Why You Should Always Check For Open Source Software Before Buying
Resources that could help save you hundreds
The internet is home to a host of amazing tools. Intrepid creators can find programs for almost anything from photo and video editing to advanced genealogy suites and a bevy of novel writing tools. But increasingly, these tools are locked behind stricter and stricter paywalls. Most programs don’t even have the option of buying them outright. Instead, you have to pay a subscription. Even good old Microsoft Word now requires a yearly fee to use it properly. Gone are the days when you shell out $40 and get access to a program for life. As a creator online, I do not want to tie myself to multiple subscriptions with companies that I know little about in order to use their tools every once in a while for niche projects.
Thankfully, there is an underground ecosystem of open source software that is developed by passionate people, often hobbyists, that keep free alternatives to big tech programs alive. Many of these open source projects are just as good as their costly counterparts and can end up saving you hundreds of dollars if you find ones that you like.
Open source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance.
