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The software alternatives directory

Good software.
Less to spend.

Find open-source alternatives to expensive software. Compare individual tools and complete stacks, with the costs and tradeoffs in plain sight.

494 replacement guides 1,445 tools to explore

Start with what you use

Replace a subscription

All replacement guides

Find your category

What needs a better option?

Browse alternatives for the work you need to get done.

Put the pieces together

A stack for the whole job

Tools that work together, with a guide to getting started.

All 176 stacks
  1. 1

    Docs

    A wiki agents can read and write. Replaces Notion / Confluence Team wiki →
  2. 2

    CRM

    Pipeline you own, not a CRM you rent. Replaces HubSpot / Salesforce Twenty CRM →
  3. 3

    Support

    Inbox, help center, AI answers. Replaces Intercom / Zendesk Chatwoot support →
  4. 4

    Analytics

    Traffic and attribution, no cookie tax. Replaces GA / Mixpanel Swetrix analytics →
  5. 5

    SEO

    See what actually sent the click. Replaces GA + attribution suites Swetrix analytics →
  6. 6

    Newsletter

    List, broadcast, archive — you hold the keys. Replaces Mailchimp / Mailgun Plunk + Resend →
  7. 7

    Automation

    Workflows that don't charge per zap. Replaces Zapier / Make n8n + Postgres →
  8. 8

    Auth

    Auth without the bill: SuperTokens, PocketBase, or Tinyauth. Replaces Clerk / Auth0 / WorkOS / Amazon Cognito Auth without the bill →
  9. 9

    Backend

    Ship an app this afternoon. Replaces Firebase + Vercel Go + PocketBase →
  10. 10

    AI chat

    Team chat over your models, not theirs. Replaces ChatGPT Team Open WebUI + LiteLLM →
  11. 11

    Forms

    Internal tools on a real database. Replaces Airtable Baserow + Appsmith →
  12. 12

    Monitoring

    Uptime and status in Go. Replaces Pingdom / Statuspage Checkcle →

Before you switch

A few useful answers

Lower subscription costs still come with decisions to make.

How do I find an alternative to software I already use?
Search for the product you want to replace, or browse by category. Replacement guides link to open-source tools and combinations, with feature comparisons, licensing notes, and self-hosting considerations.
What is a software stack?
A stack is a combination of tools that work together to cover a job, such as customer support or workflow automation. A stack guide explains each tool's role, what it replaces, and how to get started.
Does open source mean free to run?
No. Software may be free to download, but hosting, maintenance, backups, and support can still cost money. Check each guide's pricing assumptions and license before switching.

Keep finding better options

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A software combination worth knowing about, plus a tool to explore.