Best free & open-source AI tools (free software you can run yourself) (2026)
The top 20 of 173 matching tools in the ShipRadar directory, for people who want free AI, and are OK with some setup. Updated Oct 14, 2026.
How this list is made: tools are pulled from ShipRadar's directory and ranked by traction on their source (GitHub stars, Hugging Face likes, Hacker News points, Product Hunt votes) plus freshness. Well-known tools are included as editor's picks. Read the methodology.
- 1
Let your AI agents paint big arrows, boxes and text on your screen
Lets an AI helper draw arrows and notes right on your screen, so it can point at what it means.
🤖 Automation & AI Helpers · 419 traction · Visit ↗
- 2
Whiteboard (YC W26)
A free code editor that helps programmers plan software before writing it.
⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 424 traction · Visit ↗
- 3
dsh-our-free-model
A plugin for the DeepSeek Harness coding tool that gives free access to models like DeepSeek V4.1 Flash and Kimi K3, with no sign-up.
🧠 For Developers · 14,068 GitHub stars · Visit ↗
- 4
universal-modder
Lets programmers use Claude to mod PC games.
⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 7,394 GitHub stars · Visit ↗
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AI search for every photo and every frame of video on macOS
Search your Mac's photos and videos by describing what's in them, like 'dog on a beach'.
🎬 Video · 183 traction · Visit ↗
- 9
jev-chat-jarvis
Reads a chat before you reply, warns you about tone and risk, and suggests replies. You always press send. On Android.
📈 Productivity · 7,713 GitHub stars · Visit ↗
- 10
Made an open-source Lego AI generator
A free project that uses AI to design Lego builds. Needs some setup to run.
⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 170 traction · Visit ↗
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aurelio-finance
A free personal finance app with an AI advisor. Track your net worth, investments and debts on your own computer, so your money data stays private.
💼 Business & Money · 3,359 GitHub stars · Visit ↗
- 15
answer-me-with-html
Makes an AI answer hard questions with one tidy, readable web page instead of a wall of text.
⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 3,301 GitHub stars · Visit ↗
- 16
JevBench, a reproducible benchmark for typed decision models
Tests for AI decision models. Researchers only.
🧠 For Developers · 154 traction · Visit ↗
- 17
TinyAIArena watch AI agents battle it out
Watch AI bots compete against each other in little games.
🧠 For Developers · 120 traction · Visit ↗
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replica-skill
Free Claude add-ons that study an app, rebuild your own version, test it, and fix what users complain about.
⚡ Build Websites & Apps · 2,389 GitHub stars · Visit ↗
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