What is Open Source?
What does 'Open Source' mean?
Source code is published under a licence that permits inspection, modification and redistribution, so users can audit how the software works, extend it, or run a modified version themselves. Licence terms vary widely in what they demand in return, from permissive to copyleft, and being open source does not always mean free of charge for commercial use. Buyers often value it for avoiding vendor lock-in, though support and maintenance may fall to the user or a paid commercial edition.
List of software with Open Source functionality
About the reviewer
Rajat Gupta is the founder of Spotsaas. Over the past two years, he has reviewed 2,000+ tools across CRM, HR, AI, and finance — applying hands-on product research and a background in commerce and the CFA program to evaluate software through a business and ROI lens. His goal: help teams make software decisions they won't regret.
Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].