For these five familiar apps, How-To Geek author Nick Lewis described alternatives he chose to avoid creating accounts for software he uses infrequently: ONLYOFFICE for Microsoft 365, GIMP and Krita for Photoshop, KiCad for EAGLE, Jellyfin for Plex, and Joplin for Evernote. These are reported choices, not proof that every alternative matches every feature or workflow.
Lewis’s article, published August 23, 2026, focuses on the trade-off between account expectations and practical fit. Before switching, check the file formats, collaboration, libraries, clients, import options, and sync setup you rely on. Sign-in requirements and features can change, so confirm the current terms with each project or vendor.
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Which open-source alternatives did the author choose?
| App being replaced | Alternative | Reported fit |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) | ONLYOFFICE | Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs; Office-format support and a familiar interface, according to Lewis. |
| Adobe Photoshop | GIMP and Krita | GIMP for image manipulation; Krita for drawing and brushes. This is a two-app approach, not a single Photoshop equivalent. |
| Autodesk EAGLE | KiCad | A free, login-free PCB-design alternative, as described in the article. |
| Plex | Jellyfin | A self-controlled media server with local accounts, described as serving video, music, and audiobooks. |
| Evernote | Joplin | An offline-first note-taking app with notebooks, Markdown, previews, attachments, OCR, and plugins. |
What to check before replacing Microsoft 365 with ONLYOFFICE
Lewis says ONLYOFFICE covers documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs, supports Microsoft Office formats, and offers an interface familiar to Office users. Treat that as a broad description rather than a guarantee that every complex file will render or behave identically.
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- Check whether your work depends on real-time collaboration or other Microsoft 365-specific services.
- Verify current sign-in requirements for the exact ONLYOFFICE edition and features you plan to use.
Why Photoshop replacement may mean using two apps
The article does not present one program as a complete substitute for Photoshop. It separates photo and image manipulation from digital drawing: GIMP is the suggested tool for manipulation, while Krita is the author’s preference for drawing and brushes.
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Choose based on the work you actually do. If your Photoshop routine combines retouching, compositing, illustration, and specialized features, test both applications with that workflow; the recommendation does not establish feature-for-feature parity.
What to consider when moving from EAGLE to KiCad
Lewis recommends KiCad for PCB design and describes its capabilities, libraries, and interface positively. The article’s statements about EAGLE’s shutdown and KiCad’s capacity are not independently established here, so verify current project status and technical limits before relying on them.
- Check whether your existing design files can be migrated with the results you need.
- Compare the component and footprint libraries against your parts and manufacturing workflow.
- Confirm board-size and signal-layer requirements against current KiCad documentation before committing a project.
How Jellyfin changes the Plex setup
Jellyfin is described as a self-controlled media server that can serve video, music, and audiobooks, with local accounts. Lewis also says local-user passwords can be disabled. That flexibility comes with a setup decision: compare the local-account model and administration effort with your household’s access needs.
Check the clients you use and whether you need remote access before switching. The article’s claims about Plex remote streaming and lifetime pricing are time-sensitive, so confirm Plex’s current terms directly rather than treating them as settled facts.
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When Joplin makes sense as an Evernote alternative
Lewis describes Joplin as offline-first, with notebooks, Markdown editing and preview, attachments, OCR, and plugins. Sync is optional; the article says users can sync through their own server or a cloud service.
Before moving a large notebook collection, test importing and exporting a sample that includes attachments and the kinds of notes you use most. Decide whether you want notes to remain local or are prepared to configure and maintain a sync option.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose by workflow, not by the app name
Lewis’s recommendations are most useful as starting points for people who want to avoid accounts for occasional-use software. They are not universal swaps: file compatibility, collaboration, feature coverage, library support, remote access, and sync configuration can matter more than the familiar app name. The original article is How-To Geek’s August 23, 2026 article, surfaced via Yahoo Tech.
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