7 open-source apps I’d honestly pay for because they’re that good

November 24, 2025 TH Author

Open-source apps I'd be willing to pay for — Zen Browser / ZDNET

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ZDNET key takeaways

There are tons of brilliant open-source apps.
You’ll find open-source titles for Linux, MacOS, and Windows.
Some of these apps are so good, they should have a price tag.

Since I started my journey with Linux in 1997, I’ve maybe paid for a handful of applications. I’ve grown so accustomed to open-source software that when I’m on MacOS and find that I have to pay for something, it takes me aback.

What? I have to pay for software?

Also: 10 open-source Windows apps I can’t live without – and they’re all free

At the same time, there are certain open-source applications I would pay for, GPL or not. Some of these software titles are just that good, while others I simply depend on.

But which apps exist in that special category? There are a select few, many of which run on all platforms (including Windows).

1. Docker

Although I might not run the Docker command to spin up a container every day, I certainly use the results of those commands. I currently have five different containers running on my LAN that I use daily.

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Docker makes it so easy to deploy apps and services that would otherwise be complicated or time-consuming to get running, and when your daily dance card is already filled, you won’t want to have to take the time to install a database server, create a database, install the dependencies, install the software, and then walk through the process of installing a reverse proxy so the app can be reached. Instead, run a Docker command, wait a few seconds, and access the service.

Yes, I’d be willing to pay for Docker because it’s that important to my regular day.

2. VirtualBox

VirtualBox is another piece of software that I depend on.

If it weren’t for VirtualBox, I’d have to keep spare computers around and spend much more time installing operating systems. On top of that, I wouldn’t have the ability to easily roll back an operating system to a previous state (unless it was using the btrfs file system), stop, start, pause, or clone an operating system with ease, or run a headless operating system for a service.

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I’ve been using VirtualBox for a very long time and have always thought, “Yeah, I’d pay for this.”

3. OBS

It always amazes me that OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is free.

OBS is a piece of software that allows you to live stream from your desktop and do real-time video and audio capturing and mixing. With OBS, you can create scenes made up of multiple sources such as app or screen window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, capture cards, and more.

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Essentially, OBS is a broadcast studio for your desktop. It’s powerful, somewhat complex, and so very useful. If you intend on doing any live streaming from your desktop, OBS is what you need.

4. Nextcloud

Nextcloud has helped me begin the process of migrating away from the Google ecosystem. It’s been a slow, bumpy ride, but thanks to Nextcloud, the ride is possible.

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I can deploy a Nextcloud instance on my LAN, add a few apps to it, and use it just like I would Google Drive and Docs. Thanks to it being on my home network, I don’t have to worry about a third party accessing my data to then use it to train AI or create a profile of me.

In today’s world, privacy and security are (or should be) a top priority, and Nextcloud makes that a bit easier. Yep, “I’d buy that for a dollar.”

5. Zen Browser

Zen Browser is what Firefox should have been all along. Zen Browser has all the features I want (workspaces, vertical tabs, a powerful theming engine) without bloat slowing it down. Zen Browser has become my browser of choice on Linux (while Opera is still my go-to on MacOS). Because I absolutely depend on a web browser for my day-to-day life, I would certainly pay for Zen Browser.

Also: 5 reasons why Zen is my new favorite browser (RIP, Opera)

6. KDE Plasma

If there were one Linux desktop environment that I’d be willing to pay for, it would be KDE Plasma. This DE is as gorgeous as it is flexible and user-friendly. Many other desktops try to be KDE Plasma and fail at the task. I’ve felt this way about KDE Plasma for some time because it’s such a polished and well-performing desktop.

Also: KDE Neon shows that the Plasma 6 Linux distro is something truly special

I’d go so far as to say that KDE Plasma is the one Linux desktop that I could see serving as the official representative desktop of Linux. There’s very little (if anything) that KDE Plasma does wrong, and that makes it dependable and highly functional.

Once you try KDE Plasma, you’ll think, “This is what desktops are supposed to be.”

7. Jellyfin

If you want to stream multimedia over your LAN, Jellyfin is what you want. This piece of software allows you to stream audio and video to any device on your network. If you have a large collection of music or movies, Jellyfin is the way to go. With a user-friendly (and attractive) UI, Jellyfin simplifies a task that would otherwise be very challenging.

Also: The 10 apps I can’t live or work without – on Windows, Mac, and mobile

Jellyfin isn’t just for music and movies. You can also stream books, photos, TV shows, and even watch live TV and DVR’d recordings. There are also plenty of third-party clients that work with Jellyfin for Linux, MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS.