Finder
Alternatives finder
Type the name of a product you already use, and the finder lists the other products from the same rankings in ranked order. Free-only and open-source-only filters narrow the list, and links lead to the product's full alternatives page and to comparison pages.
How to use it
- Type the name of the product you already use into the search box.
- Read the alternatives in ranked order, from the top down.
- Turn on the free-only filter if you need a product you can use without paying.
- Turn on the open-source-only filter to see only open source products.
- Open the full alternatives page or a comparison page for a closer look.
How alternatives are found
Alternatives in this finder are products from the same ranking as the product you type. Each ranking groups products that do the same kind of job, such as password managers or note-taking apps, so the other entries in that group are the alternatives. A product that appears in more than one ranking can have alternatives from each of them, and the finder lists them in ranked order. A product with no other entries in its ranking has no alternatives there. The number of alternatives therefore reflects the size of the ranking, which varies from one category to the next.
An alternative is not always a substitute. A password manager that keeps a local file works differently from one that syncs a cloud vault, even though both can sit in the same ranking. Each ranking page sets out its criteria, which show what the scores measure. Checking those criteria is the fastest way to see whether a suggested alternative fits what you need. Price, platform reach and privacy practices can differ within one ranking too, so compare the details that matter most to you. The finder shows which products share a ranking, not which one will suit you.
Filters, full pages and comparisons
The free-only filter keeps products that a person can use without paying, following the site's definition, under which a time-limited trial alone does not count. The open-source-only filter keeps products whose source code is published under an open license. Open source describes the license and the availability of the code, not a safety rating, so the filter narrows the list without ranking it for security. Pricing can change, so confirm a free plan on the product's own pricing page before you rely on it.
Each result set links to the product's full alternatives page, which lists its alternatives across every ranking that includes it. Comparison pages put two products side by side. They exist only for pairs that rank near the top of the same ranking, so not every pair has one. Use the full alternatives page when a product appears in several rankings, since it gathers those alternatives in one place. Use a comparison page to move from a shortlist to a closer read of two products.
Rankings behind this tool
- Best note-taking apps
ObsidianTop pick93.5then Notion, Microsoft OneNote - Best password managers
BitwardenTop pick93.5then 1Password, Proton Pass - Best office suites
Microsoft 365Top pick93.0then Google Docs, LibreOffice - Best web browsers
FirefoxTop pick92.0then Google Chrome, Brave - Best email clients
ThunderbirdTop pick91.0then Spark, Outlook
Head-to-head comparisons
All comparisonsArticles that go with this tool
All articles- Explainers · 5 min readHow to read software rankings: a checklist and listme.name's rulesRead best-software lists critically: affiliate links, paid placement, review bias, scoring and stale data, plus how listme.name scores and discloses its rules.
- Roundups · 5 min readBest open-source alternatives to paid softwareOpen-source apps that can replace paid tools for notes, office work, backups, analytics, chat and remote access, with the hosting trade-offs of each one.
- Roundups · 6 min readBest ChatGPT alternatives for chat, search and local modelsCompare ChatGPT alternatives by free limits, privacy, model access, coding and research. See hosted chatbots, search-first tools and local model runners.
Questions about the alternatives finder
- What counts as an alternative here?
- An alternative is another product from the same ranking, so it is listed for a similar job. The rankings group products by category, such as password managers or note-taking apps.
- How do I find a free alternative to a product?
- Turn on the free-only filter. It keeps products that a person can use without paying, such as a free plan, a free version or open source software.
- Does the finder show open-source alternatives?
- Yes. The open-source-only filter keeps products whose source code is published under an open license. Open source describes the license, not how secure a product is.
- Why is a product I know missing from the results?
- The finder covers products in the rankings on this site. A product that is not in any ranking, or whose rankings differ from those of the product you typed, will not appear.
- Is the first alternative the one I should choose?
- Not necessarily. The order follows each ranking, so check the ranking's criteria against your own needs before you choose.
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