shouldiuse.io

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VERDICT

Should I use OpenSourceFest?

Find the ultimate free open source alternatives to expensive proprietary tools like Slack, Notion, and Jira. 109 verified self-hosted apps reviewed. - opensourcefest.org

Depends. Fine as a free starting point for developers browsing open source alternatives to paid SaaS. Skip it if you need security-vetted, editorially reviewed, or consistently updated recommendations.

Confidence

Low. Based on ~10 usable public sources; many search results were unrelated 'Open Source Fest' events, weakening confidence.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of useNo direct evidence
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo direct evidence
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Browse & submit

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • Developers hunting free SaaS replacements
  • Self-hosting hobbyists
  • Cost-cutting teams comparing tools

Not for

  • Enterprises needing security-vetted recommendations
  • Non-technical teams — assumes self-hosting skills
  • Buyers wanting deep editorial reviews
  • Anyone unwilling to verify licenses and maintenance themselves

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

'Verified' labels have no published criteria or security review behind them; treat listings as unvetted.

medium

Presence in backlink directories suggests some listings serve SEO rather than curation quality.

medium

Two domains (.org/.com) with overlapping but inconsistent content and numbers.

medium

Update cadence unclear beyond a Thursday newsletter; stale or abandoned listings possible.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free to browse; listing tools is also free
  • Maps 41+ proprietary tools to open source replacements across 24 categories
  • Self-hosted category alone lists 122 tools, including privacy-focused picks
  • Covers mainstream swaps: Zulip vs Slack, Mastodon, Nextcloud

Cons

  • Catalog counts conflict: 79, 109, and 122 across pages
  • Own security page returns 'no security page found'
  • Zero public user ratings or reviews found
  • Submission form reportedly 'not activated' per one developer's log
  • Listed among 1,432 free backlink targets — SEO motive

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/24/2026 - 9 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x4review x4security x1

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 9

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free directory; no paid tiers found
  • Ease of use. No direct evidence
  • Feature depth: 3/5. 41+ tool mappings, 24 categories, alternatives pages
  • Support quality. No direct evidence
  • Security posture: 2/5. No security page despite 'verified' claims
  • 79–109 Verified projects Counts conflict across pages
  • 24 Categories 41+ proprietary tools mapped
  • $0 Price Free to browse and submit
  • 0 Public user reviews Facebook page unrated

Pricing

Browse & submit

$0

  • Full directory access
  • Free tool listing; ~45 min prep plus review wait

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Only one firsthand account surfaced — a developer's failed submission; no broader user feedback exists.

“Attempted OpenSourceFest submission; form is not activated”
Authier developer journal (FOSSIES)
Full analysis

Based on ~10 usable public sources; many search results were unrelated 'Open Source Fest' events, weakening confidence.

Free directory of open source SaaS alternatives; useful starting point, but 'verified' claims lack backing and counts conflict.

Methodology

Based on ~10 usable public sources; many search results were unrelated 'Open Source Fest' events, weakening confidence.

Sources

  1. OpenSourceFest homepageopensourcefest.org
    official
  2. About OpenSourceFestopensourcefest.org
    official
  3. OpenSourceFest security pageopensourcefest.org
    security
  4. Self-hosted category (122 tools)opensourcefest.org
    official
  5. Zulip listing on OpenSourceFestopensourcefest.com
    official
  6. How to get listed on OpenSourceFest (AltFTool)altftool.com
    review
  7. OpenSourceFest Facebook page (0 reviews)facebook.com
    review
  8. Authier domain-rating journal (failed submission)fossies.org
    review
  9. Backlink directory sheet (1,432 sites)altftool.com
    review

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