Gojo alternatives: 4 open-source picks
Gojo costs $4.99/mo — $59.88 a year. These 4 alternatives replace it for $0, led by Boring Notch, Stirling PDF and Flameshot. All 4 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Music, files, calendar, camera, and system HUDs; clipboard and window snapping stay elsewhere.
Web app with 50+ PDF operations — merge, split, sign, OCR, redact — all processed locally on your server.
licenseMIT
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Powerful cross-platform screenshot tool with annotations and pin-to-screen.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
AirDrop for every device — share files across platforms in the browser, peer-to-peer.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: Stirling PDF · Flameshot · PairDrop
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
Gojo source codeThe source is public, but the signed binary expires after three days; avoiding payment means building it yourself.
how to choose a Gojo alternative
Easiest to get running
Boring Notch — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
Stirling PDF, with 60,000 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 4, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
what you give up by leaving Gojo
- signed and notarized builds with automatic updates
- smooth notch behavior across multiple displays
- on-device dictation and its safety checks
- built-in calendar, reminders, webcam, and battery tools
- fixes when a macOS update breaks something
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Gojo alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boring Notch | open source | one-click install | macos | 10,096 | 2026-08 |
| Stirling PDF | MIT | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 60,000 | 2026-08 |
| Flameshot | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 27,000 | 2026-08 |
| PairDrop | GPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 6,000 | 2026-08 |
why people still pay for Gojo
People pay to skip the maintenance. Install Gojo, approve the permissions, and get back to work. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $59.88 a year.
questions about switching from Gojo
Is there an open-source alternative to Gojo?
Yes: Boring Notch, Stirling PDF, Flameshot and 1 more. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Gojo?
Our verdict is YES. Stirling PDF (60k stars), Flameshot (27k stars), Boring Notch (10k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Gojo — self-host in one command and stop paying $4.99/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/gojo.
What is the easiest open-source Gojo alternative to set up?
Boring Notch — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Gojo alternative?
By GitHub stars, Stirling PDF (60,000). Flameshot is next with 27,000.
