The benefits are cost, transparency, and flexibility: no license fees, visible code you can verify or fix, and a community improving it. Popular open-source projects are often more battle-tested than closed alternatives because so many people use and scrutinize them.
The considerations are support and sustainability. Open source may not come with a support contract, and some projects lose maintainers over time. Choosing widely used, actively maintained projects reduces that risk, which is why community size and activity are worth checking.
Updated July 2026