I finally hit a breaking point with my monthly subscriptions. Between photo editing suites and productivity platforms, my monthly credit card bill was starting to feel like a second mortgage. So, I went on a mission to see if I could replicate a professional-grade workflow without spending a single dime.
After months of testing, tweaking, and occasional frustration, I have found a selection of gems that don’t just get the job done but also rival their paid counterparts.
Here are the free tools I have personally integrated into my daily routine to keep my creativity and productivity high.
I don’t pay for any creative app on Windows or Mac, I use these open source tools instead
Unlocking creativity without the cost
Photopea
Browser-based Photoshop clone
At first, I thought Photopea was just another lightweight online photo editor. However, when I took it up for a spin for complex projects, I came away impressed.
The first time I opened it, I felt an immediate sense of relief. The interface is quite identical to Photoshop, and all my existing keyboard shortcuts work as expected from day one.
I love that I can use this on my MacBook Pro, HP Specter, or even a random library computer without downloading a single .exe file. Since I still collaborate with people stuck in the Adobe ecosystem, being able to open, edit, and export actual Photoshop files is a lifesaver.
Unlike most free editors that flatten your images, Photopea supports non-destructive editing. I can use Smart Objects to resize elements without losing quality. It’s powerful, fast, and ready the second you type the URL.
Krita
Professional open-source painting
If Photopea is my Photoshop replacement for the web, Krita is the heavy hitter I turn to when I’m sitting down at my desk for a creative session. While a lot of people write it off as just a painting app, it’s actually one of the most underrated open-source tools for high-end image manipulation.
I originally installed Krita on my HP Specter x360 to test out the stylus support, and I was blown away. It doesn’t feel like free software that’s trying to catch up; it feels like a professional-grade suite that just happens to be open-source.
In Krita, I can apply a blur or a color adjustment as a layer rather than baking it into the pixels. If I change my mind three hours later, I just toggle the layer off.
It’s my go-to for anything that requires a bit more heavy lifting than a browser can provide.
Bento PDF
Private local document toolkit
Bento PDF has become the unsung hero of my local workflow. It’s a full-blown PDF toolkit that respects your privacy by doing everything right in your browser.
Before Bento PDF, if I needed to merge an invoice or redact a contract, I felt forced into either paying for Acrobat or crossing my fingers while uploading my data to a random PDF editor website.
Instead of jumping between five different tabs, the Multi-tool lets me merge, split, reorder, and rotate pages in one seamless drag-and-drop interface. It’s faster and more intuitive than the pro apps I used to pay for.
PowerToys
Windows power-user utility suite
PowerToys is a collection of utilities that Microsoft should have built into Windows 11 from day one. It’s open-source, free, and changed how I interact with my desktop.
While Windows 11 has Snap Layouts, FancyZones lets me create my own complex grids. On my wide monitor, I have a specific zone for my browser, a tiny vertical strip for Obsidian, and a corner for a Terminal.
As someone who moves between a MacBook Pro and Windows, I used to deeply miss the ‘Spacebar to preview’ feature. Now, with Peek, I just tap Space to get an instant high-res preview without waiting for a heavy app to load.
I also take advantage of Image Resizer and PowerToys Run. I use the latter all the time to launch apps right from a small search box.
6 ways anyone can use LM Studio and a local LLM on their PC
Most people can find a use for a local LLM on their PC, and here’s how I use mine.
Obsidian
Local-first digital brain
Obsidian is an engine that runs my entire digital life. I don’t just use it for notes. I use it for research, drafting, blog posts (like this one), managing my home lab documentation, and even tracking my little one’s milestones.
It’s the ultimate local-first tool for anyone who is tired of their data being locked in a cloud. The beauty of Obsidian is that it’s built on simple Markdown files.
I can take advantage of the graph view to visualize the relationship between notes, use Canvas to brainstorm ideas, and even explore community plugins to unlock features. Obsidian is for the person who wants to own their knowledge.
- OS
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Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, Android
- Individual pricing
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Free normally; $4/month for Obsidian Sync
Obsidian is a local PKM app.
LM Studio
Private local AI hub
I have spent the better part of the last year testing every AI tool under the sun. But in 2026, the real power move isn’t paying for another subscription — it’s running the world’s best models on your own hardware.
Before LM Studio, running a local LLM was a mess of terminal commands and broken dependencies. Now, it feels like using a polished streaming service for AI.
I can browse local LLMs, download them, and start chatting with them in no time. It’s completely offline. When I’m drafting sensitive client work, I don’t have to worry about my data being used to train an AI model.
Minimalist tech setup
I have always believed that ‘pro’ results require ‘pro’ subscriptions, but these tools prove that the gap is closing faster than ever. It might take a weekend of tinkering or a few hours of learning a new interface, but the payoff is massive.
Overall, you don’t need the most expensive license to be a great photographer or a top-tier tech enthusiast; you just need the right tools and curiosity to master them.
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, download a few, and start building in no time.
