Switching from Windows to Linux

A list based on software I use on Windows and alternatives that made sense to me in the switch to Linux

André Luiz AlcântaraList by André Luiz Alcântara, last updated 2018-09-15

Ubuntu
Like this app
Alternative to: Windows

Ubuntu is a rock solid OS and has a lot of useful resources that make it as good as or better than Windows.
Operating System
Free • Open Source
Linux
Ubuntu
...
ODrive
Like this app
Alternative to: Microsoft OneDrive

A GUI Linux client for Google Drive, alternative to OneDrive, that I currently use.
Cloud Storage Service
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
Electron / Atom Shell
...
Google Chrome
Like this app
Chrome browser is my main tool for using the internet and will keep on being it.
Web Browser
Free • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
PortableApps.com
...
Standard Notes
Like this app
Alternative to: Google Keep, Apple Notes, Microsoft Onenote

Notes app that sync accross all my devices and has a nice end-to-end encryption to protect my thoughts from THEM. Also, it syncs via web, so, as good as it gets for note-taking, right?
Note-taking Tool
Freemium • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
F-Droid
...
Google Workspace
Like this app
Alternative to: Microsoft Office Online / OneDrive

G Suite is a great office suite and has lots and lots of useful features built-in. The free version (Google Docs) is just as incredible, and works offline too!
Mail Server
Paid • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
...
ONLYOFFICE
Like this app
Alternative to: Microsoft Office 2016

I have two options for the office suite, this one, and G Suite. While G Suite is more complete, ONLYOFFICE works incredibly fast and best of all: 100% offline, for when I need it.
Word Processor
Free Personal • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Self-Hosted
AppImageHub
Snapcraft
Flathub
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Flatpak
Cloudron
...
Foxit PDF Reader
Like this app
Alternative to: Adobe Acrobat DC

Foxit Reader is a good and solid alternative to Adobe Acrobat DC as PDF Viewer.
PDF Reader
Free Personal • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
ReactOS
...
Quire
Like this app
Alternative to: Microsoft Project, Trello

Quire is a project management app that is so simple to use it made me let go of my Trello+Notes+Google Drive+Excel setup. It has everything I need and is free!
Todo List Manager
Freemium • Proprietary
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
Google Chrome
...
Samba
Like this app
Alternative to: Windows File Sharing

I have an old Ubuntu Server netbook with Samba enabled that has been turned off on my shelf for almost a year now, it is time to put it back to work!
Free • Open Source
Mac
Linux
BSD
...
Spotify
Like this app
Alternative to: iTunes, Windows Media Player, Groove Music

I use iTunes to synchronize music with my phone, but iTunes doesn't work on any Linux distro, so instead I'll just use Spotify on the PC and on my phone to keep my library organized. All the music I listen to (and many more) are already there, I was just waiting for the right moment to switch.
Music Streaming Service
Freemium • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
Snapcraft
Flathub
Kindle Fire
Playstation
Fire TV
Xbox
...
VLC Media Player
Like this app
Alternative to: Films & TV, Windows Media Player, MPC HC x64

It's simply the best media player out there. There's no discussion on this point.
Audio Player
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
BSD
iPad
AppImageHub
Apple Watch
Snapcraft
Google Chrome
Apple TV
Flathub
PortableApps.com
F-Droid
Kindle Fire
Haiku
Android TV
Homebrew
Chocolatey
...
Audacity
Like this app
Good for basic recording and editing audio. Compatible with all available formats out there, also.
Audio Editor
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
AppImageHub
Flathub
PortableApps.com
LAME
...
MusicBrainz Picard
Like this app
Alternative to: MP3tag

Audio tagging tool, to replace MP3tag.
Mp3 Tag Editor
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
Python
PortableApps.com
...
GIMP
Like this app
Alternative to: Adobe Photoshop

GIMP's new release has new tools and a better UI and UX and, for the uses I have, is a really really good alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
Digital Painting Tool
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Snapcraft
Flathub
PortableApps.com
Haiku
Flatpak
AmigaOS
...
Kdenlive
Like this app
Alternative to: Adobe Premiere Pro, Windows Video Editor

Good alternative with lots of features to use from basic to professional editing.
Video Editor
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
KDE
Flathub
Flatpak
...
Visual Studio Code
Like this app
Alternative to: Notepad++

For playing with coding and Python and bioinformatics
Code Editor
Free • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Chrome OS
...
TeamViewer
Like this app
For remote connections and such
Remote Desktop Tool
Free Personal • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
Chrome OS
Android Tablet
iPad
Kindle Fire
Raspberry Pi
...
qBittorrent
Like this app
My favorite torrent app has a Linux version too!
Torrent Client
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
AppImageHub
Snapcraft
Flathub
PortableApps.com
Haiku
...
Steam
Like this app
Gaming plataform to relieve the stress :p
Game Store
Free • Proprietary
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
Windows Phone
iPad
Flathub
SteamOS
...