Desktop covers open-source applications that run on your machine. Electron builds cross-platform desktop apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS; Tabby is a customizable terminal emulator with SSH, serial, and Telnet; Wealthfolio is a private desktop investment tracker. Browse when you need native or desktop-packaged tools rather than web-only services.
The most popular open-source Desktop tool by GitHub stars is Electron(120.8k stars), followed by Rustdesk(111.0k stars)and Tauri(105.3k stars). This page lists the top 30 of 37 desktop tools in the directory, ranked by community adoption.
| # | Tool | Stars | Language | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electron Build cross-platform desktop apps using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS with Electron, integrating web technologies into native desktop applications. | 120.8k | C++ | MIT License |
| 2 | Rustdesk An open-source remote desktop application designed for self-hosting, as an alternative to TeamViewer. It allows secure remote access and control while providing the flexibility and security of a self-hosted solution. | 111.0k | Rust | GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 |
| 3 | Tauri Build smaller, faster, and more secure desktop and mobile applications with a web frontend. Leverage a powerful toolkit for creating optimized and secure applications. | 105.3k | Rust | Apache License 2.0 |
| 4 | OBS Studio Free and open source software for live streaming and screen recording. It is widely used by streamers and content creators. | 71.5k | C | GNU General Public License v2.0 |
| 5 | Tabby Tabby is a modern, highly customizable terminal emulator that supports SSH, serial, Telnet, and more. It features a polished user interface, cross-platform compatibility, and robust plugin support to enhance your command-line workflow. | 67.6k | TypeScript | MIT License |
| 6 | Joplin Joplin is a privacy-focused note-taking application that supports synchronization and is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. | 54.3k | TypeScript | Other |
| 7 | Jan Jan is an open source, privacy-focused AI chat application that serves as a 100% offline alternative to ChatGPT, allowing users to run powerful language models directly on their own computers without requiring an internet connection. | 41.7k | TypeScript | Other |
| 8 | Anything-llm The all-in-one Desktop & Docker AI application with built-in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), AI agents, No-code agent builder, and more. | 41.0k | JavaScript | MIT License |
| 9 | LosslessCut The swiss army knife of lossless video and audio editing, allowing users to efficiently cut and process video and audio files without re-encoding. | 39.7k | TypeScript | GNU General Public License v2.0 |
| 10 | Spotube An open source Spotify client that does not require a Premium account and does not use Electron, available for both desktop and mobile! | 38.1k | Dart | Other |
Build cross-platform desktop apps using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS with Electron, integrating web technologies into native desktop applications.
An open-source remote desktop application designed for self-hosting, as an alternative to TeamViewer. It allows secure remote access and control while providing the flexibility and security of a self-hosted solution.
Build smaller, faster, and more secure desktop and mobile applications with a web frontend. Leverage a powerful toolkit for creating optimized and secure applications.
Free and open source software for live streaming and screen recording. It is widely used by streamers and content creators.
Tabby is a modern, highly customizable terminal emulator that supports SSH, serial, Telnet, and more. It features a polished user interface, cross-platform compatibility, and robust plugin support to enhance your command-line workflow.
Joplin is a privacy-focused note-taking application that supports synchronization and is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Jan is an open source, privacy-focused AI chat application that serves as a 100% offline alternative to ChatGPT, allowing users to run powerful language models directly on their own computers without requiring an internet connection.
The all-in-one Desktop & Docker AI application with built-in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), AI agents, No-code agent builder, and more.
The swiss army knife of lossless video and audio editing, allowing users to efficiently cut and process video and audio files without re-encoding.
An open source Spotify client that does not require a Premium account and does not use Electron, available for both desktop and mobile!
Spacedrive is an open source cross-platform file explorer, powered by a virtual distributed filesystem written in Rust.
Pake allows you to turn any webpage into a lightweight desktop application using Rust, enabling multi-platform support.
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Jan is an open source alternative to ChatGPT that runs completely offline on your computer, offering privacy and control.
ShareX is a free and open source program that enables capturing or recording any area of your screen with a single key press. It also supports uploading images, text, or other types of files to multiple supported destinations.
A cross-platform GUI library for Rust, inspired by Elm. Provides a reactive programming model, customizable widgets, and native and web rendering support for building modern user interfaces.
OpenCut is an open-source alternative to CapCut offering a range of video editing tools for creators.
Anki's shared backend and web components, along with the Qt frontend, designed for advanced study and memorization using spaced repetition.
Rectangle is a macOS application that allows users to move and resize windows using keyboard shortcuts and snap areas, enhancing productivity and window management.
Unlock your displays on your Mac! Enjoy features like flexible HiDPI scaling, XDR/HDR brightness settings, virtual screens, DDC control, extra dimming, and EDID override, among others.
A PlayStation 4 emulator for Windows, Linux, and macOS written in C++. It allows you to enjoy PS4 gaming directly on your computer across different operating systems.
Buzz transcribes and translates audio offline on your personal computer, powered by OpenAI's Whisper.
An open-source screen recorder built with web technology, offering simplicity and powerful recording features.
yaak is an intuitive desktop API client designed for organizing and executing various types of API requests, including REST, GraphQL, WebSockets, Server Sent Events, and gRPC. Its interface prioritizes usability for developers seeking efficient workflows and robust API testing support.
An open-source multimodal AI agent stack that connects cutting-edge AI models and agent infrastructure, offering a robust framework for building AI-driven applications.
A secure and private messenger application available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Spectacle is a powerful window manager that allows you to organize your windows efficiently without using a mouse.
Bitwarden client applications for web, browser extension, desktop, and CLI offering secure vault access and password management.
Fluent System Icons is a comprehensive collection of familiar, friendly, and modern iconography created by Microsoft, designed to support Fluent UI and enhance user interfaces consistently across web and desktop applications.
Blazing-fast and modern system monitoring tool for desktop platforms, built with Rust, Tauri, and Svelte, offering real-time insights and an intuitive user interface.
A robust video stabilization tool leveraging gyroscope data for smoother videos.
Electron leads by GitHub stars(120.8k). Build cross-platform desktop apps using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS with Electron, integrating web technologies into native desktop applications.
Yes. Every tool on this list is open source and free to use in your own projects. Many can be self-hosted.
Tools are ranked by GitHub star count, a strong proxy for community adoption and active maintenance. Star counts are refreshed regularly.
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