
Europe’s Open-Source Solutions: Your Guide to Transparent, Independent and GDPR-Aligned Software.
This guide is designed for anyone looking to take greater control of their digital life by choosing open-source solutions developed and maintained within Europe. It highlights projects that promote transparency, reduce reliance on non-European tech ecosystems, and align with Europe’s strong commitment to privacy and data protection. The goal is to support digital autonomy in Europe while uplifting the local developers and communities who build trustworthy, user-centric software.
Desktop Operating Systems

Free, open source Linux OS by KDE, focusing on safety, maintainability, and modern features, integrating KDE Plasma and apps for diverse home or enterprise use.


Desktop-focused Linux system offering custom menus, multimedia codecs, browser plugins, native DVD playback, and integrated software manager with user-friendly tools.


+4
Manjaro is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on the independently developed Arch operating system. Within the Linux community, Arch itself is renowned for being an exceptionally fast, powerful, and lightweight distribution that provides access to the very latest cutting...


+5
Linux-based operating system with a customizable interface for Windows users, dual-boot support, WINE compatibility, pre-installed software, and easy setup.


+7
Browsers
Privacy-focused browser with over 500 settings for enhanced security and performance, independent of Firefox, and not affiliated with Mozilla.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- AppImageHub
- Linux Mint
- Arch Linux
- Gentoo
- Flathub
- Fedora
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Homebrew
- Chocolatey
- OpenBSD


The Mullvad Browser is a privacy-focused web browser developed in a collaboration between Mullvad VPN and the Tor Project. It’s designed to minimize tracking and fingerprinting. You could say it’s a Tor Browser to use without the Tor Network.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Flathub
- Flatpak
- Mozilla Firefox


+1
Privacy-centric, open-source browser with unique UI features like vertical tabs, Split View, and Zen Glance, focusing on security and tranquility.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Arch Linux
- Flathub
- Flatpak


+8
Search Engines
SearXNG is a free internet metasearch engine which aggregates results from various search services and databases. Users are neither tracked nor profiled.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Linux
- Online
- Self-Hosted
- Arch Linux
- Fedora
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Docker
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Cloudron



Spot is a fork of Searx which is a metasearch engine, aggregating the results of other search engines while not storing information about its users.


+1
Office Tools
Disroot is a platform providing online services based on principles of freedom, privacy, federation and decentralization.


Filen is a cutting-edge cloud storage provider that offers client-side, end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption. Headquartered and operated entirely in Germany, Filen is at the forefront of combining comprehensive features with uncompromising privacy and security.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad


+18
kDrive is a Swiss online storage service that respects its users' privacy and makes storing, sharing & collaborating on files a breeze.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- F-Droid


+12
Koofr is a safe, secure and simple way to store, backup and share your documents, photos, videos and more. It offers up to 10 GB of free safe storage for your files with affordable upgrades and options to connect multiple cloud accounts.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- Windows Phone
- iPad
- Linux Mobile
- Google Chrome
- Rust
- F-Droid
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Docker
- Chromium
- Mozilla Firefox


+3
Privacy-friendly Swiss email solution with 20 GB free storage, custom domain options, contact and calendar sync, and cross-device access in a secure suite.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- F-Droid


+8
kMeet is an unlimited, free, Swiss solution for organising encrypted video-conferences.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Chrome OS
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- F-Droid


+14
Free and open-source office suite with advanced word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, vector graphics, math formula editor, and database tools.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- BSD
- Snapcraft
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- F-Droid
- Flatpak


+8
On-premises file sync, universal access, integrated collaboration, real-time communication with privacy and data control focus.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Snapcraft
- F-Droid
- Raspberry Pi
- Cloudron
- Docker Hub
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- Flathub


+3
Open-source suite for editing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and PDF files with co-editing modes, plugin support, AI assistant, and integration across 40+ platforms.
Cost / License
- Free Personal
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- HUAWEI AppGallery
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- AppImageHub
- Snapcraft
- Flathub
- Samsung Galaxy Store
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Flatpak
- Cloudron


+7
Web- and IMAP-based email service. 2GB cost 1€/month. Information is hosted on encrypted hard drives. Electricity from renewable resources is used.


+10
Emphasizes privacy with end-to-end encryption, Proton Drive safely stores, synchronizes, and shares files across devices via web and mobile applications.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Tor


+7
Secure Swiss-based email with end-to-end encryption and zero third-party access. Available across devices, offering a free version to promote privacy.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Tor
- Flathub
- Snapcraft


+9
Organize events with encrypted privacy, zero-knowledge and no tracking. Features include multi-device sync, multiple views, and offline support.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- F-Droid


+4
End-to-end encrypted app for email, calendar, and contacts, requiring no personal data, with open source code and quantum-resistant security.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- iPad
- Flathub
- F-Droid


+1
Password Managers
End-to-end encrypted manager for passwords, aliases, and unique email addresses, offering local data encryption, alias creation, and optional cloud or self-hosting.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- Microsoft Edge
- Google Chrome
- Safari
- Docker
- Mozilla Firefox


+1
Open-source password manager storing passwords, notes, and attachments offline with AES-256 encryption, browser extensions, cross-platform support, and TOTP.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- AppImageHub
- Snapcraft
- Microsoft Edge
- Google Chrome
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- Flatpak
- Homebrew
- Chocolatey
- Mozilla Firefox


+13
USB security device for encryption, digital signing, and secure login, featuring secret key storage, user PIN, tamper-proof smart card, and open source design.


A password manager that ensures identity and password security with rigorous, end-to-end encryption, built by scientists from CERN, and recommended by the United Nations.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Google Chrome
- Flathub
- Safari
- F-Droid
- Mozilla Firefox
- Snapcraft


+3
Web Hosting Services
It's quick, easy, free & fast - just put your open source project's homepage, developer blog or web experiment into a Git repository at Codeberg, and we'll do the rest.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Online
- Self-Hosted



Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Online
- Self-Hosted
- Software as a Service (SaaS)


+15
Productivity and Information-management Tools
Excalidraw is an open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works, and the app is available for self-hosting.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Online
- Self-Hosted


+1
Bibliography reference manager. The native file format used by JabRef is BibTeX, the standard LaTeX bibliography format.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Microsoft Edge
- Vivaldi
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox

Open source note-taking app with Markdown support, to-do integration, and synchronization with cloud services like Dropbox and OneDrive.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Online
- Android
- iPhone
- Android Tablet
- iPad
- Self-Hosted
- AppImageHub
- Snapcraft
- Google Chrome
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- F-Droid
- Cloudron
- Homebrew
- Chocolatey
- Termux
- Mozilla Firefox


+3
Open source software offering project timelines, issue tracking, and document management with robust security and flexible management options.
Cost / License
- Freemium
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Self-Hosted
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Cloudron


+2
Small python-gtk application, which helps the user to merge or split pdf documents and rotate, crop and rearrange their pages using an interactive and intuitive graphical interface.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
- Flathub
- Snapcraft


+4
PeaZip is free file archiver utility, based on Open Source technologies of 7-Zip, p7zip, FreeArc, PAQ, and PEA projects, for Linux, macOS and Windows.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Chrome OS
- BSD
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com


+4
ProjectLibre is a Java-based project management solution that gives Microsoft Project a run for its money. Offering a UI similar enough to ease the transition from Microsoft's market leader, ProjectLibre packs in calendars, resource tracking, task management, and...
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD


Comprehensive writing tool for notes, citations, and drafting with privacy-first features and multi-language support, perfect for diverse writing tasks.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Flathub


+5
Media Editors/Viewer
Open-source screenshot tool with cross-platform support, customizable interface, built-in editing, CLI access, and direct Imgur uploads.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Flathub
- Snapcraft


+4
Intuitive multi-track video editor with robust hardware-accelerated support; offers chroma key, color grading, and extensive audio/video format compatibility.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application types
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- KDE Plasma
- Snapcraft
- Flathub
- Flatpak


+2
A free, open-source painting program for professional artists offering customizable UI, 9 brush engines, layer support, and color management.
Cost / License
- Free
- Open Source
Application type
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- Android Tablet
- KDE Plasma
- Epic Games Store
- PortableApps.com
- Steam
- F-Droid


+3
PicView is a fast, free and fully customizable picture viewer for macOS and Windows 10/11. It supports virtually all image file types, including (animated) WEBP, (animated) GIF, SVG, AVIF, HEIC, PSD and many others.


+4
*While Mistral isn't open-source itself, many of its models are.
*Loops and Pixelfed are Canadian, but they are the best FOSS alternatives to Instagram and Tiktok.
























Comments
Koofr is also a great european cloud storage provider, very privacy oriented, and Bunny.net, they are both from Slovenia.
Thank you for the suggestions! Koofr has now been added to the list.
The list is based on two criteria:
There are no exceptions to the first criteria. For the second one, exceptions may apply in certain cases. For example if the software is developed internationally (such as LibreWolf or VSCodium) or if no European alternatives exist (e.g. Pixelfed or Loops as alternatives to Instagram and TikTok).
For this reason, Bunny.net will not be added to the list, as the software is not open-source.
Never knew Krita was European, do you know of any specifically German open source projects?
Yes, Krita is actually part of the KDE ecosystem, which is a German-based FOSS community. KDE is best known for the KDE Plasma desktop (Linux), but they also develop a huge collection of applications across many categories.
Some prominent KDE apps include Kdenlive (video editing), Okular (document viewer), Gwenview (image viewer), Dolphin (file manager) and many more. All FOSS and actively developed in Europe.
Germany in general has a very strong open-source scene.
Wow, I thought that I was the only person loving European open-source projects! Maybe we need to a collaborate? Just to help you, Infomaniak isn't that privacy focused: when you sign up, you (sometimes) have to make a selfie and give a lot of personal information... In general this list looks amazing and your username is awesome. Let's go Europe!
Thanks! Always great to meet another person who cares about European FOSS projects
I’m definitely curious about collaboration. Did you have anything in mind? It could be anything from sharing resources, testing projects, contributing to open-source or even writing about European alternatives together.
And you’re absolutely right about Infomaniak: they’re not the most privacy-focused option out there. For me it’s a pragmatic choice right now - European jurisdiction, transparent, sustainable and very competitive pricing. I see them as a “good enough” step away from US hyperscalers, not a perfect privacy solution.