As a student you might be worried about the cost of tuition, books and living expenses while paying for the software required for your student laptop or desktop computer for research and assignments.

Going for a commercial software purchase might quickly eat away the budget you have. As cited on webopedia.com, please have a look at 20 free open source web tools and open source software.

Free Web-Based and Open Source Software Communication Tools

1. Gmail – This is Google's online email (Web mail) service that allows you to register for a free email account and access a number of features that includes storage, search, built-in chat, mobile access, voice chat, spam filters and more.

2. Meebo - This integrates many online communication channels and platforms into a single service. The Meebo Messenger allows you to access your friends on all the major networks (AIM, Yahoo!, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber) in a single friend list.

Free Web-Based and Open Source Software - Collaboration and Scheduling Tools

3. GanttProject – This is a free and open source desktop tool for project scheduling and management. It can be utilized by students for sharing projects and collaboration. It runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux systems.

4. TimetoMeet - This is a web-based scheduling tool for allowing students to find a common time for meeting with others to work on assignments and projects. It allows you to automatically synchronize your calendar from Outlook, iCal or Google and display all your appointments in one place.

Free Web-Based and Open Source Software - Document Editing and Management Tools

5. EditGrid – This is an online spreadsheet service offering a number of same features seen in Excel. It permits you to share, collaborate and publish your spreadsheet online.

6. Google Docs – This is a free web-based productivity spread offering students free software to work with documents (word processing), spreadsheets, presentations, drawings and forms. It allows you to upload files from your desktop, access files from any Internet-connected computer, and join with classmates and teachers.

Free Web-Based and Open Source Software - Presentation Tools

7. Embeddable Presentations - This is from Google Docs permitting you to make and collaborate on slideshow presentations. It allows you to add text, images, video more directly to your presentation slides.

8. Zoho Show 2.0 – This is an online tool for making presentations. It offers pre-built themes, clipart and shapes along with features like drag-and-drop that makes it an easy application to use.

Free Web-Based and Open Source Software - Task & Time Management Tools

9. Google Calendar – This is a free web-based tool from Google providing an easy way for busy students to create, organize and schedule assignments, lectures, social events and more. It allows you to share your schedule so family and friends can view schedules that others have shared with you.

10. Remember The Milk – This is a free web service that assists you in managing your tasks online. It allows you to make and manage tasks, set due dates and then get reminders about your scheduled tasks via email or instant messenger.

Free Web-Based and Open Source Software- Mathematics and Modeling Tools

11. GNU Octave - This is an open source high-level interpreted language that is oriented for numerical computations. It offers capabilities for the numerical solution of linear and nonlinear problems, along with performing other numerical experiments. It also offers a wide range of graphics capabilities for data visualization and manipulation.

12. Graphing Calculator from e-Tutor – This is an online web tool that allows students to enter functions of x via a standard mathematical format. The students only need to type one or more equations into the graph box on the site for using the graphing calculator.

Free Web-Based and Open Source Software - Note Taking

13. NoteMesh – This is a free online service permitting students in the same classes to share notes with each other. It works by making a wiki for individual classes for users to edit.

14. WebNotes (Lite version) – This is a free online service allowing students to highlight and add notes to Webpages from within the web browser. It allows the notes to be saved automatically with them reappearing any time you visit the page.

Free Web References and Educational Guides for Students

15. EasyBib – This free web tool offers instant bibliography and citations allowing you to search for a source, build the bibliography and then print or export it.

16. Google – This is a multi-functional "app" for students. Its search engine assists you in searching articles for research. It also acts like a calculator, definition finder, a conversion tool and more.

17. Google News search – This has an archive search option and is a good tool for students who are researching historical or current events.

18. Bookfinder – This is a search-based online resource that assists students in looking for the best prices on new and used textbooks, rentals, old editions, and international edition textbooks.

Open Source E-Learning Platforms for Educators

19. Claroline – This is an Open Source e-learning and e-working platform permitting teachers to make effective online courses and managing learning and collaborative activities on the web. It is based on PHP/MySQL and has been translated into 35 languages.

20. Dokeos – This is an online learning suite software that is offered as a free download with community-based support. It has some features that include SCORM compliant course import, support for multimedia content, test creation, course sequence building, forums, and videoconferencing.