Best Free and Open Source Software: September 2026 Updates

September has brought 120 new and updated software roundups to LinuxLinks. Each one helps readers find useful free and open source software, from familiar everyday applications to specialist tools that deserve a wider audience.

Keeping those guides accurate takes ongoing work. Projects gain features, change direction, or disappear; a timely reader tip can make a big difference.

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September 2026 Software Roundups

Browse all 120 new and updated roundups from this month in the table below. Only free and open source software is eligible for these roundups.

September 2026CategoryArticle
YouTube ToolsVideoIPTV Players
StockmarketFinanceStock Tickers
Internet RadioAudioGuitar Tools
Internet RadioAudioScrobbler Tools
Object Relational MappingCodingPHP Code Formatters
Web BrowsersInternetDistrobox GUI Tools
Vulnerability detectionSecurityBinary Analysis Tools
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceChemical Structure Drawing Tools
Web BrowsersInternetDNS Servers
Web BrowsersInternetTerminal-Based Linux Discord Clients
Vulnerability detectionSecurityDigital Forensics Tools
Replacements for duUtilitiesZsh Plugin Managers
Vulnerability detectionSecuritySoftware Bill of Materials Tools
Vulnerability detectionSecurityGraphical Port Scanners
GraphicsColor Pickers
Web BrowsersInternetGUI File Sharing Tools
YouTube ToolsVideoVideo Converters
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceMolecular Editors and Visualisation
Object Relational MappingCodingVerilog Linter Tools
Web DeliveryWeb AppsPython Static Site Generators
Web BrowsersInternetNetwork Inventory Management
YouTube ToolsVideoGraphical YouTube Tools
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceDesktop Genome Browsers
Web DeliveryWeb AppsGo Static Site Generators
Vulnerability detectionSecurityCLI Data Hashing Tools
Genome Browsers - Web BasedSciencePeriodic Table Tools
Vulnerability detectionSecurityGraphical Data Hashing Tools
Web BrowsersInternetTerminal-Based Gemini Clients
GraphicsCAD Software
YouTube ToolsVideoVideo Editors
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceComputer Algebra Systems
Object Relational MappingCodingPerl Linter Tools
Web BrowsersInternetS3 Terminal Tools
Vulnerability detectionSecurityMalware Sandboxes
Internet RadioAudioSelf-Hosted Podcast Managers
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceTravel Planners
Web DeliveryWeb AppsWeb Servers
ProductivityProductivityGUI Time Tracking
ProductivityProductivityMind Mapping
Web DeliveryWeb AppsC Static Site Generators
GraphicsPhoto Metadata Editors
Document ManagementDocumentsLaTeX Tools
Document ManagementDocumentsTranslators
Document ManagementDocumentsTerminal-Based ebook Readers
Object Relational MappingCodingGeneral Purpose Linter Tools
Web BrowsersInternetLightweight GUI Email Clients
GraphicsPainting Tools
Web BrowsersInternetWeb-Based File Sharing Tools
GraphicsRaster Image Editors
GraphicsVector Graphics Tools
Object Relational MappingCodingScala Linter Tools
ProductivityProductivityGraphical Task Managers
ProductivityProductivityGUI Clocks
Replacements for duUtilitiesZsh Configuration Frameworks
Vulnerability detectionSecurityThreat Intelligence Platforms
Web BrowsersInternetTerminal-Based File Sharing Tools
EducationEducationGUI Typing Tutors
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceAstronomy Apps
Object Relational MappingCodingCode Formatters for C#
System AdministrationSystem AdminNetwork Configuration Management Tools
ProductivityProductivityTerminal-Based Clocks
Document ManagementDocumentsPDF Tools
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceElectronic Design Automation Tools
EducationEducationTUI Typing Tutors
Web BrowsersInternetGraphical IRC Clients
Vulnerability detectionSecurityWireless Security Tools
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceGIS Software
Replacements for duUtilitiesCharacter Map Tools
System AdministrationSystem Adminsystemd GUI Configuration Tools
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceAstronomical Data Analysis Tools
Vulnerability detectionSecurityHoneypot Tools
System AdministrationSystem AdminGraphical GRUB Config Tools
Document ManagementDocumentsDocument Processors
Web DeliveryWeb AppsCAPTCHA Tools
Web BrowsersInternetService Discovery Tools
Internet RadioAudioSpeech Synthesis Tools
GraphicsScreen Capture Tools for Hyprland
Replacements for duUtilitiesFlash OS Images
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceBackend Electronic Circuit Simulators
Document ManagementDocumentsOCR Tools
Vulnerability detectionSecuritySecret Scanning Tools
Genome Browsers - Web BasedSciencePlotting Tools
GraphicsPhoto Management
Internet RadioAudioSpeech Recognition Tools
Web BrowsersInternetRecursive DNS Resolvers
Document ManagementDocumentsColumn-Oriented Databases
Internet RadioAudioWeb-Based MPD Clients
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceEarth Observation and Ocean Science Tools
Internet RadioAudioGraphical Podcast Tools
GraphicsGUI Image Compression Tools
Internet RadioAudioBackground Noise Generators
Web BrowsersInternetMailing List Managers
GraphicsMaterial and Texture Authoring Tools
Replacements for duUtilitiesFont Managers
ProductivityProductivityFile Managers
Web BrowsersInternetFTP Servers
Web BrowsersInternetWeb-Based Discord Tools
CraftingOtherCrafting Tools
Replacements for duUtilitiesMonitor Calibration Tools
Document ManagementDocumentsProject Management
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceClimate, Weather and Earth-Science Data Analysis
GraphicsCapture GUI Tools
Web BrowsersInternetWeb-Based Bookmark Managers
YouTube ToolsVideoWebcam Tools
Object Relational MappingCodingJSON Tools
System AdministrationSystem AdminBorgBackup Front-Ends
Replacements for duUtilitiesFont Editors
Web BrowsersInternetGUI Bookmark Managers
ProductivityProductivityText Expander Tools
Object Relational MappingCodingTest Automation Tools
Web BrowsersInternetText-Based Bookmark Managers
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceGUI Weather Tools
DocksDesktopGNOME Shell Extensions for GNOME 50
ProductivityProductivityCollection Managers
Web BrowsersInternetConsole Web Browsers
YouTube ToolsVideoMedia Players
Internet RadioAudioAudio Editors
GraphicsGraphical Frontends for ImageMagick
Genome Browsers - Web BasedScienceNatural Language Processing Tools
Web BrowsersInternetVirtualization Tools

Explore the Full Collection

Looking for something else? Choose a category below to browse our wider collection of software recommendations.

Document Management Systems
Documents - Explore our recommended software for businesses including office suites, databases, and business intelligence tools. There's also comprehensive coverage of text editors.
Web Browsers
Internet - A huge section looking at all the essential internet and networking software. Areas covered include as web browsers, email clients and servers, instant messaging, remote desktop, network servers, VoIP and more.
Education
Education - Linux makes a stable and reliable platform for educational purposes. There's software here perfectly crafted for students, teachers, and educational institutions.
Internet Radio
Audio - We cover everything audio related here such as music players, music servers, internet radio, synthesizers, scorewriters, Digital Audio Workstations, and audio editors.
YouTube Tools
Video - Another field where open source is particularly strong. We examine video players, editors, and converters. YouTube tools feature together with subtitle downloaders and editors.
Paint Palette
Graphics - Creative people will be in their element here. Explore great open source image viewers, camera tools, animation, HDR imaging, photo management, ray tracing, fractals, and much more.
System Administration
System Admin - The software featured here plays an essential role in the maintenance and operation of Linux computer systems and networks. Backup software is also explored in detail.
Docks
Desktop - Explore the best desktop environments, as well as extensions/widgets which extend GNOME and KDE, the gamut of window managers, application launchers, and docks.
Productivity
Productivity - Improve your workflow with sublime file managers, diary, e-book, collection managers, clocks, calendars, calculators, mind-mapping, note-taking, sticky notes, task managers, terminal emulators, and more.
Genome Browsers - Web Based
Science - Linux is the top choice for data scientists worldwide. Explore the finest software in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Astronomy, and more.
Games
Games - Play great free and open source games spanning all the different types of games including first-person shooters, 2D shooters, educational, racing, simulation, and much more.
Vulnerability detection
Security - Security has always been a cornerstone of Linux but no operating system is totally secure. Look to harden your system with a firewall, use encryption, as well as monitoring networks, detect anti-malware, and more.
Replacements for du
Utilities - A kind of system software designed to help analyze, configure, optimize and maintain the computer. Review this section in conjunction with the System Admin section.
Object Relational Mapping
Coding - Linux provides everything a developer could want in the coding department. We feature the finest compilers, debuggers, CD/CI, IDEs, prototyping, object-relational mapping, web frameworks, and more.
Stockmarket
Finance - Explore a wide spectrum of financial software including personal finance, stock trading, investment analysis, accounting, stock market, economics, business solutions, and microfinance.
Web Delivery
Web Apps - Learn about the finest free and open source applications that are accessed via a web browser over a network. We also cover software that's reliant on a web browser to run.
Crafting
Other - There's something here if you're looking for help in tracing your ancestry, or help with handicraft. We also explore the lighter side of Linux with candy and humor. Raise a smile!
Programming Books
Books - Do you want to master a programming language? We cover all bases here. Learn C, C++, Java, Python, R, or whatever takes your fancy with awesome free books and tutorials.
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