Why Open-Source?

Open-source software means the code is public. Anyone can read it, audit it, and verify it does what it says it does. When PewDiePie says "if you can replace it with something open-source, you should," this is why — you can't hide spyware in code that everyone can see.

Closed-source software is a black box. You trust the company's word that it's not doing anything shady. Open-source software is transparent by design. That doesn't mean all open-source software is good (some of it is terrible), but at least the bad ones are honestly bad instead of secretly bad.

This page is a reference catalog. Bookmark it and come back whenever you need to replace something. We've marked which tools PewDiePie actually uses versus which are community recommendations.

Productivity

LibreOffice

The big one. LibreOffice replaces Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. It opens and saves Microsoft file formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx). The interface is functional if a bit dated — think "Microsoft Office 2010." It's pre-installed on Linux Mint.

Best for: Solo work, writing, spreadsheets, presentations. Handles 95% of what most people need from an office suite.

CryptPad

An encrypted, web-based collaborative editor. Supports rich text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, kanban boards, and more. This is your Google Docs replacement for real-time collaboration. You can self-host it or use the free tier at cryptpad.fr (1 GB storage).

Best for: Collaborative editing when you need multiple people in the same document.

Obsidian

A markdown-based note-taking app that stores everything as plain text files on your local machine. No cloud, no lock-in — your notes are just .md files you can open in any text editor. Has a massive plugin ecosystem. Not technically open-source (the app is free but source-available), but your data is always yours.

Best for: Note-taking, personal knowledge management, writing.

Joplin

Open-source note-taking that replaces Evernote or Google Keep. Supports markdown, syncs across devices (via Nextcloud, Dropbox, or Joplin Cloud), and has end-to-end encryption. Fully open-source.

Best for: People who want Evernote-style note-taking with sync, but open-source.

Communication

Signal

End-to-end encrypted messaging. Replaces WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage for private conversations. The protocol is open-source, the apps are open-source, and the encryption is gold-standard. PewDiePie has mentioned Signal as a recommended messaging app.

Best for: Messaging friends and family who are willing to install it.

Matrix / Element

Matrix is a decentralized communication protocol (like email — anyone can run a server). Element is the most popular Matrix client. Think "open-source Slack/Discord." You can host your own server or use a public one. Supports text, voice, video, and end-to-end encryption.

Best for: Group communication, communities, or replacing Slack/Discord with something you control.

Media

VLC

The legendary media player. Plays literally every audio and video format in existence. No codecs to install, no nonsense. Available on every platform. If you're not using VLC, start.

Best for: Playing local media files. The undisputed king.

Jellyfin

A self-hosted media server. Think "your own Netflix" for your movie and TV collection. Streams to any device with a web browser or a Jellyfin app. Automatically fetches metadata, artwork, and subtitles. Completely free, no premium tier, no tracking. Replaces Plex (which has gone increasingly corporate).

Best for: Streaming your own media library to all your devices.

Kodi

A media center application that turns any computer into a home theater. Supports plugins for live TV, music, photos, and more. Great for a dedicated media PC connected to your TV.

Best for: A living room media center setup.

Passwords

Vaultwarden (self-hosted)

PewDiePie's choice. A lightweight Bitwarden-compatible server you run yourself. Works with all official Bitwarden browser extensions and mobile apps. See the Self-Hosting guide for setup details.

Best for: People who self-host and want full control over their password vault.

KeePassXC

A local-only password manager. Your vault is a single encrypted file on your computer. No server, no sync, no cloud — just a file you can put on a USB drive, Syncthing folder, or Nextcloud. Has a browser extension and works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Best for: People who want the simplest, most secure option and don't mind managing sync themselves.

Bitwarden (cloud)

If you don't want to self-host, Bitwarden's cloud service has a free tier that's genuinely good. Open-source client apps, end-to-end encryption, and a reasonable $10/year for premium features. A massive upgrade from using Chrome's built-in password manager.

Best for: People who want a password manager that "just works" without self-hosting.

Cloud Storage & Sync

Nextcloud

The Swiss Army knife of self-hosted services. File storage, calendar, contacts, notes, office suite, photos, and more. It tries to replace the entire Google ecosystem in one package. Sometimes it succeeds brilliantly; sometimes it's clunky. See Self-Hosting.

Best for: A comprehensive Google/Dropbox replacement for self-hosters.

Syncthing

Peer-to-peer file synchronization. No server, no cloud — files sync directly between your devices over an encrypted connection. Set up a folder on your laptop and desktop, and they stay in sync automatically. Beautifully simple and incredibly reliable.

Best for: Keeping folders synchronized across devices without any server.

Email

ProtonMail

End-to-end encrypted email from Switzerland. The best Gmail replacement for most people. Free tier available, paid tier ($10/month) includes calendar, drive, and VPN. PewDiePie uses ProtonMail.

Best for: Anyone replacing Gmail who wants privacy without self-hosting email.

Thunderbird

A desktop email client by Mozilla. Works with any email provider (ProtonMail, Gmail, your own server). Recently got a major redesign and is genuinely good again. Open-source, full-featured, supports calendars and contacts.

Best for: Managing multiple email accounts from one desktop application.

Browsers

Firefox

Mozilla's open-source browser. The most balanced choice for privacy and compatibility. PewDiePie uses Firefox. See the Browser guide for full details.

LibreWolf

Firefox with all telemetry stripped and privacy settings maxed out of the box. No Mozilla telemetry, no Pocket, no sponsored content.

Brave

Chromium-based browser with built-in ad blocking. Good for people who need Chrome extension compatibility. Has a crypto token (BAT) that some people don't love, but you can ignore it entirely.

Quick Reference: What PewDiePie Actually Uses

Based on his videos, PewDiePie's personal stack includes:

• OS: Linux Mint (desktop), Arch Linux (laptop)
• Browser: Firefox / LibreWolf
• Search: DuckDuckGo
• Email: ProtonMail
• Passwords: Vaultwarden (self-hosted)
• Server: Raspberry Pi 5 + Steam Deck
• DNS blocking: Pi-Hole
• YouTube extensions: Unhook, SponsorBlock
• Phone: GrapheneOS on Google Pixel
• Desktop: Hyprland (tiling window manager)
• AI: vLLM on a 10-GPU rig with custom YouTube extension