The Best Open Source and Freeware Applications

Posted on April 22, 2007 by Kevin Flahaut

I’ve been bookmarking many of the better open source and freeware applications and tools out there and finally decided to compile a list. I’ll continue to update the list as time allows. Thanks to all the people out there who provide these great tools to the rest of us.

Office Applications/Word Processing

Desktop Tools/Resources

Virtual Desktops

Online File Storage

Database

Personal Finance/Information

Sticky Notes

PDF

Text/HTML/CSS Editors

Desktop Publishing

Maps/Geo Location

Content Management Systems/Tools

Forums

Wiki

Communities

eCommerce

Project Management

CRM

Video/Music

Calendars/Organizers

Instant Messaging/Telephony

Blogging Tools

Web Based Email

CD/DVD Burning

Graphics/Design

Browsers/File Sharing/Email/News Readers

Online AntiVirus

AntiVirus/Adware/Spyware

System Tools

This entry was posted in Freeware, Misc. Stuff, Open Source. Bookmark the permalink.

17 Responses to The Best Open Source and Freeware Applications

  1. Selina says:
    May 8, 2007 at 7:58 pm

    I really appreciate the time you took to make this list!

    I work for a company that is always trying to help customers get the goods for free, and this site has proven to be an incredible resource!

    Thanks again!!

  2. rain says:
    May 14, 2007 at 9:34 pm

    I appreciated that you took the time to get this list up. Some of them are really useful such as the Office Application and System Utilities.

    I supposed you have arranged them in order of preferences. I have noticed some of them are not useful anymore – either has been acquired or the ranking has dropped.

    Such as:
    RAV Antivirus – It has been acquired by Microsoft.
    Comodo Antivirus – is far worse in terms of detection as compared to Avast, AVG, Antivir.
    1st Page 2006 (latest freeware) – is comparable to Dreamweaver in areas whereby anyone whom likes to do hand-on coding with a two panes view.

  3. gavin earle says:
    June 3, 2007 at 3:58 pm

    VLC opensource media player is the best. check it out!

  4. MrPuPu says:
    August 29, 2007 at 7:44 pm

    Really useful Link!! Appreciated!

  5. Kevin Flahaut says:
    August 30, 2007 at 5:16 pm

    thanks for the feedback. I’ve not really been maintaining this list and probably should update it soon. There’s really no hierarchy in the listings as far as preferences, features, pricing, etc. It just something I compiled quikly.

  6. Eric G says:
    October 12, 2007 at 3:18 pm

    I’m building a site, and we project on our little Company to have have a full autonome desk/dashboard.
    Things are changing thanks to people like you.
    Many thanks for your work.

  7. David says:
    December 7, 2007 at 1:04 pm

    Nice Site! I Love Open Source!

  8. andinobita says:
    January 11, 2008 at 3:02 am

    really appreciate your hardwork, it’s very useful. Thanks !

  9. Pingback: The Best Open Source and Freeware Applications « The FindLikeMinds Blog

  10. Kenton says:
    July 16, 2008 at 11:00 am

    Great site. Thanks for the effort you’ve put into this. Many of these I was familiar with, but with so many choices out there it’s easy to lose track of what’s what. Add to that all the one’s I didn’t know about, and thanks to you I do now.

    Again, thanks.

  11. Alex van der Bvlg says:
    October 6, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    here’s ligth, portable open source pdf reader that I use:
    http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/

  12. Awsdert says:
    October 30, 2008 at 11:38 am

    Here’s something you may want to look at and include:
    http://www.untangle.com/index.php
    Found it by typing in ‘open source firewall’ into google

  13. Matt says:
    January 17, 2009 at 7:40 pm

    I found these links most useful. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this.

  14. Kahlil says:
    March 5, 2009 at 6:06 am

    Wonderful site …. wonderful links …. keep helping to keep it free and legal :)

  15. Paul d'Aoust says:
    March 17, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    Great resource, but I’d like to recommend two tools that I think are the cream-of-the-crop.

    Text/HTML/CSS editor:
    Geany http://www.geany.org

    Project manager:
    OpenGoo http://www.opengoo.org/
    (this next project is one to watch — it’s great for time tracking, collaborative project and task management, calendaring, e-mail… pretty excellent, although it doesn’t integrate well with other resources like IMAP folders or LDAP address books.)

  16. MRM says:
    July 1, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    good job, I appreciate your work.

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