If you’re a Linux user, then you already know that their applications go a long way toward offering superior performance.
You will also have discovered that there are a host of workflow and customization advantages over the more widely used Apple and Windows counterparts.
We take a quick look at five of the popular Linux apps that not only match but easily beat their mainstream Apple and Microsoft counterparts. We also highlight a few of the favourites that we wish would migrate to Linux.
OnlyOffice/LibreOffice (vs. Microsoft Office)
There’s no denying that MS Office dominates any digital workspace, it’s crucial to note that OnlyOffice provides users with faster and more stable compatibility with .docx files on Linux.
There’s also the added advantage of zero subscription cost for a full, free feature set. This is excellent news for anyone using this app for business data and workspace integration.
Krita (vs. MS Paint/Adobe Photoshop)
Many digital painters, designers, and photo editors have long believed that nothing tops Photoshop. However, as a native Linux tool, Krita offers a significantly more powerful tool that makes MS Paint look pale in comparison. Advanced and highly customisable features allow for better integration with drawing tablets.
Dolphin File Manager (vs. Windows Explorer)
If you’ve ever found yourself wishing that Windows Explorer could be faster, then you’re going to love Dolphin.
Not only is this application considerably faster, but it also offers more flexibility. Robust features such as split-view, built-in terminal emulation, and a plethora of customisation options make it a firm favourite.
Users will also be delighted to learn that using a superior VPN such as ExpressVPN for all online applications doesn’t affect the functionality of apps such as Dolphin.
Kdenlive (vs. iMovie or Premiere Pro)
Unlike iMovie, Kdenlive has been designed on the MLT multimedia framework. Since this is native to Linux, it offers better-performing feature integration.
Timeshift (vs. Windows Restore or Apple Time Machine)
A huge advantage to Linux’s Timeshift app is that it offers highly superior system-level backups to major Windows Restore points.
This is easily achieved by creating a full filesystem snapshot using rsync or BTRFS, which allows users to restore an entire OS to a previous state if a new update leads to an issue.
iOS and Windows Apps That Should Leap into Linux
A few of the top apps we wish would leap into the Linux world include:
- Full Suite of Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop (it will reduce Krita’s extensive learning curve)
- Advanced Microsoft Excel (will allow users to take advantage of complex VBA scripts, advanced Excel macros, and Power Query)
- Microsoft Outlook (remains unmatched in its scheduling and enterprise features)
Final Thoughts
Using Linux apps enables dedicated users to leverage their native system libraries, which in turn means avoiding the many bloated and overwhelming subscription-based versions. This once again proves that Linux doesn’t have to stand back for the more mainstream applications.
