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OpenSourceSoftware.ai

Open-source software stack for law firms

For firms that want to keep client data on their own infrastructure and stop paying per-seat fees for practice software.

12 tools · saves about $8,798/yr for a team of 10 · picks reviewed Oct 2026

Self-hosting does not by itself make a practice compliant with client-confidentiality, data-protection or bar rules; that remains the firm's responsibility.

  1. Matters, clients & intake

    EspoCRM3.5K starsAGPL-3.0-only

    Replaces Clio · Manage EasyStart (billed yearly) · $39/user/mo · 10 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Custom entities model matters, parties and conflict checks; Twenty is more popular but less mature here.

    Also good: Twenty

  2. Document automation

    Docassemble994 starsMIT

    Replaces HotDocs · not counted · Priced by quote · checked Oct 2026

    Built by a lawyer for guided interviews that assemble letters and court forms.

  3. Document archive & search

    Paperless-ngx47.2K starsGPL-3.0

    Replaces NetDocuments · not counted · Priced by quote · checked Oct 2026

    OCRs, tags and indexes every scanned and emailed document for full-text search.

  4. E-signatures

    Documenso15.6K starsAGPL-3.0-only

    Replaces DocuSign · Standard (billed yearly) · $25/user/mo · 5 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Engagement letters and settlements signed with an audit trail you host.

    Also good: OpenSign

  5. Secure client file sharing

    Nextcloud37.3K starsAGPL-3.0

    Replaces Dropbox · Business Standard · $18/user/mo · 10 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Client portals, expiring upload links and encryption on your own storage.

  6. Time tracking

    Kimai5.1K starsAGPL-3.0-only

    Billable hours per client and matter, exported to invoicing.

  7. Billing & invoices

    Invoice Ninja10.3K starsElastic-2.0

    Source-available. Retainer and matter invoices with online payment.

  8. Consultation booking

    Easy!Appointments4.5K starsGPL-3.0

    Replaces Calendly · Standard (billed yearly) · $10/user/mo · 5 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Clients book consultations by service and lawyer, with reminders and calendar sync.

  9. Video meetings

    Jitsi Meet30.2K starsApache-2.0

    Replaces Zoom · Workplace Pro (billed yearly) · $14.16/user/mo · 5 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Client video meetings in the browser, hosted where you choose.

  10. Internal chat

    Mattermost39.5K starsAGPL-3.0

    Replaces Slack · Pro (billed yearly) · $7.25/user/mo · 10 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Private team chat that keeps privileged conversations on your servers.

    Also good: Zulip

  11. Password manager

    Vaultwarden69.8K starsAGPL-3.0

    Replaces 1Password · Business (billed yearly) · $7.99/user/mo · 10 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Bitwarden-compatible vault for court portals and client logins.

  12. Private AI assistant

    Open WebUI157K starsOpen WebUI License

    Replaces ChatGPT Business · Standard seat (billed yearly) · $20/user/mo · 10 seats · checked Oct 2026

    Extra running cost: GPU server, $250/mo

    Source-available. Chat with local models so client documents never leave the firm.

    Also good: LibreChat

How we calculate

For each paid tool you tick, we take its public list price for the plan shown and multiply it by the seats your team would need. Some tools are only used by part of a team, so a row may count a share of your team or a fixed number of seats; the row says how many. Prices that depend on sales or usage are shown but not counted.

From that we subtract an estimate for running the open-source stack yourself: $165/month plus $2 per person per month (Two 8 vCPU / 16 GB cloud servers, plus storage per person), and any extra running cost a row lists, such as a GPU. The time it takes to set up and maintain the tools is not included.