Category guide · 14 comparisons

Open-source productivity app alternatives

Compare open-source tools for planning, writing, communication, and the small daily workflows that keep work moving.

Setapp apps
14
Recommendations
42
Unique projects
33

Showing 14 Work apps · sorted by selection rank

Explore work apps

CleanShot X

Take better screenshots and GIFs

Work
1 macshot Top pick GPL-3.0-only 3.0k ★
2 Flameshot GPL-3.0-only 30.6k ★
3 ksnip GPL-3.0-only 3.3k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

TextSniper

Extract text from visuals

Work
1 TRex Top pick MIT 1.9k ★
2 macshot GPL-3.0-only 3.0k ★
3 Grabbit MIT 9 ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

Spark Mail

Manage emails easier

Work
1 Thunderbird Top pick MPL-2.0 111 ★
2 Mailspring GPL-3.0-only 17.7k ★
3 Betterbird MPL-2.0 957 ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

BetterZip

Create and encrypt archives

Work
1 MacPacker Top pick GPL-3.0-only 582 ★
2 PeaZip LGPL-3.0-only 7.8k ★
3 7-Zip LGPL-2.1-or-later 3.7k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

Numi

Calculate and convert anything

Work
1 Qalculate! Top pick GPL-2.0-only 580 ★
2 Numbat Apache-2.0 2.6k ★
3 Kalker MIT 1.9k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

ForkLift

Manage files across servers

Work
1 Double Commander Top pick GPL-2.0-only 4.4k ★
2 muCommander GPL-3.0-only 1.3k ★
3 Midnight Commander GPL-3.0-or-later 949 ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

Timing

Track time you spend in each app

Work
1 ActivityWatch Top pick MPL-2.0 18.6k ★
2 Dayflow MIT 6.9k ★
3 Super Productivity MIT 21.4k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

Session

Work in short intervals

Work
1 Pomotroid Top pick MIT 5.4k ★
2 FocusCat AGPL-3.0-only 24 ★
3 Super Productivity MIT 21.4k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

BusyCal

Sync your tasks with calendar

Work
1 Thunderbird Top pick MPL-2.0 111 ★
2 Nextcloud Calendar AGPL-3.0-only 1.2k ★
3 SOGo GPL-2.0-only 2.1k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

Yoink

Improve drag and drop

Work
1 Pesty Top pick MIT 48 ★
2 CopyQ GPL-3.0-only 12.1k ★
3 Maccy MIT 21.2k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

Archiver

Compress and unarchive files

Work
1 PeaZip Top pick LGPL-3.0-only 7.8k ★
2 MacPacker GPL-3.0-only 582 ★
3 7-Zip LGPL-2.1-or-later 3.7k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

Path Finder

Copy, delete, and sync files

Work
1 Double Commander Top pick GPL-2.0-only 4.4k ★
2 muCommander GPL-3.0-only 1.3k ★
3 Rascal MIT 134 ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

SideNotes

Notes on the side of your screen

Work
1 Joplin Top pick AGPL-3.0-or-later 56.0k ★
2 QOwnNotes GPL-2.0-only 5.8k ★
3 Standard Notes AGPL-3.0-only 6.6k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

NotePlan

One space for all your work

Work
1 Joplin Top pick AGPL-3.0-or-later 56.0k ★
2 AppFlowy AGPL-3.0-only 75.7k ★
3 Logseq AGPL-3.0-only 44.5k ★
Evidence · Aug 18, 2026 Compare all three

About this category

The Work collection brings together alternatives for notes, calendars, email, task planning, clipboard history, focus sessions, calculations, and file handling. Recommendations are organized around the original app workflow, then checked for a public source repository, a free path, macOS usability, maintenance signals, and limitations worth understanding before switching.