Top 10 must-have Linux applications for productivity

March 30, 2025

To stay productive, you need to have all the necessary tools at your fingertips. They are a business messenger for communication, tools for video conferencing, collaboration, and issue tracking. Besides collaboration software, managing passwords, synchronizing files, making backups, using an image editor, and an e-mail client are essential. In this blog post, we will describe the tools that will be helpful and improve your efficiency.

LibreOffice — free office suite

LibreOffice is a powerful alternative to Microsoft Office, offering Writer (Word), Calc (Excel), and Impress (PowerPoint). It's a great choice if you need a free, offline, open-source word processor that respects privacy. If you have used MSWord before, here is the list of advantages and disadvantages of LibreOffice vs MSOffice.

Advantages:

Free and open-source. LibreOffice is free, whereas Microsoft Word requires a paid license or subscription.
Cross-platform support. Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS without limitations.
Privacy-friendly. No telemetry or data collection, unlike Microsoft Word, which often syncs data with the cloud.
Lightweight and fast. LibreOffice uses fewer system resources compared to the bulkier Microsoft Word.
Better compatibility with open formats. Supports open file formats like ODT, making it ideal for long-term accessibility.
No Internet requirement. LibreOffice works offline, whereas some Microsoft Word features require an Internet connection.
Customizability. Extensive options for tweaking the interface, extensions, and macro scripting.

Disadvantages:

Lack of perfect MS Office compatibility. LibreOffice struggles with complex Microsoft Word documents, especially those with macros, advanced formatting, or embedded elements.
Fewer Cloud and collaboration features. There is no direct integration with OneDrive, Google Drive, or real-time multi-user collaboration like in Microsoft Word (with Office 365).
Less polished user interface. The UI feels outdated compared to Microsoft Word's modern interface.
Limited support for advanced features. LibreOffice lacks some advanced tools like AI-powered writing suggestions, built-in dictation, and cloud-based automation.
Slower development and fewer updates. Microsoft Word benefits from constant updates and AI integration, while LibreOffice's updates are less frequent.

Thunderbird — no ads email client

Mozilla Thunderbird is one of the most popular free email clients, offering a great balance of features, privacy, and flexibility. It is used by many companies worldwide and has proved to be one of the best email clients.

Thunderbird is 100% free and open-source. It does not require subscriptions, and it does not have any hidden fees.
Strong privacy and security. There are no ads or tracking. Thunderbird supports encrypted emails (PGP, S/MIME).
Multi-account support. Thunderbird works with multiple email accounts (IMAP, POP3, and Exchange) in a unified inbox
Highly customizable. Thunderbird supports themes and extensions. It also has powerful add-ons like calendar and task managers.
Offline email access. The ability to download and store emails locally makes it useful for offline access and backups.
Advanced filtering and organization. Smart folders, powerful search, and message tagging help keep emails organized.

Thunderbird is the best free email client for those who prioritize privacy, customization, and offline access. If you need a simple, no-nonsense email solution without ads or subscriptions, Thunderbird is a solid choice.

Virola — most efficient collaboration tool

Virola business messenger combines all the features you need for efficient communication and collaboration. It's an all-in-one self-hosted tool for small and large businesses. Here is an overview of available functionality:

Private and team chats. Users can chat in private and group chat rooms.
Flexible permissions and user roles. Admin can configure permissions for all users, specific chat rooms, or per user.
Video and audio meetings. Users in private and group chat rooms can start audio and video conferencing
Screen sharing and remote control. Virola users can share their screens and take control over the screens of other users.
Task board and issue tracking. Users can create tasks and issues, convert messages to tasks, and monitor them on a separate Task board.
Security and privacy. Virola can be hosted on premises, and this way, your corporate data will be stored securely on your servers.
LDAP integration and user import from JSON. You can easily migrate to Virola and transfer your user database.

Virola is a perfect solution for companies that value their privacy and take care of data security.

GIMP — free image editor

GIMP is one of the most powerful free and open-source image editors, often compared to Adobe Photoshop. GIMP is popular not only among Linux users but is also used by those who want to take advantage of free open-source image editor. GIMP has its own advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

100% free and open-source. There is no need to purchase any subscription, and there are no hidden costs. It's free forever.
Advanced image editing features. Supports layers, masks, filters, and professional-level tools for photo manipulation.
Customizable with plugins. A library of community-developed plugins extends functionality.
Supports multiple file formats. Works with PNG, JPEG, TIFF, PSD (Photoshop files), and more.
Supports drawing tablets. Works with pressure-sensitive tablets for digital painting and retouching.
Lightweight & fast. Uses fewer system resources than Photoshop, making it ideal for older hardware.

Disadvantages:

Less intuitive interface. The UI is not as user-friendly or polished as Photoshop. This makes it harder for beginners.
Limited CMYK support. Not ideal for professional print work due to weaker color management.
Slower performance with large files. Struggles with high-resolution images and complex projects.
Lacks some Photoshop features. No non-destructive editing (like adjustment layers), limited vector support, and no native RAW editing.
No native mobile version. Unlike Photoshop, GIMP doesn't have mobile or cloud-based versions.

GIMP is a great free image editor for Linux users. Though it is not as intuitive as Photoshop, a large user community is a great source of knowledge and information

Syncthing — most secure file synchronization tool

Syncthing is a free, open-source, peer-to-peer file synchronization tool that stands out from cloud-based alternatives like Dropbox and Google Drive. It's one of the best choices for secure and private file syncing.

Syncthing is completely free and open-source. There are no subscriptions or storage limits — sync as much data as your devices allow.
Provides total privacy and security. There are no central servers — your data is encrypted and stays between your own devices.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) syncing. You can sync files directly between computers without an Internet connection.
Cross-platform compatibility. Works on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and even NAS devices.
Real-time synchronization. You can instantly sync files across multiple devices without delays.
Highly customizable. Advanced settings for bandwidth control, versioning, and folder sharing.
No cloud storage is needed. Unlike Dropbox or Google Drive, no third-party servers store your files.
Versioning and backup. Syncthing keeps older versions of files in case you need to restore them.

Syncthing is the best choice for privacy-focused users who want secure, self-hosted file syncing without relying on cloud services.

Kdenlive — open-source video editor

Kdenlive (KDE Non-Linear Video Editor) is one of the best open-source video editing tools available on Linux, Windows, and macOS. It competes well with professional-grade software like Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve while remaining free and accessible. Let's see why Kdenlive is a must-have tool for Linux:

100% free and open-source. There are no subscriptions, watermarks, or feature restrictions.
Professional-grade features. Multi-track editing, keyframe animation, chroma key (green screen), and audio mixing.
Highly customizable interface. Fully modular UI lets you arrange tool panels as needed.
Lightweight and fast. Runs well even on mid-range hardware, unlike heavy editors like DaVinci Resolve.
Wide format support. Supports MP4, AVI, MKV, ProRes, WebM, and many more.
Hardware acceleration. Uses GPU acceleration (VA-API, NVENC, etc.) for faster rendering.
Advanced editing tools. Includes effects, transitions, keyframing, motion tracking, and proxy editing.
Cross-platform support. Available for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
OpenFX support. Allows professional-grade visual effects and plugins.

Kdenlive is the best free video editor for users who need powerful, non-linear editing without paying for proprietary software. It's ideal for Linux users who want professional-grade tools without a price tag.

Flameshot — feature-rich screenshot tool

Flameshot is one of the most feature-rich and user-friendly screenshot tools available for Linux, Windows, and macOS. It stands out due to its ease of use, built-in editing capabilities, and open-source nature. Let's see why it has become popular among Linux users.

Totally free and open-source. There is no cost, no ads, and a wide range of possible customizations.
Easy-to-use interface. Flameshot has a simple, minimal UI with quick access to annotation tools.
Built-in editing and annotation. You can easily add arrows, text, highlights, blurs, and shapes immediately after taking a screenshot.
Lightweight and fast. Flameshot runs efficiently without slowing down the system.
Multiple save and upload options. You can save locally, copy to clipboard, or upload directly to Imgur.
Customizable shortcuts. You can assign keyboard shortcuts for quick screen captures.
Precision capture. Flameshot offers pixel-perfect selection and magnifier for precise cropping.

Flameshot is a must-have Linux application with an intuitive interface for users who need quick, annotated, and shareable screenshots.

Bitwarden — most secure password manager

Bitwarden is popular among Linux users due to its security, affordability, and open-source nature. It competes with proprietary services like LastPass and 1Password while offering greater transparency and flexibility. Let's see why it stands out:

Free and open-source. The core features are free, and the paid version is much cheaper than competitors. Open-source code ensures transparency and security audits.
End-to-End Encryption. Bitwarden uses AES-256 encryption, PBKDF2 password hashing, and zero-knowledge architecture. This means that Bitwarden cannot access your passwords.
Unlimited password storage. Bitwarden lets you store unlimited passwords for free.
Secure password sharing. You can share login credentials securely with family or team members.
Self-hosting option. Advanced users can host Bitwarden on their premises to gain full control over their sensitive data.
Browser and autofill support. Browser extensions and mobile apps autofill passwords seamlessly.
Password generator. Generates strong, unique passwords to improve security.

Bitwarden offers a free, secure, and reliable version for Linux users who can host it on their servers and take advantage of total security.

Timeshift — best backup and restore tool designed for Linux

Timeshift is a powerful backup and restore tool designed specifically for Linux. It allows users to create system snapshots, making it easy to recover from system failures, software issues, or accidental file deletions.

Free and open-source. There are no costs, no ads, and full transparency in its development.
System snapshot capabilities. Timeshift takes snapshots of the entire system, allowing users to restore to a previous working state.
Supports both RSYNC and BTRFS. Works with both rsync (file-based snapshots) and Btrfs (filesystem snapshots) for maximum flexibility.
Automatic scheduled backups. Timeshift allows users to set up daily, weekly, or monthly snapshot schedules for automated backups.
Fast and efficient. Timeshift uses incremental backups technology. This means that only changed files are backed up, saving storage space.
Easy system recovery. If a system update or software installation breaks the system, Timeshift can roll back changes instantly.
Snapshot storage on external drives. Supports backups to external USB drives or network storage for more security.
Easy-to-use GUI and CLI options. Provides a simple graphical interface as well as a command-line version for advanced users.

Timeshift is a free must-have backup tool designed specifically for Linux users.

Obsidian — flexible note-taking app

Obsidian has gained great popularity among students, researchers, and professionals due to its flexibility, privacy, and powerful knowledge management features. Unlike traditional note-taking apps like Evernote or OneNote, Obsidian is built for deep thinking, organization, and knowledge linking. Let's see why users like it.

Free for personal use. The app is free, with optional paid add-ons for syncing and publishing.
100% local storage and privacy. All notes are stored locally as Markdown files—no cloud dependency.
No forced online sync. All your information can be stored locally, which means you can take control over it.
Powerful knowledge graph. Automatically visualizes connections between notes, helping with research, brainstorming, and idea mapping.
Markdown-based. Uses plain text markdown files, making notes future-proof, lightweight, and portable.
Bidirectional linking and backlinks. Link notes together effortlessly to create a personal knowledge wiki.
Highly customizable with plugins and themes. Over 100+ plugins are available for automation, task management, calendar integration, and more.
Excellent for research and writing. Obsidian is used by writers, students, and researchers to organize large amounts of information.
Works offline. Unlike Notion, which requires Internet access, Obsidian works entirely offline.
Optional end-to-end encrypted sync. Obsidian Sync is a paid feature and allows securely syncing notes across devices with E2E encryption.

Obsidian is the best note-taking app for users who value privacy, deep linking, and long-term knowledge management. It's perfect for students, researchers, writers, and anyone building a personal knowledge base.