Because the time Microsoft launched Home windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) and subsequently acquired GitHub in 2018, the corporate is seen embracing the open-source group. It has even kickstarted many in-house tasks below open-source tips. Consequently, many open-source packages are actually cross-platform and accessible on Home windows natively. Not simply that, the open-source apps are well-designed and comply with Home windows design rules. So on this article, we now have listed the most effective free and open-source software program for Home windows 11. We have now included apps from all classes, so you’ll find options for fashionable apps, that are free and work nicely on Home windows. On that be aware, let’s leap to the record.
Finest Open Supply Software program for Home windows 11 (2023)
On this article, we now have curated the 35 finest open-source apps for Home windows 11. From productiveness apps to utilities and professional-grade software program, we now have talked about all the things. Develop the desk under and undergo the record of apps.
1. VLC
If you find yourself speaking about the most effective open-source software program for Home windows 11, you merely can’t miss the VLC media participant. It’s top-of-the-line media gamers not simply on Home windows, but additionally on Linux, Android, macOS, and iOS. It’s fully free and open-source with no adverts, consumer monitoring, or spyware and adware. It doesn’t matter what you throw at it, be it video recordsdata with proprietary codecs, or Audio CDs, DVDs, and so forth, VLC can decode all the things straight away. And that is the rationale why we selected VLC as top-of-the-line Home windows 11 apps.
Set up VLC (Free)
2. ShareX
There are various screenshot instruments on Home windows together with the native Snipping device, Greenshot, Lightshot, and so forth., however nothing comes near ShareX. It’s a free and open-source program that means that you can take every kind of screenshots on Home windows. From partial screenshots to full-screen, window seize, and delayed screenshots, it will probably seize all the things. To not point out, it’s also possible to document the display and create GIFs in the highest quality on Home windows 11 with ShareX. Merely put, for me, ShareX is without doubt one of the finest free and open-source software program for Home windows 11 and it is best to test it out.
Set up ShareX (Free)
3. OBS Studio
OBS Studio is a professional-grade software program utilized by streamers and broadcasters, however do you know that it’s fully open-source? Greater than 500 customers have contributed to the OBS venture to make it a robust stay streaming and display recording software program. With OBS Studio, you’ll be able to stream instantly on YouTube, Fb, Twitch, and different social media channels.
It helps compositing, granular settings for varied media sources, limitless scenes, customized transitions, and extra. In actual fact, on account of its open-source nature and big group assist, OBS Studio is supported by numerous builders with third-party plugins. So I might say, OBS Studio undoubtedly ranks among the many finest open-source software program for Home windows 11.
Set up OBS Studio (Free)
4. Rufus
Rufus is one other nice open-source utility for Home windows 11. You should utilize it to create a bootable USB for Home windows 11 and in addition bypass most of the system necessities of Home windows 11. One of the best half is that it’s fully free to make use of and helps many different working methods too. You’ll be able to outline the partition scheme, instantly pull Home windows 11 from Microsoft’s web site, choose the file system, and do rather more. You too can carry out a clear set up of Home windows 11 utilizing Rufus. In tandem, Rufus is an important open-source app for Home windows customers and it is best to undoubtedly use it.
Set up Rufus (Free)
5. Energetic Wallpaper — Free Different to Wallpaper Engine
There are a selection of paid stay wallpaper apps for Home windows 11, however the one which stands out for me is Energetic Wallpaper. In contrast to the premium Wallpaper Engine, Energetic Wallpaper is totally free to make use of and it’s open-source as nicely. You’ll be able to set GIFs, on-line movies, downloaded movies, and even web sites as your desktop stay wallpaper. The nice factor is that Energetic Wallpaper consumes only a few system sources decreasing stutters and lags. All in all, Energetic Wallpaper makes a case for open-source community-supported software program and does a wonderful job at that.
Set up Energetic Wallpaper (Free)
6. Rise Media Participant
Whereas VLC is unquestionably a robust media participant, in case you are in search of one other open-source media participant that’s constructed on the fashionable WinUI framework, then Rise Media Participant is for you. It’s a fantastically designed app in Fluent type and provides all the things that you just count on from a media participant.
You’ll be able to play your native media recordsdata, and stream music and movies with limitless customization. One of the best half is that it makes use of supplies like Mica and Acrylic to boost the UI much more. The developer has launched a brand new Alpha Preview 2 with a Now Taking part in characteristic and lots of quality-of-life enhancements. Go forward and take a look at this wonderful open-source media participant on Home windows 11.
Set up Rise Media Participant (Free)
7. Cider — Different to Apple Music
Apple lately launched the official Apple Music app for Home windows 11, but it surely’s at present in preview. Nevertheless, in case you are in search of a stunningly designed Home windows app for Apple Music, I might strongly suggest Cider. It’s fully free and open-source and integrates Apple Music seamlessly into the app. As well as, you’ll be able to add providers like Spotify, Final.fm, and Discord as nicely. In contrast to the dreaded iTunes app, Cider may be very quick because it’s natively written on Vue.js for Home windows 11. To not neglect, you’ve assist for AirPlay, Apple Music Sing, Chromecast, and extra.
Set up Cider (Free)
8. KDE Join — Different to Telephone Hyperlink
In case you are in search of an open-source different to Telephone Hyperlink or Intel Unison, go forward and take a look at KDE Join. It provides comparable options and permits deeper communication between your smartphone and PC. You’ll be able to effortlessly share recordsdata and hyperlinks between the 2 units, get cellphone notifications in your PC, customise instructions to close down your laptop, and extra. As well as, you’ll be able to remotely management music in your PC utilizing your cellphone and use your cellphone as a digital trackpad. Merely put, it brings most of the important options to bridge the hole between smartphones and PCs.
Set up KDE Join (Free)
9. GIMP — Free Different to Adobe Photoshop
We already understand how pricey Adobe’s suite of apps can get and notably, Adobe Photoshop. In case you are in search of an open-source and free different to Adobe Photoshop, I might strongly recommend testing GIMP. I personally use GIMP and it’s actively developed with new characteristic additions that make it a robust picture editor. You get many of the fundamental and superior options on par with Adobe Photoshop. It has assist for a lot of third-party plugins and comes with a wide range of subtle instruments as nicely.
Set up GIMP (Free)
10. Audacity
Audacity is a free and open-source audio editor for Home windows 11. It’s a wonderful utility that comes with many audio-manipulation instruments. You’ll be able to document audio from a number of sources, resample audio in varied codecs, edit audio clips, add results, analyze the frequencies, and do rather more.
With its Spectrogram view mode, you’ll be able to visualize detailed frequency and analyze the audio in higher element. Identical to different open-source packages, it additionally helps third-party plugins from varied purposes. When you want to document audio on Home windows 11 and the built-in Sound Recorder app is just too fundamental for you, you’ll be able to strive Audacity. It won’t disappoint you.
Set up Audacity (Free)
11. Shotcut — Free Different to Adobe Premiere Professional
Shotcut is just not as superior as Adobe Premiere Professional, but it surely does an excellent job at video modifying. It’s a free and open-source video editor for Home windows 11 with assist for a number of audio and video codecs. Due to FFmpeg — one other open-source venture — Shotcut can decode most media codecs together with proprietary ones. You do get a number of timelines and dockable panel assist identical to different superior video editors. The video editor additionally helps tone mapping, video results, transitions, animations, and extra. Apart from Shotcut, it’s also possible to strive different free and open-source video editors like Kdenlive and OpenShot.
Set up Shotcut (Free)
12. 7-Zip and NanaZip
We already know that 7-Zip has made a mark for itself within the file archiving area. Overthrowing WinRAR and WinZip, this free and open-source software program has develop into the de-facto answer for compressing and decompressing recordsdata and folders. It’s a really light-weight app that includes a formidable algorithm that outputs recordsdata with a excessive compression ratio. You’ll be able to even encrypt and password-protect recordsdata and folders in Home windows 11 with 7-Zip. To not point out, 7-Zip permits you to entry varied file codecs like DMG, MSIX, EXE, and extra.
That stated, it has a considerably outdated design for Home windows 11 which forces folks to search for another. In that case, you’ll be able to strive NanaZip which is a fork of 7-Zip, however in a contemporary UI. Constructed on XAML Islands, NanaZIP has a easy and fashionable consumer interface. In contrast to 7-Zip, NanaZip provides a context menu whenever you right-click on a file or folder with varied features. To sum up, each are highly effective apps and primarily based in your desire, you’ll be able to select both of them.
Set up 7-Zip (Free)
Set up NanaZip (Free)
13. LibreOffice — Free Different to Microsoft Workplace
LibreOffice is a well-liked workplace suite just like Microsoft Workplace, but it surely’s fully free and open-source. When you don’t wish to purchase Microsoft Workplace or subscribe to its costly plans, you’ll be able to very nicely get your issues finished on LibreOffice. It has all of the workplace productiveness software program you want together with Author, Calc, Impress, Draw, Base, Math, and extra.
All of the packages are options to MS Workplace apps. I’ve personally used LibreOffice previously and I can say that the compatibility between Microsoft Workplace and LibreOffice paperwork is sort of good. Furthermore, builders have modernized the UI enormously and now it even helps darkish mode.
Set up LibreOffice (Free)
14. QuickLook
QuickLook is a incredible open-source program for Home windows 11 that permits you to shortly preview recordsdata and folders, just like macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux. Choose the file and press the “House” key and you may peek into the file with out absolutely opening it. It really works for pictures, movies, PDF recordsdata, folders, and so forth. I’ve been utilizing QuickLook on my Home windows 11 PC and am very pleased with the expertise. So if you wish to get a macOS-like preview characteristic on Home windows 11, QuickLook will allow you to do this.
Set up QuickLook (Free)
15. Recordsdata
Whereas Microsoft is overhauling the native File Explorer on Home windows 11 with tabs assist and a brand new particulars pane, an unbiased developer has made an open-source Recordsdata app that’s modern-looking and has all of the helpful options for Home windows. It has a glossy and intuitive design with assist for tabs, shade coding, twin pane, column view, QuickLook integration for fast previewing, and extra. In actual fact, it received the Microsoft Retailer App Awards in 2022 for the best-designed app. If you wish to strive one thing new, go forward and use the Recordsdata app in your Home windows 11 PC.
Set up Recordsdata (Free)
16. ScreenToGif
ScreenToGif is one in all my favourite Home windows 11 apps. It’s a full-blown GIF editor and it’s free to make use of and open-source as nicely. You’ll be able to edit GIFs frame-by-frame, scale back their high quality and measurement, edit, minimize, crop, and resize them too. There are various built-in algorithms to scale back the GIF measurement with out affecting the standard. Aside from that, it additionally helps sketch board recording with display and webcam assist. You too can share the GIFs instantly utilizing Imgur, Gfycat, and different on-line sources. Merely put, there isn’t any higher GIF editor for Home windows 11 than ScreenToGif.
Set up ScreenToGIF (Free)
17. Courageous Browser — Open-Supply Different to Chrome, Edge
Many aren’t conscious however Courageous is an open-source browser that’s primarily based on Chromium. Chrome can be primarily based on Chromium, but it surely has many proprietary Google providers built-in. As for Courageous, it’s constructed on the premise of providing quick efficiency with out the niggling reminiscence problems with Chrome. It consumes 33% much less reminiscence than Chrome and provides 3x higher efficiency.
Aside from that, it blocks third-party trackers and invasive adverts by default which is nice from the purpose of privateness. As well as, Courageous offers malware and phishing safety as nicely. Courageous has additionally finished nicely so as to add Tor mode which anonymizes the community route. So in order for you a quick, safe, and open-source browser for Home windows 11, go forward and check out Courageous. Additionally, you’ll be able to try Mozilla Firefox (Get) which can be open-source.
Set up Courageous (Free)
18. Tor Browser
If you need full anonymity on-line, it is best to use the Tor browser on Home windows 11. It’s a free and open-source program developed by the Tor venture and hundreds of volunteers worldwide. The Tor browser runs an encrypted Tor community which is maintained by a group of volunteers from all around the globe. It blocks third-party trackers, adverts, fingerprinting strategies, and so forth. to supply restriction-free web. The concept behind the Tor browser is to quell censorship and surveillance on the web.
Set up Tor (Free)
19. Bitwarden
Bitwarden is without doubt one of the finest password managers for Home windows 11 and it’s additionally one of many uncommon ones which might be open-source. The password supervisor is all about transparency and its supply has been audited by many safety companies. It additionally conducts common penetration testing by consulting teams. So, so far as safety is worried, Bitwarden provides top-notch safety to your passwords. One of the best half is that it additionally provides a free model with limitless passwords and gadget assist. It might auto-fill net kinds, generate sturdy passwords, provide a 2FA login, an authenticator app, and extra. To sum up, in order for you an open-source password supervisor for Home windows 11, Bitwarden is the best way to go.
Set up Bitwarden (Free)
20. Blender — Free Different to Autodesk Maya and Cinema 4D
Blender is a professional-grade 3D creation software program that has been used to create many fashionable motion pictures. It’s a robust program utilized by graphic artists to create animated movies, visible results, artwork, and extra. Guess what? Blender is totally free and open-source. In case you are somebody who needs to work on movement graphics, interactive 3D purposes, digital actuality property, and 3D-printed fashions, nicely, Blender has all of the instruments to drive your creativeness. Aside from that, many use it for 3D and 2D modeling, sculpting, and digital drawing. To conclude, there isn’t any program on the market that may match Blender’s capabilities.
Set up Blender (Free)
21. Okular — Free Different to Paid PDF Editors
Whereas there are a ton of PDF editors on Home windows 11, most of them are paid and a few freemium ones enable just one edit in a day. In case you are in search of a very free and open-source PDF editor for Home windows 11, I might suggest Okular. It’s developed for Linux methods primarily, however of late, it has been enormously improved on Home windows as nicely.
You’ll be able to each view and edit PDF paperwork with Okular. It helps annotation with all kinds of instruments, you’ll be able to spotlight texts, add inline, notes, and your textual content as nicely. To not point out, Okular provides digital signatures as nicely, so that’s nice. Along with Okular, it’s also possible to strive LibreOffice Draw to edit your PDF recordsdata without cost on Home windows 11.
Set up Okular (Free)
22. Krita — Free Different to Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Animate
Krita is a feature-packed portray utility for Home windows 11 that’s fully free and open-source. It’s an acceptable different to the expensive Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Animate. You are able to do raster graphics modifying for digital and 2D animation. The app is ideal for somebody seeking to make conceptual artwork, illustrations, comics, and digital portray. You’ve a customizable structure with assist for 30 dockers and it additionally helps darkish and light-weight modes. Furthermore, Krita provides greater than 100 brushes for varied ranges and your type. It might even stabilize your brush in case you’ve a shaky hand. So if you wish to paint on a Home windows PC, Krita is the best way to go.
Set up Krita (Free)
23. HandBrake
To transform movies to different codecs, you don’t must obtain a sketchy program or set up a heavy video editor in your PC. HandBrake is a free and open-source program that may practically convert any video format to a different fashionable format with correct codec assist. It might even convert proprietary video codecs to your alternative of media format. From AV1 to H.265, MPEG-4, and VP9, you’re lined on virtually all of the fronts. It might even encode audio codecs like DTS-HD, TrueHD, AC3, and different tracks. Lastly, you’ll be able to add subtitles, set stay and static video previews, alter bitrate, mark chapters, and so forth.
Set up HandBrake (Free)
24. Psiphon
Psiphon is a free and open-source software program for Home windows 11 that may circumvent restrictions on the web by deploying varied community applied sciences. You’ll be able to consider it as a VPN, but it surely’s greater than that. It makes use of a mixture of VPN, SSH, and net proxy to ascertain a safe connection amid web censorship. If a service or content material is blocked in your area, Psiphon can unblock it for you. For consumer safety, it always modifications the servers and makes use of quite a few blocking-resilient protocols to maintain the web open.
Set up Psiphon (Free)
25. FreeCAD — Free Different to AutoCAD
FreeCAD is a free and open-source CAD software program for 3D parametric modeling on Home windows 11. It basically permits you to create designs of real-life objects into 3D fashions. You’ll be able to create 3D fashions of any measurement and alter the parameters to change the design as you want. This system additionally permits you to create 2D sketches after which create 3D objects on high of it. One of the best half about FreeCAD is that it has many instruments and elements to develop production-ready fashions of top quality. Whether or not you’re in structure, product design, or mechanical engineering, FreeCAD is the most effective software program to mannequin and create the objects you need.
Set up FreeCAD (Free)
26. VirtualBox — Open-Supply Different to VMware
Whereas VirtualBox is just not fully open-source, it’s some of the highly effective virtualization software program on the market. The extension packs are proprietary and developed by Oracle. You should utilize it to create a digital machine on Home windows 11 or run Android, Linux, and different working methods in a VM. Positive, VMware additionally provides a free version of its software program, but it surely’s not open-source. So in case you are looking out for an open-source virtualization device that can be free, VirtualBox is the best way to go.
Set up VirtualBox (Free)
27. VeraCrypt
In case you are in search of an open-source disk encryption program for Home windows 11, VeraCrypt is probably the most suited one. It’s completely free and provides premium options with none payment. It means that you can password-protect your encrypted volumes on Home windows. It does so by encrypting the entire disk partition utilizing industry-standard algorithms like AES, Serpent, SHA-2, and different strategies. Not simply that, it’s also possible to encrypt your USB stick in order that nobody can entry your confidential recordsdata.
Set up VeraCrypt (Free)
28. Joplin — Free Different to OneNote and Evernote
On Home windows, OneNote and Evernote are thought-about to be the most effective note-taking apps. Nevertheless, Joplin is a free and open-source software program for Home windows 11 that you need to use to take notes and create your to-do lists as nicely. Joplin can deal with numerous notes and sources and might be organized into notebooks. You too can search the pocket book, tag them, categorize them into a number of sections, and in addition add texts wherever you need. One of the best half is that it additionally helps Markdown format and it’s also possible to import your Evernote notes with formatting intact.
Set up Joplin (Free)
29. BleachBit — Open-Supply Different to CCleaner
Many customers desire to make use of CCleaner to scrub up their PC, but it surely has come to note that CCleaner is an adware and it always hogs system sources. In actual fact, Microsoft now flags CCleaner as a Probably Undesirable App (PUA). So in order for you a light-weight disk cleaner and upkeep software program for Home windows 11, I might suggest BleachBit.
It’s absolutely open-source and free to make use of. It identifies momentary and cached recordsdata from browsers, packages, mail shoppers, and varied different apps. The app has a easy consumer interface and may deep clear your system inside seconds. Aside from that, we may also suggest following our information on the way to unencumber disk area on Home windows 11.
Set up BleachBit (Free)
30. Clonezilla — Free Different to Macrium Replicate
If you wish to create a full backup of your system, there are numerous backup software program for Home windows, however most of them are paid. Nevertheless, Clonezilla is a free and open-source software program for Home windows 11 that permits you to entry many of the premium options without cost. It might absolutely clone the system pictures and disks with none errors. Irrespective of in case you have a disk with completely different file methods, Clonezilla can mirror the disk effortlessly. The one con is its UI, which could frighten common customers. Nevertheless, when you perceive its interface, you’ll be able to simply transfer your knowledge from one disk to a different with out shedding something.
Set up Clonezilla (Free)
31. Mailspring
For a lot of Home windows customers, the go-to open-source e-mail consumer has been Thunderbird. Nevertheless, now a modern-looking app Mailspring has come up that gives many of the options without cost. It has a really neat interface with no adverts or bloatware integration. It helps a number of accounts together with IMAP and Workplace 365. You’ll be able to select to make a unified inbox for a number of accounts. One of the best half is that it has contact and gesture assist so in case you have a touchscreen Home windows pill, it can match proper in. You additionally get built-in assist for learn receipts, hyperlink monitoring, ship later, and extra. So what are you ready for? Go forward and check out Mailspring in your Home windows 11 PC.
Set up Mailspring (Free)
32. Transmission
Transmission is a free and open-source torrent consumer for Home windows 11. The rationale I’m recommending Transmission over qBittorent is that it’s very light-weight and doesn’t eat system sources needlessly. In case you are in search of a torrent consumer for Home windows, choose Transmission over the adware uTorrent or different such shoppers. Transmission robotically blocks unhealthy friends which makes it a lot sooner than different shoppers. Aside from that, it has been developed in a contemporary framework so the look and feel of the app is sort of good on Home windows 11.
Set up Transmission (Free)
33. Notepad++
Notepad++ is a well-liked textual content and supply code editor for Home windows. It’s open-source and free for everybody to make use of. Whereas Microsoft lately added tabs assist to Notepad, Notepad++ had it for years. You’ll be able to open a number of recordsdata in the identical window in a tabbed interface and edit texts as you prefer it. In case you are a newbie in coding and wish to edit or view supply code, Notepad++ is the most effective place to start out. It provides syntaxes for as many as 78 programming languages together with fashionable ones like C, C++, HTML, JSON, Rust, and extra. To sum up, for textual content and supply code modifying, Notepad++ is an excellent open-source app on Home windows you could strive.
Set up Notepad++ (Free)
34. Microsoft PowerToys
In case, you’re unaware, Microsoft PowerToys is a free and open-source program developed for Home windows customers. It options quite a few utilities for energy customers that may enhance productiveness by a higher diploma. You’ll be able to allow PowerToys Run to get a Highlight-like Search device on Home windows 11. Aside from that, you’ll be able to shortly extract textual content from pictures on Home windows 11 utilizing PowerToys, no must obtain a separate OCR software program. You’ll be able to additional customise Snap Layouts and create your personal structure for higher productiveness. There are various such options that may streamline and improve your Home windows expertise. So go forward and check out PowerToys in your PC instantly.
Set up PowerToys (Free)
35. ExplorerPatcher
After the discharge of Home windows 11, many customers have been miffed on account of new modifications in Begin Menu and Taskbar design. Nevertheless, with a free and open-source program referred to as ExplorerPatcher, you’ll be able to restore most Home windows 10 functionalities on Home windows 11. For instance, you’ll be able to set Home windows 11 Taskbar icons to By no means Mix for separate app placement on the Taskbar. Aside from that, you’ll be able to take away the “Beneficial” part from the Home windows 11 Begin menu. There are various different significant modifications you may make with ExplorerPatcher so I might recommend going forward and attempting the app by your self.
Set up ExplorerPatcher (Free)
Verify Out the Finest Open-Supply Apps For Home windows 11
So that is our record of the most effective open-source software program for Home windows 11. We have now included solely these Home windows apps that are fully free and open-source. You’ll be able to go forward and choose the packages most suited to your wants. Anyway, that’s all from us. In case you are in search of the most effective settings to vary for enhanced privateness on Home windows 11, head to our linked information. And if we missed out in your favourite open-source app, do tell us within the remark part under.
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