Ready to switch from Windows or macOS? Don’t be afraid of leaving behind your favorite apps – open source tools can replace them with similar power and functionality. Here are ten essential alternatives you need to know about.
* **LibreOffice**: A powerful word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database suite that’s easy to use and compatible with Microsoft Office files.
* **GIMP**: A free and flexible image editing tool that offers layers, masks, brushes, filters, and plugin support – everything you need for most casual and semi-professional image editing tasks.
* **Inkscape**: Simple enough for beginners yet powerful enough for designers, this alternative to Adobe Illustrator is a must-have for logo creation and more.
* **Krita**: A digital painting and drawing tool that’s designed with artists in mind – perfect for sketching, painting, or creating digital art.
* **Thunderbird**: A reliable email client that supports multiple accounts, calendars, and integrates with popular services like Gmail or Exchange (with extensions).
* **VLC Media Player**: A legendary media player that can handle almost every video and audio format you throw at it – a must-have for any Linux user.
Additional alternatives include:
* **Audacity**: An indispensable tool for recording podcasts, editing audio files, and more.
* **Shotcut**: An entry-level video editor that’s not as flashy as Adobe Premiere Pro but gets the job done quickly.
* **Nextcloud**: A cloud ecosystem replacement that lets you store files, share documents, collaborate in real time, and have full control over your data.
Switching to open source tools doesn’t mean sacrificing productivity – it’s about gaining freedom, flexibility, and a community that always has your back.
Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/switching-to-linux-how-to-replace-everyday-apps-with-open-source-alternatives