15 Free Tools Every Bootstrap Startup Founder Needs

A curated list of zero-cost tools that saved founders $32,000+ in their first year.

We almost spent $4,500 on premium tools before discovering free alternatives that worked just as well.

After surveying bootstrap founders and testing startup tools, we’ve identified the free tools that can replace expensive alternatives, potentially saving you thousands in your first year.

The best founders don’t just choose free tools — they choose the right free tools that can scale with them.

💡 Pro Tip: Start with one tool per category and master it before adding more to your stack.

1. GitHub

Paid Alternative: GitHub Team

What You Get:

• Unlimited public repositories
• Unlimited private repositories
• Basic CI/CD pipeline
• Project management tools
• 500MB storage

2. Figma

Paid Alternative: Adobe XD

Key Features:

• Unlimited files