Must have Free Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS)

Recently I rebuilt my Windows PC from scratch. Clean install, no vendor junk, no “helpful” utilities I never asked for, and no pile of random software following me from one machine to the next. The funny part? Once I started installing only what I actually needed, I realized how many of my everyday tools are still free/libre open source software. What Is FLOSS? FLOSS stands for Free/Libre Open Source Software. In plain English: software you can use, study, share, and modify, with source code available for the community to inspect and improve. That matters. In a world where everything wants a subscription, an account, telemetry, or a cloud login, good open source desktop software still feels refreshingly sane.

*Updated 7/14/26 – including latest updates and newer available software*

My Must-Have FLOSS List For Windows:

• Firefox: Still my preferred browser recommendation for people who want a serious alternative to Chrome or Edge. Mozilla describes Firefox for Windows as open source and privacy-focused. https://www.firefox.com/en-US/download/windows/
• Thunderbird: Email, calendar, contacts, RSS, and multiple accounts in one desktop app. Thunderbird has aged surprisingly well.https://www.thunderbird.net/
• LibreOffice: This replaces my old OpenOffice recommendation. OpenOffice still exists, but LibreOffice is the better modern pick for a Microsoft Office alternative.https://www.libreoffice.org/
• 7Zip: Still essential. Handles ZIP, 7z, RAR, TAR, GZ, and plenty more. Lightweight and boring in the best possible way. https://www.7-zip.org/
• GIMP: A capable image editor and still one of the best-known open source alternatives to Photoshop.https://www.gimp.org/
• KeePassXC: A local-first password manager. No cloud required, no subscription required, just an encrypted password database you control. https://keepassxc.org/
• Inkscape: Vector graphics editor for logos, diagrams, icons, and SVG work. Think Illustrator-style work without the Adobe subscription.https://inkscape.org/
• Audacity: Audio recording and editing. Great for podcasts, cleanup, quick edits, and converting audio files.https://www.audacityteam.org/
• HandBrake: Video conversion done right. If you need to transcode video into modern formats, this is still the tool I’d reach for first.https://handbrake.fr/
• FileZilla: FTP, FTPS, and SFTP client. Still useful if you work with web servers or older hosting environments.https://filezilla-project.org/
• Notepad++: A Windows classic. Fast, lightweight, and still one of the first things I install on a clean machine.https://notepad-plus-plus.org/
• SumatraPDF: My modern pick over older PDF readers. Fast, small, open source, and much less annoying than heavyweight PDF apps.https://www.sumatrapdfreader.org/
• ShareX: Screenshot capture, screen recording, GIF creation, annotations, uploads, workflows. This is one of those Windows tools that makes you wonder why the built-in options are still so limited. https://getsharex.com/
• OBS Studio: Screen recording and livestreaming. Overkill for some users, indispensable for others. https://obsproject.com/
• qBittorrent: This replaces uTorrent on my old list. qBittorrent is open source, cross-platform, and specifically positions itself as an open source alternative to µTorrent.https://www.qbittorrent.org/
• LocalSend: A newer favorite. It lets you send files between nearby devices over your local network without needing cloud storage, email attachments, or a USB stick.https://localsend.org/
• Syncthing: Private file synchronization between your own devices. No central cloud provider required. https://syncthing.net/
• VLC Media Player: The traffic cone lives on. VLC is still the “just play the file” answer for media playback. https://www.videolan.org/vlc/
• Microsoft PowerToys: This one deserves a note: yes, it’s from Microsoft, but it is free. Filesync, FancyZones, PowerRename, Always On Top, Color Picker, Text Extractor, and other tools make Windows much better for power users. My favorite is Mouse without Borders- basically software KVM. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/