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7 Popular pirated apps… and the open-source tools you should use instead

Created at December 8, 2025 • Updated 12/8/2025

Before you grab another cracked app, check out these open-source tools that are safer, legal, and surprisingly good.

https://www.21oss.com//curated/7-popular-pirated-apps-and-the-open-source-tools-you-should-use-instead
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BroKarim

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A favicon of Cap

Cap is an open-source alternative to Loom for creating beautiful, shareable screen recordings. The project features a multi-architecture approach with a Tauri (Rust) desktop application using SolidStart on the frontend, a Next.js web application, and shared React components and utilities across the monorepo. Cap includes a comprehensive database layer with Drizzle ORM and standardized configuration across all packages.

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  • Stars


    16,431
  • Forks


    1,165
  • Last commit


    16 hours ago
  • Repository age


    2 years
  • License


    AGPL-3.0
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Fetched from GitHub .

Graphite is an innovative open-source graphics editor combining vector and raster capabilities with a node-based procedural workflow. Designed as a comprehensive 2D content creation suite, it offers a non-destructive editing environment that merges layer-based compositing with generative node-based design. Beginning as a vector editor, Graphite is evolving into a versatile graphics toolbox with architecture inspired by game engines. Its roadmap includes photo editing, motion graphics, digital painting, desktop publishing, and VFX compositing, positioning it as a next-generation alternative to traditional creative software

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  • Stars


    23,548
  • Forks


    1,044
  • Last commit


    16 hours ago
  • Repository age


    6 years
  • License


    Apache-2.0
View Repository

Fetched from GitHub .

LibreOffice is a powerful, free, and open-source office suite that provides a comprehensive set of productivity applications. It includes Writer for word processing, Calc for spreadsheets, Impress for presentations, Draw for graphics and diagrams, Base for databases, and Math for formula editing. Compatible with Microsoft Office formats, LibreOffice serves millions of users worldwide who need professional document creation and editing tools without licensing costs. The suite is ideal for individuals, businesses, educational institutions, and government organizations seeking a robust alternative to proprietary office software.

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  • Stars


    3,579
  • Forks


    767
  • Last commit


    16 hours ago
  • Repository age


    12 years
  • License


    GPL-3.0
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Fetched from GitHub .

FreeCAD is a powerful open-source parametric 3D modeling application designed for creating real-world objects of any size. It enables users to design mechanical engineering and product designs with precision through parametric modeling, where models can be easily modified by going back into the model history and changing parameters. The software supports a wide range of CAD workflows including architecture, mechanical engineering, product design, and 3D printing preparation. With its modular architecture, FreeCAD offers specialized workbenches for different tasks such as part design, technical drawing, mesh handling, and finite element analysis.

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  • Stars


    28,074
  • Forks


    5,084
  • Last commit


    22 hours ago
  • Repository age


    13 years
  • License


    LGPL-2.1
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Fetched from GitHub .

LosslessCut is a cross-platform video editing tool that enables users to quickly trim, cut, and merge video and audio files without re-encoding. By performing lossless operations, it preserves the original quality while dramatically reducing processing time compared to traditional video editors. The tool supports a wide range of formats and is ideal for content creators, video editors, and anyone who needs to quickly extract clips, remove unwanted segments, or join media files without the overhead of transcoding. Its simple interface makes complex operations accessible to both professionals and casual users.

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  • Stars


    37,151
  • Forks


    1,810
  • Last commit


    5 days ago
  • Repository age


    9 years
  • License


    GPL-2.0
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Fetched from GitHub .

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor used to create and edit scalable vector graphics (SVG) files. It provides professional-grade tools for illustration, logo design, technical diagrams, web graphics, and artistic work, offering capabilities comparable to commercial software like Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW.

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  • Stars


    3,084
  • Forks


    231
  • Last commit


    4 years ago
  • Repository age


    11 years
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Fetched from GitHub .

AB Download Manager is a cross-platform download manager application designed to accelerate and manage file downloads efficiently. It provides features like multi-threaded downloading, pause/resume capabilities, download scheduling, and browser integration. Built with modern technologies, it offers a clean user interface for organizing and monitoring downloads across different platforms. The tool is ideal for users who frequently download large files and need better control over their download processes compared to standard browser download managers.

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  • Stars


    12,829
  • Forks


    670
  • Last commit


    10 days ago
  • Repository age


    2 years
  • License


    Apache-2.0
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Fetched from GitHub .

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