Are you already using free software?
The software (applications, apps, programs) we use on our computers and cell phones are classified into two types, according to the registration or license chosen by their creators: – Free software – Proprietary software
Check out their main characteristics and differences below, and examples of free software that are often highly rated.
Free software – Software that is licensed in such a way as to allow anyone to use, copy, examine/study, modify and redistribute the software (with or without modification). Examination of the software is possible because it has an open source code – that is, it is publicly available on the Internet for anyone or any organization to access and examine, thus allowing them to see exactly how it works. It is therefore transparent. It is also called free and open source software (FOSS).
The transparent operation of this software is a factor that is valued and associated with its security and, in some contexts, its ethical construction. (Note: this does not mean, however, that any and all free software – or just open source – is secure. Follow specialized websites – such as It's FOSS – for recommended software).
They can be made by a single person, a small group or hundreds of people working together collaboratively and voluntarily (depending on the complexity of the software). This software is usually free (but can also be sold). The programmers make this software (often without remuneration, but accepting donations from users) because they believe that everyone should have free access to quality software. Since these people – the creators of the software – generally don't have the money to advertise (and it wouldn't even make sense, since the software doesn't generate any revenue), the software is often little (or not at all) known among people who don't know or aren't well informed about the field of free software.
Proprietary software – or, closed-source or private software. Software whose code cannot be accessed – so only its programmers know how it works. For the same reason, the code cannot be modified by users or independent programmers. They are usually made by companies and their main objective is financial profit. They are usually sold, but can also be distributed “for free” (in this case, they will usually improperly collect personal data or show advertising or sell products, etc. – in order to make a profit).
These software make billions of dollars for their companies, which then have a lot of money to invest in advertising, making them very well known and used by many people. They take action to make free software invisible (because its existence threatens their profits).
Some famous proprietary software often appears in the news, so we know that they do things without the user being informed and/or having consented, such as improperly collecting (and selling) personal data. Some of them invest in strategies to gamify the interface in order to “retain” (actually addict) the user to using the software. They have invented a business model – based on the collection of personal data – that has transformed the Internet (for the worse).
Here are some examples of proprietary and closed-source software: Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Threads, Gmail, Zoom, MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote...), LinkedIn, TikTok, Photoshop, Windows, macOS, iOS, Evernote, Notion.
(Note: software can be created as proprietary, but have its code open – thus allowing public examination of the code, but not its modification and redistribution).
Below are examples of free software (except where indicated) that are often highly rated.
NON-COMMERCIAL SOCIAL NETWORK (More info...) Hubzilla
INSTANT MESSAGING Conversations (XMPP network) Element (Matrix network) Signal (Note: it's open source, but it's not free software).
OFFICE SOFTWARE SUITE LibreOffice
EMAIL Tuta
WEB BROWSER Firefox Focus (for smartphones) Mullvad
CALENDAR Tuta Calendar (integrado ao e-mail)
TASK MANAGER Joplin
BLOG WriteFreely
VIDEO CALL/CONFERENCE Signal (Note: it's open source, but it's not free software).
Jitsi Meet2-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (2FA) Aegis
PASSWORD MANAGER KeePassXC (for personal computers) KeePassDX (for Android smartphones) Bitwarden
IMAGE EDITOR GIMP
PHOTO EDITOR darktable
MEDIA PLAYER VLC
RSS FEED READER Feeder Newsblur (works in the browser)
NEWSLETTER Framagroupes
phpListACADEMIC RESEARCH ASSISTANT Zotero
MAPS OpenStreetMap
WEATHER Breezy Weather
ASTRONOMY SOFTWARE KStars
DISCUSSION GROUPS (BY E-MAIL) Framagroupes
OPEN SOURCE APPS REPOSITORY FOR ANDROID F-Droid (By installing F-Droid, you can download the various apps mentioned above through it - instead of downloading them through Google Play Store)
COMPUTER/NOTEBOOK OPERATING SYSTEM GNU/Linux – available for free in several versions, or distributions.
Note: This software offers end-to-end encryption (E2EE): Tuta (email and calendar), Conversations, Element, Signal, Joplin, CryptPad, Jitsi Meet, Aegis, KeePassDX, KeePassXC, Bitwarden.
Updated on: Dec 07, 2024.