OSSEAN review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

OSSEAN is a web directory for open-source startups and projects, aimed at engineers, founders, and anyone monitoring project activity. Listings can be searched by name, organization, programming language, or topic. Project pages link to GitHub repositories and project websites, while status categories distinguish projects that are still shipping, slowed, gone silent, or unverified. Its focus is narrower than a general startup database: repository activity is the central signal.

The published plans show four monthly homepage tile options. Tide bottom row costs $100 per month, Tide top row costs $150, Beacon costs $350, and Lighthouse costs $500. Each includes a homepage tile placement, a visible label, and one newsletter mention in the starting month; the placement changes by plan, from the bottom row to the largest homepage tile. These are visibility placements rather than conventional software subscription tiers, so the pricing makes most sense for organizations seeking exposure within the directory.

For research and monitoring, OSSEAN combines GitHub-based last-push tracking with a ship-score leaderboard and email updates when projects go quiet or return. Its GitHub API integration supports the repository activity focus, and the web format keeps the experience centered on searchable profiles and activity snapshots. Choose OSSEAN if open-source project momentum is the main question. Choose another database if you need funding information or a broader company intelligence view.

OSSEAN pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Search by organization, language, topic, or project name
  • Status categories and ship scores make activity easier to compare
  • Email reports flag projects that go quiet or return
• Where it doesn't
  • Pricing starts at $100 per month
  • Paid plans are homepage tile placements, not software subscriptions
  • It focuses on GitHub activity rather than funding data

OSSEAN fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update