[category: design][verified alternatives][no votes, no pay-to-list]
Free and open source alternatives for Design
23 free or open source projects taken from the pages of 26 paid apps in this category. For each one: how many it replaces, how much subscription it cancels, what it costs to run.
- free alternatives
- 23
- $/month replaceable
- 226
- already self-hosted
- 12
- apps covered
- 26
23 alternatives
No alternative matches these filters. Try dropping the set or the category.
The value is the sum of the prices of the apps that project replaces — including outside this category, because a good alternative rarely serves only one.
241 $ /mese
Adobe Express Free free [hosted] web · iOS · Android
Six networks, a visual editor and a thousand scheduled posts a month; analytics and team workflow are not invited.
the 16 apps it replaces · 241 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (241 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
144 $ /mese
Canva Free free [hosted] web · iOS · Android
Canva without the convenient tollbooths: plenty of templates, docs, decks, and exports, but no Magic Resize or serious Brand Kit.
the 13 apps it replaces · 144 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (144 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
124 $ /mese
Desygner Free free [hosted] web · iOS · Android
A surprisingly complete free suite for templates, PDFs, scheduling, and small-team brand work, capped at three collaborators.
the 13 apps it replaces · 124 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (124 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
124 $ /mese
VistaCreate Starter free [hosted] web · iOS · Android
A generous social-design tier with one brand kit and unlimited exports; weaker for documents and presentations.
the 12 apps it replaces · 124 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (124 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
61 $ /mese
RapidRAW open source ★ 9,2k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux · Android
A lighter modern catalog-and-edit workflow with ratings, presets, masks, and batch processing; newer, friendlier, less proven.
the 7 apps it replaces · 61 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (61 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
61 $ /mese
digiKam open source ★ 32 active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
Excellent local photo cataloging, metadata, tags, duplicates, RAW handling, and basic edits; elegance was not in the requirements.
the 4 apps it replaces · 61 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (61 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
36 $ /mese
darktable open source ★ 12,9k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
A serious local catalog and non-destructive RAW editor with ratings, collections, masks, and lens profiles; learning curve included free.
the 6 apps it replaces · 36 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (36 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
32 $ /mese
Lunacy free [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
A polished free desktop UI editor with components, prototypes, cloud documents, and native apps; collaboration limits are small-team sized.
the 2 apps it replaces · 32 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (32 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
32 $ /mese
Penpot open source ★ 58,2k active [hosted] web · self-hosted
The real open-source answer: browser UI design, components, tokens, prototypes, comments, and multiplayer without pretending a whiteboard is Figma.
the 2 apps it replaces · 32 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (32 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
32 $ /mese
Quant-UX open source ★ 2,7k active [hosted] web · self-hosted
Browser prototypes, collaboration, user tests, and analytics in one product; weaker than Figma for pixel-perfect design systems.
the 2 apps it replaces · 32 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (32 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
25 $ /mese
Google Stitch free [hosted] web
Prompt or screenshot to multi-screen UI, editable canvas, prototypes, Figma copy, and frontend code export; usage is capped, not trialled.
the 1 app it replaces · 25 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (25 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
20 $ /mese
Affinity free [1-click] macOS · Windows
A fully featured vector, raster, and layout suite now free forever; bring your own templates and taste.
the 4 apps it replaces · 20 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (20 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
20 $ /mese
Google Slides free [hosted] web · iOS · Android
The boring default remains excellent: live collaboration, comments, templates, and PPTX/PDF export with no meaningful personal-use ceiling.
the 1 app it replaces · 20 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (20 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
20 $ /mese
LibreOffice Impress open source ★ 4,2k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
A proper offline presentation app with PPTX/PDF support and no account; collaboration means sending files like it is 2012.
the 1 app it replaces · 20 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (20 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
20 $ /mese
Pitch Free free [hosted] web
The same structured presentation editor for up to five people, with unlimited decks and templates; free PDFs carry Pitch branding and PPTX export is absent.
the 1 app it replaces · 20 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (20 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
20 $ /mese
PowerPoint for the web free [hosted] web · iOS · Android
Free browser PowerPoint with comments, coauthoring, and familiar file export; less elegant than Pitch, more likely to open everywhere.
the 1 app it replaces · 20 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (20 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
17 $ /mese
Karakeep open source ★ 28,2k active [docker] web · self-hosted · CLI · iOS · Android · extension
A bookmark junk drawer that labels itself and keeps the contents.
the 6 apps it replaces · 17 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (17 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-09
15 $ /mese
Inkscape open source ★ 4k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
Serious vector lettering, paths, labels, posters, and print-ready SVG/PDF export; stock mockups and one-click effects are your problem.
the 2 apps it replaces · 15 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (15 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
5 $ /mese
Photopea Free free [hosted] web
The same editor, the same PSD machinery, and real exports; Premium mainly removes ads and adds convenience rather than unlocking the core.
the 2 apps it replaces · 5 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (5 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
verificata il 2026-08-06
5 $ /mese
Hydrus Network open source ★ 3,2k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
Local-first media manager built around tags and search; industrial-strength, and looks it.
the 1 app it replaces · 5 $/month
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying (5 $/month) 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-09
— price not verified
RawTherapee open source ★ 4,1k active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
Processing profiles and sidecars make repeatable RAW adjustments completely reversible; automation is deterministic, not psychic.
the 2 apps it replaces
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
— price not verified
Lumi H5P Desktop Editor open source ★ 190 active [1-click] macOS · Windows · Linux
An installable H5P authoring app for hotspots, branching slides, interactive video, and simple games; distinctly education-shaped, but real.
the 1 app it replaces
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
— price not verified
QualityScaler open source ★ 3,1k active [1-click] Windows
A packaged local Windows app for AI upscaling, denoise, and enhancement, including batch work; narrower and less polished than Topaz.
the 1 app it replaces
Three ways out of the subscription: 1. you keep paying 2. you install this one, free 3. you vibecode it — the prompt is on each of the pages below
source code · verificata il 2026-08-06
Checked by hand: no votes, no buyable positions. Prices in dollars.