Member 1Member 2Member 3
Get the weekly digestJoin Now

Swap Big Tech
Choose Open Source

Find transparent, community-driven alternatives to your daily tools.

A BETTER WAY TO CHOOSE YOUR SOFTWARE
Microsoft1PasswordGoogleAdobeMicrosoft1PasswordMicrosoft1PasswordGoogleAdobeMicrosoft1Password
INTERACTIVE COMPARISON

Proprietary vs. Open Source

See exactly what changes when you swap your daily tools for open-source ones.

Proprietary Model

The Subscription Trap

    Open-Source Alternative

    Free, Local, and Yours

      Explore 20+ verified productivity alternativesFree note-taking, spreadsheets, and document suites.
      Browse Category
      NextcloudNextcloud
      PlausiblePlausible
      PenpotPenpot
      ObsidianObsidian
      BitwardenBitwarden
      SupabaseSupabase
      ImmichImmich
      OPEN ECOSYSTEM

      Swap your Tools
      keep your data

      Every app in here is one I'd actually trust with my own files, self-hosted or not, no subscriptions, no one peeking at your data.

      Explore Directory
      Our Blogs

      From the Blog

      Migration guides, honest reviews, and whatever else I pick up testing open source tools.

      Optimizing Workflow Processes

      Why I Switched From Notion to Obsidian (And What I Lost)

      Notion is genuinely good software. Here's why I moved anyway, and the two features I still miss....

      Project Documentation

      Self-Hosting Isn't as Scary as It Sounds

      You don't need a server rack in your closet. A walkthrough of what self-hosting actually looks like in 2026...

      Stakeholder Expectations

      The Real Cost of Free Software — Where Open Source Makes Its Money

      'Free' doesn't mean no one's getting paid. Here's how the open-source tools you love actually stay alive...

      REQUEST AN ALTERNATIVE

      Looking for a specific replacement?

      Can't find an alternative to something you use? Tell me what you're trying to replace. I'll research the open-source options, check the code's actually maintained, and publish what I find.

      Yes. I only list tools with active development and a real community behind them — same reliability as the paid stuff, minus the telemetry.

      Usually, you can move most or all of your data — but it depends on the apps involved. That's why we cover exports, imports, and migration pitfalls in our guides.

      Not at all. Plenty of open-source apps have desktop installers and cloud offerings just like commercial apps. We explicitly label which tools require self-hosting knowledge.

      No. Open source means transparent code, not always zero cost. Many projects offer free self-hosted versions alongside optional paid cloud sync or enterprise hosting.

      WEEKLY OPEN SOURCE DIGEST

      Stay Informed, Subscribe to Our Newsletter

      Every Tuesday I send hands-on migration guides, ready-to-use configs, and honest breakdowns of open-source tools worth switching to.

      Get the digest

      No sponsored picks, ever
      The best tool and blog picks
      Unsubscribe in one click