A curated list of free as in freedom software.
Free software is distributed under terms that allow users to run the program for any purpose, study the source code, modify it, and distribute the software. These programs respect users' freedom and build community. Learn more about free software.
Download and use.
- Audacity - Sound recording and post-processing. (GNU GPLv2+)
- Headset - Music streaming from YouTube and music subreddits. (MIT)
- Libre.fm - Stream, download, remix, and share music for free. (GNU AGPLv3)
- LMMS - Complete music workstation. (GNU GPLv2+)
- mStream - Suite of software for syncing and streaming music across multiple devices. (GNU GPLv3)
- Cygwin - Unix-like environment for Windows, providing access to a number of tools commonly found on Linux systems. (GNU GPLv3)
- PuTTY - Remote terminal emulator that connects over SSH, Telnet, SCP, and rlogin protocols as well as raw socket connections. (MIT)
- ranger - Minimal, lightweight, and aesthetically pleasing file explorer for GNU/Linux. It runs in the terminal window, so it fits in well with window managers such as i3. vi key bindings allow for quick operations to be performed, including rename and delete. (GNU GPLv3)
- Jitsi Meet - Secure video conferencing and desktop sharing using WebRTC. (Apache License 2.0)
- Mail-in-a-Box - Easy-to-deploy mail server package for cloud computers. (CC0)
- Matrix - Open standard for decentralised, persistent, and interoperable 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 through a distributed service. (GNU GPLv3)
- Signal - Private messaging and calling for desktop, Android, and iOS. (GNU GPLv3)
- Tox - Encrypted and distributed messaging platform with voice, video, and screen sharing. (GNU GPLv3)
- 7-Zip - File archiver for creating and opening compressed files. (GNU LGPLv2.1+)
- FileZilla - Universal FTP solution. (GNU GPLv2+)
- qBittorrent - Easy to use BitTorrent client. (GNU GPLv2+)
- Blender - 3D creation suite for modeling, simulation, and animation. (GNU GPLv2+)
- GIMP - Image manipulation software. (GNU GPLv3)
- Inkscape - Professional vector graphics editor for all platforms. (GNU GPL)
- Krita - Painting program made by artists. (GNU GPLv3)
- Pinta - Gtk# clone of Paint.NET. (MIT)
- Piskel - Online sprite editor. (Apache License 2.0)
- LibreOffice - Office suite with word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation programs. (MPLv2)
- Sumatra PDF - Document reader with support for many formats. (GNU GPLv3)
- Zathura - Highly customizable and functional document viewer. It provides a minimalistic and space saving interface as well as an easy usage that mainly focuses on keyboard interaction. (Custom)
Note: Some of these may contain or allow installation of nonfree software. See this FSF page for details.
- Arch Linux - Lightweight and flexible. (Licenses)
- Devuan - Fork of Debian without systemd. (Licenses)
- elementary OS - Elegant design aimed at ease of use. Pantheon desktop environment. (Licenses)
- Linux Mint - Based on Debian and Ubuntu. Beginner friendly and with common applications installed. (GNU GPL)
- lubuntu - Minimal version of Ubuntu. LXDE desktop environment. (See Ubuntu licenses)
- Manjaro - User-friendly distribution based on Arch. (Licenses)
- Tails - Live operating system focused on privacy and anonymity. (GNU GPLv3)
- Ubuntu - Debian-based operating system for personal computers and servers. (Licenses)
- Xubuntu - Lightweight version of Ubuntu. Xfce desktop environment. (See Ubuntu licenses)
- LineageOS - Android distribution for phones and tablets and successor of CyanogenMod. (Apache License 2.0)
- Replicant - Fully free Android distribution that emphasizes freedom, security, and privacy. (Licenses)
- Lepton - GitHub gist desktop client. (MIT)
- Media Mate - All-in-one media server, player, and downloader. (MIT)
- Electrum - Lightweight Bitcoin client that provides wallet recovery, decentralized servers, and offline storage. (MIT)
- GNU Compiler Collection - Compiler for C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran, Ada, and Go. (GNU GPLv3)
- DocEar - Literature management using mind mapping technology. (GNU GPLv2+)
- JabRef - Manages references and attached PDFs using BibTeX/BibLaTeX. Includes support for LibreOffice. (MIT)
- OBS Studio - Screen recorder and video streaming application for all platforms. (GNU GPLv2)
- SimpleScreenRecorder - Highly customisable GUI screencasting program. (GNU GPLv3)
- Atom - Hackable text and source code editor. (MIT)
- Emacs - An extensible, customizable, free/libre text editor — and more. (GNU GPL)
- GNU nano - Simple text editor for the command line. (GNU GPL)
- Notepad++ - Extensible text and source code editor. (GNU GPLv2+)
- Sandman - Lets you know when to turn off the computer and sleep based on calculated sleep cycles. (MIT)
- PWGen - Secure password generator. (GNU GPLv2)
- Rufus - Bootable USB installation media creator. (GNU GPLv3)
- todometer - Meter-based to-do list. (MIT)
- Wireshark - Packet analyzer for network troubleshooting and analysis. (GNU GPLv2)
- Git - Fast, distributed version control providing full project history without the need for a central server. (GNU GPLv2)
- NewPipe - Lightweight YouTube frontend for Android. (GNU GPLv3)
- VLC - Multimedia player that supports a variety of audio and video formats. (GNU GPLv3)
- youtube-dl - Feature-rich command line program to download videos from YouTube and other video sites. (Unlicense)
- QEMU - QEMU is a generic and open source machine emulator and virtualizer. (GNU GPLv2)
- VirtualBox - Feature rich virtualization tools with support for many operating systems. (GNU GPLv2)
- Etherpad - Collaborative document editing in real-time. (Apache License 2.0)
- Ghost - Hackable platform for building and running online publications. (MIT)
- GitLab - Git repository manager for the entire code lifecycle. (MIT)
- GNU social - Microblogging server written in PHP. (GNU GPLv3)
- Gogs - Lightweight, cross-platform, self-hosted Git service. (MIT)
- Mastodon - Decentralized social network server. (GNU AGPLv3)
- MediaGoblin - 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+)
- Neocities - GeoCities for the modern world. (BSD 2-clause)
- NotABug.org - Collaboration platform for freely licensed projects. (MIT)
- OpenStreetMap - Map of the world created by users and released under an open license. (GNU GPLv2)
- Phabricator - Code management platform (similar to GitLab) built with PHP. (Apache License 2.0)
- Weblate - Translation management system with version control integration. (GNU GPLv3)
- WordPress - Blog publishing platform and content management system. (GNU GPLv2+)
- Chromium - The open source version of the world's most popular web browser. (BSD license)
- Firefox - Web browser with a large collection of add-ons available. It is backed by Mozilla, a non-profit organization that supports innovation, freedom, and an open Web. (MPL 2.0)
- IceCat - A fork of Firefox that is composed entirely of free software. (MPL 2.0)
- Waterfox - Fork of Firefox that is focused on performance, 64-bit systems, and data privacy. (MPL 2.0)
- Apache HTTP Server - 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 - A HTTP and reverse proxy server, a mail proxy server, and a generic TCP/UDP proxy server. (2-clause BSD-like license)
- ZeroNet - Decentralized websites using Bitcoin cryptography and the BitTorrent network. (GNU GPLv2)
Free frameworks to build (hopefully) free software.
- Backbone.js - Provides a minimal structure for JavaScript in web applications. (MIT)
- HyperApp - One kilobyte JavaScript library with virtual DOM. (MIT)
- Nano - Small PHP 5+ boilerplate framework. (Unlicense)
Libre-friendly.
- Libiquity - Company that designs and develops embedded software and firmware systems.
- Raptor Computing Systems - Desktops, motherboards, and other parts utilizing the IBM POWER9 processor and OpenBMC firmware.
- Technoethical - Laptops, adapters, and mobile devices compatible with free operating systems.
- ThinkPenguin - Provider of modern laptops, desktops, and printers that contain no proprietary software.
- Vikings - Hosting company powered by Libreboot firmware, libre software, and green energy.
- Business Models for Open-Source Software
- Free Software - Wikipedia entry on the topic of free software.
- Proprietary Software is Often Malware
- Software Freedom - Short, simple explanation of why free software is important.
- Free Software Directory - Over 15,000 free software packages.
- Free GNU/Linux Distributions - Entirely free distributions.
- freepost - Everything related to free culture.
- LibrePlanet - Annual conference on free software.
- Software Freedom Day - Annual worldwide celebration of free software with the aim of increasing awareness of free software and its virtues.
- FOSSology - License compliance toolkit for software projects.
- gplenforced.org - Community-oriented GPL enforcement.
- Bytemark - Transparent UK hosting company that offers a 50% discount for anyone publishing free software.
- Digital Freedom Foundation - Promotes access to knowledge via technology.
- Free Software Foundation - Nonprofit with a worldwide mission to promote computer user freedom.
- FSF India - Indian sister site for the FSF.
- FSFE - European sister site for the FSF.
- FSFLA - Latin American sister site for the FSF.
- GNU - Home of the GNU/Linux operating system.
- Jitsi - Community for the development of open source video conferencing software.
- Outreachy - Helps people from underrepresented backgrounds find internships with FOSS software companies.
- Software Freedom Conservancy - Charity that helps promote, improve, develop, and defend free, libre, and open source software projects.
- Software Freedom Law Center - Provider of no-cost legal services to free, libre, and open source software creators.
- A Free Digital Society by Richard Stallman
- Eben Moglen: How I Discovered Free Software
- Free Software for Digital India by Prof. Nagarjuna G
- Free Software, Beyond Software by Agustín Benito at TEDxLaLaguna (Español)
- Free Software, Free Society by Richard Stallman at TEDxGeneva 2014
- I Am Not a Free Software Guy by Wrishiraj Kaushik
- Jeremy Allison Talks About Free Software
- John Sullivan Talks About Free Software
- Stephen Fry Talks About Free Software