Directory database
Open-source directories: where to submit
Open-source directories and curated lists index projects by what they do and how they are licensed. Many are maintained on GitHub and take submissions as pull requests, so read the contribution rules first: most have a format and ordering you must follow. A maintained repo with a clear README gets accepted far more often than a bare one.
12 directories · 9 with a verified dofollow link · 11 free or with a free option · last checked Sep 23, 2026
Open-source directories, most popular first
SourceForge
sourceforge.net
A veteran open source hosting and download platform that also runs a business software directory. Projects can be created or imported from GitHub with free mirror-based downloads and stats; each…
FreeNofollowCheckedFOSSHub
fosshub.com
FOSSHub is a download host and catalog for open-source and some freeware desktop software, known for serving installers without bundled adware. Projects that are accepted get a program page with…
FreeDofollowCheckedLinuxLinks
linuxlinks.com
LinuxLinks is an editorial site that reviews and rounds up free and open-source Linux software, with 'best of' lists and individual program write-ups. Suggested programs can end up featured in an…
FreeDofollowCheckedselfh.st
selfh.st
selfh.st is a self-hosting publication with a weekly newsletter, blog and a large app directory of self-hosted software, companion apps and alternatives. Its directory refreshes every morning and…
FreeDofollowCheckedOpenAlternative
openalternative.co
A curated catalogue of open source projects organised as replacements for well-known proprietary apps. Developers and technical buyers browse it by alternative, category and tech stack, and each…
PaidMixedCheckedawesome-selfhosted
awesome-selfhosted.net
The best-known curated list of free software network services and web apps that can be self-hosted, published as a website and GitHub list. Inclusion puts a project in front of the self-hosting…
FreeDofollowCheckedOpenSourceAlternative.to
opensourcealternative.to
A directory that pairs self-hostable open source projects with the commercial products they can replace. Visitors browse by proprietary tool, category, language and licence; an accepted project gets…
Free + paidDofollowCheckedAwesome Self-Hosted Apps
awesomeselfhosted.app
Awesome Self-Hosted Apps is an editor-reviewed directory of open-source, source-available and freeware apps you can run on your own server, showing license, repository health and install details…
FreeDofollowCheckedGood First Issue
goodfirstissue.dev
Good First Issue gathers beginner-friendly issues from popular open-source repositories, sorted by language, so newcomers can find a place to start contributing. A listed repo appears with its star…
FreeDofollowCheckedSelf-Hosted.Directory
self-hosted.directory
Self-Hosted.Directory is a curated catalog of self-hostable software organized by category, scenario and deployment style, with reviewed project pages. Makers can submit for free with a badge, or…
Free + paidMixedCheckedSelfHostIndex
selfhostindex.com
SelfHostIndex catalogs open-source, self-hostable apps with health scores, setup difficulty and the proprietary tools each one replaces. Its data is open, and each new app automatically gets its own…
FreeDofollowCheckedUp For Grabs
up-for-grabs.net
Up For Grabs is a long-running list of open-source projects that keep beginner-friendly tasks labeled for newcomers. It helps maintainers attract first-time contributors, and each listed project…
FreeDofollowChecked
DR is Domain Rating by Ahrefs: a 0–100 score of a site’s backlinks, higher is stronger. It isn’t a Google metric. Tranco rank is a research top-sites ranking: lower means more popular. How we check each directory
What to prepare for open-source directories
- Repo URL and the exact license name (e.g. MIT, AGPL-3.0)
- A README with install steps and a screenshot or example
- A one-line description in the list’s own format
- Whether there is a hosted or paid version alongside the open-source one
Narrower lists
Shortlists for one kind of product, with advice on what matters when you submit. All niche lists