Tell me if you’ve heard this before, “If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.” This is true in most cases. Big companies like Google and Meta can keep most of their services free for users because of the data they collect for advertising. Now, that’s common knowledge. But there’s a lot that happens under the table that you and I aren’t aware of. The bottom line is that our data no longer belongs to us once we sign up for these free services. But not all free software works that way. And I’m here to make the case for free and open-source software.
What qualifies as open-source software?
Open-source software is released under a license that allows anyone to inspect, modify, enhance, and redistribute the code. This is great for innovation and knowledge sharing, but for users, the transparent nature of this software usually means it’s great for privacy.
Why is it better for your privacy?
With most software, you rely entirely on the developer’s word regarding their privacy and security practices. For example, your Wi-Fi router runs an operating system that interacts with all connected devices. Because the router is also connected to the internet, it could potentially send identifiable information to the manufacturer’s servers and even sell that data to advertisers. How do you know it doesn’t? You can only take their word for it.
Open-source software changes the game. Its publicly available source code allows anyone to inspect and verify things like data collection practices. Even if you don’t understand the code, open-source projects often have active communities that monitor and audit the software. You can trust the community’s findings instead of relying on the developer’s promises.
Is open-source software always better?
Not necessarily. Open-source software often comes from smaller developers with limited resources, meaning it might lack the polished features of big-budget alternatives. For example, Google offers 15GB of free cloud storage for storage, sharing, and real-time collaboration through Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets.
Open-source alternatives like LibreOffice offer similar tools but can’t afford to provide free storage to every user. That said, solutions like Nextcloud provides features similar to Google Workspace and Google Photos by storing your data on local or private servers.
My top five most used open-source software
For end users, open source isn’t always the easiest option. Many tools require technical know-how to set up or maintain. However, some open-source software is incredibly user-friendly, providing experiences that rival or even surpass their closed-source counterparts. Here are my top picks:
Bitwarden
I switch between browsers and operating systems quite frequently. Bitwarden is an absolute lifesaver for me. Unlike default password managers tied to specific ecosystems like Google or Apple, Bitwarden supports all platforms. It offers top-notch two-factor authentication (2FA) and allows you to self-host it on your own network for extra privacy. While it has paid plans, the free version does everything I need from a password manager.
VLC Media Player
You probably already use VLC, but did you know it’s open-source? VLC supports the widest range of media formats, features no ads, and allows extensive customisation. Advanced features like video/audio filtering, subtitle synchronisation, streaming capabilities, and file conversion make it indispensable. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, VLC remains the gold standard for media players.
qBittorrent
For a long time, my preferred torrent client was uTorrent. It was one of the lightweight options available. But then, it got bloated with ads. So I switched to qBitorrent. It’s lightweight, ad-free, and packed with features. I really like its web UI, which can be accessed from anywhere using a web browser. It’s available for all major desktop OS.
Jellyfin
Familiar with Plex? Jellyfin offers the same features but is completely free and open-source. It organises your media, fetches metadata, and supports plugins for extended functionality. There are features like SyncPlay for shared viewing experiences. And it even supports hosting books, comics, and photos. You can use it from any web browser. But if you own a smart TV Jellyfin has you covered with clients for Google TV, tvOS, Fire TV, Roku and more.
Firefox
Developed by the Mozilla Foundation, Firefox is a privacy-focused browser that’s fully open-source. This means there are a lot of user browsers built on Firefox that enhance some of its features. Its forks, like LibreWolf and Waterfox, strip out telemetry for even greater privacy, while others, like Floorp and Zen Browser, add productivity tools. I recommend pairing Firefox with uBlock Origin, an open-source ad blocker, for a much safer and ad-free browsing experience.
Honorable Mentions
These are just five of the most popular open-source software that I think offer a similar, if not better, experience to their closed-source counterparts. But there are a lot more great open-source tools you should definitely try out.
- Mastodon is an open-source, self-hosted social networking service.
- GIMP is a strong Photoshop alternative.
- Krita is fantastic for digital artists.
- Inkscape is great for vector design.
- Audacity leads the pack for audio editing.
- OBS Studio is the best when it comes to live streaming.
Why Open Source Matters
Diving into the open-source world introduces you to tools created by developers who are genuinely passionate about their work. By making their code open, they allow others to build on their efforts while giving users like us peace of mind through transparency. Open-source software empowers us to prioritise privacy without sacrificing functionality, and that’s a win for everyone.