If you’re tired of paying for every tiny software, hey… you’re not alone. Not gonna lie, subscriptions feel like they’re everywhere now. You open your laptop and boom — someone is asking for $45 month again. That’s why a lot of people are shifting to Free Open-Source tools. Yep, yep… the stuff that doesn’t charge you every month and gives you full control.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best free productivity tools, free alternatives to Microsoft Office, Adobe free alternatives, Zoom alternatives free, open source CRM, self hosted tools, and basically everything you need to stop paying for software subscriptions forever.
Sound good? You’ll see what I mean…
Table of Contents
Comparison of 15+ Free Open-Source Alternatives
| Sr | Image | Name | Rating | Pricing | Compatibility | Features | Details Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 | LibreOffice | Free | Windows,Mac,Linux,Android,iOS |
| View Details | |
| 2 |
 | NocoDB | Free | Web-based |
| View Details | |
| 3 |
 | AppFlowy | Free | Windows,Mac,Linux |
| View Details | |
| 4 |
 | ERPNext | Freemium | Web-based |
| View Details | |
| 5 |
 | Mattermost | Freemium | Windows,Mac,Linux,Web-based,iOS,Android |
| View Details | |
| 6 |
 | Jitsi | Free | Web-based,Windows,Mac,Linux,iOS,Android |
| View Details | |
| 7 |
 | Plane.so | Free | Web-based |
| View Details | |
| 8 |
 | Instant | Free | Web-based |
| View Details | |
| 9 |
 | Coolify | Free | Web-based |
| View Details | |
| 10 |
 | Dokku | Free | Linux |
| View Details | |
| 11 |
 | DaVinci Resolve | Freemium | Windows,Mac,Linux |
| View Details | |
| 12 |
 | Krita | Free | Windows,Mac,Linux |
| View Details | |
| 13 |
 | Blender | Free | Windows,Mac,Linux |
| View Details | |
| 14 |
 | Supabase | Freemium | Web-based |
| View Details | |
| 15 |
 | PocketBase | Free | Windows,Mac,Linux,Web-based |
| View Details |
1.LibreOffice
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is basically the open-source cousin of Microsoft Office — just without the heavy price tag. It gives you Word-like docs, Excel-style sheets, and even PowerPoint-type slides. If you want a free alternatives to Microsoft Office, this one’s honestly a lifesaver. You can write notes, manage spreadsheets, and make presentations without worrying about subscriptions. It fits perfectly into any Free Open-Source workflow.
What surprises many people is how compatible LibreOffice is. It opens .docx, .xlsx, .pptx… and a bunch of other weird file types. Yep, that’s super helpful! And the best part? It doesn’t force you into cloud syncing or random logins. You install it, use it, and that’s it — simple. You’ll see what I mean when you try it.
Key Features
Works smoothly with Microsoft file formats without weird formatting issues.
Fully offline editor that respects privacy and avoids forced cloud syncing.
Includes Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math, and Base for all office needs.
Pros & Cons of Free Open-Source
✅ Pros
- The best part is you get a full office suite completely free.
- Honestly, I liked how easy it is to switch from Microsoft Office.
- Great for students, freelancers, and small teams avoiding recurring fees.
- Super reliable for long-term use since it's actively updated.
❌ Cons
- The interface looks a bit old-school for some users.
- Takes a little time to adjust if you're too used to Microsoft shortcuts.
Compatibility
Runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Yeah, it works fine across all major platforms.
Pricing
Totally free — no hidden tricks.
Yep, the price tag is ₹0 forever.
Customer Support
Support comes from community forums and documentation.
Not gonna lie, replies vary, but the help is there.
2.NocoDB
NocoDB
NocoDB transforms your database into a smart spreadsheet-looking workspace. Think Airtable… but without the $45 per user shock. If you’re into organizing data, tracking projects, or building simple apps, this tool is kinda perfect. It’s fully Free Open-Source and fits beautifully into any self hosted tools setup.
What’s cool is how NocoDB makes databases feel super friendly. Not gonna lie, this one surprised me with how easy it was to set up. It supports collaboration, views, filtering, and all the neat stuff you usually pay for. Yep, yep… that’s helpful!
Key Features
Turns SQL databases into user-friendly spreadsheet interfaces instantly.
Lets teams collaborate with roles, filters, and multiple views easily.
Works great for building dashboards and project workflows without coding.
Pros & Cons of Free Open-Source
✅ Pros
- Honestly, I liked the clean UI — very beginner-friendly.
- It’s free, so perfect for startups trying to manage data cheaply.
- Amazing alternative to expensive Airtable plans.
- Works smoothly on your own server for full control.
❌ Cons
- Setup might feel tricky if you’ve never hosted tools before.
- Needs manual updates if self-hosted.
Compatibility
Works on any server or cloud platform.
Browser-based, so it runs everywhere.
Pricing
Free forever.
Paid cloud version exists, but self-hosting is ₹0.
Customer Support
Community chat + GitHub issues + docs.
Live support only on paid cloud.
3.AppFlowy
AppFlowy
If you love Notion but hate paying every month, AppFlowy is your new best friend. It’s a Free Open-Source note-taking and workspace tool that feels kind of like Notion — but faster and more private. You can take notes, build kanban boards, manage docs, and plan your work… all without costs.
What makes AppFlowy special is how clean and smooth the UI is, even though it’s free. Not gonna lie, this one might actually surprise you. It supports plugins, customization, and even AI integrations. You’ll see what I mean when you start building your own workspace.
Key Features
Gives Notion-like pages, boards, and calendars without subscription traps.
Fully offline mode keeps your notes private and self-contained.
Supports extensions and community features for advanced workflows.
Pros & Cons of Free Open-Source
✅ Pros
- The best part is full privacy — everything stays on your device.
- Super lightweight and doesn’t lag on old laptops.
- Great for students and creators who want a free workspace.
- Customizable layouts make it fun to personalize.
❌ Cons
- Early product, so fewer templates than Notion.
- Syncing across devices needs manual setup.
Compatibility
Runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Mobile apps are improving but usable.
Pricing
Completely free — no paid tier yet.
Customer Support
Community-driven support with Discord + GitHub.
Docs are simple and helpful.
4.ERPNext
ERPNext
ERPNext is a full open source CRM and business management suite — like Salesforce but without the million-rupee invoice. You get inventory, HR, CRM, accounting, project management… literally everything in one place. For companies wanting best free productivity tools, this is a hidden gem.
And honestly, the amount of modules it gives for free is kinda wild. You can track leads, manage payroll, run invoices — all without paying a penny. Yep, that’s super helpful, especially for small businesses. You’ll see what I mean.
Key Features
Full CRM + ERP suite covering sales, HR, accounting, and inventory.
Web-based interface that works like a modern enterprise app.
Highly customizable workflows with low-code tools built-in.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- The best part is how much enterprise stuff you get free.
- Great UI for teams shifting from paid CRMs.
- Works amazingly well for SMEs and startups.
- Self-hosting saves massive yearly costs.
❌ Cons
- Setup can feel heavy for beginners.
- Needs a server with decent RAM.
Compatibility
Works on any server; browser-based UI works everywhere.
Pricing
Free for self-hosting.
Paid cloud plans exist but optional.
Customer Support
Official help center + community forum.
Paid support available separately.
5.Mattermost
Mattermost
Mattermost is like Slack — but fully free and self-hosted. Teams that don’t want to pay per user every month will love this. You get chat, channels, file sharing, and even voice/video features. It’s one of the best Slack alternatives out there.
What makes it special is how secure and private it is. Yep, that’s super helpful if you’re dealing with company data. And not gonna lie, the interface feels clean and modern. It’s easy to onboard teams without any big change.
Key Features
Full Slack-style chat system with channels, threads, and reactions.
Supports voice calls, video calls, and screen sharing.
Strong privacy with self-hosted deployments.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- The best part is unlimited users with no cost.
- Works great for tech companies.
- Easy integrations with CI/CD tools.
- Mobile & desktop apps work smoothly.
❌ Cons
- Voice/video quality can vary.
- Advanced setup needs a tech person.
Compatibility
Works on Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android.
Pricing
Self-hosting = free.
Cloud plans available.
Customer Support
Docs + community + GitHub.
Paid support available.
6.Jitsi
Jitsi
If you’re done paying for Zoom, Jitsi is one of the best Zoom alternatives free. It lets you host video meetings, share screens, raise hands, use chat, and even run webinars. And yep — you don’t need an account. Just start a meeting and send the link.
What surprised me was how smooth everything works even on weak internet. You’ll see what I mean when you try it. And because it’s open-source, you can even host your own private Zoom-style server.
Key Features
Unlimited free meetings with no signup required.
Great privacy since calls can be self-hosted.
Virtual backgrounds, chat, screen sharing, and recording.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Honestly, I liked how easy it is to start meetings.
- No time limits like Zoom’s free plan.
- Perfect for schools and remote teams.
- Works great on mobile browsers too.
❌ Cons
- Recording depends on server availability.
- Can lag with 50+ participants.
Compatibility
Works on Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone.
Pricing
Totally free.
Self-hosting is also free.
Customer Support
Docs + community forums.
No live support.
7. Plane
Plane.so
Plane is a lightweight, open-source alternative to Jira. So if your team hates Jira’s complexity (yep, same here), Plane feels like fresh air. You can track issues, sprints, epics, and tasks without feeling tortured.
What’s cool is how clean the UI is — not gonna lie, this one surprised me. It’s perfect for dev teams that want something simple but still powerful.
Key Features
Full issue tracking with sprints, cycles, and kanban boards.
Clean, distraction-free UI designed for developer comfort.
Easy integrations with GitHub and other dev tools.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- The best part is it's super simple to use.
- Looks modern and easy on the eyes.
- Perfect for small and medium tech teams.
- No subscription headache.
❌ Cons
- Fewer plugins than Jira.
- Still growing, so minor bugs appear.
Compatibility
Web-based — works everywhere.
Pricing
Free for self-hosting.
Customer Support
Community + GitHub discussions.
8. Instant
Instant
Instant is for developers who want to build real-time apps like chat systems or live collaboration tools. It handles the toughest part — syncing data instantly between users. It’s fully Free Open-Source and works great with self hosted tools.
What surprised me is how simple it makes real-time updates. You’ll see what I mean when you try it — it’s kinda magic.
Key Features
Ready-made real-time syncing engine for apps.
Lightweight and easy to integrate with frontend code.
Works with existing databases.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Great for chat apps or team collab tools.
- Fast and lightweight.
- Developer-friendly APIs.
- No vendor lock-in.
❌ Cons
- Still new, so fewer tutorials.
- Requires some coding knowledge.
Compatibility
Works with any modern frontend or backend.
Pricing
Free and open-source.
Customer Support
Community-driven via GitHub.
9.Coolify
Coolify
Coolify is like Vercel or Netlify — but free. If you build websites and apps, this tool lets you deploy everything on your own server with a nice dashboard. Perfect for solo devs or teams tired of paying for deployments.
Not gonna lie, the UI is super clean. You’ll see what I mean.
Key Features
Deploy apps with one-click simplicity.
Supports databases, Docker apps, and static sites.
Easy self-hosting with a full dashboard.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Super cheap since you host on your own VPS.
- Great for developers running multiple apps.
- Clean UI and smooth workflow.
- Full control over your environment.
❌ Cons
- Needs basic server knowledge.
- Updates add new features often — sometimes fast.
Compatibility
Runs on Linux servers; dashboard is browser-based.
Pricing
Completely free.
Customer Support
Docs + Discord community.
10.Dokku
Dokku
Dokku is the smallest open-source PaaS — like a mini Heroku you run yourself. If you want to deploy apps without learning complex server stuff, Dokku makes it easy. Push code and boom — app live.
Not gonna lie, this is a lifesaver for developers on a budget.
Key Features
Deploy apps via Git push, Heroku-style.
Supports databases and plugins.
Extremely lightweight and stable.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Great for small apps and startups.
- Super cheap to run on ₹350/month VPS.
- Easy to install and maintain.
- No vendor lock-in at all.
❌ Cons
- Not ideal for huge enterprise apps.
- Requires some Linux knowledge.
Compatibility
Runs on Linux servers; clients on all platforms.
Pricing
100% free.
Customer Support
Docs, GitHub, and community only.
11.DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve is the best Adobe free alternatives for Premiere Pro. Editing, color grading, VFX — everything is here. It’s insanely powerful for a free tool.
Honestly, the color tools alone surprised me. Yep, yep… this one’s a beast.
Key Features
Professional-level video editing tools.
Hollywood-grade color correction engine.
Fusion for visual effects and motion graphics.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- The best part is it’s used in real films.
- Extremely powerful for advanced creators.
- Clean UI with tons of shortcuts.
- No watermark on exports.
❌ Cons
- Heavy on system resources.
- Needs a good GPU for smooth editing.
Compatibility
Windows, Mac, Linux.
Pricing
Free version available.
Paid Studio version optional.
Customer Support
Help center, forum, tutorials.
12.Krita
Krita
Krita is a dream for digital artists. If you want a free alternative to Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for drawing and painting, this is it. Perfect for kids, students, and pros.
What I love is how smooth the brushes feel — super natural. You’ll see.
Key Features
Tons of brushes and painting tools.
Animation support built-in.
Tablet pressure sensitivity works perfectly.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Free and perfect for artists.
- Fast even on older PCs.
- Great for illustration and anime art.
- Super active community.
❌ Cons
- Not ideal for photo editing.
- Some brushes need tweaking.
Compatibility
Windows, Mac, Linux.
Pricing
Totally free.
Customer Support
Community + tutorials.
13.Blender
Blender
Blender is the king of free 3D tools. Animation, modeling, VFX, rendering — everything in one app. If you want an alternative to Adobe After Effects or 3ds Max, Blender has your back.
Not gonna lie, the learning curve is steep… but it’s worth it.
Key Features
Full 3D modeling and animation suite.
Real-time rendering with Eevee.
VFX, simulations, and tracking tools.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Free forever and insanely powerful.
- Used by big studios and YouTubers.
- Massive asset library.
- Constant updates.
❌ Cons
- Hard to learn at first.
- Interface can feel overwhelming.
Compatibility
Windows, Mac, Linux.
Pricing
100% free.
Customer Support
Documentation + huge online community.
14.Supabase
Supabase
Supabase is what most people call the “open-source Firebase,” and honestly… that name fits perfectly. If you want to build modern apps with real-time features, user logins, databases, storage, and APIs, Supabase gives you all of it without locking you into a paid subscription. It’s fully Free Open-Source, which makes it amazing for startups, students, and developers who want powerful tools without monthly costs. And because it runs on PostgreSQL, performance and stability stay rock-solid.
What surprised me the most is how smoothly the real-time system works—changes in the database appear instantly on the frontend. Yep, yep… that’s super helpful! Plus it includes Auth, Storage, Edge Functions, and logging tools right out of the box. Not gonna lie, this one really impressed me. You’ll see what I mean the moment you test it.
Key Features
Real-time database updates powered by PostgreSQL, fast and reliable.
Built-in authentication with social logins and secure access control.
File storage with an easy CDN-like experience for images and media.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- The best part is: it’s fully open-source with zero vendor lock-in.
- Honestly, I liked how beginner-friendly the setup feels.
- Perfect Firebase alternative for teams on a budget.
- Scales smoothly because it sits on top of PostgreSQL.
❌ Cons
- The dashboard can feel slow sometimes on the free tier.
- Requires some learning if you’ve never worked with backend tools.
Compatibility
Works with all modern frameworks — React, Vue, Next.js, Flutter, mobile apps, and more.
Yeah, it runs well across all major platforms.
Pricing
Free tier available — very generous.
Paid plans exist, but they’re not too pricey honestly.
Customer Support
Great documentation, GitHub discussions, Discord community.
Paid users can get priority support too.
15. PocketBase
PocketBase
PocketBase is a tiny but powerful open-source backend that gives you everything you need in one single file. Yep — just run one executable, and your whole backend is ready: database, real-time API, authentication, file storage, admin dashboard… all bundled together. For anyone who hates complex backend setup, PocketBase feels like magic. And since it’s Free Open-Source, it’s perfect for indie developers and small teams who want to stop paying for software subscriptions.
What makes PocketBase special is how ridiculously lightweight it is. Not gonna lie, the first time you launch it, you’ll think, “Wait… that’s it?” Yep, yep, that’s super helpful when you want to move fast. And the built-in admin panel means you don’t need to install anything extra. You’ll see what I mean once you try it — it just works.
Key Features
Single-file backend with database, auth, and file storage included.
Real-time API updates for live apps, chats, and dashboards.
Built-in admin dashboard for managing collections and users.
Extremely low resource usage — great for small servers.
✅ Pros
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- The best part is: you can self-host it anywhere, even tiny servers.
- Honestly, I liked how fast it starts up — almost instant.
- Perfect for MVPs, prototypes, and small production apps.
- No need to learn big frameworks — everything is simple
❌ Cons
- May feel limited for very large enterprise apps.
- Plugin ecosystem is still growing.
Compatibility
Runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Works with any frontend — React, Vue, Svelte, Flutter, mobile apps, and more.
Pricing
Completely free for self-hosting.
Cloud hosting option available, still affordable.
Customer Support
Documentation + GitHub Issues + community support.
Paid cloud includes official support.
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🌟 Unleash the Digital Power with Devendra Gupta 🌟
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