Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Spiderwort

OPEN SOURCE PLATFORMS FOR BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Spiderwort launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Fosshub▲79

   An open source for free and open source tools

   2015 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Postleaf▲260

   Simple & beautiful open source blogging platform.

   2016 · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Omniref▲144

   Stackoverflow for Github

   2014 · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Authorea▲94

   GitHub for scientific works

   2014 · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Octotree▲133

   GitHub on steroids

   2019 · its alternatives →

6. 6
   The Research Browser▲87

   A powerful browsing application to collect and share info

   2014 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Beautiful Open▲132

   Beautiful sites for Open Source projects

   2014 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Ginkgotree▲73

   A Tumblr for making your own textbooks

   2014 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Ghost▲123

   Blogging and Publishing. Free. Open. Simple.

   2014 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    FarmLogs▲118

    Data Driven Farming

    2014 · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Datazar 2.0▲118

    Advanced, cloud-based research collaboration

    2017 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Scispot▲70

    No-code digital operating platform for life science SMEs

    2021 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Fossdroid▲85

    Free & open source Android applications

    2015 · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Scispot.io▲88

    No-code workflow automation platform for life science teams

    2021 · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Discourse▲43

    New open source discussion platform from Jeff Atwood.

    2014 · its alternatives →

16. 16OA
    Octosphere, a tool to decentralise scientific publishing▲64

    Hey HN! I went to an ATProto meetup last week, and as a burnt-out semi-academic who hates academic publishing, I thought there might be a cool opportunity to build on Octopus (https://www.octopus.ac/), so I got a bit excited over the weekend and built Octosphere. Hopefully some of you find it interesting! Blog post here: https://andreasthinks.me/posts/octosphere/octosphere.html

    Feb 2026 · octosphere.social · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Wick Editor▲88

    The Internet's free and open-source creation suite

    2016 · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Microcosm▲72

    A modern forum platform

    2014 · its alternatives →

19. 19
    ArbeitBot▲61

    Opensource freelance market driven by community

    2016 · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Apitronics▲75

    Nest for Farming

    2014 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    ReadMe.io▲39

    A Developer Hub for your open source software

    2014 · its alternatives →

22. 22PO
    Postleaf – Open source blogging platform▲44

    2016 · postleaf.net · its alternatives →

23. 23TA
    The Autoprotocol Language Standard for Biology▲54

    2015 · autoprotocol.org · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Plantsnap▲8

    A plant-identifying mobile app

    2016 · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →