Not a dump of every project on GitHub. This repo favors active, credible, useful alternatives — including privacy-friendly tools, self-hosted options, local-first apps, federated platforms, and genuinely interesting lesser-known projects.
Browse the full directory → · Discover hidden gems → · See selection criteria →
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Want a FOSS alternative to a tool you already use? |
Looking for projects outside the usual Firefox / LibreOffice / VLC list? |
Need a practical setup guide instead of just a recommendation? |
| If you want to replace… | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome / proprietary browsers | Firefox, LibreWolf, Helium, Cromite | Multiple engines and privacy trade-offs |
| WhatsApp / Telegram-style private messaging | Signal, Element + Matrix | Simple centralized secure messaging vs federated open messaging |
| Google Authenticator / Authy | Ente Auth, Aegis | Open-source 2FA with sync or local-first options |
| Google Drive / cloud sync | Nextcloud, Seafile, Syncthing | Self-hosted cloud or direct device sync |
| Google Photos | Immich, PhotoPrism | Self-hosted photo libraries |
| Plex-style media server | Jellyfin | Fully open-source personal media server |
| Discord / team chat | Matrix + Element, Zulip, Mattermost | Federated or self-hosted communication |
| Notion / notes | Joplin, Logseq, Memos | Local-first or self-hosted knowledge tools |
| Photoshop / Illustrator | GIMP, Krita, Inkscape | Mature creative tools |
| GitHub-hosted workflows | Forgejo, Gitea | Self-hosted Git forges |
| Cloud AI frontends | Ollama + Open WebUI / LocalAI | Local/self-hosted AI stack |
Tip: the “best” alternative depends on what you value most: privacy, compatibility, self-hosting, polish, platform support, or simplicity.
| Category | Open |
|---|---|
| 🌐 Browsers & search | web-and-search.md |
| 💬 Secure messaging | secure-messaging.md |
| 🔐 Authenticators & 2FA | authenticators.md |
| 🎬 Media players | media-players.md |
| 🖥️ Media servers | media-servers.md |
| 🗣️ Social networks | social-networks.md |
| 📺 Video platforms | video-platforms.md |
| ☁️ Files, backups & cloud | files-and-backups.md |
| 🎨 Creative software | image-editing.md · video-editing.md |
| 🧑💻 Developer tools | code-hosting.md · api-tools.md |
| 🤖 Local AI | local-ai.md |
For everything else, use DIRECTORY.md.
They both belong on an open-source alternatives list, but they solve the problem with different network models.
| Pick | Model | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Signal | Centralized service with open-source client/server code | Simple private chats, groups and calls |
| Element + Matrix | Federated protocol/network with server choice and self-hosting options | Federation, communities, interoperability and server control |
Matrix is the protocol/network; Element is a client. See secure messaging for the fuller comparison.
💎 Hidden gems worth noticing
The main directory covers strong alternatives. HIDDEN-GEMS.md is for projects that are easier to miss.
A few examples:
| Project | Why it is interesting |
|---|---|
| Helium | Fast Chromium-based browser with a privacy-focused approach; promising but still a younger project |
| Ente Auth | End-to-end encrypted 2FA with cross-device sync |
| PairDrop | Browser-based local file transfer with almost zero setup |
| Rnote | Polished handwritten notes / sketching app |
| Karakeep | Save and archive links, notes and web content |
| Yamtrack | Self-hosted tracking for movies, TV, anime, games and books |
| Ampcast | Unified music UI across sources such as Navidrome and Jellyfin |
| Gatus | Lightweight config-as-code uptime/status monitoring |
Hidden-gem status is not a security endorsement. Younger projects are marked with maturity caveats where appropriate.
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Self-hosted | You can run it on your own server/device |
| Hosted option | Official or third-party hosted service exists |
| Local-first | Primary data is designed to stay on your own devices |
| Federated | Independent servers can interoperate |
| Cross-platform | Available on several major desktop/mobile platforms |
| Beta / young project | Promising, but maturity and update history deserve extra scrutiny |
This repo intentionally prefers a shorter high-signal list over a giant catalogue.
A project should have:
- a meaningful open-source codebase;
- a real use case, not just novelty value;
- enough project health to be worth recommending;
- a clear reason someone might choose it over a proprietary alternative;
- honest caveats when the project is young, niche, difficult to deploy, or platform-limited.
Projects can also be removed when they become abandoned, change direction/licensing, or stop being a good recommendation.
Read the full policy: CRITERIA.md.
Open source does not automatically mean private, secure, free-of-cost, or better for every person. Evaluate the project that fits your actual requirements.
Popular proprietary app/service
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Established Hidden gem
pick / niche pick
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Check platform • maturity • privacy • hosting model
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Try the tool
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Installation, media naming, hardware transcoding, clients, plugins, remote access and backups. |
FOSS Android apps, safer app sources, privacy basics and a full LineageOS path. |
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A smaller shortlist of self-hosted apps that are actually worth maintaining. |
A beginner path from old PC to Docker, backups, private remote access and useful services. |
Also see the Stremio + Nuvio streaming setup guide for a focused media-client setup.
Found a strong alternative that is missing, a dead link, or a project that no longer belongs here?
- Read CRITERIA.md.
- Check whether the project already exists in DIRECTORY.md or HIDDEN-GEMS.md.
- Explain why the project deserves a place, not only what it does.
- Include caveats when relevant.
See CONTRIBUTING.md for the contribution format.