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Best Free Software for Linux
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Best Free Software for Linux - Page Index
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How To Use This List
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Introduction
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While you can get the Linux system and use it for free, you can also run on the system a wide range of free applications such as well-known and commonly-used software including Firefox web browser and the LibreOffice application suite. Among various free applications, here you might find the best free software for Linux, including those products reviewed and recommended by our editors in the various sections. Other programs that work as potential alternatives to Windows applications or even perform better than them are also listed here for the benefit of users who migrate from Windows to Linux or run dual systems on their computers. |
Linux, occasionally referred to as GNU/Linux, is an open source and free operating system predominantly known for its use in servers, but has increasingly become commonplace in desktop, notebook and netbook computers in recent years after newer and enhanced versions of Linux distributions, Ubuntu or Linux Mint for example, are developed and offered free to users.|
What's New
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Items added or updated most recently: |
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Summary
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This list of Best Free Software for Linux now includes 141 applications in 95 categories. To read brief descriptions of the applications, click a page number or a category icon below.
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Page 2. Home and Office
Page 3. Image Tools
Page 4. Multimedia
Page 5. Disk and File Tools
Page 6. Desktop and System
Page 7. Security and Privacy
Page 8. Internet and eMail
Page 9. Programming
Page 10. Games|
Tags
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best, top, free, software, applications, freeware, Linux, Ubuntu, Mint, distros, multi, cross, platform, list, listing |
- Article type:
- Cleanup & Tuning,
- PC Freeware,
- Review,
- Desktop & GUI,
- User contributed lists,
- Disk & File Utilities,
- Home & Office,
- Educational,
- Games and Diversions,
- Image View and Edit,
- Internet, Email & Messaging,
- Linux Freeware,
- Multimedia (CD, DVD, Video, Audio),
- Networking & File Transfer,
- Programming & Engineering,
- Security,
- System and Performance Info,
- System Utilities,
- Software list
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Comments
Hello!
I want to know. And I hope there is.
Gofriz for ubuntu
comodo time machine for windows
? for linux
i wanted a pre os instant backup and restore.
Thanks for reply/comment.
[edit] Commercial product details removed
Hey..i got problem cant get my " HUAWEI E 1550 right set-up on my system...I use " LINUX-MINT 10.10...Hope some can help me or just in short version write how i do..???
LINUX IS THE BEST :) :) ;)
mY BEST TO u
cHRISTINA ( DENMARK )
Hi Christina,
According to this thread it should work out of the box or at worst need a simple workaround using the USB_modeswitch application.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=43752
If not, there is some more information about how to configure this modem here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1522540
I cant use ubuntu
That's what I thought a while ago. Now Windows is painful for me. You just have to start, and keep going. It took you how long to learn windows?
You have a wireless modem dongle that only has Windows drivers. You need to install them under an app called ndiswrapper, which makes your windows drivers work under linux. Most of the time. I ran two similar dongles fine with it. It depends which version of Mint you have but it should already be installed. If not, get it from the Mint repository and search the Mint forums and documentation for advice on how to install. As I recall you have to run ndiswrapper and find the driver file that you should have copied somewhere Mint can find it. It will have a .inf on the end.
QUOTE from top of page-
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Hi Jojoyee,
Thanks for the nice effort again. Maybe you want to consider Krusader as a dual panel file manager.
Vahid
As for torrent clients, I think there's nothing better than Deluge. Deluge's GUI is very similar to uTorrent. So for all users who just recently switched from Windows to Linux, Deluge is a very good recommendation.
+1 for Deluge.
I'm always trying out new distros alongside my preferred Kororaa and no matter what comes as "standard", Deluge is one of the first apps I install.
Hi MC,
I want to use a Linux distros alongside Windows XP in my PC. I had used Ubuntu in the past but had to uninstall it soon, after dip in system performance. Now i would like to try Linux Mint. I have two questions:
1) Is it possible to install Linux Mint in my PC and use it alongside XP? I have a 360GB drive with 4 portions on it.
2) How easy Linux Mint is to operate/use as compared to Ubuntu? I used Ubuntu as it was the easiest of all the Linux distros. I am still a beginner.
Thanks in advance.. :-)
Well, I've just installed Mint along with a fresh install of Windows XP on a 160Gb drive, and the installer is pretty much idiot proof (which I know, because I am that idiot).
Mint is pretty much "Ubuntu++", in my view. I ran Ubuntu years ago, but was recommended to move to Mint for this install, and currently (a whole three hours in!) I couldn't be happier.
Sorry for missing this comment when it was posted, but as Pete Darby says below,you shouldn't have any problems with the installer.
Using Mint is also pretty straightforward, especially if you have previous experience with Ubuntu. The other advantage is the comprehensive nature of their forum support should you need it.
I've tried pretty much every distro over the past six months from a non-expert perspective and Mint really takes some beating. Others you might like to consider too are Zorin (built with Windows migration in mind), Bodhi (lightening fast and super configurable once you get used to the Enlightenment desktop) and Kororaa (KDE done right, based on Fedora but made easier with additional components).
Hi, I think that there are so many more interesting programs for linux then this section gives justice to.
For instance, Uget being the lone download manager recommended for Linux.
There are a few good download managers for Linux.
Alot of them use command line though.
However you guys should check out FatRat. It's an awesome download manager, it puts a mouse trap on your desktop and you can drag download links into it. It can download torrents, it supports proxies,http,https and downloads from rapidshare and megaupload.
I think if you try FatRat, it will make it onto the featured download manager list in no time.
Thanks for the list MC! I am buying a laptop for this new year and want to install Linux in it. Till that time I'll try all suggested distros on my PC and see which one suits me better. I've to admit that i started liking Zorin already (haven't tried it yet, but it has great look & feel).
Had enough of windows. Just deleted my original vista to install Ubuntu. Had tried several times to use it installing alongside windows. But 15 year old habit dies hard and I ended up in windows. Now nowhere to go :)
Yes you can install linux mint along side win XP. The best way to do it is to have Win XP installed with a partition either empty and unformated or formated with Ext3 or Ext 4. Then install Linux Mint which will create a dual boot system with Linux booting up after 8 seconds if you do nothing. But with an option of choosing Win Xp. You have to be careful with installing to pick right partition. You can also run the Linux Mint CD or DVD before installing to make sure all your hardware works. Linux Mint is very easy to use and it is probably the easiest Linux distro to start on.
Thanks for your suggestion Linuxis. FatRat is now added to the list.
I downloaded SuperOS (used to be Super Ubuntu) on a USB drive. I wiped the XP Pro off my old desktop and installed the SuperOS from the USB and have not had any problems with it to speak of. This OS has worked fine with the few learning curves I am going thru. The only OS I had any experience with was Windows (from 3.x on up to 7).
I keep reading comments in this thread about going back to Windows and all I can say is "Try Linux Mint out before Ubuntu". It's the easiest Linux to migrate to from Windows. I'm a older chap who has used Windows since 3.1 to Win 7 and I'm never going there. [Shudder]
Mint is fantastic for a Linux noob like myself. It has great help forums and it just works. On my netbook I now run Puppy Linux, a much steeper learning curve but still a significant improvement over Win 7.
well its nice to see i am not the only one leaving windows.
after 10 years of Windows it was time for a change.
i have used Windows ME,Windows XP, Windows Vista (for about 2wks lol) and Windows 7.
After trying a number of linux distros out from the live cd's i decided to go with Ubuntu 10.10.the reason i chose it is it seems to be the last of distro that has freedom to customize without any system crashes or major freeze ups.
Ubuntu, Linux Mint and PCLinuxOS made my top 3 favs.
Jojoyee
I noticed you didn't list a text editor. I would like to suggest EditPad Lite. You can install it using Wine. It works very well with Linux Mint Julia and has many more options than gedit. I have the latest version installed and running with no problems.
Heres EditPad Lites home page http://www.editpadlite.com/
Wdhpr
Thanks for your suggestion Wdhpr. Currently this list only includes native Linux software and it doesn't include software for Windows that can be run in Linux using Wine.
I thought it was ok because you listed imagBurn as best free cd/dvd burning software for Linux.
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4530/selection001tj.png
I guess if you feel its not a worthy candidate then it could be rejected on the merits.
You're spot on and that's a good catch Wdhpr. I was hesitated to add that to the list and it's now removed for consistency.
It might be a good idea to prepare a separate list of Windows programs that can be run ideally in Linux using Wine. Any volunteers?
"You're spot on and that's a good catch Wdhpr. I was hesitated to add that to the list and it's now removed for consistency."
Thats a shame because ImagBurn is a very good program that works nicely with the aid of Wine. Stands up to its Linux counterparts.
Your absolutely right about ImagBurn. A terrific burner, my default burner with Windows and Linux. I'm thinking your idea of a subcategory for Wine is a good one. My knowledge of Wine compatible software mostly applies to games although I do use a couple of apps one of them EditPad. I also found that that http://portableapps.com/ run fairly well with Wine which opens the door for allot of portable Windows apps.
Good comments Wdhpr. There are more than 17,000 applications in the Wine Application Database, but not all of them are aimed for free programs. It's worthwhile to have a review of the best free. If you're interested, please check out this page for more details.
ditto
It looks as though there are 223 free to use apps and a ton of free and non-free games listed on the Wine web site. There is also a front end for Wine called PlayOnLinux which help people configure profiles for specific programs.
There are shareware front ends available but we won't get into that.
Its a large undertaking but with the number of people crossing over to Linux it would be a worthwhile project.