LiberKey Review – A Collection of Windows Software to Go

excellent
key review info
application features
  • Install portable apps from an online database
  • (4 more, see all...)

Free to use, LiberKey integrates a collection of portable applications specializing in different areas, which can be quickly set up on a computer to get them up and running. It is particularly practical when installing a fresh copy of Windows, as it saves users the trouble of figuring out, locating and download each piece of software at a time.

Apps can be easily launched from the system tray area, and the tool comes loaded with numerous customization settings for the interface and portable programs. For example, they can be organized into multiple categories. It is possible to opt for a predefined suite with multiple tools and select the preferred ones to install, or browse the components separately.

Installation and interface

The setup procedure is fast and does not require special attention. Once launched, LiberKey creates an icon in the system tray area and offers to download a list with all available applications. There are three suites available, in accordance with the user's preferences and requirements: basic, standard and ultimate.

View the package contents and set up apps

The basic suite includes a compression tool (7-Zip), audio player (AIMP), system cleaner (CCleaner), two disc burners (CDBurnerXP and InfraRecorder), photo viewer (FastStone Image Viewer), password manager (KeePass Classic Edition), multimedia player (MPC HomeCinema), text editor with support for programming (Notepad++), PDF viewer (PDF-XChange Viewer), photo editor (PhotoFiltre), calculator (SpeedCrunch), sticky notes (Stickies) and USB device remover (USB Disk Ejector).

Manage a list of portable utilities courtesy of LiberKey
Manage a list of portable utilities courtesy of LiberKey

The standard and ultimate suite include all these tools and add another disc burner (Amok CD/DVD Burning), system cleaner (CleanAfterMe), file renamer (Ant Renamer), desktop customizer (AquaSnap), audio editor and recorder (Audacity), cataloging utility (CdCat), hotkeys creator (Clavier+), analog clock (ClocX), and many more.

The purpose of each program can be examined by hovering the mouse over an entry, along with the total number of available and selected programs, already installed apps, and software updates. Meanwhile, priority updates, new apps, or app updates can be deselected or hidden. Any components can be excluded from installation, and LiberKey puts at the users' disposal buttons to select and deselect all items.

After asking the tool to install selected programs, it sets up one app at a time and shows progress bars. Once they are installed, users can restart the wizard to launch the portable tools as well as to install new ones if necessary. New software additions made to the LiberKey database can be learned from a news section.

Easily access portable software from the system tray
Easily access portable software from the system tray

All installed programs can be easily accessed from the main window. They are classified in different categories and can be quickly launched (with or without administrative privileges). In addition to resorting to a search function to quickly locate a specific object, users can create new shortcuts to open files, folders, apps or websites, as well as put them in new groups. Most and recently used programs are accessible from two different tabs.

Program settings

As far as LiberKey configuration is concerned, it is possible to temporarily enable file associations for the installed programs, change the primary color of the menu and windows, switch to another UI language, disable automatic checkups for software updates, change proxy settings, as well as enable keyboard shortcuts to launch applications, display a reminder before launching a tool and set the display duration or the reminder.

It is also possible to set the number of maximum items in "recent" and "most used" tabs in the main frame, ask LiberKey to automatically run at every Windows startup until further notice, disable confirmations for shortcut deletions, switch to a proxy configuration to bypass network connectivity restrictions, and so on.


The Good

The software application worked well on Windows 8.1 during our tests, without causing the operating system to hang, crash or pop up error messages. Its compatibility extends older OS editions, including XP and 7.

It is free to use and includes an extensive database of up-to-date programs ready to be downloaded and immediately launched without actually installing them on the PC. Shortcuts for files, folders and websites can be made to quickly open them from the system tray.

The available programs are put together in three distinct packages in accordance with the user's profile: basic, standard and ultimate. At the same time, each component can be individually explored and downloaded. Keyboard shortcuts can be set up to quickly launch any item from the list.

Multiple languages and UI colors are available.

Although the programs are not actually installed, it is possible to temporarily make file associations.

Help documentation is available. CPU and RAM consumption is minimal.

The Bad

Since the programs can be obtained from an online database, users must have an active Internet connection.

The Truth

All in all, LiberKey comes in handy to all users looking for quick methods to download and run the portable editions of essential and popular software applications.

user interface 4
features 5
ease of use 4
pricing / value 5


final rating 5
Editor's review
excellent
 
NEXT REVIEW: Preme

LiberKey (14 Images)

Manage a list of portable utilities courtesy of LiberKeyInstall an application suite and select preferred componentsCreate different menus with various groups of softwareKeep an eye on the LiberKey news to find out about new software additionsExplore the LiberKey tools
+9more