$0.00 and/or Open source Creative Software

Here's a list of free and/or open source creative software that I found

A Kulkarni
A KulkarniList by A Kulkarni, last updated 
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  1. Broadcasting

  2. Comprehensive software providing screen recording and live streaming on Mac, Windows, and Linux with powerful encoding support and unlimited scenes.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam
    • FreeBSD
    OBS Studio screenshot 1
    OBS Studio screenshot 1
    OBS Studio screenshot 2
    +8
    OBS Studio screenshot 3
  3. Game Dev

  4. MonoGame icon
     Like

    One framework for creating powerful cross-platform games. The spiritual successor to XNA with 1000's of titles shipped across desktop, mobile, and console platforms. MonoGame is a fully managed .NET open source game framework without any black boxes.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    MonoGame screenshot 1
  5. The completely free and source-available game engine Defold solves the technical issues we all have in common when making games. That way, you can focus on being creative and building a great game.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Defold Engine screenshot 1
    Defold Engine screenshot 1
    Defold Engine screenshot 2
    +3
    Defold Engine screenshot 3
  6. CRYENGINE icon
     Like

    The most powerful game development platform is now available to everyone. Full engine source code. All features. No royalties. No obligations. No license fee.

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    CRYENGINE screenshot 1
    CRYENGINE screenshot 1
    CRYENGINE screenshot 2
  7. Unreal Engine is a professional suite of tools and technologies used for building high-quality games across a range of platforms. Unreal Engine’s rendering architecture enables developers to achieve stunning visuals and also scale elegantly to lower-end systems.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    A screenshot of the new Unreal Engine 5. Source: https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/blog/unreal-engine-5-is-now-available-in-early-access
    Unreal Engine screenshot 1
    Unreal Engine screenshot 2
    +10
    Unreal Engine screenshot 3
  8. Unity icon
     Like

    Real-time 3D engine enabling collaboration to create immersive, interactive experiences on Windows, Mac, and Linux, with extensive platform support.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Unity screenshot 1
    Unity screenshot 1
    Unity screenshot 2
    +2
    Unity screenshot 3
  9. Armory 3D icon
     Like

    Armory is an open-source 3D game engine with full Blender integration, turning it into a complete game development tool. The result is a unified workflow from start to finish, making you work faster. No more jumping between different applications.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Blender
    Armory 3D screenshot 1
    Armory 3D screenshot 1
    Armory 3D screenshot 2
    +4
    Armory 3D screenshot 3
  10. Godot Engine is a feature-packed, cross-platform game engine to create 2D and 3D games from a unified interface. It provides a comprehensive set of common tools, so that users can focus on making games without having to reinvent the wheel.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • FreeBSD
    • Flatpak
    • itch.io
    • Meta Quest
    Godot Engine screenshot 1
    Fully-dedicated 2D engine
    XR (VR and AR) support
    +6
    Gorgeous 3D graphics
  11. Video Editing

  12. Advanced video editing and color correction with integrated visual effects, motion graphics, and audio post-production tools, used by professionals.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPad
    Hollywood's #1 Post Solution
    All In One Solution for Post Production
    Edit
The world's fastest and
most advanced professional NLE.
    +9
    Cut
Designed for editors
to turn around work fast!
  13. Natron icon
     Like

    Natron is an open source, cross platform nodal compositing application. It is built around industry standard open source tech such as OpenFX, OpenEXR, OpenColorIO and OpenImageIO. The feature set includes realtime playback/RAM cache, multi-threaded rendering, 2d tracking...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Natron screenshot 1
    Natron screenshot 1
  14. Shotcut icon
     Like

    Free, open-source video editing with multi-format timelines, frame accurate seeking, and robust capture support up to 4k for diverse projects.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    Text filter settings
    Shotcut on Ubuntu
    Shotcut on Windows
    +1
    Shotcut screenshot 3
  15. Cinelerra icon
     Like

    Cinelerra is a highly advanced and professional non-linear video editing software, but still remains open source. Cinelerra solves three main tasks: capturing, editing and compositing.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Cinelerra screenshot 1
    Cinelerra screenshot 1
    Cinelerra screenshot 2
    +3
    Cinelerra screenshot 3
  16. Kdenlive icon
     Like

    Intuitive multi-track video editor with robust hardware-accelerated support; offers chroma key, color grading, and extensive audio/video format compatibility.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • KDE Plasma
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Logging
    Editing
    Audio
    +2
    Effects
  17. Lightworks is an editing powerhouse, delivering unparalleled speed and flexibility, fully integrated with the other members of the Complete Collaboration family.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Lightworks screenshot 1
    Trimming
    Multiple viewers
    +2
    Fx
  18. Olive is a free non-linear video editor aiming to provide a fully-featured alternative to high-end professional video editing software.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Olive Video Editor screenshot 1
    Curve Keyframe
    Export File Extension
  19. Animation

  20. Boats Animator is a free and open-source stop motion animation program for Windows, macOS and Linux. Its intuitive interface caters to animators of all levels and offers many powerful features. The program has been open sourced under the GNU General Public License and...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Boats Animator screenshot 1
  21. Synfig is a free and open-source, industrial-strength, vector-based 2D animation app designed for producing feature-film animations.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    Synfig Studio screenshot 1
    Synfig Studio screenshot 1
    Synfig Studio screenshot 2
    +2
    Synfig Studio screenshot 3
  22. OpenToonz icon
     Like

    OpenToonz is an animation program that is a free software version of Toonz, the animation software used by Studio Ghibli, amongst others.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    GTS
    Digital painting
    Filming
    +4
    OpenToonz screenshot 3
  23. 3D Modelling

  24. Blender icon
     Like

    Free open-source 3D software for modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, rendering, compositing, video editing, and simulation.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Splash Artwork for Blender 4.3
    Cycles Render Engine
    Modeling, Sculpt, UV
    +9
    VFX
  25. Sculptris icon
     Like

    Sculptris is an elegant, powerful and yet easy to use 3D sculpting software, allowing the artist in you to simply focus on creating amazing 3D artwork. Gone are the technical and often tedious constraints typically associated with digital art.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Sculptris screenshot 1
    Sculptris screenshot 1
    Sculptris screenshot 2
  26. Digital Painting/PhotoManipulation

  27. Powerful cross-platform raw photo processing software offering advanced user control over demosaicing and development. Supports HDR DNGs and image formats.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Flatpak
    RawTherapee screenshot 1
    RawTherapee screenshot 1
    RawTherapee screenshot 2
    +11
    RawTherapee screenshot 3
  28. MediBang Paint is a lightweight software for illustration and making comic books on Windows and Mac OS.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Steam
    Great for anime or comics
    Good simple!!
And like Adobe
    MediBang Paint screenshot 2
    +4
    MediBang Paint screenshot 3
  29. Krita icon
     Like

    A free, open-source painting program for professional artists offering customizable UI, 9 brush engines, layer support, and color management.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android Tablet
    • KDE Plasma
    • Epic Games Store
    • PortableApps.com
    • Steam
    • F-Droid
    Main Window
    Startup page with news
    Brush editor
    +3
    Gamut Mask editor
  30. GIMP icon
     Like

    Advanced image manipulation tool offering comprehensive tools for photo retouching, composition, and batch processing in a free package.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    • AmigaOS
    yes
    GIMP 2.99.18 on Windows, non-default theme.
    GIMP screenshot 2
    +5
    GIMP screenshot 3
  31. Inkscape icon
     Like

    Open source vector graphics editor supporting SVG with features like custom brushes, pressure sensitivity, and layer management across multiple platforms.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    Inkscape screenshot 1
    Inkscape screenshot 1
    Inkscape screenshot 2
    +8
    Inkscape screenshot 3
  32. Music

  33. LilyPond icon
     Like

    GNU LilyPond is a computer program for music engraving. One of LilyPonds major goals is to produce scores that are engraved with traditional layout rules, reflecting the era when scores were engraved by hand.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    LilyPond screenshot 1
    LilyPond screenshot 1
    LilyPond screenshot 2
    +1
    LilyPond screenshot 3
  34. Create, notate, and playback music with free, open-source software for Windows, Mac, and Linux supporting MIDI, MusicXML, PDF export, and community sharing.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    MuseScore 4.0
    Old screenshot of MuseScore 3.0
    Old screenshot of MuseScore 3.0
    +1
    Old screenshot
  35. Mixxx icon
     Like

    Mixxx integrates the tools DJs need to perform creative live mixes with digital music files.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Haiku
    Mixxx screenshot 1
    Mixxx screenshot 1
  36. LMMS icon
     Like

    Free cross-platform DAW supporting VST plugins, MIDI, and lossless audio. Offers music loopers and sequencers with privacy, no ads, and offline capability.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    LMMS screenshot 1
    LMMS screenshot 1
    LMMS screenshot 2
    +2
    LMMS screenshot 3
  37. Audio Editing

  38. Ardour icon
     Like

    Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. Record, edit, and mix on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Ardour 6
    Ardour with a custom theme
    main window + mixer
    +8
    MIDI tracks
  39. Audacity icon
     Like

    Free open-source multi-track audio editor and recorder with 32-bit float processing. Supports many formats and plugins for Windows, macOS, Linux.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    Editing Audio
    Audacity 2.2.0 in default Light theme running on Windows 10
    Recording with Audacity 2.2.0 in Dark theme on Windows 10
    +4
    Audacity 2.2.0 MIDI playback running on macOS
  40. Writing

  41. Storyboarder makes it easy to visualize a story as fast you can draw stick figures. Quickly draw to test if a story idea works. Create and show animatics to others. Express your story idea without making a movie.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Storyboarder screenshot 1
    Storyboarder screenshot 1
    Storyboarder screenshot 2
    +3
    Storyboarder screenshot 3
  42. Open-source writing tool with hierarchical outliner, distraction-free editor, character management, plot development, Snowflake method, and writing goal support.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Manuskript screenshot 1
    Manuskript screenshot 1
    Manuskript screenshot 2
    +5
    Manuskript screenshot 3
  43. An ultimate outlining software for story writers. It is aimed especially for screenwriters, but can be used as well as for outlining novels, tales and any kind of stories.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    ultra_outliner screenshot 1
    ultra_outliner screenshot 1
    ultra_outliner screenshot 2
    +2
    ultra_outliner screenshot 3
  44. Highland icon
     Like

    With Highland, crafting a perfectly-formatted screenplay is as simple as writing an email. Just type. Highland will make it look good.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Highland screenshot 1
    Highland screenshot 1
  45. Publishing

  46. Photography

  47. Supplementary

  48. Fonts

  49. Collaborative screenwriting for everyone*

    *Great for solo writers as well!.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
  50. Scribus icon
     Like

    Open-source DTP tool with flexible layouts, typesetting, CMYK support, and interactive PDFs, ideal for creating newspapers and brochures.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Oracle Solaris
    • Flatpak
    Scribus screenshot 1
    Scribus screenshot 1
    Scribus screenshot 2
    +2
    Scribus screenshot 3
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