The Apps We
Actually Use.

A curated directory of software we trust for engineering, productivity, and life — with a strong preference for privacy-focused and open-source tools.

Productivity & System

Obsidian

Notes

Local-first knowledge base that works on plain Markdown files.

Website

Raycast

Launcher

Better than Spotlight. Extendable launcher for everything on macOS.

Website

ShareX

FOSS

Capture

The ultimate screen capture and automation tool for Windows.

Website

Cotypist

FOSS

Typing

Improve your typing speed and accuracy with this open-source typing trainer.

Website

Dash

Documentation

Offline API documentation browser for developers.

Website

Tailscale

VPN

Zero-config VPN that connects your devices securely.

Website

EmailOctopus

Email Marketing

Affordable email marketing platform for managing campaigns and automation.

Website

Security & Privacy

KeePassXC

FOSS

Password Manager

Secure password manager with local-first storage and no cloud sync.

Website

KeePassDX

FOSS

Password Manager

KeePass implementation for Android with full compatibility.

Website

KeePassium

FOSS

Password Manager

KeePass for iOS with a beautiful, native interface.

Website

Proton VPN

VPN

Swiss-based VPN with strong privacy guarantees and no logs.

Website

Development & Engineering

VS Code

FOSS

Code Editor

Powerful, lightweight code editor with extensive extension support.

Website

OrbStack

Containers

Fast, lightweight Docker alternative for macOS with Linux support.

Website

WSL2

Linux on Windows

Run a full Linux environment natively on Windows 10/11.

Website

LM Studio

LLM Desktop

Run open-source LLMs locally with a user-friendly interface.

Website

Antigravity IDE

IDE

Browser-based IDE for quick prototyping and development.

Website

Media & Entertainment

Infuse

Media Player

Beautiful media player for Apple devices with library management.

Website

IINA

FOSS

Media Player

Modern media player for macOS with a clean, native interface.

Website

mpv

FOSS

Media Player

A free, open-source, and cross-platform media player with powerful scripting.

Website

MusicBee

Music Player

Powerful music manager for massive local libraries on Windows.

Website

Musicolet

Music Player

Lightweight, feature-rich music player for Android.

Website

AntennaPod

FOSS

Podcast Manager

The best open-source podcast manager. No tracking, just audio.

Website

HandBrake

FOSS

Video Converter

Open-source video transcoder for converting media to modern formats.

Website

Utilities & Tools

7-Zip

FOSS

Archive Manager

Lightweight, open-source file archiver with excellent compression.

Website

The Unarchiver

Archive Manager

Simple, clean archive manager for macOS supporting all formats.

Website

ZArchiver

Archive Manager

Lightweight archive manager for Android with multiple format support.

Play Store

FaceDown

Webcam

Quick webcam status indicator for macOS—covers camera when not in use.

Website

Hand Mirror

Webcam Viewer

Quick access to your Mac's webcam with a minimal interface.

Website

WhatCable

Cable Identifier

Quick reference for identifying cable types and connectors.

Website

WiFiman

WiFi Analysis

WiFi network analyzer and troubleshooting tool.

Website

qBittorrent

FOSS

Torrent Client

Open-source, lightweight torrent client with no ads or bloatware.

Website

LocalSend

FOSS

File Sharing

Share files instantly across devices over local network, no cloud.

Website

Blip

File Sharing

Fast, private file transfer tool for sending large files directly between devices.

Website

Personal Finance & Learning

Cashew

FOSS

Finance

Open-source expense tracker with intuitive interface for Android.

Website

PiggyBank

FOSS

Finance

Lightweight personal finance app for budgeting and expense tracking.

Play Store

Anki

FOSS

Flashcards

Powerful spaced repetition flashcard system for learning anything.

Website

System Administration & Remote

RustDesk

FOSS

Remote Desktop

Open-source remote desktop software and full self-hosted alternative to TeamViewer.

Website

UTM

FOSS

Virtual Machines

Secure, native virtual machine host designed for macOS and iOS.

Website

Zulip

FOSS

Team Chat

Open-source real-time team chat with unique topic-based threading.

Website

AnyDesk

Remote Desktop

Fast and secure remote desktop access for troubleshooting and support.

Website

VMware Desktop

Virtualization

Full virtualization platform for running multiple operating systems.

Website
Curated Directory

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn how we pick and curate the software applications in our daily stack.

What does the FOSS badge stand for?

FOSS stands for Free and Open-Source Software. These applications provide transparent codebases, allow full data sovereignty, and run without proprietary locks or invasive telemetry.

Are any of these app listings paid or sponsored?

No. Every app in this directory is handpicked and actively used by our team for production engineering, system management, or daily workflows. We do not accept paid promotions or sponsored submissions.

Can Workflare assist with setting up or self-hosting these tools?

Yes. We specialize in self-hosted infrastructure, cloud servers, and DevOps setup. Check out our Self-Host Directory and Ad-hoc DevOps Services for dedicated setup assistance.

Tooling & Productivity Stack

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