LibreOffice REVIEW →
A complete open source office suite for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings and more.
A curated Windows collection
100 Best Open Source Programs for Windows
Our goal is a focused collection of 100 excellent open source Windows applications, reviewed in English with practical strengths, limitations and trustworthy download routes. The first 25 are available now.
The first 25
Useful software, not a popularity contest
The Top 100 is not intended as an artificial ranking from number 1 to number 100. We select programs because they solve useful Windows tasks well, are open source and deserve a closer look.
Each profile explains what the program does, why we recommend it, where its strengths lie and what users should consider before installing it. The collection will grow step by step from these first 25 programs to 100.
VLC Media Player REVIEW →
A versatile media player that handles a very wide range of audio, video and streaming formats.
GIMP REVIEW →
A powerful open source image editor for photo correction, compositing, retouching and creative graphics.
Audacity REVIEW →
A multitrack audio editor for recording, cutting, cleaning, mixing and exporting sound.
Inkscape REVIEW →
A vector graphics editor for logos, diagrams, icons, illustrations and scalable artwork.
OBS Studio REVIEW →
A flexible tool for screen recording, live streaming and multi-source video production.
Notepad++ REVIEW →
A fast Windows text and source-code editor with tabs, syntax highlighting and powerful search tools.
Thunderbird REVIEW →
An open source desktop client for email, calendars, contacts and multiple accounts.
KeePassXC REVIEW →
A local password manager that stores credentials in an encrypted database under your control.
ShareX REVIEW →
A feature-rich screenshot and screen-capture tool with automation, annotation and sharing workflows.
PeaZip REVIEW →
A graphical archive manager that opens, creates and manages a broad range of compressed formats.
FileZilla REVIEW →
A graphical client for transferring files between Windows computers and remote servers.
Krita REVIEW →
A creative painting and illustration application with strong brush, layer and tablet support.
Kodi REVIEW →
A media-centre application for organising and enjoying personal video, music and other media collections.
Microsoft PowerToys REVIEW →
A collection of open source utilities that adds practical power-user functions to Windows 10 and 11.
CrystalDiskInfo REVIEW →
A drive-health monitor that makes S.M.A.R.T. information from hard drives and SSDs easier to understand.
BCUninstaller REVIEW →
A thorough software-removal tool that can uninstall applications and search for leftover files and Registry entries.
Vibe REVIEW →
A local transcription application that turns speech in audio and video recordings into editable text.
streamWriter REVIEW →
A Windows tool for recording internet radio streams and saving individual tracks automatically.
Subtitle Edit REVIEW →
A specialised editor for creating, correcting, synchronising and translating subtitles.
Double Commander REVIEW →
A two-panel file manager for users who want faster copying, comparing, searching and organising than Explorer provides.
Open-Shell Menu REVIEW →
A customisable classic-style Start menu for Windows users who prefer a more traditional desktop workflow.
RapidRAW REVIEW →
A modern, GPU-accelerated and non-destructive RAW photo editor focused on a fast creative workflow.
WinHTTrack REVIEW →
A website copier for downloading publicly accessible web content and browsing it locally offline.
AIM Toolkit REVIEW →
A Windows utility for creating fast RAM disks and mounting image files as virtual drives or folders.
Editorial note:
Software changes over time. We review the selection and link to official project sources so that readers can check current releases, system requirements and documentation before installing.