A lot of people do not like “open source” software when it comes to using productivity software. As many get worried about their privacy and data, while some also do not have any idea how well an open-source software can work. But some consumers are becoming less reluctant to use open-source software, partly because it helps them save money. If you are looking for some good open-source productivity software, check out these seven software that provide a good workflow.
Image: Krita
If you need a fast and smooth open-source software to create vectors and rasters, Krita seems right up your alley. It works similar to Photoshop, and there's also an option to create GIFs with Krita’s animation. Krita also has AI capabilities, but still way less than Adobe Photoshop. If you are looking for a light web based Photoshop alternative Photopea should in your checklist.
Image: Logos By Nick / YT
Inkscape is everything you are looking for in Adobe illustrator. It has good compatibility, feature set and extensive plugin ecosystem that makes it have good functionality overall. It doesn't support CMYK natively so it's a better option if you are only doing digital projects.
Darktable is a great alternative to Adobe Lightroom. Even though it is primarily made for Linux, you can use it on Mac and Windows too. It is completely free and you get the same result as Lightroom. One drawback of Darktable is that it doesn't have any cloud sync. You will have to manage your files on your own.
Image: kdenlive
Kdenlive is a great video editing software which is similar to VEGAS and Premiere Pro. It may not be a good option for professional work but is good for editing casually. It is good for switching short clips with voice overs, but it can show some lags and bugs if the workload increases. Some other similar but not open sources options include CapCut and Clipchamp.
Image: Davies Media Design / YT
GIMP is the biggest competitor of Photoshop in terms of open-source software. It runs smoothly and is compatible with different types of files too. Once you get a hang of it, it is an easy software to use for editing. It has almost all the features that Photoshop has, you just need to discover them.
Audacity provides a good platform to audio record and use simple effects. This open-source software is mostly used for podcasters and musicians who don't want to spend some money on paid software. It doesn't control MIDI controllers, but it still is good to turn audio into digital format.
These were some of the best open-source software and tools that you can use for creativity and office work purposes. As they are free, they may not be the best, but they do the job perfectly fine and can bring some worth to your work.
Open-source software is a much safer alternative to pirated or torrented tools. While paid programs may offer more advanced features, using illegal versions often exposes users to malware, data breaches, and ransomware attacks. For those on a tight budget, choosing open-source tools is not only legal and ethical but also far more secure.
Read next:
• How to Avoid Common Prompt Mistakes for Clearer ChatGPT Responses
• How To Boost Your Instagram Reach, Engagement, And Followers The Right Way
1- Krita
If you need a fast and smooth open-source software to create vectors and rasters, Krita seems right up your alley. It works similar to Photoshop, and there's also an option to create GIFs with Krita’s animation. Krita also has AI capabilities, but still way less than Adobe Photoshop. If you are looking for a light web based Photoshop alternative Photopea should in your checklist.
2- Inkscape
Inkscape is everything you are looking for in Adobe illustrator. It has good compatibility, feature set and extensive plugin ecosystem that makes it have good functionality overall. It doesn't support CMYK natively so it's a better option if you are only doing digital projects.
3- Darktable
Darktable is a great alternative to Adobe Lightroom. Even though it is primarily made for Linux, you can use it on Mac and Windows too. It is completely free and you get the same result as Lightroom. One drawback of Darktable is that it doesn't have any cloud sync. You will have to manage your files on your own.
4- Kdenlive
Kdenlive is a great video editing software which is similar to VEGAS and Premiere Pro. It may not be a good option for professional work but is good for editing casually. It is good for switching short clips with voice overs, but it can show some lags and bugs if the workload increases. Some other similar but not open sources options include CapCut and Clipchamp.
5- GIMP
GIMP is the biggest competitor of Photoshop in terms of open-source software. It runs smoothly and is compatible with different types of files too. Once you get a hang of it, it is an easy software to use for editing. It has almost all the features that Photoshop has, you just need to discover them.
6- Audacity
Audacity provides a good platform to audio record and use simple effects. This open-source software is mostly used for podcasters and musicians who don't want to spend some money on paid software. It doesn't control MIDI controllers, but it still is good to turn audio into digital format.
7- LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a competitor to Microsoft Office, but there's no subscription or payment on LibreOffice. It has all the tools that you find in MS Office, including spreadsheets, word processing, databases, presentations and drawing capabilities. It is also compatible with Microsoft Office files, but can have some issues if some file has large amounts of data. So you might also want to play with Google Docs and its set of tools.
These were some of the best open-source software and tools that you can use for creativity and office work purposes. As they are free, they may not be the best, but they do the job perfectly fine and can bring some worth to your work.
Open-source software is a much safer alternative to pirated or torrented tools. While paid programs may offer more advanced features, using illegal versions often exposes users to malware, data breaches, and ransomware attacks. For those on a tight budget, choosing open-source tools is not only legal and ethical but also far more secure.
Read next:
• How to Avoid Common Prompt Mistakes for Clearer ChatGPT Responses
• How To Boost Your Instagram Reach, Engagement, And Followers The Right Way
