Finding the best Linux Software Applications are an uphill task, If you are new to the Linux World. That’s why, We have created the list of best Linux applications with the help of various Linux users and experts.
Finally, We have categorized the best Linux Software Applications based on the performance, ease of use and quality. Of course, all Linux software products are absolutely free to use!
We have picked some good number of best Linux programs that will support Popular Linux Distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Open SUSE, Fedora and More.
My favorite in the Linux Operating system list is Linux Mint which offers user-friendly Interface. Even Though, I have migrated to other Linux Operating Systems like Debian, Slackware, Mageia, Manjaro and Cent OS.
Best Apps for Linux OS (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Debian, openSUSE,Fedora)
The following list of Linux Software Applications will give full support to popular desktop environments KDE and GNOME, although it will work in any other Linux Environment.
See Also: 25 Best Linux Distributions for 2021 | Lightweight, Gaming, Hacking [Linux OS]
All Linux Software Applications are listed categorically. You can get the Applications for Security, Internet, Multimedia, Documents and Linux maintenance. Each list has got the most popular and quality applications that will certainly help you to use the Linux Computer effectively. Following list also includes the best Ubuntu Applications, So you can use it for any ubuntu versions 14.04 or 16.04.
Do you know, You can Install and Run Linux from Pendrive without installing in PC.
List of the Best Linux Software Applications 2021
Here,We’ve listed the Linux Apps in different categories. Because, we feel that, it will help you get the right Linux Programs easily.
Click any link below to get best Linux Applications.
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1.Security, Anti- Malware, Firewall Linux Software
2. Internet (Email, messengers,IDM)
3.Multimedia (Players, Image /Video Editors)
4.Linux Maintenance (Improve speed and Performance)
5. Documents & Texts Editors & IDE (Office,Web developers,Bloggers)
Best Antivirus Software Application for Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora etc..)
You may aware that Linux is already secure than Windows and other operating systems. However, using another layer of protection is useful to safeguard your Computer from any kind of unwanted threats like virus, Malware.
1. BitDefender
BitDefender Antivirus Scanner for Unices is a powerful on-demand virus scanner for Linux and OpenBSD systems. It scans and finds the malware and viruses from Windows partition as well. So your computer is fully protected with BitDefender. If you are a home user, you can get a free license.
The user interface is not fancy like Windows, but you can use it without any issues.
Download BitDefender for Linux
2. Avast
Avast is the popular Antivirus program for Windows. It provides the best protection against online threats as well scans your Linux computer and finds any potential unwanted programs.
Download Avast for Linux (Avast for Linux Discontinued)
3. Avg Free Edition for Linux
The useful Antivirus application that provides support for Linux as well. Like windows users, AVG for Linux free Edition can be installed in any Linux environment. It provides real-time protection for all Linux computer.
AVG provides different types of installation files for a different kind of Linux Operating Systems. There is .deb, .rpm, .sh and compresses zip files. If you installed the Debian kind of Linux Operating system, install .deb file directly and start the AVG protection.
4. Clam Antivirus
Clam is an Open source Antivirus app, you can use that for detecting Trojans, viruses, malware and other malicious threat. It scans the mail, provides on-demand scanning options and automatic virus engine updates.
It has been used by more than 600,000 users all around the world. It is open source Antivirus software available for Linux. Clam updated the virus database regularly to protect your Linux system from latest virus threats.
Download Clam Antivirus for Linux
5. GNU Privacy Guard (GNU GPG)
GNU PG is hybrid encryption Linux Software application. Basically, GnuPG allows to encrypt and sign your data and communication. This software is also available for Windows, OS X and Android. You can use this Linux program to add cryptography to your Application.
GNU PG uses a combination of conventional symmetric-key cryptography for speed, and public-key cryptography for ease of secure key exchange.
You have to compile the GNU PG from the original source code from the developers.
Download GNU PG
Best Firewall Applications for Linux
1. Firestarter
Firestarter is the lightweight Firewall software for Linux. It secures network connection, without degrading the performance of the system. It is suitable to use on desktops, servers and gateways. It has easy to use graphical interface.
You can enable the internet sharing with this software. View the active Internet connections, including the traffic routed via Firewall.
2. GUFW
Gufw is an easy, intuitive, way to manage your Linux system firewall. This application is user interface of UFW Firewall. By using this firewall application, You can do the tasks like allowing or blocking pre-configured services, common P2P, or individual IP/port(s).
Best Email Clients for Linux System
Linux has got some top email clients to receive and send emails. Thunderbird is the popular email client program for Windows. If you are the user moved from windows to Linux, you can use that email client in Linux too. Let see the top email clients for Linux (Ubuntu, Linux Mint and more)
Best Browsers for Linux operating System
1. Mozilla Thunderbird
Thunderbird is a free, best email client application for Linux by Mozilla Team (Firefox developers). It is easy to set up and customize – and it’s loaded with great features! It has simple setup wizard for the Popular web-based email services like Gmail, Outlook (Hotmail).
If you are the Gmail or Hotmail user, just enter your username and password, the client will setup your account without any effort from you.
2. Evolution
Evolution is the default mail clients for some the Linux Distros. It also provides the calendar and address book functions to Linux users. It offers the junk filtering that filters junk emails in your Inbox.
Evolution includes support for signing and encrypting mail via GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) and S/MIME. By using the encryption functions, you can protect your privacy and mail information. The encryption keys of GPG and S/MIME can be easily managed in evolution.
3. KMail
While Evolution is for GNOME desktops, You can use KMail for KDE desktops. KMail is one of the top email clients for Linux users. It supports the standard mail protocols IMAP, POP3 and SMTP. It has support for spam checker plugins. You can write HTML emails. You can also import mails from many other clients.
Best Linux Software Applications : Instant Messaging, Chat Clients
1. Pidgin
Pidgin is an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Use this pidgin to Connect to AIM, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once.
You can sign in with multiple accounts in the single client and chat with many friends in different networks.
2. Digsby
Digsby is also another multi-protocol instant messenger client. It provides support for Email, Instant messaging and social networks. Use Digsby to chat with Facebook friends, Google and more, all at once.
3. Kopete
It is an instant messenger client for Linux Computers. It supports many messenger includes AIM, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise Messenger, and more. You can get best user experience with support of multi protocol system.
It also provides cool features like encryption message, storing chat messages.
4. XChat
XChat is an IRC chat program for both Linux and Windows. By using this chat program, you can join many IRC chat rooms. You can chat privately or publicly. Even you can transfer files with users.
5. Skype
Skype needs no introduction which is the popular VoIP client. You can install the Skype in Linux to make internet video calls, voice calls. Also, you can send instant messages.
Best Image(Photo) Editors / Managers Applications for Linux OS (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc)
In this category, We’ve listed the best Photo editing Linux Software Applications. Most the oft windows users who migrated to Ubuntu or any other Linux System needs the Photoshop. That’s why we’ve posted the best Photoshop alternatives for Ubuntu and other linux users here.
1. InkScape
It is a powerful Open source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X. It supports many useful SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.).
It also provides support and help via the developer forums. You can get quick help from active community users.
2. GIMP
GIMP is the popular Open source image editor. In Linux, GIMP is considered as an Alternative to Photoshop by many users. It also supports Photoshop file formats.
You can do photo retouching and many other image manipulation techniques with GIMP. Mostly, you don’t need Photoshop, if you have the GIMP skills.
3. Blender
Blender is the Open source 3D modelling and Animation program. Using this free application, you can create animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D applications and video games.
It provides a wide range of features, that can be used to create awesome 3d animation films. This program also got active community which provides quick help and support for you queries
Best Video Editor Applications for Linux
1. Pitivi
PiTiVi is free video editor that provides a user-friendly interface, provides stunning features to make beautiful videos. It is the best video editor for Linux Operating system. You can use this Video editor in Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora and more.
Best Audio Player Applications for Linux
1. Audacity
Audacity is free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds.
- Records live audio.
- Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
- Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
- Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
- Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
- Add new effects with LADSPA plug-ins.
2. Banshee
Banshee is the free and best music player and manager for Linux Operating system. You can organize music and video files easily and you can find out your favorite tracks without any delay. In addition, you can listen podcasts and internet radio with banshee.
3. Tomahawk
Tomahawk is a music player that fundamentally changes the way music is consumed and shared.
It decouples the name of the song from the source it was shared from – and fulfills the request using all of your available sources and creates the music library. From this library, you can pick and group songs into playlists, without needing to worry about whether they are on YouTube, Grooveshark, etc.
4. Mixxx
Mixxx is the most advanced free DJ software. Whether you’re DJing your next house party, spinning at a club, or broadcasting as a radio DJ, Mixxx has what you need to do it right.
Best Free Video Player Applications for Linux
1. VLC Media Player
VLC is the best video player for Windows. VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols from online like YouTube and etc..
2. Kodi (formerly XBMC)
XBMC is created in 2003 and an award-winning free and open source (GPL) software media player and entertainment hub for digital media. Now XBMC is available as KODI Software. KODI is available for Linux, OSX, and Windows.
Most of all use Kodi as a Home Theater PC.
Use the Kodi to play the local media files, as well as online media files. Once you install this software, it will fetch all media files in computer and will build the media Library with box covers, descriptions, and fanart..
It is basically designed for network playback. You can play almost any music formats. Play CDs, DVDs, also play the files directly from compressed Zip, RAR Archives.
There are playlist and slideshow functions, a weather forecast feature and many audio visualizations.
Best Free Backup Software for Linux
1. CrashPlan
The best Backup software to save all your files in one place in your computer. Also, you can save the backup in the cloud, if you purchase a premium plan.
2. BackupPC
It is a free disk to disk backup program with web user interface. It compresses the backup files to reduce the disk space usage. The performance and speed of the backup are depends on your CPC speed.
Best File/Data Recovery Tools for Linux
1. TestDisk
TestDisk is a powerful free software that helps you to recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again. It also fixes the partition tables and recover the deleted partition. You can also recover NTFS Boot sector from backup. In addition, Copy files from deleted FAT, exFAT, NTFS and ext2/ext3/ext4 partitions.
2. Safecopy
Safecopy is the simple toll that can be used recover the files from damaged disks like floppy drives, hard disk partitions, CDs, tape devices. If you get an unrecoverable IO error, your system can’t read that file anymore. However the Safecopy tries to get as much data from the source as possible, even resorting to device specific low-level operations if applicable.
GNOME Builder
Download SafeCopy
Best System Maintenance Tools for Linux
1. GNOME System Monitor
It is a GNOME process viewer and system monitor that provides statistics about the processes in nice Graphical user interface. By using this tool, you can kill the processes. In addition, you can view the time histories of CPU/memory/swap usage Graphically. It has some nice features, such as a tree view for process dependencies, icons for processes.
2. Ubuntu Tweak
Ubuntu Tweak is a system configuration tool that provides the easy to interface with advanced system tweaking options.
Best Text Editors for Linux
Linux offers many text editors, IDEs for users than any other operating system. But choosing the best editor is always good for your productivity. Here We listed the top text editors for Linux users.
MS Office Alternatives for Linux
1. Kate
Kate is a multi document editor that provide numerous features. It provides syntax highlighting for more than 180 programming language with bracket matching. In addition, it offers the spell checker, code folding, multiple documents tab. It also has support for the VI input mode. It provides advanced features and editor options without confusing the users in the neat interface. Kate si like a full IDE for any basic user to programmer.
2. VIM
Vim is the best and most popular editor for all Linux environment. It is the super fast editor for your, once you learn about the editor. It is basically a command line editor, that is very light on system resources. You can also get GUI based editor from the site. You can use this editor in all operating systems and in any desktop environments in Linux.
3. Emacs
Emacs is a command-line editor like Vim. If you want, you can get GUI version of it. The main power of the emacs lies in extensions. It has the huge collection extension library that provides wide range features like browsing file system and reading RSS feeds.
4. Gedit
Gedit is the simple text editor with basic editing functions with syntax highlighting and some cool features. If you want simple editing with light weight system usage, then Gedit is the best editor for you.
5. GNOME Builder
GNOME Builder Can be used for developing the GNOME Applications. You can also develop flaptex applications using the GNOME builder. It also offers code completions for C-languages (C, C++, etc.) and Python, with additional languages under development.
See Also: 25+ Best Popular Linux Operating Systems for You