Hey everyone,
Ever find yourself switching between Windows and Linux and wishing you didn’t have to find new apps every time? It can be a real drag to hunt down alternatives when moving between operating systems. Here’s a list of apps that work great on both Windows and Linux, saving you precious time and effort!
Chrome and other web browsers
Modern web browsers are designed to run pretty much everywhere these days. Unless you’re heavily invested in something like Safari or Arc (which aren’t available on both platforms), you can seamlessly switch between Windows and Linux and keep browsing.
The trick is to create a user profile in your browser of choice – Firefox, Chrome, Edge, you name it. This lets you sync things like your bookmarks, extensions, themes, and even saved passwords between your Windows and Linux setups. Log into either OS, and you’re right back where you left off! Just a heads-up though: sometimes, a Windows browser might not play nice on Linux, and vice-versa. In those cases, you might need to explore alternatives.
Cross-platform Office suites
Microsoft Office is a powerhouse, but it is really geared towards Windows and web use. The good news is that there are cross-platform office suites that are awesome alternatives.
These include:
These not only offer almost all the functionality you find in Microsoft Office, but they are also often free for home use. Plus, they’re usually lighter on resources, perfect for older hardware.
The best part? They’re compatible with Microsoft Office formats, so you can open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without a hitch, regardless of whether you are on Windows or Linux.
Note: The Office suites mentioned here are traditional applications that you can install and run on your machine. However, if you are looking for online options that run in your web browser, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are also a great option worth checking out.
Obsidian
Obsidian is one of the best cross-platform note-taking apps you can find. It is free, it lets you store your notes locally (offline access!), and uses Markdown for quick note-taking.
You can also link different notes together and visualize them as interactive graphs. The Canvas feature is amazing for diagrams, perfect for research. You can even publish your notes online if you want to share them.
Obsidian’s real power comes from its themes and plugins, letting you customize it to your heart’s content. To sync your notes, settings, and customizations, you will need the Obsidian Sync plan, which is a paid service. If you wish to avoid it, you can use Syncthing, a free alternative but one that requires some technical know-how.
VLC Media Player
When it comes to media players that just work everywhere, VLC is hard to beat. It’s free, open-source, and plays pretty much any multimedia format you can throw at it, including audio CDs, VCDs, and DVDs.
It handles streams, different devices, and all sorts of files. Plus, you can customize it with skins or even create your own. It is also pretty lightweight, so it is perfect for older machines.
VLC also has extensions that can expand its functionality, such as jumping to the next subtitle timestamp, extracting video, and more. It can even play incomplete or damaged files. It is available on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS.
DaVinci Resolve
Finding a solid video editor that runs on both Windows and Linux can be tough, but DaVinci Resolve is a fantastic option. It’s a pro-grade tool with advanced features like visual effects, audio editing, and color correction.
You can easily switch between different tasks with a single click, making it great for both professionals and beginners. While the core software is free, upgrading to the paid version unlocks features like AI Voice Isolation, automatic facial recognition, and support for FairlightFX plugins.
The newest version supports cloud-based workflows, making remote collaboration simple. You can work with others on the same timeline in real-time, and it runs well even on less powerful systems. DaVinci Resolve also has add-ons like Fusion for visual effects and Fairlight for improved audio quality.
Gimp
Gimp is a solid image-editing program like Photoshop, but with a few key differences. First off, it is completely free, and second, it runs on Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS.
Because it is cross-platform, you can start a project on Windows, save it, and continue working on it later on Linux.
While it has tons of tools for photo editing, you can also use it for digital art and graphic design. Plus, you can easily use images you create and edit in Gimp in other software like Inkscape and Scribus. Gimp also supports integrations and plugins to expand its capabilities, and you can even use some Photoshop plugins with it. You can export files in .PSD and many other formats.
Google Drive and other cloud storage apps
Cloud storage apps are now essential, especially with everyone relying on smartphones.
Most Android devices come with Google Drive pre-installed, while iPhones have iCloud. Google Drive works great on both Windows and Linux, letting you access and sync your files on either platform.
Besides Google Drive, you’ve got OneDrive, which comes pre-installed on Windows and can be installed on Linux. The Linux client for OneDrive works on all major distros and is even available as a Docker container. Then there is Dropbox, which is a great option for online file storage and collaboration.
Steam
Steam is the biggest online platform for buying computer games.
You can download and install games directly from Steam on either Windows or Linux. While PC gaming has traditionally been associated with Windows, Steam has played a major part in promoting Linux gaming. SteamOS is an Arch Linux-based distro specially developed for gaming and the OS for handheld consoles like the Steam Deck.
Because of Steam, you can now play many titles on Linux that were previously Windows-only. You can sign in to your Steam account on both platforms and share your game library. Games that support Steam Cloud will also sync your saves.
Audacity
Audacity is a free and open-source cross-platform audio editing program.
It’s easy to use and powerful enough for industry professionals. It has features like Speed and Pitch Control, Data Export and Import, Audio Mixer, Realtime Effects, and even AI Plugins.
Audacity supports plugins to bolster its functionality and has a website where you can find and download them. These plugins allow you to not just edit audio and music but even compose your own soundtracks. Plus, you can easily convert and combine audio into many different formats. The lightweight app works amazingly well on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Discord and other communication tools
Communication tools these days work across pretty much every operating system and device.
Discord was originally designed to help gamers communicate. It lets you share voice, video, and text messages for free. You can also find communities and groups with similar interests.
For professionals, there are tools like Zoom and Slack. Zoom is a great videoconferencing platform, while Slack is designed for team collaboration. For more informal use, check out Telegram, which is a messaging platform that you can download on both Linux and Windows.
Hopefully, this helps simplify your workflow when switching between Windows and Linux!