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Show HN: Open-source alternatives to tools you pay for (alternativeoss.com)

24 points by paulboguta ↗ HN
I got tired of collecting open source projects in my chrome bookmarks so I decided to compile a curated list of:

- Recently active projects on GitHub

- Mostly dev tools (but also productivity, analytics)

- Projects which are "Alternative to X software"

My bookmarks are finally empty:D

If you have a great open source tool you use, I'd be glad to hear your suggestions.

Also, any feedback is greatly appreciated.

28 comments

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paulboguta
I started building the list 5 days ago and after a little hackathon I think it can be more useful than my full chrome bookmark list. I also tried to make it look decent and have some UX features such as search and sorting. I hope some people find it useful.
darthrupert
Immediately I saw Zen Browser. How is that an alternative to anything I pay for?
paulboguta
That's a good point. Not all the tools are an alternative to paid software. I will include it in the filters I'm building right now... Also, I'm curating data of open source alternatives to subscription/credit/one-time priced software - that's on the way too. Btw following the firefox TOC changes, the zen browser might be real deal
linwangg
DeepSeek-R1 is an open-source alternative to ChatGPT Plus, but frequent 'Server is busy' errors and some security concerns make it less reliable for consistent use.
paulboguta
Thank you. I haven’t tried it myself, I’m a Claude Sonnet fan, but I’m adding DeepSeek to the list immediately.
mpalmer
The model is open source, the product is not at all.
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antonmak1
Interesting list and cool design! I would also add alternatives to Alpine.js and HTMX: https://hmpl-lang.dev
paulboguta
Thank you. The design is inspired by the best (shadcn)! I appreciate your suggestion. I'm going to add it to the list
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Sontho
Not all the of them are alternatives to things that we pay, but still good collection and nice design.
paulboguta
Thank you for the feedback, that's my mistake I'm currently building filters to better search through tools as the alternatives to paid/not paid is misleading.
Svoka
Why does Firefox needs an OSS alternative?
paulboguta
There have been recent changes to Mozilla TOC - although there are much more important alternatives than browsers, I agree with you. Some of them might include tools such as google analytics or databases.
notpushkin
Please please please, pay for the open source tools you use. Even something like a $1/mo subscription helps, and it’s a great motivator to keep going!

I’m working on Lunni, an open source DevOps tool – similar to Heroku or Fly.io, but based on docker-compose files instead (so no vendor lock-in) and using your own servers (so no unexpected charges). Would love to see it featured :-) https://lunni.dev/

paulboguta
Haha, the title might be misleading, I'm sorry. I actually encourage using open source and that means paying for it. I checked your website, I will add your tool by the end of the week!
notpushkin
Well, it is just the right amount of clickbait (and for a good cause!)
florg
Cool list.

One of the entries 'Cap' describes one thing and links to another though. The description is of a collaborative code editor. The link and screenshot are for a Loom alternative, so screen recording.

paulboguta
Thank you. I made a mistake copying description when batch uploading projects - fixing it right now.
Mizu_048
i present to you, https://fmhy.net/ we collect and index useful tools, websites and services. All free with exception to vpns which are only good when paid.

We give priority to foss software and don't include any privacy invasive site, the wiki is updated on a daily basis.

raffraffraff
Mini rant. I love the concept of flashcards and I think that Anki is a great idea. Good to see it there. But how in hell is that the best we have? Why is the format so arcane, why is it so hard to create decent flashcards etc? Just try looking for good quality decks and you'll quickly find yourself going through the familiar disappointment, followed by a burst of can-do fervour "I CAN BUILD AND SHARE GOOD DECKS!" and the eventual frustration at the whole experience. So you give up, and after a while the one or two half-decent decks you had on Anki get auto deleted.

Anyway, sorry for the rant.

jamager
Anki is in fact not an alternative to anything, it is the de-facto flashcard tool. Nothing else comes remotely close, free or paid.
raffraffraff
Yes but I want an alternative to anki because I find it horrible to create or edit decks
tero
I have found Leaf [1] to be a simple and plain spaced repetition program. It has very few features compared to Anki.

It does not have a large ecosystem of stack sharing, it's mostly aimed for those who write their own decks. You can compile it to a static binary and be sure that the decks you create work for a long time.

[1] https://github.com/ap4y/leaf