Wikipedia FOSS Software List
Verified working Sep 18, 2026
A broad, editable index of free and open-source software by category.
This Wikipedia article organizes free and open-source software packages into a large category-based reference list. It covers many software domains, from operating systems, office tools, programming, security, media, education, AI, and networking to more specialized technical areas.
Why it stands out
- Covers many unrelated software categories in one place rather than focusing on a single niche.
- Community-editable format can surface lesser-known projects alongside widely used ones.
- Links into Wikipedia’s broader article network for background on individual packages and software categories.
- Useful as a neutral starting index rather than a vendor-controlled marketplace.
Good to know
- It is an encyclopedic list, not a vetted recommendation engine or live software repository.
- Completeness and freshness depend on Wikipedia contributors, so project status may need verification elsewhere.
- Entries may not include practical comparison data such as current releases, platform support, screenshots, or user reviews.
Under the radar: Check the article’s “View history” page before relying on it for research; recent edits can reveal whether a section is actively maintained or has been reorganized.
Photos
IT evaluators and open-source advocates can use it to discover candidate software across many categories before doing deeper comparison. Find open-source alternatives for a specific workflow such as office work, media editing, cybersecurity, or development. Browse unfamiliar software domains to learn common project names and categories. Use links as a starting point for checking licenses, project status, and documentation elsewhere.
Large categorized table-of-contents structure, internal links to individual software pages, coverage across desktop, server, developer, creative, educational, security, and scientific tools, plus Wikipedia edit history and community-maintained updates.
Technical Notes
- Wikipedia page content and metadata are accessible through the public MediaWiki API.
- Wikimedia also publishes bulk dumps, including XML exports that can include article text and revision history.
Alternative listings
Articles, guides, and replacement lists for open source users.
Open Source & Free Software AlternativesOpensource.com is an editorial resource for people interested in open source software, community practices, Linux, and project collaboration. It publishes how-to articles, opinion pieces, and curated pages pointing readers toward open source alternatives to common proprietary applications.
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Open Source & Free Software AlternativesFedora Linux is a free, open-source operating system distributed in several official variants, including desktop, server, cloud, container-focused, IoT, and immutable desktop options. The site also serves as a hub for Fedora downloads, desktop spins, topic-specific Labs, contributor accounts, packaging tools, documentation, and project governance resources.
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- AlternativeTo — alternativeto.net
- Open Source Alternative To — opensourcealternative.to
- SourceForge — sourceforge.net
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