Awesome Free Software

Contents

• Software
  • Audio
  • Command Line Tools
  • Communication
  • File Management
  • File Sharing
  • Graphics
  • IDEs
  • Office
  • Operating Systems
  • Other
  • Payments
  • Scientific Work
  • Screencasting
  • Text Editors
  • Utilities
  • Video
  • Virtualization
  • Web Applications
  • Web Servers
• Hardware
  • Companies
  • Hardware Resources
• Resources
  • Articles
  • Blogs
  • Businesses
  • Discovery
  • Events
  • Licensing
  • Organizations

Audio

• Audacity — Sound recording and post-processing. (GNU GPLv2+)
• Ardour — Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). (GNU GPLv2)
• Libre.fm — Stream, download, remix, and share music for free. (GNU AGPLv3)
• LMMS — Complete digital audio workstation. (GNU GPLv2+)
• mStream — Sync and stream music across devices. (GNU GPLv3)
• Nuclear Music Player — Streaming player finding music from free sources. (GNU AGPLv3)

Command Line Tools

• asciinema — Terminal session recorder. (GNU GPLv3)
• Clipboard — Cut, copy, paste from the command line. (GNU GPLv3)
• Cygwin — Unix-like environment for Windows. (GNU GPLv3)
• Logdissect — CLI utility and Python API for log analysis. (MIT)
• PuTTY — Remote terminal emulator. (MIT)
• ranger — Minimal, lightweight file explorer for GNU/Linux. (GNU GPLv3)
• GNU stow — Symlink farm manager for distinct packages. (GNU GPLv3)
• SimpleLocalize — Manage i18n keys in software projects.
• Localizely — Sync localization files with Localizely platform. (MIT)
• Kit CLI — MLOps tool for ModelKits management. (Apache License 2.0)

Communication

• Conversations — XMPP/Jabber client for Android. (GNU GPLv3)
• Gajim — XMPP/Jabber client for desktop. (GNU GPLv3)
• Jitsi Meet — Secure video conferencing and desktop sharing. (Apache License 2.0)
• Mail-in-a-Box — Easy-to-deploy mail server package. (CC0)
• Matrix — Open standard for decentralised communications. (Apache License 2.0)
• Mattermost — Open source, private cloud alternative to Slack. (Licensing)
• ProtonMail — Secure web-based email service. (MIT)
• Ring — Telephone, teleconferencing, and media sharing service. (GNU GPLv3)
• Signal — Private messaging and calling for multiple platforms. (GNU GPLv3)
• Tox — Encrypted messaging with voice, video, and screen sharing. (GNU GPLv3)
• Tutanota — Encrypted email with business support. (GNU GPLv3)

File Management

• 7-Zip — File archiver for compressed files. (GNU LGPLv2.1+)
• Filestash — Web client for various backends. (GNU AGPLv3)
• FileZilla — Universal FTP solution. (GNU GPLv2+)
• Mikochi — Web interface for remote folder browsing and management. (MIT)
• WinSCP — SFTP and FTP client for Windows. (GNU GPLv3)

File Sharing

• qBittorrent — Easy to use BitTorrent client. (GNU GPLv2+)
• Sharry — Convenient file sharing web application. (GNU GPLv3+)

Graphics

• Blender — 3D creation suite. (GNU GPLv2+)
• ExifCleaner — Remove exif metadata from images and videos. (MIT)
• GIMP — Image manipulation software. (GNU GPLv3)
• Inkscape — Vector graphics editor. (GNU GPL)
• Krita — Painting program by artists. (GNU GPLv3)
• Pinta — Gtk# clone of Paint.NET. (MIT)
• Piskel — Online sprite editor. (Apache License 2.0)

IDEs

• Eclipse — Extensible IDE supporting multiple languages. (EPL)
• IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition — Java/Android IDE. (Apache License 2.0)

Office

• LibreOffice — Office suite with word processing and spreadsheets. (MPLv2)
• Open Office — Full-featured office productivity suite. (Apache License 2.0)
• Zathura — Customizable document viewer. (zlib License)

Operating Systems

• Debian — UNIX-like OS focused on free software. (DFSG)
• Devuan — Fork of Debian without systemd. (Licenses)
• PureOS — FSF endorsed Debian derivative. (Multiple licenses)
• LineageOS — Android distribution and CyanogenMod successor. (Multiple licenses)
• Arch — Lightweight and flexible Linux distribution. (GNU GPLv2)

Other

• Disroot — Hosted versions of many services. (Multiple licenses)
• OpenMapTiles — Self-host OpenStreetMap maps in multiple languages. (BSD)
• ZeroNet — Decentralized websites using Bitcoin cryptography. (GNU GPLv2)
• Simple Mobile Tools — Android apps with no ads or unnecessary permissions.
• IP2Trace — Traceroute tool displaying geolocation info. (MIT)

Payments

• Electrum — Lightweight Bitcoin client. (MIT)
• GNU Taler — Cash-like system for online payments. (GNU GPL)

Scientific Work

• DocEar — Literature management using mind mapping. (

• JabRef — A reference manager for BibTeX/BibLaTeX, integrating with LibreOffice, aiding academics and researchers in managing citations. (MIT)

Screencasting

• OBS Studio — A screen recording and live streaming tool for gamers, educators, and streamers across all major platforms. (GNU GPLv2)
• ShareX — A screen capture and file sharing tool with advanced options for quick sharing. (GNU GPLv3)
• SimpleScreenRecorder — A customizable GUI screencasting program ideal for tutorials and gameplay capture. (GNU GPLv3)

Text Editors

• Atom — A hackable text and source code editor, popular among developers for customization. (MIT)
• Pulsar — A community-led, hyper-hackable text editor that
• Emacs — An extensible, customizable, free/libre text editor and more. (GNU GPL)
• GNU nano — A simple text editor for the command line. (GNU GPL)
• Vim — Vim is a highly configurable text editor designed to make creating and editing any kind of text very efficient. (GNU GPL compatible)
• VS Code — A source-code editor developed by Microsoft. (MIT)
• Notepad++ — An extensible text and source code editor. (GNU GPLv2+)

Utilities

• Grayscale Mode — An open-source macOS app that allows you to quickly toggle the grayscale filter directly from your menu bar or by using a keyboard shortcut (⌥⌘G). (MIT)
• Markdownify — A minimal Markdown editor. (MIT)
• Sandman — Notifies you when to turn off your computer and go to sleep based on calculated sleep cycles. (MIT)
• Search Deflector — A small program that redirects searches made from the Windows Start Menu or Cortana to your preferred browser and search engine. (MIT)
• Wireshark — A packet analyzer for network troubleshooting and analysis. (GNU GPLv2)
• Espanso — A cross-platform text expander. (GNU GPLv3)
• Freeter — Freeter allows you to gather everything you need for work in one place, organized by projects and workflows, and provides quick access to them. Available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. (GNU GPLv3)

Video

• NewPipe — A lightweight YouTube frontend for Android. (GNU GPLv3)
• Kodi — Home theater software and entertainment hub. (GNU GPLv2)
• VLC — A multimedia player that supports a wide range of audio and video formats. (GNU GPLv3)
• youtube-dl — A feature-rich command line program for downloading videos from YouTube and other video sites. (Unlicense)
• MPV — A customizable multimedia player with scripting support. (GNU GPLv2)

Virtualization

• QEMU — A generic and open-source machine emulator and virtualizer. (GNU GPLv2)
• VirtualBox — Feature-rich virtualization tools with support for many operating systems. (GNU GPLv2)

Web Applications

• Cloverleaf — An open-source app designed to replace your password manager without storing your passwords anywhere. (MIT)
• Dnote — A simple command line notebook with multi-device synchronization and a web interface. (GNU AGPLv3)
• DocuSeal — A platform for filling and signing digital documents. (GNU AGPLv3)
• Etherpad — Collaborative document editing in real-time. (Apache License 2.0)
• Ghost — A hackable platform for building and running online publications. (MIT)
• GitLab — A Git repository manager for the entire code lifecycle. (MIT)
• GNU social — A microblogging server written in PHP. (GNU GPLv3)
• Gogs — A lightweight, cross-platform, self-hosted Git service. (MIT)
• Healthchecks — A cron job monitoring service. (BSD 3-clause)
• Inventaire — Share books with friends and communities. (GNU AGPLv3)
• Lobsters — Link aggregation and discussion platform with downvote explanations. (BSD 3-clause)
• Mastodon — A decentralized social network server. (GNU AGPLv3)
• MediaGoblin — A publishing platform for all types of media. (GNU AGPLv3)
• MediaWiki — Wiki software that can organize and serve large amounts of frequently accessed data. (GNU GPLv2+)
• MetaGer — A private search engine developed by a non-profit that uses green electricity for its servers. (GNU AGPLv3)
• Neocities — GeoCities for the modern era. (BSD 2-clause)
• NotABug.org — A collaboration platform for freely licensed projects. (MIT)
• OpenStreetMap — A map of the world created by users and released under an open license. (GNU GPLv2)
• PeerTube — A decentralized video streaming service. (GNU AGPLv3)
• Phabricator — A code management platform (similar to GitLab) built with PHP. (Apache License 2.0)
• Tolgee — A developer and translator-friendly web-based localization platform. (Apache License 2.0)
• Wallabag — Save and categorize articles to read them later, freely. (MIT)
• Weblate — A translation management system with version control integration. (GNU GPLv3)
• WordPress — A blog publishing platform and content management system. (GNU GPLv2+)

Web Servers

• Apache HTTP Server — A secure, efficient, and extensible web server. (Apache License 2.0)
• lighttpd — Optimized for speed-critical environments while remaining standards-compliant, secure, and flexible. (Revised BSD license)
• nginx — An HTTP and reverse proxy server, a mail proxy server, and a generic TCP/UDP proxy server. (2-clause BSD-like license)

Hardware

Companies

• Aleph Objects — A Respects Your Freedom (RYF) certified 3D printer built with libre hardware and software.
• Libiquity — Specializes in designing and developing embedded software and firmware systems.
• Purism: Offers privacy, security, and freedom-focused computers and software.
• Raptor Computing Systems: Provides desktops and parts using IBM POWER9 processor and OpenBMC firmware.
• Technoethical: Supplies laptops and devices compatible with free operating systems.
• ThinkPenguin: Sells modern laptops, desktops, and printers without proprietary software.
• Vikings: A hosting company using Libreboot firmware, libre software, and green energy, also sells hardware.

Audio

• disaster.radio: Solar-powered, off-grid, long-range mesh network using free software and open hardware.
• h-node: Database of hardware compatible with fully free operating systems.
• Linux Preloaded: Lists vendors selling computers preinstalled with free software.
• Respects Your Freedom Hardware Certification: Criteria for Free Software Foundation’s RYF certification.

Resources

Articles

• Free Software: Wikipedia entry on free software.
• 'Libre' Software: Turning Fads into Institutions?: An economic analysis of libre software sustainability.
• Software Freedom: Explanation of the importance of free software by Devuan.

Blogs

• BrainBlasted’s Privacy and Free Software Blog: Discusses issues involving free software and privacy.

Businesses

• Bytemark: UK hosting company offering discounts for free software publishers.

Discovery

• Free Software Directory: Contains over 15,000 free software packages.
• Free GNU/Linux Distributions: Lists entirely free distributions.
• freepost: Focuses on free culture.

Events

• LibrePlanet: Annual conference on free software.
• Software Freedom Day: Annual celebration to increase awareness of free software.

Licensing

• FOSSology: License compliance toolkit for software projects.
• gplenforced.org: Community-oriented GPL enforcement.

Organizations

• April: Promotes and defends free software.
• Digital Freedom Foundation: Promotes access to knowledge via technology.
• Framasoft: Network promoting free software and sharing.
• Free Software Foundation: Nonprofit promoting computer user freedom globally.
• Free Software Movement Karnataka: Spreads awareness about free software in Bengaluru, India.
• Free Software Movement of India: Coalition of free software organizations in India.
• FSF India: Indian branch of the Free Software Foundation.
• FSFE: European branch of the Free Software Foundation.
• FSFLA: Latin American branch of the Free Software Foundation.
• GNU: Home of the GNU/Linux operating system.
• Open Source Hardware Association: Promotes hardware respecting user freedom.
• Outreachy: Provides internships to people from underrepresented backgrounds in FOSS companies.
• Peers: Community supporting free projects.
• Software Freedom Conservancy: Charity promoting and supporting free software projects.
• Software Freedom Law Center: Provides legal services to open source software creators.
• Snowdrift.coop: Crowdmatching for public goods.
• TuxFamily: Offers free hosting and services for libre projects.