Free GitHub Repos That Replace Paid Software
Ten free GitHub repositories that replace paid software costing about $312 a month combined — workflow automation, local AI chat, whiteboards, PDF tools, livestreaming, design, notes, cloud storage, 3D and photo editing. Every star count and last commit below was checked directly against the GitHub API on 11 November 2026, and every paid price is the price listed on the vendor's own pricing page on that date. Prices change; treat them as a snapshot, not a quote.
How to pick a free repo
Start with the paid tool you want to stop paying for. Each article names the paid platform it replaces and its checked price, so you can see the saving before you install anything.
Next, check how the free repo runs. Some are web apps you open in a browser, some are desktop apps you download, and some are self-hosted with Docker. The article for each repo gives the shortest path to a first working run.
Finally, read the licence line. Most of these repos are open source under MIT, GPL or similar licences. n8n is the exception: it uses a fair-code Sustainable Use License, which is free to self-host and use but is not open source under the OSI definition. The n8n article says so plainly.
The 10 free repos
| Repo | GitHub stars | Replaces | Paid price |
|---|---|---|---|
| n8n | ★ 210,058 | Zapier | $19.99/month |
| Ollama | ★ 186,597 | ChatGPT Plus | $20/month |
| Excalidraw | ★ 135,477 | Miro | $8/user/month |
| Stirling-PDF | ★ 96,238 | Adobe Acrobat Pro | $19.99/month |
| OBS Studio | ★ 79,300 | Streamlabs Ultra | $27/month |
| Penpot | ★ 62,268 | Figma Professional | $16/seat/month |
| Joplin | ★ 57,133 | Notion Plus | $10/user/month |
| Nextcloud | ★ 37,473 | Dropbox Plus / Google Workspace | $11.99/month |
| Blender | ★ 21,861 | Autodesk Maya | $2,010/year |
| GIMP | ★ 6,579 | Adobe Photoshop | $22.99/month |
n8n — free alternative to Zapier
Free workflow automation that replaces Zapier — connect 400+ apps and run AI workflows without paying per task.
Ollama — free alternative to ChatGPT Plus
Run large language models on your own computer — a free, private alternative to ChatGPT Plus.
Excalidraw — free alternative to Miro
A free hand-drawn whiteboard that replaces Miro — diagrams, wireframes and mind maps with no account and no board limit.
Stirling-PDF — free alternative to Adobe Acrobat Pro
A free all-in-one PDF toolkit that replaces Adobe Acrobat Pro — merge, split, compress, OCR and sign, on your own machine.
OBS Studio — free alternative to Streamlabs Ultra
Free professional livestreaming and screen recording that replaces Streamlabs Ultra — the tool Streamlabs itself is built on.
Penpot — free alternative to Figma Professional
A free open-format design tool that replaces Figma Professional — UI design, prototyping and real-time collaboration.
Joplin — free alternative to Notion Plus
A free private notes app that replaces Notion Plus — Markdown notes, end-to-end encryption, and sync you control.
Nextcloud — free alternative to Dropbox Plus / Google Workspace
A free self-hosted cloud that replaces Dropbox and Google Workspace — files, calendar, contacts, video calls and office docs.
Blender — free alternative to Autodesk Maya
A free complete 3D suite that replaces Autodesk Maya — modelling, sculpting, animation, VFX and rendering.
GIMP — free alternative to Adobe Photoshop
A free photo editor that replaces Adobe Photoshop — retouching, compositing and digital painting for $0 instead of $22.99 a month.
Star counts and last-commit dates were checked against the public GitHub API on 11 November 2026. Paid prices are the prices listed on each vendor's pricing page on the same date; they may have changed since. Replacing all ten paid tools would save about $312 a month (about $3,750 a year) at those checked prices — an illustration, not a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Are these GitHub repos really free?
Yes. Every repo in this series is free to download and use under its licence, with no payment required for the core software. Some offer a paid hosted cloud version as a convenience, but the code itself costs nothing.
How were the star counts checked?
Each star count and last-commit date was read from the public GitHub API (api.github.com) on 11 November 2026. Star counts move every day, so the numbers on each article are a snapshot from that date.
Do the paid prices stay current?
No. Paid prices were checked on the vendor's pricing page on 11 November 2026 and are labelled with that date in every article. Vendors change prices, so check the pricing page before you decide based on a saving.