AlternativeTo opens doors and eyes
When you need a change or just want to see what’s available, this is the place to go.
If you’re using an application that you wish did something it doesn’t do, performed a particular task a different way, didn’t require a subscription, or you just want to see what else might be available, AlternativeTo is an outstanding resource.
Located in Sweden, AlternativeTo is a free service that aims to help users find the right software for their computers, mobile phones, and tablets. Although the main focus is to locate alternatives to software users already know and want to replace, it’s also a good place to look when you’re considering the addition of a new application. Sometimes one of the alternatives will be a better fit.
Users can create free accounts, but this isn’t required. Having an account makes it possible for subscribers to participate in discussions and to recommend applications they like, but you can search the database without charge and without an account.
For users who are annoyed with Microsoft Word, some of the suggestions are silly. These include Microsoft Wordament (a game) and Microsoft Word Viewer (which has been discontinued), but other recommendations are reasonable: LibreOffice, LyX, Apple Pages, Collabora Office, WPS Writer, TextMaker, NeoOffice (discontinued), and Word Online.
If you know that you want a photography application, AlternativeTo mentions FIMP, Krita, ShareX, Paint.net, InkScape, Blender, Photoshop, and IrfanView, each of which can be used with photographs. It also suggests categories or applications such as screenshot tools, image editors, digital painting tools, 3D modelers, photo sharing apps, photo editors, image viewers, vector graphics apps, computer wallpaper providers, CAD software, graphic design tools, image converters, image resizers, photo managers, image optimizers, SVG tools, image hosting services, animation makers, photo albums, camera apps, slideshow makers, duplicate image finders, raw photo editors, image upscaling apps, stock photo services, image downloaders, 3D animators, imageboards, animated GIF creators, art/design communities, exif renamers, image scanners, icon libraries, 3D painting apps, face filter apps, photo libraries, photo synchronization tools, and remote camera control tools.
In other words, if you’re looking for something that you might need with any kind of digital image, AlternativeTo probably has suggestions for you.
AlternativeTo also offers information about new app releases. The list includes filters such as online, Windows, MacOS, Linux, and other platforms. Other filters allow selecting any combination of free, open source, and paid licenses and to sort listed applications by rank, number of likes or views, popularity, and date added.
When you find an application that’s appealing, you’ll be able to view information about it and be shown alternatives. For example, the newly released Nugget Video Editor looked interesting, but the information page lists other apps such as Shotcut, Avidemux, DaVinci Resolve, and OpenShot, plus more than 40 other apps that edit video.
This makes AlternativeTo a valuable resource whether you want to switch to a new application or find an application for a task you have no software for yet.