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Website

OpenAlternative

A directory of open-source alternatives to popular proprietary software.

Visit OpenAlternative4.5

  • Rating

    4.5 / 5

  • Pricing

    Free

  • Difficulty

    Beginner

  • Works on

    Web

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What is OpenAlternative?

OpenAlternative is a free directory that lists open-source alternatives to well-known commercial tools, from analytics and design to project management. Each listing shows the project's GitHub activity, licence and hosting options, which makes it easier to find self-hostable, privacy-friendly software.

Pros: what OpenAlternative does well

  • Focused on open-source tools
  • GitHub stats on each listing
  • Clear category browsing

Cons: where it falls short

  • Smaller catalogue than general directories
  • Some projects need technical setup

Who OpenAlternative is for

Teams and developers who want to move away from closed, subscription-based software.

Who can skip it

People who prefer fully hosted apps with official support.

What people use OpenAlternative for

  • Finding an open source replacement for a paid app such as a project tool, analytics service or design app
  • Browsing open source tools by category, tag or licence
  • Getting an open source project in front of people who are looking for alternatives

How to get started

  1. 1Open openalternative.co and search for the paid tool you want to replace.
  2. 2Open an alternative's page to see its licence, tags and links.
  3. 3Follow the link to the project's website or repository and check how it is hosted before you commit.
  4. 4To list your own project, use the Submit page and choose a listing package.

OpenAlternative pricing

Browsing the directory is free. Submitting a project asks you to pick a listing package, and the packages decide how visible the listing is. Check the official submit page for the current options. See current prices on OpenAlternative's site

Checked 2026-11-13. Prices change, so double-check before you pay.

OpenAlternative FAQ: quick answers

What is OpenAlternative?
A directory of open source alternatives to proprietary software, organised by category, tags and licences.
Does it list only free software?
It lists open source projects. Some can be self-hosted for free, while others also offer paid hosted versions, so check each project's own pricing.

OpenAlternative alternatives

Not sold on OpenAlternative? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.

All Research resources

selfh.st

Focus: app directory. Shares self-hosted and open source with OpenAlternative. Rated 4.6 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

WebsiteFreeWeb
4.6Visit

switching.software

Focus: privacy and ethical tech. Shares directory and alternatives with OpenAlternative. Rated 4.4 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit

ToS;DR

Focus: privacy, terms of service and ratings. Shares directory with OpenAlternative. Adds Chrome and Firefox. Rated 4.6 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

WebsiteFreeWeb, Chrome
4.6Visit

AlternativeTo

Focus: software directory, app discovery and reviews. Shares alternatives with OpenAlternative. Same 4.5 rating.

WebsiteFreeWeb
4.5Visit

Free alternatives to OpenAlternative

Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.

SaaSHub

Focus: software alternatives, comparisons and reviews. Shares directory with OpenAlternative. Rated 4.4 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit

1000UserGuide

Focus: user acquisition, marketing channels and indie developer. Shares directory and open source with OpenAlternative. Rated 4.7 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit

Free for Dev

Focus: free tiers and developer tools. Shares directory and open source with OpenAlternative. Rated 4.7 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

WebsiteFreeWeb
4.7Visit

deliberation

Focus: multi-model, deliberation and second opinion. Shares open source with OpenAlternative. An AI tool, not a website. Adds macOS, Windows and Linux. Rated 4.4 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

AI ToolFreemacOS, Windows
4.4Visit

Shaarli

Focus: bookmarks, link sharing and minimalist. Shares self-hosted and open source with OpenAlternative. Rated 4.4 (OpenAlternative: 4.5).

WebsiteFreeWeb
4.4Visit
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