Software for the Tech-Savvy Power User [2/3]

Part 2 of 3 in Series: lists will continually be updated periodically.

This is a continuation of my list, “Recommended Software for the Average Joe and Jane”, but with software I believe needs a bit more technical know-how.

Criteria I look for universally for my lists are as follows: — Open source code: publicly audited — Privacy-focus: minimal data collection, encryption by default — Security-focus: 2FA available, encryption by default — Zero Knowledge end-to-end encryption (E2EE) when appropriate — Cross-platform or progressive web apps (PWAs) + cloud backup/sync — Freemium subscription model, so basic features are always available for free — Oligarchy / Big Tech alternative — Absence of “dark” or deceptive patterns

Criteria specifically for this list: — Small organizations and up-and-coming software are welcome on this list — User experience may require more configuration, less convenience, and more tech literacy — Features available can replace or nearly replace Big Tech’s popular apps

al
almondelf2List by almondelf2, last updated 
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Privacy respecting PIM

    Email providers that don’t have cross platform apps, so they didn’t make it on the “Average Joe and Jane” list, but they are privacy respecting.

  2. Disroot icon
     Like

    Disroot is a platform providing online services based on principles of freedom, privacy, federation and decentralization.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • F-Droid
    Disroot screenshot 1
    Rainloop, with the AlternativeTo  email confirmation open
  3. Murena Workspace is your personal email account, your agenda and contacts, your drive on the cloud and your online office suite. All combined in one single service at murena.io, simple to use. It is powered by proven open-source software like NextCloud and OnlyOffice.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    Murena Workspace screenshot 1
    Murena Workspace screenshot 1
  4. Cloud Storage

    Zero Knowledge, E2EE cloud storage. You will need to be a bit more tech-savvy than the average user to even understand their website.

  5. Filen icon
     Like

    Filen is a cutting-edge cloud storage provider that offers client-side, end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption. Headquartered and operated entirely in Germany, Filen is at the forefront of combining comprehensive features with uncompromising privacy and security.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Filen screenshot 1
    Filen screenshot 1
    Filen screenshot 2
    +18
    Filen screenshot 3
  6. Peergos icon
     Like

    Peergos is a secure and private online space where you can store, share and view your photos, videos, music and documents.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Java
    Thumbnails are created upon upload.
Filesystem can be mounted via FUSE and a command line interface also exists.
    Dark mode is avaiable
    Uniquely, it is possible to stream media within the browser.
    +5
    Custom apps can be added.
  7. Office Suite

    Nextcloud is self-hosting, CryptPad is only a PWA, and LibreOffice has no mobile apps or cloud sync.

  8. Nextcloud icon
     Like

    On-premises file sync, universal access, integrated collaboration, real-time communication with privacy and data control focus.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • F-Droid
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Cloudron
    • Docker Hub
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • Flathub
    Simple and powerful file sync & share
    Simple upload even for people who don’t have Nextcloud
    Great Android & iOS apps to sync your files.
    +3
    Very easy theming
  9. CryptPad icon
     Like

    CryptPad is a private-by-design alternative to popular office tools and cloud services. All the content stored on CryptPad is encrypted before being sent, which means nobody can access your data unless you give them the keys.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    Instance homepage
    Markdown slides app
    Code/Markdown app
    +7
    Whiteboard app
  10. Free and open-source office suite with advanced word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, vector graphics, math formula editor, and database tools.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    LibreOffice Writer on Linux
    LibreOffice Calc on Linux
    Main menu (old version)
    +8
    LibreOffice Writer on Windows 7
  11. File Management

  12. locally hosted web application that allows you to perform various operations on PDF files.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    • Docker Hub
    Stirling-PDF screenshot 1
    Stirling-PDF screenshot 1
    Stirling-PDF screenshot 2
    +1
    mobile Website
  13. Cryptomator provides transparent, client-side encryption for your cloud. Protect your documents from unauthorized access. Cryptomator is free and open source software, so you can rest assured there are no backdoors.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • AppImage
    Cryptomator screenshot 1
    Cryptomator screenshot 1
    Cryptomator screenshot 2
  14. Notes

  15. Octo icon
     Like

    We are committed to offering an excellent writing experience on all of your devices. A great writing app gets out of your way and makes it simple to get your thoughts down as easily as possible. Markdown is a great language for writing content, especially when there is code...

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    Octo screenshot 1
  16. Productivity

  17. Free multi-platform software for task management, time tracking, and personal project management. Seamless integration with Jira, GitHub, and GitLab.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    • Chrome OS
    • AppImageHub
    • AppImage
    • Self-Hosted
    Task List and Calendar Panel side by side
    The task list view
    Scheduel Page with some tasks
    +3
    Customizable boards (Kanban, Eisenhower Matrix, etc.)
  18. Mindwtr icon
     Like

    A complete Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity system for desktop and mobile. Mind Like Water.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Docker
    • Flathub
    Mindwtr screenshot 1
    Mindwtr screenshot 1
    Mindwtr screenshot 2
    +16
    Mindwtr screenshot 3
  19. Perfice icon
     Like

    Perfice is an open-source self-tracking platform that helps you track anything you like, and see how different metrics impact other areas of your life. It is built to be heavily customizable and local-first, leaving you in control of your tracking journey.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Perfice screenshot 1
    Perfice screenshot 1
    Perfice screenshot 2
    +2
    Perfice screenshot 3
  20. AI

  21. Hugging Face is an online community dedicated to advancing AI and democratizing good machine learning. Hugging Face empowers the field of AI through various open-source developments, free and low-cost hosting of machine learning resources and by providing an accessible and...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    Hugging Face screenshot 1
  22. Arena AI icon
     Like

    Public platform for evaluating large language models using anonymous pairwise comparisons, crowd-sourced voting, real-time result updates, and global performance tracking.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    Arena AI screenshot 1
    Arena AI screenshot 1
  23. Multimedia

  24. Penpot icon
     Like

    Open-source design tool with code inspection, flexible responsive layouts, real-time collaboration, layer support, auto layout, reusable components, and no tracking.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Powerful interaction design tool for designers and developers.
    Penpot expresses designs as code. The final product reflects 
the designers' initial vision.
    Penpot is the first tool to integrate native design tokens. Scale your design systems easily with Penpot Design Tokens.
    +2
    Manage Components and Variants states, styles, and sizes in a simple, developer-friendly way—making your design system cleaner and easier to scale.
  25. 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
  26. GIMP icon
     Like

    Free open-source suite with advanced photo retouching, composition, batch processing, plugin extensibility, custom scripting, and wide file format compatibility.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    • AmigaOS
    • AppImage
    GIMP screenshot 1
    GIMP 2.99.18 on Windows, non-default theme.
    GIMP screenshot 2
    +5
    GIMP screenshot 3
  27. PrivMeta icon
     Like

    Clean hidden data from your files, right in your browser. No uploads. No tracking. Open source. Private by design.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    PrivMeta screenshot 1
  28. ArrowDL icon
     Like

    A simple and straightforward utility that enables you to effortlessly download any type of file from the Internet and that comes with some privacy settings.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Google Chrome
    • Mozilla Firefox
    ArrowDL screenshot 1
    ArrowDL screenshot 1
    ArrowDL screenshot 2
    +7
    ArrowDL screenshot 3
  29. Collaboration

  30. Mirotalk icon
     Like

    Powered by WebRTC, Real-time video call, chat room and screen sharing entirely browser based.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Docker Hub
    • YunoHost
    • Cloudron
    Chat window
    Settings
    Login
  31. Excalidraw is an open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works, and the app is available for self-hosting.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    Excalidraw screenshot 1
    Excalidraw screenshot 1
    Excalidraw screenshot 2
    +1
    Excalidraw screenshot 3
  32. Peer-to-peer group chat platform syncing messages over Tor and IPFS, ensuring private, encrypted, decentralized collaboration without any central servers.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Quiet Chat screenshot 1
    Quiet Chat screenshot 1
  33. Communication

  34. Cross-platform email client providing POP/IMAP support, robust filtering, multiple accounts, and chat. Extendable via add-ons with RSS/Atom, etc.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    Thunderbird screenshot 1
    Thunderbird screenshot 1
    Thunderbird screenshot 2
    +8
    Thunderbird screenshot 3
  35. Create unlimited disposable email adresses on the go and forward them to your main email adress, with this free and open-source solution.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    online interface
  36. Session icon
     Like

    Decentralized messenger with end-to-end encryption, no registration, no tracking, metadata protection, secure file sharing, and multi-device syncing.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Session screenshot 1
    Session screenshot 1
    Session screenshot 2
    +2
    Session screenshot 3
  37. Encrypted platform supporting private, identifier-free messaging, group conversations, file sharing, and audio/video calling, using a double-ratchet protocol.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Self-Hosted
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    • Android Tablet
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 1
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 1
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 2
    +5
    SimpleX Chat screenshot 3
  38. Web Browsers + Extensions + Add-ons

  39. The Mullvad Browser is a privacy-focused web browser developed in a collaboration between Mullvad VPN and the Tor Project. It’s designed to minimize tracking and fingerprinting. You could say it’s a Tor Browser to use without the Tor Network.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Mullvad Browser screenshot 1
    Mullvad Browser screenshot 1
    Mullvad Browser screenshot 2
    +1
    Mullvad Browser screenshot 3
  40. LibreWolf icon
     Like

    Privacy-focused browser with over 500 settings for enhanced security and performance, independent of Firefox, and not affiliated with Mozilla.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • AppImageHub
    • Linux Mint
    • Arch Linux
    • Gentoo
    • Flathub
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    • OpenBSD
    Homeage
    Settings
  41. This efficient browser add-on blocks ads, trackers, and malware by default employing various filter lists, acting as a comprehensive wide-spectrum blocker.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Microsoft Edge
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Pale Moon
    • Thunderbird
    • Opera
    • Node.JS
    • Chromium
    • Mozilla Firefox
    uBlock Origin screenshot 1
    uBlock Origin screenshot 1
    uBlock Origin screenshot 2
    +3
    uBlock Origin screenshot 3
  42. NoScript icon
     Like

    The NoScript Firefox extension provides extra protection for Firefox, Seamonkey and other mozilla-based browsers: this free, open source add-on allows JavaScript, Java, Flash and other plugins to be executed only by trusted web sites of your choice (e.g. your online bank).

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Google Chrome
    • SeaMonkey
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Diablog of blocked scripts
    NoScript Anwhere (Firefox Mobile version).
  43. Bookmarks

  44. Floccus icon
     Like

    Sync your bookmarks privately across browsers and devices.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Nextcloud
    • Google Drive
    • F-Droid
    • Brave
    • Chromium
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Floccus screenshot 1
    Floccus screenshot 1
    Floccus screenshot 2
    +11
    Floccus screenshot 3
  45. DNS

  46. Our public DNS service offers DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT), with QNAME minimization and basic ad blocking.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
  47. Password Managers

  48. Psono icon
     Like

    The Psono password manager keeps hackers out and your passwords secure. Psono is free and open source and available for Windows, Linux and Mac. Organize your passwords now!

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Chromium
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Docker
    Psono screenshot 1
    Psono screenshot 1
    Psono screenshot 2
    +2
    Psono screenshot 3
  49. Windows Only

Page 1 of 2

Think I’m missing something? Maybe it’s on my list: “Software for the average Joe and Jane [1/3]” or “Software for Advanced Administrators [3/3]”.

No comments so far, maybe you want to be first?
Gu