12 Best Open Source Projects to Contribute to in 2025

Diving into the world of open source can feel like trying to find a specific book in a massive library without a catalog. It's vast, a little intimidating, but full of opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration. Contributing to open source is more than just writing code; it's about joining a global community, improving your skills on real-world projects, and building a portfolio that speaks volumes to future employers. Once you've gained this experience, you can explore how to showcase these as high-impact skills to add to your resume for maximum career leverage.

However, the biggest hurdle is often the first one: finding the right project. Where do you even start? How do you find tasks suitable for your skill level without getting overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options? This guide is designed to be your compass, cutting through the noise to connect you with the right opportunities.

We have curated a comprehensive list of the best platforms, project directories, and mentorship programs to help you find meaningful open source projects to contribute to. Whether you are a seasoned developer, a QA engineer, or just starting out, this resource provides the direct links and insights needed to make your first, or next, contribution. Each entry is structured to help you quickly identify projects that align with your expertise and career goals, so you can spend less time searching and more time coding.

1. PullNotifier

PullNotifier is a powerful productivity tool that streamlines development workflows by integrating GitHub pull requests directly into Slack. It stands out by replacing the default high-volume, noisy notifications with a consolidated, single-threaded messaging system. This approach dramatically reduces distractions, allowing engineering teams to focus on critical code review tasks and accelerate their development cycles. For those looking for impactful open source projects to contribute to, PullNotifier presents a unique opportunity to work on a tool that directly enhances developer experience and productivity for a large, established user base.

Why It's a Top Choice for Contributors

PullNotifier is trusted by over 10,000 engineers and has proven its value by reducing code review delays by up to 90%. Its strength lies in its deep customization and enterprise-grade capabilities.

• Advanced Routing: Configure highly specific rules to route PR notifications to designated Slack channels, automatically mentioning the correct reviewers based on repository, team, or file paths. This is ideal for complex monorepos or large organizations.
• Enterprise Support: Full compatibility with GitHub Enterprise Server makes it a secure and scalable choice for companies with stringent data security requirements.
• Workflow Integration: Beyond simple notifications, it supports sprint progress tracking and provides valuable insights into team velocity, making it an essential tool for engineering managers and tech leads.

Practical Considerations

The platform offers a straightforward setup and a free tier suitable for small teams or individual developers, making it accessible to a broad audience. While enterprise pricing requires a direct inquiry, the free plan provides a solid foundation for getting started. The initial configuration of advanced routing rules may require some effort, but the payoff in reduced noise and increased efficiency is significant. To get a better sense of the code review best practices that PullNotifier facilitates, you can review this helpful code review checklist from PullNotifier.

Website: https://pullnotifier.com

2. GitHub Explore, Topics, and “Good first issues”

As the world’s largest code hosting platform, GitHub itself is arguably the best starting point for finding open source projects to contribute to. Rather than a single project, it’s an entire ecosystem with powerful, built-in discovery tools. The platform offers curated collections via the Explore page, which personalizes recommendations based on your activity, starred repositories, and interests.

Key Features & How to Use Them

For beginners, the most direct path is using the good first issue label. This is a community-standard tag that maintainers use to flag tasks specifically for newcomers. You can use GitHub's advanced search to find these issues across all public repositories. For more targeted searching, browse Topics (e.g., "machine-learning," "javascript") to find active projects within a specific technology domain.

• Pros: Unmatched volume of projects and active issues; standardized beginner-friendly workflows.
• Cons: The sheer number of options can be overwhelming; project onboarding quality varies significantly.

For those integrating contributions into professional workflows, understanding best practices like connecting Jira to GitHub can streamline task management. To further optimize your experience, you can explore some of the top GitHub apps for better team management.

Website: https://github.com/explore

3. GitLab Explore (public projects)

As a primary competitor to GitHub, GitLab also serves as a robust platform for discovering open source projects to contribute to. Its Explore section allows users to navigate a vast landscape of public repositories, featuring trending projects and those with the most stars. It provides a comprehensive, integrated environment that goes beyond simple code hosting by baking in powerful CI/CD and DevSecOps tooling from the start.

Key Features & How to Use Them

GitLab’s Explore page allows you to filter projects by language, apply topic tags, or sort by activity and star count. This makes it straightforward to find repositories that match your technical skills and interests. The platform’s issue boards and merge request (MR) workflows are core to its contribution process, offering a clear path from finding a task to getting your code merged. Many projects use labels like good for new contributors to help newcomers get started.

• Pros: Excellent built-in CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines; favored by a dedicated segment of the open source community.
• Cons: Project discoverability and the overall Explore UX can feel less intuitive or powerful compared to GitHub's.

For teams managing complex workflows, it's useful to understand how to automatically assign reviewers for merge requests, a practice that can be adapted to GitLab's environment.

Website: https://gitlab.com/explore

4. CodeTriage

CodeTriage tackles one of the biggest barriers to entry for open source: deciding where to start. Instead of presenting you with a massive list, it gamifies the process by sending you a single, manageable open issue directly to your inbox each day from your chosen repositories. This approach is designed to help you build a consistent contribution habit without feeling overwhelmed.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The platform’s strength is its simplicity. After signing in with your GitHub account, you can subscribe to specific repositories or entire programming languages. CodeTriage then queues up open issues and delivers one to you daily. This is especially useful for non-code contributions; many issues simply need triaging, which involves reproducing a bug, clarifying details, or adding appropriate labels. This makes it a fantastic tool for finding open source projects to contribute to in ways that go beyond writing code.

• Pros: Excellent low-friction tool for building contribution habits; promotes non-code contributions like documentation and issue reproduction.
• Cons: The quality and beginner-friendliness of emailed issues can vary, as it depends on how well project maintainers label them.

Website: https://www.codetriage.com/

5. Up For Grabs

Up For Grabs is a dedicated directory designed to solve one of the biggest hurdles for new contributors: finding tasks that are actually available and appropriate for beginners. It aggregates projects that actively use tags like up-for-grabs, help wanted, or good first issue to signal that they welcome outside help. This highly focused approach removes the noise of sifting through massive platforms, presenting a curated list of approachable entry points into the world of open source.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The platform’s strength is its simplicity. You can immediately filter the entire list by project labels, tags, or programming languages, making it easy to find open source projects to contribute to that align with your skillset. Because project maintainers submit and manage their own listings via GitHub pull requests, the entries are generally created by those who are genuinely seeking new contributors. This increases the likelihood of finding a welcoming and responsive community.

• Pros: Highly focused on discoverable, beginner-friendly tasks; simple, fast interface with useful filtering.
• Cons: The directory's size and the freshness of its listings depend entirely on voluntary submissions from maintainers.

For the best experience, start by filtering for a language you're comfortable with and look for projects with recently updated issues. This ensures you're looking at active opportunities.

Website: https://up-for-grabs.net/

6. First Timers Only

First Timers Only is less of a project database and more of a welcoming initiative and resource hub designed to demystify the process of making that first open source contribution. It champions the "first-timers-only" label, a tag encouraging project maintainers to create issues specifically for newcomers, and provides clear, step-by-step guidance to help them succeed. This focus on education makes it an ideal starting point for anyone feeling intimidated by the open source landscape.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The website acts as a curated portal, directing aspiring contributors to tutorials, articles, and other platforms that list beginner-friendly issues. Its primary value is in setting the right mindset and providing a roadmap. Instead of a search bar, you'll find guides on how to use GitHub, what a pull request is, and links to communities that are known to be welcoming. It's the perfect pre-flight check before you start looking for specific open source projects to contribute to.

• Pros: Excellent and encouraging guidance for absolute beginners; it’s a well-recognized movement embraced by the OSS community.
• Cons: Not a searchable project index itself; it serves as a gateway to other resources rather than a direct discovery tool.

This platform is a fantastic resource to share with new team members or junior developers to help them get acquainted with collaborative coding practices in a low-pressure environment.

Website: https://www.firsttimersonly.com/

7. Good First Issue (aggregator)

For developers ready to find open source projects to contribute to but unsure where to start, Good First Issue provides a direct, no-fuss solution. It acts as a dedicated aggregator, curating a live feed of issues explicitly tagged as good first issue from thousands of popular repositories. This removes the discovery friction, presenting a clean, actionable list of entry points into the open source world.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The platform’s strength is its simplicity. Upon visiting the site, you are immediately met with a list of issues. You can quickly filter this list by programming language, from JavaScript to Rust, and sort by metrics like repository stars or how recently the issue was created. This focused approach is perfect for developers who know their tech stack but are not yet familiar with specific projects or communities. The web app requires no login, making the experience seamless.

• Pros: Provides an immediate and actionable list of beginner-friendly tasks; ideal for users who know their language but not specific projects.
• Cons: Entirely reliant on repository maintainers correctly using the good first issue label; the quality and scope of issues can vary.

This tool streamlines the initial search, allowing you to jump straight into evaluating potential contributions without the overhead of navigating complex platforms.

Website: https://goodfirstissue.dev

8. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)

Google Summer of Code is a prestigious global program that connects new contributors with open source organizations for a 12+ week coding project. Rather than a single repository, it’s a structured, mentored entryway into established open source communities. The program provides a searchable database of participating organizations, each with a list of project ideas that newcomers can apply to work on, making it a great way to find high-impact open source projects to contribute to.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The core of GSoC is its structured timeline and mentorship. Contributors submit proposals for specific projects and, if selected, work closely with a dedicated mentor from the organization. The platform offers extensive guides and resources from Google to help prepare applications. This formal structure and direct guidance are invaluable for those looking to make their first significant contribution to a major project.

• Pros: Structured pathway into major OSS communities; stipend reduces financial barriers; annual program with clear timelines.
• Cons: Highly competitive selection process; limited to a specific seasonal application window each year.

The program's annual nature means you must check the official timeline to prepare your application. Aspiring contributors should start early by exploring past organizations and project ideas to align their skills with potential proposals long before the application period opens.

Website: https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/

9. Outreachy

Outreachy offers a unique, structured entry point into open source by providing paid, remote internships. The program specifically focuses on supporting individuals from groups underrepresented in the tech industry. Unlike simply browsing for projects, Outreachy provides a comprehensive, mentored experience, making it an excellent platform for those seeking guided open source projects to contribute to. Internships last about three months and come with a stipend, covering both coding and non-code contributions like documentation, design, and user advocacy.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The program operates in distinct cohorts with specific application windows, typically twice a year. Prospective interns first make small contributions to participating projects during a defined contribution period. This process allows applicants to demonstrate their skills and commitment while helping mentors select the best candidates. This initial contribution phase is a crucial step and provides valuable, real-world experience even for those not selected for the full internship.

• Pros: Strong mentorship culture focused on inclusion; stipends remove financial barriers to entry; clear, well-documented timelines and processes.
• Cons: Highly competitive with limited internship slots; participation is restricted to fixed application periods twice a year.

Website: https://www.outreachy.org/

10. Apache Software Foundation (project directories + contributor guides)

The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is a nonprofit corporation that supports over 300 globally recognized open source projects, including foundational technologies like Hadoop, Kafka, and HTTP Server. It serves as a central hub not just for code, but for community governance and mentorship, making it a structured environment for those looking for open source projects to contribute to. The foundation provides comprehensive directories and clear guidance for newcomers.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The ASF website offers a central 'All Projects' directory and a list of incubator projects, which are new initiatives undergoing development and mentorship. For contributors, the "How it works" section and new contributor guides are invaluable resources that explain the "Apache Way" of community-driven development. While many projects mirror their repositories on GitHub for easier pull requests, the core of community interaction often happens on dedicated mailing lists.

• Pros: Mature governance and well-documented contributor processes; large, active communities across multiple domains from big data to web infrastructure.
• Cons: Onboarding often occurs through mailing lists and Jira, which can feel old-fashioned or less intuitive than modern platforms.

Website: https://www.apache.org/projects/

11. CNCF Contribute Hub (plus Landscape and CLOTributor)

For developers interested in cloud-native infrastructure, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) offers a centralized portal to find impactful open source projects to contribute to. This hub serves as a gateway to the vast Kubernetes and containerization ecosystem, providing structured guidance, mentorship program information, and powerful discovery tools for projects like Prometheus, Envoy, and Fluentd.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The CNCF Contribute Hub is more than a list; it’s a structured onboarding platform. Newcomers can explore the CNCF Landscape to visually navigate the entire ecosystem or use CLOTributor, a tool specifically designed to find good first issues within CNCF projects. The site also aggregates information on mentorship opportunities like Google Summer of Code (GSoC) and LFX Mentorship, providing a direct path for guided contributions.

• Pros: Clear pathways into high-impact infrastructure projects; strong community infrastructure with Slack channels, Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), and working groups.
• Cons: Many projects are complex and target intermediate to advanced developers, which may pose a steep learning curve for absolute beginners.

Website: https://contribute.cncf.io/

12. Linux Foundation LFX Mentorship

For those seeking a more structured entry into complex ecosystems, the Linux Foundation’s LFX Mentorship platform is an exceptional resource. It moves beyond self-guided issue hunting by providing formal, project-based mentorships across foundational technologies, including the Linux kernel, Kubernetes, and other Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) projects. This platform connects aspiring contributors with experienced mentors for a defined term, often with a stipend.

Key Features & How to Use Them

The platform is organized into seasonal mentorship programs (e.g., Spring, Summer, Fall) where you can browse available projects, review their goals, and see required skills. Applicants submit proposals, and if selected, work directly with a mentor on a specific outcome. This is one of the best ways to find open source projects to contribute to with direct guidance, accelerating learning and building a strong professional network.

• Pros: Structured guidance into widely used, foundational projects; regular mentorship cycles with transparent program details and potential stipends.
• Cons: Mentorship availability varies significantly by term and project; programs can be highly competitive due to limited spots.

The LFX platform offers a clear advantage for developers looking to make an impact on critical infrastructure projects but who need a guided pathway to get started. It formalizes the onboarding process that is often inconsistent in the wider open source world.

Website: https://lfx.linuxfoundation.org/tools/mentorship/

Top 12 Open Source Contribution Resources Comparison

Start Your Open Source Journey Today

Navigating the vast landscape of open source can feel overwhelming, but as we've explored, a rich ecosystem of tools and platforms exists specifically to guide you. This guide has detailed everything from direct exploration on platforms like GitHub and GitLab to curated, beginner-friendly aggregators like Up For Grabs and CodeTriage. We've also highlighted structured mentorship programs such as Google Summer of Code and Outreachy, which offer a supportive, project-based entry point into this collaborative world.

The central takeaway is that there is no single "best" way to find open source projects to contribute to. Your ideal path depends entirely on your current skills, long-term goals, and preferred learning style. The key is to move from passive learning to active participation. The perfect project isn't one you'll find by endlessly searching; it's one you discover by taking that first small, tangible step.

Charting Your Contribution Path

To make your next step effective, consider what you need most at this stage in your career.

• For Absolute Beginners: Start with aggregators like First Timers Only or the Good First Issue tool. These platforms are designed to minimize friction and help you secure that crucial first merged pull request. The goal here is not to change the world with your first commit, but to understand the contribution workflow.
• For Skill-Specific Growth: If you want to deepen your expertise in a specific technology, dive into the project directories of major foundations like the Apache Software Foundation or the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). Their structured project lists and contributor guides allow you to find initiatives that align perfectly with your technical ambitions.
• For Structured Learning and Mentorship: If you thrive with guidance and a clear roadmap, programs like the Linux Foundation's LFX Mentorship are invaluable. These opportunities provide a direct line to experienced maintainers, accelerating your growth and helping you build a professional network.

From Discovery to Meaningful Contribution

Finding a project is just the beginning. The real journey starts when you engage with the community. Remember to start small. A documentation fix, a bug report that clearly reproduces an issue, or an answer to another user's question in a discussion forum are all highly valuable contributions. They demonstrate your commitment and help you build rapport within the project.

Your initial contributions are your entry ticket into a global community of builders and problem-solvers. This journey will not only sharpen your technical abilities but also enhance your communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. The open source world is built on the cumulative effect of small efforts. Every contribution, no matter its size, strengthens the software that powers our digital world. The time for deliberation is over. Pick a tool, find an issue, and start your journey today.

Ready to stay on top of your open source contributions? Once you start submitting pull requests, PullNotifier can automatically track their status and send you real-time updates via Slack or email. Sign up for free at PullNotifier to stop manually checking for feedback and focus on what you do best: coding.