Open Source Tools
A Curated List of Free and Open Source Software for Researchers & Academicians
A curated list of free and open source tools for academic research and teaching. 22 categories, 180+ tools available.
1. Reference Management & Citations
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Zotero | Open-source citation manager with browser integration |
| JabRef | BibTeX reference manager for LaTeX users |
| Mendeley (basic plan free) | Manage PDFs, annotate, cite easily |
| KBibTeX | BibTeX editor for KDE (Linux) |
2. Writing & Document Preparation
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Google Docs | Collaborative writing with cloud sync |
| LibreOffice Writer | Open-source word processor |
| Grammarly (basic) | Grammar and tone checking |
| LaTeX (TeX Live, MiKTeX) | Professional typesetting for scientific documents |
| Overleaf (free tier) | Online collaborative LaTeX editor |
| TeXstudio | LaTeX editor with integrated PDF viewer |
| LyX | Document processor with LaTeX backend |
| Pandoc | Universal document converter |
| LanguageTool | Open-source grammar and style checker |
3. Note-Taking & Knowledge Management
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Obsidian | Markdown-based personal knowledge base (free for personal use) |
| Joplin | Open-source Evernote alternative |
| Google Keep | Simple note capture synced across devices |
| Zettlr | Markdown editor for academic writing |
| TiddlyWiki | Personal wiki and note-taking system |
| Logseq | Open source note-taking with graph view |
| Standard Notes | Encrypted note-taking app |
4. Statistical Analysis & Data Science
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| R & RStudio | Statistical computing and graphics |
| Python (Anaconda) | Scientific computing with Jupyter notebooks |
| JASP | User-friendly statistical software (SPSS alternative) |
| PSPP | GNU alternative to SPSS |
| jamovi | Statistical spreadsheet built on R |
| GNU Octave | MATLAB alternative |
| Julia | High-performance language for technical computing |
| Orange | Visual programming for data analysis and machine learning |
5. Data Handling & Visualization
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Google Sheets | Online spreadsheets with collaboration |
| LibreOffice Calc | Open alternative to Excel |
| Tableau Public | Free version for data visualization |
| ggplot2 (R) | Grammar of graphics visualization |
| Matplotlib & Seaborn (Python) | Plotting libraries |
| Plotly | Interactive graphing library |
| RAWGraphs | Web-based tool for visual data representation |
| Gephi | Network analysis and visualization |
6. Qualitative Research
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| QualCoder | Qualitative data analysis (NVivo alternative) |
| Taguette | Qualitative research document tagging |
| RQDA | R-based qualitative data analysis |
| Aquad | Analysis of qualitative data |
| CATMA | Computer-assisted text markup and analysis |
7. Laboratory & Scientific Computing
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Jupyter Notebook | Interactive computing environment |
| GNU Octave | MATLAB alternative for numerical computations |
| SageMath | Mathematics software system |
| LabPlot | Data analysis and visualization |
| SciDAVis | Scientific data analysis and visualization |
| GNU Scientific Library (GSL) | Numerical library for C/C++ |
8. Image & Graphics
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| ImageJ/Fiji | Image processing for life sciences |
| GIMP | Image editing and manipulation |
| Inkscape | Vector graphics for diagrams and figures |
| Canva (free plan) | Easy graphics and presentation design |
| Krita | Digital painting and illustration |
| Blender | 3D modeling, animation, and rendering |
| darktable | Photography workflow and RAW developer |
| RawTherapee | Cross-platform RAW image processing |
9. Survey & Experiment Design
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| LimeSurvey | Open-source survey platform (self-hosted) |
| PsychoPy | Psychology and neuroscience experiments |
| jsPsych | JavaScript library for behavioral experiments |
| OpenSesame | Psychology experiment builder |
| Formr | Survey framework with R integration |
| SurveyJS | JavaScript library for surveys |
10. Mind Mapping & Brainstorming
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| FreeMind | Open-source mind-mapping software |
| MindMup | Browser-based mind maps with Google Drive |
| Freeplane | Mind mapping and knowledge management |
| Coggle | Collaborative mind mapping (free tier) |
| draw.io / diagrams.net | Diagram and flowchart creator |
11. Project Management & Organization
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Trello | Kanban-style task tracking (free plan) |
| Todoist (free plan) | Task and goal management |
| Google Calendar | Scheduling and reminders |
| Wekan | Open-source kanban board |
| Taiga | Project management for agile teams |
| OpenProject | Open-source project management |
| Planner | Task manager for GNOME (Linux) |
12. Cloud Storage & Collaboration
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Google Drive | Integrated with Docs, Sheets, Slides |
| Dropbox Basic | Cloud storage and file sharing |
| MEGA | End-to-end encrypted cloud storage |
| Nextcloud | Self-hosted file sharing (open source) |
| Syncthing | Continuous file synchronization |
| pCloud (free tier) | Cloud storage with sync |
| Seafile | Open-source file hosting platform |
13. Presentation Tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Google Slides | Collaborative presentation creation |
| LibreOffice Impress | Free presentation software |
| Beamer (LaTeX) | Professional academic slides |
| reveal.js | HTML presentation framework |
| Marp | Markdown presentation ecosystem |
| Sozi | Zooming presentation editor |
14. Remote Access & Login Tools
14.1 Remote Desktop
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| TigerVNC | High-performance VNC |
| RustDesk | Open source TeamViewer alternative |
| Apache Guacamole | Web-based remote desktop |
| Remmina | Multi-protocol remote desktop (Linux) |
| TightVNC | Lightweight VNC solution |
| UltraVNC | Windows VNC with file transfer |
| X2Go | Remote desktop based on NX technology |
| NoMachine (free tier) | Remote desktop for Linux, Windows, macOS |
14.2 File Transfer
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| FileZilla | FTP/SFTP client |
| WinSCP | SFTP/SCP for Windows |
| Cyberduck | Cloud storage and FTP client |
| Transmit | File transfer client (macOS, free tier) |
15. Communication & Collaboration
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Zoom (free plan) | Video conferencing |
| Slack (free) | Messaging for study/research groups |
| Microsoft Teams (education) | Institutional collaboration |
| Jitsi Meet | Open-source video conferencing |
| Element | Decentralized chat and collaboration (Matrix protocol) |
| Rocket.Chat | Open-source team communication |
| Mattermost | Open-source messaging platform |
| BigBlueButton | Open-source web conferencing for education |
16. Productivity & Focus
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Pomofocus | Online Pomodoro timer |
| Cold Turkey (free version) | Block distracting sites |
| LeechBlock | Browser extension to block sites |
| Forest (basic) | Gamified focus app |
| FocusMe (free tier) | Productivity and focus tool |
| SelfControl | Block distracting websites (macOS) |
| Stretchly | Break time reminder app |
17. Screen Recording & Screen Capture
17.1 Screen Recording
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Open-source screen recording and streaming |
| Loom (free plan) | Simple screen and webcam recording |
| SimpleScreenRecorder | Feature-rich screen recorder (Linux) |
| Kazam | Simple screen recording for Linux |
| Screencast-O-Matic (free tier) | Screen recording |
17.2 Screen Capture (Screenshots)
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Greenshot | Lightweight screenshot tool with annotation (Windows) |
| Flameshot | Powerful screenshot tool (Linux) |
| Lightshot | Quick screenshot and sharing |
| ShareX | Advanced screenshot and file sharing tool (Windows) |
| Spectacle | Screenshot utility for KDE (Linux) |
| Shutter | Feature-rich screenshot tool (Linux) |
| Windows Snipping Tool | Built-in Windows screenshot tool |
| macOS Screenshot | Built-in Command+Shift+3/4/5 (macOS) |
| Ksnip | Cross-platform screenshot tool |
18. Backup, Security & Privacy
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Bitwarden | Open-source password manager |
| VeraCrypt | Open-source file encryption |
| Syncthing | Continuous file synchronization |
| KeePassXC | Local password database |
| Duplicati | Encrypted backup solution |
| Cryptomator | Transparent client-side encryption for cloud files |
| Restic | Fast and secure backup program |
| BorgBackup | Deduplicating backup program |
19. Bibliometrics & Research Metrics
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| VOSviewer | Bibliometric network visualization |
| Publish or Perish | Citation analysis and metrics |
| Bibliometrix | R package for bibliometrics |
| CiteSpace | Literature visualization |
| CitNetExplorer | Citation network explorer |
20. Miscellaneous Academic Tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Anki | Spaced repetition flashcard system |
| Calibre | E-book management |
| Audacity | Audio recording and editing |
| Pandoc | Universal document converter |
| PDF-XChange Editor (free version) | PDF annotation |
| Sumatra PDF | Lightweight PDF reader |
| Okular | Universal document viewer (Linux) |
| Xournal++ | Handwriting and PDF annotation |
21. Tools for Screen Annotation / Writing
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Epic Pen (free basic version) | Screen annotation and drawing tool |
| Gromit-MPX | On-screen annotation tool for Linux |
| Xournal++ | Handwriting and PDF annotation |
| OpenBoard | Interactive whiteboard for teaching |
| ZoomIt | Screen annotation for presentations (Microsoft, free) |
| Pylote | On-screen annotation (Linux) |
| Ardesia | Digital sketchpad for screen annotations |
22. File Search & System Utilities
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Everything | Ultra-fast file search for Windows |
| fsearch | Fast file search for Linux (Everything alternative) |
| Recoll | Desktop full-text search (cross-platform) |
| DocFetcher | Document search engine (cross-platform) |
| Cerebro | Open-source app launcher and search (cross-platform) |
| Albert | Fast launcher for Linux |
| Ulauncher | Application launcher for Linux |
| Wox | Launcher for Windows (free, open source) |
| Kupfer | Application launcher for Linux |
| Keypirinha | Fast launcher for Windows |
| ueli | Keystroke launcher for Windows and macOS |
Last updated: October 2025