Open-source apps provide an alternative to pricey and often insecure commercial software. There are a ton of incredible free, open-source apps on Windows that can make your experience on the platform much better.

Let's look at some of the most popular and well-recommended open-source apps.

What Are Open-Source Apps?

Open-Source apps are programs that you can run, modify, and re-distribute without worrying about licenses. Essentially, such apps are public domain programs, and everyone has access to their source code.

That said, not all open-source programs are free to modify and share. So, there is a whole discussion centered around the differences between free software and open-source software.

So, before distributing a software make sure it is open-source and you have permission to distribute it.

There is no shortage of open-source apps on the internet. From video editors to password managers, you can find open-source alternatives to commercial software if you know where to look.

The following are some of the best open-source programs that you should be aware of.

1. Mailspring

Mailspring UI screenshot

Mailspring is feature-rich like Microsoft Outlook. More importantly, it has an open-source email engine.

It has all the features that you expect from a modern email client such as support for themes and layouts, a unified inbox for all your connected accounts, and touch support.

Plus, advanced features like read receipts, link tracking, extensive localization, and even the ability to undo a sent email make Mailspring one of the best alternatives to Outlook.

You can download and use Mailspring for free, but you won’t have access to all the features. You need an $8 monthly subscription to get features like read receipts and link tracking.

Mailspring is available on Windows, macOS X, and Linux.

Download: Mailspring (Free, subscription available)

2. Minetest

Minetest gallery images

Minetest is a free, open-source voxel-based game engine. In other words, Minetest allows you to create games that look like Minecraft. And although you can experience some Minecraft-style gameplay in the Minetest sandbox, the app is much bigger in scope.

First, Minetest is a platform to create other games. So, you can download the software, learn a bit about scripting and APIs, and get down to making the game of your dreams.

Second, Minetest allows you to play games made by other people. From survival horror to exploration, there are some cool games that you can play by simply connecting to the game’s server.

Finally, you can modify any Minetest-based game you like and publish it on the Minetest network.

Minetest is available on Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Android, and Linux.

Download: Minetest (Free)

3. Mattermost

Mattermost chat represenation

If you want the features of Slack in a more secure, privacy-focused, and open-source product, Mattermost is the app for you.

Mattermost’s key selling point is its open-source nature. And because the app has an active community that aims to keep it secure, you can be sure that privacy will never be an issue. You can go one step further and self-host your Mattermost account for peace of mind.

Plus, Mattermost has all the features that you would expect from a collaboration tool. Features like file sharing, group chat, seamless integration with enterprise systems, and the ability to create custom workflows are just a handful of reasons why Mattermost should be on your radar.

Mattermost is free for small teams and costs a small fee for mid-sized and big organizations.

Mattermost has native apps for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Download: Mattermost (Free, premium version available)

4. HandBrake

Video encoding in HandBrake

HandBrake is an open-source video encoder that has been around since 2003. It allows you to convert any video format to a format of your choice. For instance, if you want to convert an MKV video file to an MP4 one, you can do this with HandBrake.

You can also batch scan and encode multiple video files at once. HandBrake also supports DVD and BluRay encoding.

In short, when it comes to free video encoders, you can’t do better than HandBrake.

Handbrake is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Download: HandBrake (Free)

5. Shotcut

Shotcut application homepage

Shotcut is a free, open-source alternative to commercial video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro. Like Premiere Pro it is a timeline-based editor where you can drag and drop assets.

The UI of Shotcut is also quite similar to Premiere Pro. You can dock panels and remove them as in Premiere Pro.

It also functions like Premier Pro with support for hundreds of codecs, 4K resolution, and stream capture from HDMI, webcam, and Windows DirectShow devices among others.

Finally, Shotcut has a sizeable collection of free educational resources on its website. These resources go a long way in ensuring users have a strong knowledge base to take full advantage of Shotcut.

Shotcut is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Download: Shotcut (Free)

6. Vivaldi

Vivaldi browser homepage

Out of all the apps on this list, a web browser is the most useful. All of us use a browser every single day. So, our privacy depends a lot on the browser we are using. And it is no secret that Google Chrome does almost nothing to protect your privacy.

This is where Vivaldi comes in.

Vivaldi is partly open-source. It is based on Chromium, the same engine that powers Google Chrome, but has custom UI code. This is why Vivaldi is a mix of open and closed-source code.

Now, because Vivaldi is Chromium-based, you can install all of your favorite Chrome extensions. It also has a built-in ad and tracking blocker.

Furthermore, it is full of novel features like Tab Stacking, extensive customization using themes, custom keyboard shortcuts, split-screen view for different sites, and a floating window view. Not to mention, you can change almost every aspect of Vivaldi.

From safeguarding your privacy to allowing you to create your own browsing experience, Vivaldi is one of the best open-source browsers on the market.

Vivaldi is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux.

Download: Vivaldi (Free)

Open-Source Is the Way to Go

No matter how good commercial apps are, the future is open-source. The democratization of software is the only way to ensure that companies guarantee the privacy of users and their data. And this can’t happen without going the open-source route.

Until corporations understand the importance of individual privacy and open-source their apps, looking for alternative software experiences is the only way we can safeguard ourselves while enjoying good services.