Software - FOSS Central

Recommended Software

This selection of recommended software and web services will help you improve your security and online privacy by giving you the opportunity to discover various open-source projects, privacy protections, and secure alternatives to major services we all use and love.

Note: Because this website is still under construction, some sections here may be incomplete. Don't hesitate to post an issue on Github if you want to help out !

Web Browsers

Avoid Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge...

Web browers are the portal that we use to connect to the web. ...

Firefox

Text Open.

All platforms Private & Open Source

Chromium

Text Open.

All desktops Private & Open Source

Brave

Text Open.

All platforms Private & Open Source

Mail Clients

Avoid Gmail, Outlook

In order to fuel "smart" functionnalities in mail clients, big corporations collect unreasonable amounts of data about their users and private communications. Choosing a more privacy-respecting mail client is key to your digital freedom.

Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a free and open-source mail client created by Mozilla. Completely private, it is a full featured mail client which allows you to save your mails in order to work offline. Open.

All desktops Private & Open Source

Office Suites

Avoid G-Suite, Microsoft Office

Nowadays, the main office suites have become very closed and incompatible with their competitors, and some of them even come with a fairly high price tag. However, many open-source equivalents are available, offering great stability, standard file formats, and a great compatibility with other office suites.

Libre Office

Libre Office is the most active and full-featured open-source office suite currently. Offering many advanced options and adhering to the Open Document file format, it feature a flexible and ergonomic layout which can be changed to the Microsoft based ribbon interface. Open.

All platforms Private & Open Source

Open Office

Open Office is the ancestor of Libre Office, and is still maintained to this day. While being updated less frequently than Libre Office, Open Office also uses the Open Document file format and offers many advanced options. Its older style may please some people. Open.

All desktops Private & Open Source

Only Office

Only Office is a new, more modern take on open-source office suites. While pushing their cloud-based subscription service at first glance, they offer free desktop editors for local use, featuring a beautiful interface and easy intergation with various cloud services. Open.

All platforms Private & Open Source

Video Editors

Text

Kdenlive

Text Open.

All desktops Open Source

DaVinci Resolve

Text Open.

All desktops Freemium

Olive

Text Open.

All desktops Open Source

Photo Editors

Text

GIMP

Text Open.

All desktops Open Source

Krita

Text Open.

All desktops Open Source

Cloud Providers

Avoid Dropbox, Google Drive, Onedrive...

While they are very convenient, cloud providers like Dropbox and Google Drive have very bad privacy policies that enable them to possibly see the files you upload there, and aren't very secure. The following replacements offer better security and strong privacy practices.

Nextcloud

Open.

All platforms Private & Open Source

3D Modeling

Some 3D modeling programs, like Autodesk software, are very costly. Luckily, some excellent free and open-source alternatives exist for these purposes. Whether you're an amateur or professional, this software will help you accomplish what you want.

Blender

Blender is a very powerful, free and open-source 3D modeling program. Used by many amateurs and professionals alike around the world, it comes with all the tools you need to create your models. Open.

All desktops Open Source