural Machine Translation Service
• Auto language detection
• Free data storage

Amazon Translate is a tool that produces high-quality translations, and because it uses neural machine translation technology it has amazing accuracy and it’s pretty fast too. You can use it to translate copied text, websites, or web applications. You can even integrate Amazon Translate into your own websites and apps with JSON.

Overall, Amazon Translate is a good machine translation software. It’s professional and it can easily localize content for international users. However, it requires some coding experience if you want to integrate it into your business website. The only downside is you have to use your credit or debit card just to make an account to be able to test the free version.

4. Bing Microsoft Translator

Price: Free up to 2 million characters per month / $10 – $15 per million characters.

• 111 available languages
• Translates scanned documents
• Supports transliteration
• Auto language detection
• Custom model hosting for web developers

Bing hasn’t been taken seriously for a long time, but everything changed with AI integration. Microsoft’s Bing Translator is a powerful cloud-based tool that can instantly translate real-time conversations, apps, websites, and more. It’s available on all desktop and smartphone devices, so It’s especially convenient for tourists as it can translate real-time conversations with its voice translation algorithms. Besides, you can also use it to translate menus, or street names, all from your iOS or Android mobile device, even if you don’t have an internet connection.

That said, the Bing Translator is not the most accurate AI translator on the market, but it’s certainly very diverse. Use it to translate scanned documents for business, photos, and links, or use it as a bilingual dictionary for the most common phrases.

5. Systran Translate

Price: $5 – $33 per month depending on subscription tier.

• Over 50 available languages
• Translates web pages, documents, PowerPoint slides, and images
• CAT tools
• Microsoft Office integration
• Neural translation models

Systrian is a cloud-based real-time translation tool targeted at businesses who need to seamlessly communicate with international clients and team members. With over 40 years of experience in translation technologies, it’s no wonder cooperative giants like Google, Yahoo, and NASA rely on Systrian technologies.

You can use Systrian to translate your business correspondence, documents, websites, photos, and even ZIP files. The best thing about it is it can translate whole directories of text files at once, almost in no time. This neural-network-based translation app was developed with the assistance of experienced linguists to achieve excellent accuracy, so try it out if you need near-perfect translations.

6. Crowdin

Price: $40 – $450 per month depending on subscription tier. Businesses have custom pricing offers.

• Built-in translation memory
• Integrations
• Translation management
• Task delegation
• Translation Workflow Automation

Crowdin is a localization platform that also manages translations and assists companies in localizing different materials. This platform has several different tools that allow task delegation and workflow automation. So it’s much more than just a simple AI translator.

The most fun feature of Crowdin is that team members can work together on translation projects and help each other. They can also communicate via the platform ensuring that the task is completed accurately. Crowdin is the best app out there for professional translators that work online.

7. Smartling

Price: Custom pricing.

• Task Delegation
• Glossary
• API Integration
• PCI security certified
• SOC 2 and HIPAA certified

If you’re looking for the most secure machine translation software, Smartling is the answer. The app was developed for enterprises that need to translate confidential documents. However, it’s available to anyone for a price. Besides PCI, SOC 2, and HIPAA certification, it’s ISO17100 compliant.

Smartling is an AI-powered translation management system that you can use to localize apps, websites, or various documents. It can easily be integrated with programs such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Figma. However, Smartling is not easy to use. It has a steep learning curve, but it gives you the freedom to customize your translation process. That’s what makes it one of the top choices for professionals.

So whether you’re an individual or a professional team seeking out the best machine translation software or AI translators, there are plenty of options and tools out there to try. Remember, choosing a great software or translator is not only important for its accuracy but also its overall quality and its cost-effectiveness, so keep all these things in mind.

The post 7 Best Machine Translation Software (or AI) to Try in 2025 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.