Helping businesses discover powerful open-source alternatives—without the fluff or upsell.

When people first land on Open Source IT Solutions, one of the most common questions we get is:

“Do you develop your own software? Or sell someone else’s?”

The short answer is: neither.

We’re not a software vendor.
We don’t build apps.
We don’t resell other people’s software under our own name.

What we do is help businesses discover, implement, and make the most of open-source alternatives to common tools—so they can reduce costs, retain control, and keep things simple.

🧠 So... What is Open Source?

Open source software is built on the idea that code should be freely accessible, modifiable, and distributable. That means no per-user license fees, no vendor lock-in, and no “feature paywalls” just to get basic functionality.

You may have already heard of:

  • Nextcloud (self-hosted file sharing)
  • BookStack (documentation/wiki platform)
  • OrangeHRM (human resources management)
  • Kimai 2 (time tracking)
  • Odoo (modular business tools)

These tools are powerful and, in many cases, entirely free to use under open licenses.

✅ Our Job: Implementation, Not Upsell

We specialise in setting up and supporting open-source tools—but we don’t push paid modules, upgrades, or enterprise packages.

Some open-source platforms do offer premium features (e.g. OrangeHRM or Odoo). That’s fine—we’ll explain what’s available, but we never push these options. We’re not partnered with vendors. We don’t get kickbacks or incentives.

Whether you stick with the free version or decide to pay for extra features is completely up to you.

👥 Who We Help

We work with:

  • Small businesses looking to cut software licensing costs
  • Startups trying to get operational quickly on a budget
  • Charities and nonprofits that want powerful tools without vendor lock-in
  • Freelancers and self-hosters who just need a hand setting things up

Whether you’re technical or not, we adapt to your level. No jargon, no pressure—just practical advice and real-world solutions.

⚙️ How We Work

We keep things simple:

  1. We talk – You tell us your goals or problems. We listen.
  2. We plan – We'll recommend open-source tools that fit your workflow and budget.
  3. We build – We install, configure, and support your tools—either hosted by you or externally.

No subscriptions. No upselling. Just help when you need it.

⚖️ Pros and Cons of Open Source

We’re big fans of open-source solutions—but they’re not magic bullets. Here's an honest breakdown:

👍 Pros:

  • No licensing fees (goodbye, per-seat pricing)
  • Full control over your data and infrastructure
  • Highly customizable
  • Large communities for support and documentation
  • No vendor lock-in

👎 Cons:

  • No official support (unless you pay for it)
  • Initial setup can be more involved
  • Updates and maintenance are your responsibility (unless you work with someone like us)
  • Some interfaces aren't as polished as commercial products

We’re here to guide you through those trade-offs—so you get the benefits without the headaches.

🛠️ Real-World Use Cases

Here are a few examples of the open-source tools we support:

  • Leantime for project timelines and planning
  • OrangeHRM for employee management
  • InvenTree for stock control and ordering
  • BookStack for internal documentation
  • Frigate with affordable smart cameras for CCTV
  • WireGuard for secure remote access
  • osTicket for internal support requests
  • Kimai 2 for time tracking and billing

Each of these tools can be tailored to suit how your business works—not the other way around.

📣 Let’s Talk

In a time where software costs are climbing and data privacy is more important than ever, we believe businesses deserve options that don’t tie them to overpriced licenses or hosted platforms they don’t control.

We’re not here to sell you software.
We’re here to help you own your infrastructure—with no surprises.

Even if you're just exploring open-source options and aren't sure where to begin, feel free to get in touch. There’s no pressure, and we’re always happy to help.

📨 Contact us: https://opensourceitsolutions.co.uk
Or explore more use cases on our blog.