New Open-Source Carousel Tool Launches in 2026

TL;DR: A new open-source carousel creation tool for Instagram and LinkedIn launched this week, giving creators a free, community-driven alternative to paid design platforms.

This Week's Launches

The carousel creation space just got a notable new entrant. Developer Dennis Adriaansen shipped a new open-source tool this week specifically built for creating carousels on Instagram and LinkedIn. The announcement came via X, where Adriaansen confirmed the tool is live and the open-source repository will be made available shortly. Source

This is a meaningful moment for the carousel creator community. Open-source tools are relatively rare in the social media content space, which has long been dominated by subscription-based platforms. A free, community-auditable option changes the calculus for solopreneurs and small teams watching their software budgets closely.

Dennis Adriaansen's Carousel Tool

What it does: Generates carousel posts formatted for both Instagram and LinkedIn
Best for: Developers, technically comfortable creators, and teams who want to self-host or customize their carousel workflow
Standout feature: Open-source codebase, meaning the community can contribute, fork, and extend the tool over time

The tool is currently live and accessible. The open-source repository is described as "coming soon," which suggests the core product is stable enough for public use while the code is being cleaned up for community contribution.

For context on how this fits into the broader tool landscape, check out our carousel tools directory for a full comparison of what's available in 2026.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Open-Source Carousel Tool	Typical Paid Carousel Maker
Cost	Free	$10 to $50/month
Customization	High (self-hosted, forkable)	Limited to platform options
Platform support	Instagram + LinkedIn	Varies by tool
Design templates	TBD	Usually 20 to 100+
Community contributions	Yes (open-source)	No
Ease of use	Moderate (developer-friendly)	Beginner-friendly

Source: Dennis Adriaansen on X

Why Open-Source Matters for Carousel Creators

Most carousel creation tools in 2026 follow a SaaS model: you pay monthly, you get access, and you work within whatever constraints the platform sets. That works well for a lot of creators. But it also means you are dependent on a company's roadmap, pricing decisions, and design choices.

An open-source carousel tool flips that model. Here is why that is interesting for the community:

Transparency. Anyone can inspect how the tool works. For businesses handling client content or sensitive brand assets, knowing exactly what happens to your data matters.

Extensibility. Developers and technically savvy marketers can add features, integrate the tool into existing workflows, or build custom templates that match their brand perfectly. If you have ever wished a carousel tool did something slightly different, open-source is your answer.

Cost. Free is a compelling price point, especially for solopreneurs and early-stage businesses who need professional-looking carousels without a growing stack of monthly subscriptions.

Community momentum. The best open-source projects improve faster than any single company's engineering team because contributions come from everywhere. If this tool gains traction, it could evolve quickly.

That said, open-source tools often come with a steeper initial learning curve. If you are a non-technical creator who wants to drag, drop, and export in five minutes, a polished paid tool or a set of ready-made carousel templates might still be your fastest path.

The Shifting Writing and Content Landscape

Adriaansen's launch lands in the middle of a broader shift in how people create and distribute written content on social platforms. Creator and writer Dickie Bush noted this week that there are "lots of changes going on in the writing world" and pointed to a summary of what is working right now. Source

Carousels sit right at the intersection of writing and visual design. They are one of the most effective formats for turning long-form ideas into digestible, swipeable content. As the writing landscape evolves, so does the demand for tools that help creators package their thinking into formats that perform on LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you want to stay current on what formats and approaches are gaining traction, our trends section tracks the signals that matter for carousel creators.

Our Recommendation

Here is how to think about whether this tool is right for you:

Try it if you are a developer or technically comfortable creator. The open-source angle means you can inspect, customize, and extend the tool. If you have ever wanted to automate carousel creation as part of a larger content workflow, this is worth exploring immediately.

Watch it if you are a non-technical creator. The repository is not fully public yet. Wait for the open-source release, see what the community builds, and check back in a few weeks. The tool may develop templates, documentation, and a smoother onboarding experience as contributors get involved.

Stick with proven tools if you need carousels today. If you have client deadlines or a posting schedule to maintain, this is not the moment to experiment with a brand-new tool. Use what works, and keep an eye on how this one develops.

For a broader look at your options, the carousel tools directory covers the full range of makers and generators available right now, from beginner-friendly platforms to more advanced options.

What You Should Do Now

Try the tool today. The product is live. Head to the link shared by Adriaansen and test it with a real piece of content you have been meaning to turn into a carousel.
Star or watch the repository. Once the open-source repo drops, following it on GitHub means you will get notified of updates, new features, and community contributions as they happen.
Share feedback early. Early-stage open-source projects are shaped heavily by initial user feedback. If you try the tool and have thoughts, posting them publicly or filing issues in the repo helps steer development toward what creators actually need.

Open-source carousel tooling is a space worth watching. This launch is a signal that the creator tool ecosystem is maturing, and that community-built alternatives to subscription software are becoming a real option for carousel creators in 2026.

Ready to create scroll-stopping carousels? Try Insta Posts free →