Description
Framasoft is a French non-profit association, based in Lyon, that promotes free software and runs free online services as alternatives to those of big tech: Framadate for polls, Framaforms for forms, Framapad for shared writing, Framacalc, Framagenda, Framaspace and others.
It began as a website in 2001 and became an association in 2004, recognised as being of general interest. In 2025 it had 35 members, 10 employees and some 700 contributors, and 94 % of its income came from donations, from 10,428 donors. Its “Dégooglisons Internet” campaign, launched in October 2014, opened nearly 40 services. In September 2019 it announced that it would close or restrict about half of them over several years, so as not to become a “French Google”, and it points users to CHATONS, the collective of small alternative hosts it started in 2016.
Framasoft also develops free software used far beyond its own services. PeerTube, a decentralised video platform launched in 2018, now counts about 1,600 platforms and a million videos, and Mobilizon is used to organise events. Its services carry no advertising and no tracking, and its accounts are audited every year.
Strengths
- Online services without advertising or tracking, funded by donations.
- Tools that are easy to use, like Framadate and Framaforms.
- Behind free software used well beyond Framasoft, such as PeerTube.
Weaknesses
- Some services have been closed or restricted since 2019 so as not to become a “French Google”.
- A small team, so capacity and support are limited.
- Funded almost entirely by donations, so the services depend on its fundraising.
Who it is for
Individuals, associations and teachers who want simple online tools that respect privacy.
Sources
- Framasoft: Home, Association, Dégooglisons Internet, checked November 2026
- CHATONS, JoinPeerTube
- Wikipedia: Framasoft