This is a list of software for Ubuntu user switching from MS Windows. This list compares free software in Ubuntu with nonfree software in Windows for everyone. This list translates what people commonly use in Windows to Ubuntu, for example, you install LibreOffice in Ubuntu to replace MS Office in Windows. All programs for Ubuntu here are available in Ubuntu repository and can be installed easily. Although this list is designed for Ubuntu, anyone can use this for another GNU/Linux distros such as Trisquel and Kubuntu.
| Category | Windows (nonfree software) | Ubuntu (free software) |
| Web browser | Google Chrome | Mozilla Firefox |
| Office suite | Microsoft Office | LibreOffice |
| Word processor | Microsoft Word | LibreOffice Writer |
| Spreadsheet | Microsoft Excel | LibreOffice Calc |
| Presentation | Microsoft PowerPoint | LibreOffice Impress |
| Video editor | Adobe Premiere | Kdenlive |
| Audio editor | WavePad |
Audacity |
| Download manager | Internet Download Manager (IDM) | Persepolis Download Manager (PDM) |
| Archive manager | WinRAR | File Roller |
| Video player | Windows Media Player | VLC |
| Audio Player | WinAmp | Rhythmbox |
| Image editor (bitmap) | Adobe Photoshop | GIMP |
| Image editor (vector) | CorelDRAW | Inkscape |
| Drawing | MS Paint | Pinta |
| Screenshot tool | ScreenshotCaptor | Shutter |
| Page layout | Adobe InDesign | Scribus |
| 2D animation | Macromedia Flash MX | Synfig Studio |
| 3D animation | 3D Studio Max | Blender |
| 3D computer aided design | AutoCAD | FreeCAD |
| 3D globe | Google Earth | Marble |
| CD burner | Nero Burning ROM | K3B |
| Remote desktop | TeamViewer | Remmina |
| Mathematics simulator | MATLAB | Scilab |
| Programming platform (popular) | Microsoft Visual Basic | GAMBAS |
| Programming platform (C/C++ based) | Microsoft Visual Studio | Qt Creator |
| Hard disk usage examiner | Xinorbis | Baobab |
| Cache cleaner | CCleaner | Bleachbit |
| Classroom management (interactive teaching) | Faronics Insight | iTALC |
| USB bootable maker | WinToFlash | Disk Utility |
| USB bootable maker (multiboot) | SARDU | MultiSystem |
| Partition editor | EASEUS Partition Master | GParted |
| Java platform | Oracle JDK | OpenJDK |
| 2D game engine | Game Maker | GDevelop |
| 3D game engine | Unity 3D | Godot Game Engine |
Notes:
1) To install programs listed at Ubuntu column, the easiest is by using APT command line.
2) Nonfree software is not to mean paid software. This type of software could be gratis (like Chrome) or paid (like Photoshop). Nonfree is called nonfree because the user is not free in copying and changing the software.
3) Free software is not to mean gratis software. Most of free software in Ubuntu is indeed gratis, but the most important is they are free. Free software is called free because the user is free. Read more about it at FSF page.
4) Mozilla Firefox is free software licensed under copyleft MPL 2.0 license. However, Abrowser and GNU IceCat are browsers based on Firefox if you use another distros.
4) A few software like Persepolis, MultiSystem, Godot, and GDevelop are not available in Ubuntu repository but available from third-party sources.
Important Links
- https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Main_Page
- https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/proprietary.html
- https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html
- https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/malware-apple.en.html
- https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/malware-google.html
This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.