Ask HN: Name popular apps that have better open-source alternatives?

I like Metabase more than Looker. It's simpler, nicer to look at, easier to get to where you need to go.

CAVEAT: If you're an enterprise and need beefy things like SOC2 compliance, SAML controls. source control, have 3+ data engineers working together, and other things that you are just not interested in if you're say Series B or earlier, just use Looker and avoid the headaches.

OSM data is much better than Google Maps data for some things. OsmAnd is a really powerful map tool for when Google assumes too much about your use case.

Emacs >>> [power gap] >>> Everything Else

Seriously though, most of the software I use is open source. Here's a fun fact: there are some use-cases for which there is no proprietary, public-release software because the open-source software is so much better. For example, ebook management with Calibre.

lichess.org > chess.com or any other paid chess platform

Any sane mail client of your choice > whatever the fuck Outlook does.

Gitpod > Codespaces | Plausible > Google Analytics | Cal > Calendly | Ghost > WordPress | Dub > Bitly

Inkscape > Illustrator I recently used it for a project and it was rock solid. Apart from that I could script/automate workflows with CLI!

organicmaps -> google maps Of course Google Maps has traffic prediction and restaurant ratings, there's no good open alternative yet. For standard foot, cycle, car navigation I fuond organicmaps enough. And it's open, free, offline, no tracking.

3d Studio Max > Blender

Word < emacs