Free Resources
The tools we would actually use.
Open source we rate, grouped by what you are trying to do. Every one is free, every link goes to the project itself, and none of it requires talking to us.
Freeto useLinksnot gatesNosignup
No email wall.
Just the list.
Automation
Wire systems together without paying per task.
Workflow automationn8nSelf-hosted, and the execution count is yours rather than metered. The node library is smaller than Zapier’s — check yours is there before committing.Open on GitHub →Workflow automationActivepiecesLighter than n8n and easier to stand up. Fewer integrations, so it suits a handful of well-understood flows rather than everything.Open on GitHub →Scripts as workflowsWindmillFor teams who would rather write a script than drag a node. Turns Python or TypeScript into a scheduled, monitored job.Open on GitHub →
Analytics
Know what people read without a cookie banner.
Website analyticsPlausibleA small script and a dashboard you can read in a glance. Cookieless, so no consent banner. Self-host it or pay them — both are legitimate.Open on GitHub →Website analyticsUmamiSimilar to Plausible and simpler to self-host on a small server. Fewer features, which for most sites is the point.Open on GitHub →Website analyticsMatomoThe heavyweight. Closest to Google Analytics in features, and correspondingly more to run and maintain.Open on GitHub →
Backend & data
A database and an API without building one.
Postgres backendSupabasePostgres with auth, storage and instant APIs. Real SQL underneath, so your data is portable if you leave.Open on GitHub →Single-file backendPocketBaseOne binary, SQLite inside, running in a minute. Excellent for a prototype or an internal tool; think harder before a high-traffic product.Open on GitHub →Data platformDirectusPoints at an existing database and gives you an admin UI and an API over it. Useful when the schema already exists.Open on GitHub →
AI & models
Run models on your own machines.
Run models locallyOllamaThe simplest way to run an open model on your own hardware. Good for confidential documents that should not leave the building.Open on GitHub →Chat interfaceLibreChatOne interface over several model providers, self-hosted. Useful when a team needs access without everyone holding an API key.Open on GitHub →Model gatewayLiteLLMOne API in front of many providers, with spend limits per key. This is how you stop a runaway bill.Open on GitHub →
Hosting & ops
Deploy and keep it running.
Self-hosted PaaSCoolifyClosest thing to Heroku you can run yourself. Takes most of the pain out of deploying the tools on this page.Open on GitHub →Deployment platformDokployNewer and simpler than Coolify. Fine for a handful of services; less proven at scale.Open on GitHub →MonitoringUptime KumaTells you a service is down before a customer does. Ten minutes to set up and worth every one of them.Open on GitHub →
Want one of these running, without doing it yourself?
Standing these up — server, certificates, backups, updates — is the part that stops most people, and it is a job rather than a favour. That is a paid service, and it is priced after the free diagnosis like everything else. See how that works.