For Users

When you see the COSS Mark on a project, it tells you something concrete: this software is committed to staying neutral, interoperable, and free of vendor lock-in. This section explains what that means for you.

Learn More

• Understanding the Mark - What the COSS Mark guarantees and how to verify it
• Benefits for Users - Why choosing COSS-marked software protects your freedom of choice
• Contributing as a User - How non-developers strengthen the ecosystem

Why It Matters

Software choices compound. Every proprietary silo you adopt today is a migration project tomorrow. COSS-marked projects are architected so your data stays portable and your tools stay replaceable - technology that serves you rather than entrapping you.

Want to go deeper? Read the core COSS principles behind the mark.