2020 has been an awesome year for a lot of applications, especially those that are both free and open source. And while various Linux distributions come with a number of default apps, users are free to take them out and use any of the free or paid alternatives of their choice.
Today, we bring you a list of Linux applications that have been able to make it to users’ Linux installations almost all the time despite the butt-load of other alternatives.
To simply put, any app on this list is among the most used in its category, and if you haven’t already tried it out you are probably missing out. Enjoy!
Backup Tools
Rsync
Rsync is an open-source bandwidth-friendly utility tool for performing swift incremental file transfers and it is available for free.
$ rsync [OPTION...] SRC... [DEST]
To know more examples and usage, read our article “10 Practical Examples of Rsync Command” to learn more about it.
Timeshift
Timeshift provides users with the ability to protect their system by taking incremental snapshots which can be reverted to at a different date – similar to the function of Time Machine in Mac OS and System restore in Windows.
BitTorrent Client
Deluge
Deluge is a beautiful cross-platform BitTorrent client that aims to perfect the μTorrent experience and make it available to users for free.
Install Deluge on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:deluge-team/ppa $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install deluge
qBittorent
qBittorent is an open-source BitTorrent protocol client that aims to provide a free alternative to torrent apps like μTorrent.
Install qBittorent on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:qbittorrent-team/qbittorrent-stable $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install qbittorrent
Transmission
Transmission is also a BitTorrent client with awesome functionalities and a major focus on speed and ease of use. It comes preinstalled with many Linux distros.
Install Transmission on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:transmissionbt/ppa $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install transmission-gtk transmission-cli transmission-common transmission-daemon
Cloud Storage
Dropbox
The Dropbox team rebranded its cloud service earlier this year to provide an even better performance and app integration for their clients. It starts with 2GB of storage for free.
Install Dropbox on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ cd ~ && wget -O - "https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86" | tar xzf - [On 32-Bit] $ cd ~ && wget -O - "https://www.dropbox.com/download?plat=lnx.x86_64" | tar xzf - [On 64-Bit] $ ~/.dropbox-dist/dropboxd
Google Drive
Google Drive is Google’s cloud service solution and my guess is that it needs no introduction. Just like with Dropbox, you can sync files across all your connected devices. It starts with 15GB of storage for free and this includes Gmail, Google photos, Maps, etc.
Check out: 5 Google Drive Clients for Linux
Mega
Mega stands out from the rest because apart from being extremely security-conscious, it gives free users 50GB to do as they wish! Its end-to-end encryption ensures that they can’t access your data, and if you forget your recovery key, you too wouldn’t be able to.
Download MEGA Cloud Storage for Ubuntu
Commandline Editors
Vim
Vim is an open-source clone of vi text editor developed to be customizable and able to work with any type of text.
Install Vim on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonathonf/vim $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install vim
Emacs
Emacs refers to a set of highly configurable text editors. The most popular variant, GNU Emacs, is written in Lisp and C to be self-documenting, extensible, and customizable.
Install Emacs on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kelleyk/emacs $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install emacs25
Nano
Nano is a feature-rich CLI text editor for power users and it has the ability to work with different terminals, among other functionalities.
Install Nano on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:n-muench/programs-ppa $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install nano
Download Manager
Aria2
Aria2 is an open-source lightweight multi-source and multi-protocol command line-based downloader with support for Metalinks, torrents, HTTP/HTTPS, SFTP, etc.
Install Aria2 on Ubuntu and Debian, using the following command.
$ sudo apt-get install aria2
uGet
uGet has earned its title as the #1 open-source download manager for Linux distros and it features the ability to handle any downloading task you can throw at it including using multiple connections, using queues, categories, etc.
Install uGet on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:plushuang-tw/uget-stable $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install uget
XDM
XDM, Xtreme Download Manager is an open-source downloader written in Java. Like any good download manager, it can work with queues, torrents, browsers, and it also includes a video grabber and a smart scheduler.
Install XDM on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:noobslab/apps $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install xdman
Email Clients
Thunderbird
Thunderbird is among the most popular email applications. It is free, open-source, customizable, feature-rich, and above all, easy to install.
Install Thunderbird on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-mozilla-security/ppa $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install thunderbird
Geary
Geary is an open-source email client based on WebKitGTK+. It is free, open-source, feature-rich, and adopted by the GNOME project.
Install Geary on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:geary-team/releases $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install geary
Evolution
Evolution is a free and open-source email client for managing emails, meeting schedules, reminders, and contacts.
Install Evolution on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install evolution
Finance Software
GnuCash
GnuCash is a free, cross-platform, and open-source software for financial accounting tasks for personal and small to mid-size businesses.
Install GnuCash on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu $(lsb_release -sc)-getdeb apps" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list' $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install gnucash
KMyMoney
KMyMoney is a finance management software that provides all important features found in the commercially-available, personal finance managers.
Install KMyMoney on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:claydoh/kmymoney2-kde4 $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install kmymoney
Gaming
Steam
Steam is a video game digital distribution service responsible for thousands of gamers having access to the several now-available games for the Open Source community and gaming issues on Linux are virtually a thing of the past. If you’re a gamer, you can’t go wrong with Steam.
Install the Steam Snap app on Ubuntu via the terminal:
$ sudo apt install snapd $ sudo snap install linux-steam-integration
IDE Editors
Eclipse IDE
Eclipse is the most widely used Java IDE containing a base workspace and an impossible-to-overemphasize configurable plug-in system for personalizing its coding environment.
For installation, read our article “How to Install Eclipse Oxygen IDE in Debian and Ubuntu”
Netbeans IDE
A fan-favourite, Netbeans enables users to easily build applications for mobile, desktop, and web platforms using Java, PHP, HTML5, JavaScript, and C/C++, among other languages.
For installation, read our article “How to Install Netbeans Oxygen IDE in Debian and Ubuntu”
Brackets
Brackets is an advanced text editor developed by Adobe to feature visual tools, preprocessor support, and a design-focused user flow for web development. In the hands of an expert, it can serve as an IDE in its own right.
Install Brackets on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/brackets $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install brackets
Atom IDE
Atom IDE is a more robust version of Atom text editor achieved by adding a number of extensions and libraries to boost its performance and functionalities. It is, in a sense, Atom on steroids.
Install Atom on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install snapd $ sudo snap install atom --classic
Light Table
Light Table is a self-proclaimed next-generation IDE developed to offer awesome features like data value flow stats and coding collaboration.
Install Light Table on Ubuntu and Debian, using the following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dr-akulavich/lighttable $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install lighttable-installer
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is a source code editor created by Microsoft to offer users the best-advanced features in a text editor including syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging, performance statistics and graphs, etc.
Download Visual Studio Code for Ubuntu
Instant Messaging
Pidgin
Pidgin is an open-source instant messaging app that supports virtually all chatting platforms and can have its abilities extended using extensions.
Install Pidgin on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jonathonf/backports $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install pidgin
Skype
Skype needs no introduction and its awesomeness is available for any interested Linux user.
Install Skype on Ubuntu and Debian, using the following commands.
$ sudo apt install snapd $ sudo snap install skype --classic
Empathy
Empathy is a messaging app with support for voice, video chat, text, and file transfers over multiple several protocols. It also allows you to add other service accounts to it and interface with all of them through it.
Install Empathy on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install empathy
Linux Antivirus
ClamAV/ClamTk
ClamAV is an open-source and cross-platform command-line antivirus app for detecting Trojans, viruses, and other malicious codes. ClamTk is its GUI front-end.
Install ClamAV/ClamTk on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install clamav $ sudo apt-get install clamtk
Linux Desktop Environments
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a free and open-source derivative of GNOME3 and it follows the traditional desktop metaphor conventions.
Install Cinnamon desktop on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:embrosyn/cinnamon $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install cinnamon-desktop-environment lightdm
Mate
The Mate Desktop Environment is a derivative and continuation of GNOME2 developed to offer an attractive UI on Linux using traditional metaphors.
Install Mate desktop on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt install tasksel $ sudo apt update $ sudo tasksel install ubuntu-mate-desktop
GNOME
GNOME is a Desktop Environment comprised of several free and open-source applications and can run on any Linux distro and on most BSD derivatives.
Install Gnome desktop on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt install tasksel $ sudo apt update $ sudo tasksel install ubuntu-desktop
KDE
KDE is developed by the KDE community to provide users with a graphical solution to interfacing with their system and performing several computing tasks.
Install KDE desktop on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt install tasksel $ sudo apt update $ sudo tasksel install kubuntu-desktop
Linux Maintenance Tools
GNOME Tweak Tool
The GNOME Tweak Tool is the most popular tool for customizing and tweaking GNOME3 and GNOME Shell settings.
Install GNOME Tweak Tool on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt install gnome-tweak-tool
Stacer
Stacer is a free, open-source app for monitoring and optimizing Linux systems.
Install Stacer on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:oguzhaninan/stacer $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install stacer
BleachBit
BleachBit is a free disk space cleaner that also works as a privacy manager and system optimizer.
Linux Terminals
GNOME Terminal
GNOME Terminal is GNOME’s default terminal emulator.
Install Gnome Terminal on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install gnome-terminal
Konsole
Konsole is a terminal emulator for KDE.
Install Konsole on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install konsole
Terminator
Terminator is a feature-rich GNOME Terminal-based terminal app built with a focus on arranging terminals, among other functions.
Install Terminator on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install terminator
Guake
Guake is a lightweight drop-down terminal for the GNOME Desktop Environment.
Install Guake on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install guake
Multimedia Editors
Ardour
Ardour is a beautiful Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for recording, editing, and mixing audio professionally.
Install Ardour on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:dobey/audiotools $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install ardour
Audacity
Audacity is an easy-to-use cross-platform and open-source multi-track audio editor and recorder; arguably the most famous of them all.
Install Audacity on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install audacity
Blender
Blender is the free and open-source 3D creation suite that supports the complete 3D pipeline i.e rigging, modelling, video editing, animation, simulation, motion tracking, rendering, compositing and 2D animation pipeline.
GIMP
GIMP is the most popular open-source Photoshop alternative and it is for a reason. It features various customization options, 3rd-party plugins, and a helpful user community.
Install Gimp on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install gimp
Krita
Krita is an open-source painting app that can also serve as an image manipulating tool and it features a beautiful UI with reliable performance.
Install Krita on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kritalime/ppa $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install krita
Lightworks
Lightworks is a powerful, flexible, and beautiful tool for editing videos professionally. It comes feature-packed with hundreds of amazing effects and presets that allow it to handle any editing task that you throw at it and it has 25 years of experience to back up its claims.
Download Lightworks for Ubuntu
Natron
Natron is a cross-platform open-source cross-platform application for video composition and editing like you would with Adobe After Effects. Founded by Blackmagic Fusion to be free and portable, it offers sufficient tools for compositors to achieve high-quality results and fast rates.
OpenShot
OpenShot is an award-winning free and open-source video editor known for its excellent performance and powerful capabilities.
Install Openshot on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openshot.developers/ppa $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install openshot-qt
PiTiV
Pitivi is a beautiful video editor that features a beautiful code base, awesome community, is easy to use, and allows for hassle-free collaboration.
Install PiTiV on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ flatpak install --user https://flathub.org/repo/appstream/org.pitivi.Pitivi.flatpakref $ flatpak install --user http://flatpak.pitivi.org/pitivi.flatpakref $ flatpak run org.pitivi.Pitivi//stable
Music Players
Rhythmbox
Rhythmbox possess the ability to perform all music tasks you throw at it and has so far proved to be a reliable music player that it ships with Ubuntu.
Install Rhythmbox on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fossfreedom/rhythmbox $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install rhythmbox
Lollypop
Lollypop is a beautiful, relatively new, open-source music player featuring a number of advanced options like online radio, scrubbing support and party mode. Yet, it manages to keep everything simple and easy to manage.
Install Lollypop on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnumdk/lollypop $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install lollypop
Amarok
Amarok is a robust music player with an intuitive UI and tons of advanced features bundled into a single unit. It also allows users to discover new music based on their genre preferences.
Install Amarok on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install amarok
Clementine
Clementine is an Amarok-inspired music player that also features a straight-forward UI, advanced control features, and the ability to let users search for and discover new music.
Install Clementine on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:me-davidsansome/clementine $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install clementine
Cmus
Cmus is arguably the most efficient CLI music player, Cmus is fast and reliable, and its functionality can be increased using extensions.
Install Cmus on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jmuc/cmus $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install cmus
Office Suites
Calligra Suite
The Calligra Suite provides users with a set of 8 applications which cover working with office, management, and graphics tasks.
Install Calligra Suite on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install calligra
LibreOffice
LibreOffice the most actively developed office suite in the open-source community, LibreOffice is known for its reliability and its functions can be increased using extensions.
Install LibreOffice on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install libreoffice
WPS Office
WPS Office is a beautiful office suite alternative with a more modern UI.
Download WPS Office for Ubuntu
Screenshot Tools
Shutter
Shutter allows users to take screenshots of their desktop and then edit them using filters and other effects coupled with the option to upload and share them online.
Install Shutter on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:shutter/ppa $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install shutter
Kazam
Kazam screen caster captures screen content to output a video and audio file supported by any video player with VP8/WebM and PulseAudio support.
Install Kazam on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kazam-team/unstable-series $ sudo apt update $ sudo apt install kazam python3-cairo python3-xlib
Gnome Screenshot
Gnome Screenshot was once bundled with Gnome utilities but is now a standalone app. It can be used to take screencasts in a format that is easily shareable.
Install Gnome Screenshot on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install gnome-screenshot
Screen Recorders
SimpleScreenRecorder
SimpleScreenRecorder was created to be better than the screen-recording apps available at the time of its creation and has now turned into one of the most efficient and easy-to-use screen recorders for Linux distros.
Install SimpleScreenRecorder on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:maarten-baert/simplescreenrecorder $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install simplescreenrecorder
recordMyDesktop
recordMyDesktop is an open-source session recorder that is also capable of recording desktop session audio.
Install recordMyDesktop on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install gtk-recordmydesktop
Text Editors
Atom
Atom is a modern and customizable text editor created and maintained by GitHub. It is ready for use right out of the box and can have its functionality enhanced and its UI customized using extensions and themes.
Install Atom on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install snapd $ sudo snap install atom --classic
Sublime Text
Sublime Text is easily among the most awesome text editors to date. It is customizable, lightweight (even when bulldozed with a lot of data files and extensions), flexible, and remains free to use forever.
Install Sublime Text on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install snapd $ sudo snap install sublime-text
Geany
Geany is a memory-friendly text editor with basic IDE features designed to exhibit shot load times and extensible functions using libraries.
Install Geany on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install geany
Gedit
Gedit is famous for its simplicity and it comes preinstalled with many Linux distros because of its function as an excellent general-purpose text editor.
Install Gedit on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install gedit
To-Do List Apps
Evernote
Evernote is a cloud-based note-taking productivity app designed to work perfectly with different types of notes including to-do lists and reminders.
There is no any official Evernote app for Linux, so check out another third party 6 Evernote Alternative Clients for Linux.
Everdo
Everdo is a beautiful, security-conscious, low-friction Getting-Things-Done app productivity app for handling to-dos and other note types. If Evernote comes off to you in an unpleasant way, Everdo is a perfect alternative.
Org Mode
Org Mode is a GNU Emacs major mode for convenient plain text markup and other tasks such as keeping notes, planning projects, authoring documents, maintaining to-do lists, etc, in a fast and effective plain-text system.
Taskwarrior
Taskwarrior is an open-source and cross-platform command-line app for managing tasks. It is famous for its speed and distraction-free environment.
Install Taskwarrior on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install taskwarrior
Video Players
Banshee
Banshee is an open-source multi-format-supporting media player that was first developed in 2005 and has only been getting better since.
Install Banshee on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:banshee-team/ppa $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install banshee
VLC
VLC is my favourite video player and it’s so awesome that it can play almost any audio and video format you throw at it. You can also use it to play internet radio, record desktop sessions, and stream movies online.
Install VLC on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:videolan/stable-daily $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install vlc
Kodi
Kodi is among the world’s most famous media players and it comes as a full-fledged media centre app for playing all things media whether locally or remotely.
Install Kodi on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo apt-get install software-properties-common $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install kodi
SMPlayer
SMPlayer is a GUI for the award-winning MPlayer and it is capable of handling all popular media formats; coupled with the ability to stream from YouTube, Chromecast, and download subtitles.
Install SMPlayer on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rvm/smplayer $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install smplayer
Virtualization Tools
Qemu
Qemu is a generic, free and open-source machine virtualizer and emulator that is capable of running any Operating System on any architecture that it supports. It runs Xen and KVM virtual machines with near-native performance and enables users to run programs for another Linux/BSD on their machine.
VirtualBox
VirtualBox is an open-source app created for general-purpose OS virtualization and it can be run on servers, desktops, and embedded systems.
Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add - $ wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add - $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install virtualbox-5.2 $ virtualbox
VMWare
VMware is a digital workspace that provides platform virtualization and cloud computing services to customers and is reportedly the first to successfully virtualize x86 architecture systems. One of its products, VMware workstations allows users to run multiple OSes in virtual memory.
For installation, read our article “How to Install VMware Workstation Pro on Ubuntu“.
Web Browsers
Chrome
Google Chrome is undoubtedly the most popular browser. Known for its speed, simplicity, security, and beauty following Google’s Material Design trend, Chrome is a browser that web developers cannot do without. It is also free to use and open source.
Install Google Chrome on Ubuntu and Debian, using the following commands.
$ wget -q -O - https://dl-ssl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add - $ sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google.list' $ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install google-chrome-stable
Firefox
Firefox Quantum is a beautiful, speed, task-ready, and customizable browser capable of any browsing task that you throw at it. It is also free, open-source, and packed with developer-friendly tools that are easy for even beginners to get up and running with.
Install Firefox Quantum on Ubuntu and Debian, using following commands.
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-next $ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade $ sudo apt install firefox
Vivaldi
Vivaldi is a free and open-source Chrome-based project that aims to perfect Chrome’s features with a couple of more feature additions. It is known for its colourful panels, memory-friendly performance, and flexibility.