OpenAlternative at a glance
- Listing price
- Free
- Domain rating
- DR 61
- Account
- Sign up with email, Google or GitHub
- Captcha
- Cloudflare Turnstile
- Backlink or badge
- Not required
- Email confirmation
- Yes, by link or code
- Submit at
- openalternative.co/submit
What OpenAlternative is and who it's for
OpenAlternative is a directory of open source alternatives to popular proprietary software. Each listing shows the tool's GitHub stars, last commit, license, and a short description, plus the proprietary tools it replaces. The site claims over 1 million users have replaced proprietary tools with open source software found here. It also offers collections like Latest, Trending, Self-hosted, and AI-native.
Developers, tech leaders, and founders looking for open source tools to adopt.
It lists
- Open source software
- Self-hosted tools
- AI-native open source projects
- Developer tools
- SaaS alternatives
It doesn't take
- Proprietary software
- Closed-source tools
How to submit to OpenAlternative, step by step
Sign in with email, Google, or GitHub, then submit your open source project for free.
Sign in
Click Submit and sign in with email (magic link), Google, or GitHub. Email verification is required.
Open the submit form
After signing in, you are taken to the submission dashboard where you can add a new tool.
Enter your tool's details
Provide your tool's name, URL, description, GitHub repository, license, and the proprietary tools it replaces.
Submit for review
Submit the form. The listing is reviewed by the OpenAlternative team before going live.
Wait for approval
If approved, your tool appears in the directory and relevant categories.
What the OpenAlternative form asks for
| Field | Limits and format |
|---|---|
| Tool name | — |
| Website URL | — |
| Description | — |
| GitHub repository | — |
| License | — |
| Open source alternative to | Proprietary tools it replaces |
Our free preview drafts your name, tagline, short and long descriptions, categories and tags in the lengths directories like this one ask for. Try it with your URL.
OpenAlternative pricing: free vs paid
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free listing | Free | Standard directory listing |
| Silver ad | $147/month | About 90k impressions a month, ad cards in listings and sidebars, ad entries in alternatives lists, corner ad on every page |
| Gold ad | $297/month | About 350k impressions a month, everything in Silver, banner at top of every page, sidebar card on every tool page, sponsor logo on homepage |
| Platinum ad | $597/month | About 650k impressions a month, everything in Gold, shown twice as often as Gold, priority support |
Why OpenAlternative submissions get rejected or stall
- Tool is not open source
- Tool is proprietary or closed-source
- Missing GitHub repository
- Incomplete submission form
- Duplicate listing
Tips for a listing that gets approved
- Include a clear GitHub repository link; listings display stars and last commit.
- Choose the most relevant proprietary tools to replace; that's how users find alternatives.
- Make sure your license is listed; it appears on the listing.
- If you want more visibility, consider a paid ad; ads are reviewed within one business day.
Our take on OpenAlternative
OpenAlternative is a focused directory for open source projects that want to be found by people searching for alternatives to popular proprietary tools. The free listing is straightforward after sign-in, and the audience is highly relevant for devtools and self-hosted software. Paid ads offer additional exposure with clear pricing and fast review.
OpenAlternative FAQ
How much does it cost to list my tool?
Listing is free. Paid advertising starts at $147/month for Silver.
Do I need an account to submit?
Yes, you must sign in with email, Google, or GitHub.
Checked against OpenAlternative's own pages on Oct 24, 2026: openalternative.co, openalternative.co/auth/login, openalternative.co/advertise, openalternative.co/advertise. Directories change their forms and prices; the submit page has the final word.
