# AltStack — Free AI Tools, Open-Source & Self-Hosted Software Alternatives > AltStack compares software and AI tools by task, edition costs, licenses and setup, with original guides and links to provider evidence. Catalog snapshot: 2026-10-25; AI directory snapshot: 2026-10-25. These are dataset dates, not a claim that every provider was checked on that date. Free and freemium are separate edition models. Hosting, hardware, electricity, storage, model licenses and optional APIs can add costs. Unknown prices are not free plans. AltStack is an independently maintained directory by Sushil Kumar Sah. Descriptions and selections are editorial information, not provider endorsements, execution tests or guaranteed rankings. Check the linked page’s dated primary sources before deciding. ## Core Directories - [AltStack](https://altstack.space/): Start with software alternatives, AI tools, original installation guides and the current dated editorial picks. - [Software directory](https://altstack.space/directory): Browse software listings by task, then inspect each listing’s edition costs, license and setup evidence. - [Software alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives): Find replacement candidates for a named paid product and compare the mapped editions and requirements. - [AI tool directory](https://altstack.space/ai): Browse AI applications and review provider-checked pricing separately from entries whose prices remain unverified. - [Software collections](https://altstack.space/collections): Explore task collections, recently added listings, official mobile downloads and tools listed for self-hosting. - [Original AltStack guides](https://altstack.space/blog): Read installation walkthroughs, first-task instructions, cost qualifications, privacy considerations and troubleshooting written for AltStack. ## Top Software Alternatives Editorial shortlist across different tasks; the order is not a popularity or quality ranking. - [ChatGPT alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/chatgpt): 17 active mapped alternatives: 9 with a provider-checked free edition and 5 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. - [Cursor alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/cursor): 16 active mapped alternatives: 12 with a provider-checked free edition and 4 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. - [Adobe Photoshop alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/photoshop): 7 active mapped alternatives: 7 with a provider-checked free edition and 0 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. - [Notion alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/notion): 23 active mapped alternatives: 9 with a provider-checked free edition and 14 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. - [Postman alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/postman): 14 active mapped alternatives: 4 with a provider-checked free edition and 9 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. - [GitHub alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/github): 5 active mapped alternatives: 3 with a provider-checked free edition and 2 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. - [Figma alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/figma): 6 active mapped alternatives: 4 with a provider-checked free edition and 2 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. - [Spotify alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/spotify): 23 active mapped alternatives: 23 with a provider-checked free edition and 0 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. Music players, own-library servers and clients do not unlock Spotify Premium. - [Netflix alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/netflix): 3 active mapped alternatives: 3 with a provider-checked free edition and 0 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. Own-media servers do not include Netflix’s licensed catalog. - [YouTube alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/youtube): 7 active mapped alternatives: 7 with a provider-checked free edition and 0 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. Public-video clients and independent services do not unlock YouTube Premium. - [Adobe Acrobat Pro alternatives](https://altstack.space/alternatives/adobe-acrobat-pro): 8 active mapped alternatives: 8 with a provider-checked free edition and 0 with a provider-checked freemium edition. Review task fit, setup and costs. ## Self-Hosted & Local AI Collections - [Self-hosted software](https://altstack.space/collections/self-hosted): Review tools listed for self-hosting; inspect each edition’s license, server requirements and operating costs before deployment. - [AI software collection](https://altstack.space/collections/ai-native): Find AI-focused software, then distinguish local inference and self-hosting from interfaces that require separately billed model APIs. - [Free-option desktop applications](https://altstack.space/collections/desktop-apps): Explore checked free or freemium desktop editions and their documented official download and installation paths. - [Android apps and official APKs](https://altstack.space/collections/android-apps): Find checked free-option Android applications with official provider or documented store distribution and installation instructions. - [Plan a local language-model workspace](https://altstack.space/blog/best-local-llm-tools): Understand the runtime, interface, hardware and model choices involved in running inference on your own device. - [Install Ollama and run a model](https://altstack.space/blog/ollama-install-and-run-guide): Follow the documented installation and first-model workflow, with local hardware, optional cloud costs and troubleshooting qualifications. - [Set up Jan desktop chat](https://altstack.space/blog/jan-offline-chat-guide): Read Jan’s local-model setup, platform requirements, offline considerations and optional cloud-provider limitations before choosing a model. ## Optional - [Extended AltStack text](https://altstack.space/llms-full.txt): Provider-checked listing summaries, edition limitations and original installation guides, with preserved source-review dates. - [About AltStack](https://altstack.space/about): Read who maintains the directory and how it presents software choices and current evidence. - [Rights and source credits](https://altstack.space/legal): Read third-party ownership qualifications, published artwork credits and the route for reporting a rights concern.