large-illutration

CLEVER TAG LINE HERE THANKS DANA

You can't always judge a book by its cover

It's hard to be sure what you're actually giving someone--especially when you're talking about digital media, electronics, and the newest batch of gadgets. With manufacturer restrictions going out of control, some gifts take away more than they give us.

But sometimes you can look inside

Ethical companies are making--and using--ethical technologies to make sure the gifts we give belong to those they're for. Whether you're looking for freedom and privacy or just the knowledge that that ebook will still be around six months from now, the Free Software Foundation's Ethical Giving Guide can help you find the perfect gift.

Share

Use #givefreely. You might get a gift out of it!

Lead an event

Print and distribute to holiday shoppers.

Donate instead

Help a free software organization in a friend's name.

Smartphones

replicant phone
Galaxy S3 with Replicant

    Your smartphone isn't just a phone--it's a computer you carry with you every day. It's your camera, your connection to your friends and family, and, for many people around the world, their only internet-enabled device. By choosing one of these phones, you're bringing freedom to your pocket, not just your communications.




In addition to Technoethical's refurbished S3, they also offer an S2 and N2.

  • Runs the Replicant free operating system, based on Android.
  • Features F-Droid, the free software catalogue that makes it easy to get all the applications you need without sacrificing control of your phone.
  • Note: While the main processor is exclusively running free software, the modem processor runs a Samsung nonfree system.
  • Laptops and Tablets

    Full-Sized Laptops

    t400
    T400 with GNU/Linux

      Setting up a fully free system is easier than it used to be, but can still seem daunting--especially if you've never done it before. Luckily, you can now get a new-to-you laptop that's ready to go out of the box.

      While we're highlighting the follow laptops, there are other options available.

    • Runs the FSF-endorsed Trisquel operating system and libreboot firmware.
    • Durable hardware is meant to last and is easy to repair.
    • Created by a small business that replaces all restrictive components from a stock laptop.
    macbook
    Apple Macbook Pro with macOS
    • Runs on proprietary software that restricts the user's freedoms.
    • Apple's App Store uses DRM to restrict what you can do with your purchases.
    • Comes crawling with spyware.

    Compact Laptops

    x200
    X200 with GNU/Linux

    Get it from

    Libiquity Technoethical
    • Runs the FSF-endorsed Trisquel operating system with libreboot firmware. The X200 sold by Libiquity is also certified to Respect Your Freedom.
    • Durable hardware is meant to last and is easy to repair.
    • Created by a small business that replaces all restrictive components from a stock laptop.
    lenovo
    Lenovo U31 with Windows

    Convertible Laptops/Tablets

    Technoethical convertible tablet laptop
    X200t with GNU/Linux
    • Runs the FSF-endorsed Trisquel operating system with libreboot firmware.
    • Durable hardware is meant to last and is easy to repair.
    • Created by a small business that replaces all restrictive components from a stock laptop.
    lenovo
    Microsoft Surface

    3D Printers

    lulzbot
    LulzBot Mini

    Get it from

    LulzBot
    • Respects Your Freedom-certified by the FSF to run with all free software, making 3D printing more accessible and encouraging innovation.
    • Performance and seamless interface earned it "Editor's Choice" in Tom's Guide's 2016 3D printer comparison.
    • Hardware designs available to make customization easy. Standardized material format allows 3D printing with plastics, wood-, stone-, bamboo-, rubber-, and metal-like materials.
    printer
    Makerbot Replicator Mini
    • MakerWare software is proprietary, restricting freedom and stifling innovation.
    • MakerBot was founded with a more freedom-respecting philosophy, but has since announced an increasingly proprietary approach and distanced itself from the community that formed around it.

    eBooks

    gutenberg
    Project Gutenberg
    DOWNLOAD
    • All of the ebooks are gratis, including classics like Peter Pan and Huck Finn.
    • The original purveyor of eBooks free of DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), inspiring many others.
    • Enjoy the freedom to read your ebooks on any device.
    amazon
    Amazon.com
  • The Free Software Foundation, as a small publisher of books, recommends not purchasing on Amazon. If you do, please use smile.amazon.com to designate a nonprofit to receive some of the money.

  • Graphic Design

    GIMP and Inskacape
    GIMP and Inkscape
    • Free software, with thriving developer communities.
    • Designed for free formats, but can also open files created in other programs.
    • Wide variety of plugins grants limitless features.
    • Easy to install on all major operating systems.
    adobe
    Photoshop and Illustrator
    • Proprietary software controlled by Adobe.
    • Shuts down when its DRM is unable to verify the costly required subscription, even if it's actually up to date.
    • Prefers locked-down proprietary formats.

    Gift Cards

    fsf card
    FSF Membership Card
    BUY
    itunes
    iTunes Cards
    • DRM on everything (except music) controls what you can do with your purchases.
    • Apple claims (wrongly) that you don't actually own anything you buy from the iTunes store.
    • Requires proprietary software to use, even to download DRM-free music.

    Recommended organizations for holiday donations

    sfc
    eff
    cc
    wikimedia
    sflc
    gnome
    ceata
    IMAGE class="center-block img-responsive" />
    fsf

    Promotion details

    Companies, distributors, and makers of freedom friendly gadgets and media want to make it easier for you to give gifts that you feel good about. Check out these discounts and promotions.

    • ThinkPenguin: Receive a 5% discount on any items you buy from the Web site. Ends at 00:00 EST on February 1st, 2017. Use the coupon code FSFGIVING16 at checkout.
    • Libiquity: Receive a 5% rebate off your subtotal price for any items you buy from the Web site. Libiquity will donate 5% of each purchase's subtotal price to the FSF. Ends at 00:00 EST on February 1st, 2017. Claim the rebate by sending the code FSFGIVING and your order number to sales@libiquity.com. Libiquity will then credit the rebate amount to your payment method.
    • Technoethical: Receive a 5% discount on any items you buy from the Web site. Ends at 00:00 EST on February 1st, 2017. Use the coupon code FSFHOLIDAYS at checkout.
    • LulzBot: Receive two gratis, 1 kilogram reels of nGen filament when you buy any 3D printer. Ends at 00:00 EST on February 1st, 2017. Use the coupon code FSF2016. Cannot be combined with other offers.

    Respects Your Freedoms

    The FSF certifies hardware as respecting your freedoms. There is a complete list of RYF products on FSF.org.

    We would never recommend you use, run, or give proprietary software. However, one part of RYF certification is the promise that one can install any software they wish on the device. This includes proprietary software. Free software is about many things, including the right to choose what is on your device. We urge you to keep your gifts and own devices fully free--it's not only the responsible thing, but the right thing.

    Licenses

    This page by the Free Software Foundation is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported.

    The graphics and photos used on this page have been modified by the Free Software Foundation and are licensed separately under the following terms: