Best Free and Open Source Software

posted by Rianne Schestowitz on Sep 12, 2026

• FileSender - web-based service for sending very large files

  FileSender is a web-based service for securely sending very large files to other people.

  It was developed around the needs of the higher education and research community, where conventional email attachment limits are often unsuitable. Authenticated users create temporary transfers for recipients, while people without accounts can be given guest upload vouchers. Transfers are designed to expire rather than act as permanent file hosting.

  This is free and open source software.

• CivetWeb – embeddable C and C++ web server

  CivetWeb is a compact web server that can be embedded into C and C++ applications or run as a standalone server.

  Its embedding API lets programs add HTTP, HTTPS and WebSocket services without deploying a separate web-server process, making it useful for device configuration pages, local web interfaces, automation endpoints and protocol gateways. The standalone build can also serve ordinary files and provide server-side scripting. Most functionality can be selected at build time so applications can avoid compiling features they do not need.

  This is free and open source software.

• MISP - threat intelligence sharing and collaboration platform

  MISP is a threat intelligence sharing platform designed for incident analysts, security teams and malware researchers.

  It gives organisations a structured environment for recording technical and contextual intelligence, correlating it, and exchanging selected data with trusted communities. Its flexible data model can represent simple indicators, complex objects, incidents and reports, with relationships connecting related intelligence. MISP is also designed to feed structured intelligence into detection, log analysis and security monitoring systems rather than leaving information isolated inside the platform.

  This is free and open source software.

• Glyphana – search and discover Unicode glyphs

  Glyphana is a graphical Unicode character map for finding, inspecting and collecting individual glyphs.

  It is inspired by the macOS Character Viewer and focuses on quickly locating characters that are awkward to enter directly from a keyboard. The program can search Unicode data, display technical information for a selected character and send several useful representations to the clipboard.

  This is free and open source software.

• Best Free and Open Source Alternatives to Apple iCloud Photos

  iCloud Photos works with Apple Photos to keep photos and videos stored in iCloud and synchronized across devices. Changes made on one device are reflected elsewhere, while users can organise their collection into albums, share photos and access their library from a web browser.

  iCloud Photos is proprietary. We recommend the best free and open source alternatives.

• Yaws – Erlang web server for dynamic content

  Yaws is an HTTP/1.1 web server written in Erlang and designed particularly for dynamic web applications.

  It can serve conventional static content, but its main strength is integrating web requests with Erlang code and the concurrency model of the Erlang runtime. Yaws can run as a standalone server or be embedded inside a larger Erlang application, where its processes can operate under the host application’s supervision tree. The project also provides facilities for common web protocols and application patterns without requiring a separate stack of components.

  This is free and open source software.

• QDiskInfo - graphical frontend for smartctl

  QDiskInfo is a graphical frontend for smartctl, the command-line utility supplied by smartmontools.

  It presents SMART data from hard drives and solid-state drives in a desktop interface inspired by CrystalDiskInfo, making drive health information easier to inspect without working directly with smartctl output. The application is built with Qt and supports both Qt 5 and Qt 6. It can handle modern storage devices and exposes information reported by smartctl for SATA, NVMe and other supported drives.

  This is free and open source software.

• MoonTranslator – minimalist desktop translation application

  MoonTranslator is a desktop translation application designed to provide quick access to translation without keeping a large window open.

  It combines a conventional main window with a floating popup that can be summoned while working in another application. Translation can use built-in Google Translate and Microsoft Bing support without API keys, while DeepL, Lara Translate and custom translation endpoints can be configured separately. The application uses a Tauri backend for window handling, global shortcuts, clipboard integration and local storage, with a React-based interface.

  This is free and open source software.

• Wyrmhole – secure peer-to-peer file transfer GUI

  Wyrmhole is a lightweight desktop application for secure peer-to-peer file transfers using the magic-wormhole.rs protocol. It provides a graphical Send and Receive workflow for Linux, macOS and Windows, replacing command-line interaction with generated transfer codes, progress information and configurable settings.

  Transfers are end-to-end encrypted and protected using the protocol’s PAKE-based authentication. Wyrmhole can send individual files or directories, records completed transfers in a history view, and lets users choose their own relay server. Linux users can install AppImage, DEB or RPM packages.

  This is free and open source software.

• h0neytr4p - configurable web honeypot for reconnaissance and exploits

  h0neytr4p is a web-focused honeypot intended to make it easier for blue teams to detect reconnaissance and exploitation attempts. Instead of constructing and maintaining an intentionally vulnerable web application, defenders create individual traps corresponding to vulnerabilities, exploits or reconnaissance techniques they want to detect.

  Trap definitions are stored separately, making the system particularly useful when defenders want to react quickly to a new advisory or a newly observed attack technique. A suitable trap can be added without reproducing the complete vulnerable product. The same approach can be used to identify automated external reconnaissance from scanners probing exposed infrastructure for known paths and weaknesses.

  This is free and open source software.

• If AI Wrote Your Code, Just Say So

  The other argument is that only the finished software matters. If it works, who cares how it was written? I do.

  When I look at an open source project, I don’t just ask whether it launches today. I want to know whether it’s likely to be maintained tomorrow. I look at commits, issue handling, development activity and the people behind it. Heavy AI use belongs in that picture.

  Developers are free to use AI as much as they like. Nobody is demanding an apology. But if AI wrote a substantial amount of your software, don’t hide behind the claim that it’s no different from using Vim. It plainly is.

  Open source spends an enormous amount of time talking about transparency. That principle shouldn’t mysteriously end at the prompt box.

• Gokapi - self-hosted temporary file sharing service

  Gokapi is a self-hosted file sharing service designed as an alternative to Firefox Send.

  Uploads are restricted to registered users, while recipients can download files through shareable links. Files can expire automatically according to age or download count, helping keep temporary transfers from becoming permanent storage. Gokapi can store data locally or use S3-compatible object storage, and it supports encrypted transfers, user management, file requests and automation through a REST API.

  This is free and open source software.