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Open Source Startups

What Open Source Startups is
Open Source Startups is a free web directory for finding open-source startups and alternatives to popular tools. The homepage lists 856 projects across 12 categories, including AI & ML, Developer Tools, Database, DevOps, Auth & Security, and Analytics. Visitors can search project descriptions and browse by language, category, or popularity. Project listings include details such as GitHub stars, forks, language, license, and topics, which the site says are refreshed through automatic GitHub syncing.
The directory features editor’s picks described as hand-vetted, along with 16 themed collections and 334 alternative guides. A separate section covers 1,580 free public APIs in 52 categories. Filters include authentication, CORS, and HTTPS support, and API listings identify those details where available. Makers can submit a project with a GitHub repository URL to autofill details; the form also asks for a project name, tagline, category, submitter name, and email. The site says the email is used to manage the submission and is not displayed publicly. It identifies Tiny Startup Studio as its builder and Jaisal as its maker, and describes its business model as free forever with no paid placements.
Who it suits
The directory suits developers looking for open-source projects, tool alternatives, or public APIs. It may also help people concerned about the continued licensing, maintenance, or update activity of open-source projects they rely on.
What it does well
- Searches project descriptions and supports browsing by language, category, or popularity.
- Listings include GitHub stars, forks, language, license, and topics.
- Automatic GitHub syncing refreshes project details.
- Includes 16 themed collections and 334 alternative guides.
- Lists 1,580 free public APIs across 52 categories.
- The site says it has no paid placements.
What to know first
- The directory is available on the web.
- It offers no export access.
Getting started
- Visit the Open Source Startups website.
- Search project descriptions or browse by language, category, or popularity.
- Explore themed collections, alternative guides, or the public API directory.
- To submit a project, provide its GitHub repository URL and the requested listing and submitter details.
Verdict
Choose Open Source Startups if you want a searchable directory of open-source projects, alternatives, and public APIs, with project details and category filters. Its collections and alternative guides add more ways to explore. Look elsewhere if you need export access or company profiles.
Questions
Is Open Source Startups free?
Yes. The site describes itself as free forever and says it has no paid placements.
What can I search or browse?
You can search project descriptions and find listings by language, category, or popularity. The homepage lists 856 projects across 12 categories.
What details appear on project listings?
Listings include GitHub stars, forks, language, license, and topics. The site says automatic GitHub syncing keeps those details fresh.
Does it include a public API directory?
Yes. It lists 1,580 free public APIs across 52 categories, with filters for authentication, CORS, and HTTPS support.
Can makers submit projects?
Yes. The submission form accepts a GitHub repository URL to autofill project details and asks for a project name, tagline, category, submitter name, and email. The site says the email is used to manage the submission and is not displayed publicly.
Who made the directory?
The site identifies Tiny Startup Studio as its builder and Jaisal as its maker.
Facts from Open Source Startups's own pages
- API directory
- The site also lists 1,580 free public APIs across 52 categories, with filters for authentication, CORS, and HTTPS support. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- API integrations
- API listings identify authentication methods and whether HTTPS and CORS are supported where that information is available. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Business model
- The site's welcome article says it is free forever and has no paid placements. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Categories
- The site lists 12 categories, including AI & ML, Developer Tools, Database, DevOps, Auth & Security, and Analytics. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Collections
- The site groups open source alternatives into themed collections and says it includes 16 collections and 334 alternative guides. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Coverage
- The homepage lists 856 projects across 12 categories and describes them as 100% open source. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Directory size
- The homepage lists 856 curated projects across 12 categories. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Editorial curation
- The homepage describes featured projects as hand-vetted editor's picks and says the directory is rated and reviewed by developers. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Featured projects
- The site presents editor’s picks described as hand-vetted. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The site describes the directory as curated by developers for developers. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The site identifies Tiny Startup Studio as its builder and Jaisal as its maker. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Project data
- Project listings include GitHub stars, forks, language, license, and topics, which the site says are kept fresh through automatic GitHub syncing. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Project submission
- Makers can paste a GitHub repository URL to autofill project details when submitting a listing. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Project submissions
- People can submit a project by providing a GitHub repository URL, which the form says can auto-fill project details. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Public APIs
- The homepage offers a directory of 1,580 free public APIs across 52 categories, filterable by authentication, CORS, and HTTPS support. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Open Source Startups is a curated directory for discovering open-source startups and alternatives to popular tools. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Search
- The directory supports searching project descriptions and finding projects by language, category, or popularity. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Submission information
- The submission form asks for a project name, tagline, category, submitter name, and email; it says the email is used to manage the submission and is not displayed publicly. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Submission privacy
- The submission form says the submitter’s email is used to manage the submission and will not be displayed publicly. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Who it is for
- The welcome article says the site is for people concerned that open-source projects they depend on may change licenses, become archived, or stop releasing updates. · opensourcestartups.com, 8 Oct 2026
Where Open Source Startups stands on Freedom251
- Startup Databases#15 of 26