Exploring the Best Ubuntu Apps: Ultimate Guide for Every User

Navigating the vast world of Ubuntu applications can be overwhelming for both new and seasoned users. With each year, fresh tools emerge while longstanding favorites continue to evolve, making it tricky to keep up with what’s essential for work, creativity, security, and fun. If you’ve ever felt lost deciding which apps to install right after setting up Ubuntu, you’re definitely not alone. This guide gathers the latest insights and community favorites to ensure you’re equipped with the best toolkit possible, tailored for productivity, entertainment, and everything in between.

Ubuntu’s open nature means nearly any tool imaginable can become part of your workflow, but choosing from thousands of options isn’t always obvious. That’s why we’ve reviewed the highest-rated, most recommended, and time-tested Ubuntu applications for 2025, integrating expertise from Linux professionals, passionate users, and respected tech publications. Whether you’re a power user, a student, or someone just getting started, here’s an exhaustive look at the top apps to supercharge your Ubuntu experience.

Productivity Powerhouses: The Best Office & Note Apps

When it comes to office tasks on Ubuntu, there’s really no contest: LibreOffice is the standout office suite. Packing documents (Writer), spreadsheets (Calc), slideshows (Impress), formula editing, and a database tool, LibreOffice mirrors the familiar features of Microsoft Office. It’s compatible with MS Office file formats (you can even set .docx as the default), offers interface customizations, and—crucially—is open-source and free to use on as many computers as you like. If LibreOffice isn’t already bundled with your Ubuntu install, make it your very first addition!

For those who need to manage academic writing, data documentation, and reference management, Zotero stands out as the open-source reference manager of choice, enabling seamless citation and bibliography creation for thesis writing and research projects. It integrates well with LibreOffice and offers plugins for other writing tools. If you want to understand how to optimize your workflow further, you might find it useful to check out Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka features, changes, and expert insights.

Note-taking can make or break your workflow. While the official OneNote web version remains accessible, Simplenote is a beloved alternative on Ubuntu. It offers a straightforward interface, seamless syncing across devices, note-sharing, collaboration, and tagging—perfect for capturing quick thoughts or organizing large sets of notes. While not overloaded with features, its speed and focus make it a user favorite. Since it’s not always available in the main repositories, check Flatpak or Snap for hassle-free installation.

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Communication and Collaboration: Essential Apps for Daily Use

No desktop feel complete without a robust email client, and Thunderbird consistently delivers. It’s been a staple on Linux systems for years, supporting all major mail protocols (IMAP, POP, Exchange/Outlook, Gmail), with a focus on security (including GPG encryption), smart filtering, and reliable calendar/task integration. Thunderbird’s familiar UI and customizable features make it easy to transition whether you’re a seasoned Linux user or coming over from Windows or Mac.

On the collaboration front, Ubuntu’s recommended apps often include popular browsers such as Firefox, Brave, or Google Chrome for web-based teamwork and productivity. For those who need seamless file backups or synchronization, cloud options like Dropbox and Google Drive (through third-party tools or their respective Snap/Flatpak packages) are compatible with Ubuntu and ideal for multi-device workflows.

Media and Creativity: Audio, Video, and Graphics Essentials

Multimedia capabilities are where Ubuntu truly shines thanks to broad community support. For playing video and audio in nearly every format under the sun, VLC Media Player is unbeatable. It effortlessly handles 4K, HDR, h.265, and more obscure file types, with a huge collection of options for subtitles, audio sync, and video output tweaks. If Ubuntu’s default media player stumbles, VLC is your go-to solution—whether you’re watching a movie in bed or testing video codecs for work.

If your focus is on editing rather than viewing, OpenShot offers a user-friendly interface for video editing, supporting drag-and-drop, multi-track timelines, and a solid array of effects, transitions, and titling options. For best performance, run it on hardware with a modern multi-core CPU and at least 8GB RAM; using the AppImage release can also deliver a smoother experience.

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Image editing and batch processing has two real champions on Linux:

• GIMP: The Photoshop alternative, fully equipped for complex edits, retouching, filters, and pro-level graphics work. It can be enhanced with the G’MIC plugin for extra effects. Its learning curve is significant, but the power it offers is unmatched in open-source tools.
• Converseen: When you need to resize, convert, flip, or batch-rename photos, Converseen speeds up repetitive tasks enormously—just add your images, select your batch actions, choose output format and location, and let it handle the grunt work.

For digital drawing and painting, Krita has established itself among professional illustrators and hobbyists alike. Developed by and for artists, it supports pressure-sensitive tablets, customizable ‘docking’ panels, and boasts a growing range of brushes and features. Krita is a must-install for anyone into digital painting or comics.

On the photography side, digiKam takes photo library management to pro territory with RAW support, advanced tagging (including facial recognition), and a built-in editor that’s more approachable than GIMP—but still packed with value for photographers. Connect your camera directly via USB, manage RAW files, and maintain complete control over your growing photo archive. Visit digiKam for details.

Security and System Management: Tools for Power Users and Peace of Mind

Security is at the heart of any good setup, and a top password manager makes all the difference. Bitwarden is frequently recommended as the best open-source password manager for Ubuntu. Manage logins, generate strong passwords, securely store notes or files, and choose between local or cloud sync. It’s available as both a desktop app and browser extension, and fits brilliantly into both home and professional environments. To further enhance security, consider exploring creating your own Linux distribution for tailored system control.

If you like to keep your systems running smoothly (and who doesn’t?), system monitoring and maintenance tools are invaluable. Here’s what you should consider:

• Timeshift: Timeshift works like System Restore on Windows—take automatic or manual system snapshots, then restore your setup if something goes sideways during updates or installations. Both CLI and GUI options make it easy to integrate into any workflow.
• Stacer: Stacer provides real-time system info, lets you manage start-up apps, clean caches, monitor services and processes, and tweak system settings. Its friendly interface makes system cleaning accessible even for beginners.
• GNOME Tweaks: For anyone on the GNOME desktop who likes to personalize their interface, GNOME Tweaks allows extensive customization of fonts, window behaviour, power settings, and more—all through an accessible GUI.

Must-Have System and Package Managers: Extending Ubuntu’s Potential

Unlike some distributions, Ubuntu keeps pre-installed apps light to give you flexibility over what you install. Two universal package managers stand out for expanding your options:

• Flatpak: Flatpak lets you install software in sandboxed containers, so you can run the latest app versions without worrying about system compatibility. It opens up new categories and third-party apps not found in official repositories.
• Snap: Snap builds on the same idea, focusing on security and consistent updates. The Ubuntu Software Store directly integrates Snap, making it easy to find and install popular tools.

If you prefer granular control, the Synaptic Package Manager remains invaluable. As a front-end for APT, it lists every available package with version info, dependencies, and installation/removal options. Install it via the terminal using: sudo apt install synaptic.

Clipboard managers, Window management, and Workflow accelerators

Clipboard managers like CopyQ save hours by storing your entire clipboard history, letting you organize, tag, search, and paste previous clips through simple menus or keyboard shortcuts. Set it up via its dedicated PPA or through Snap/Flatpak for automatic updates.

A useful utility, Caffeine, stops your desktop from auto-locking while you’re in the middle of long reads, streaming, or giving a presentation. Activate it with one click and prevent unwanted screen dimming.

Tools like Synergy and QuickSynergy allow you to span keyboard and mouse use across multiple computers — just move your pointer between machines as if they’re one seamless desktop. Synergy supports Windows, Linux, and Mac and is invaluable for multi-monitor setups or repurposing old laptops.

The Command Line All-Stars: Power and Efficiency in Your Terminal

While graphical applications are accessible, many of the most effective Linux tools live in the terminal. These command-line apps may look a bit nerdy at first, but they’re often faster, use fewer resources, and—let’s be honest—feel infinitely cooler to use.

• Btop++: An advanced resource monitor for CPU, RAM, processes, and swap, displayed in a real-time, visually appealing layout. Install from Snap (sudo snap install btop) for instant setup.
• Musikcube: A command-line music player that brings playlist management, queues, filtering, and even last.fm scrobbling to your terminal. Manage your music without touching a mouse (sudo snap install musikcube).
• Googler and ddgr: Search Google or DuckDuckGo directly within the terminal, perfect for troubleshooting in tty or when GUI access is unavailable.
• Rainbowstream: The CLI Twitter client that lets you reply, like, retweet, and follow your stream without distractions. Install with Python pip (sudo pip3 install rainbowstream).
• Neofetch: Displays stylish, informative summaries about your Linux system, including hardware specs, desktop environment, and custom ASCII art of your distro.
• Wttr.in: Check multi-day weather forecasts without leaving the terminal by running curl wttr.in/City with your location.
• Ncspot: Play Spotify directly from the terminal, requiring a Premium account, with full playlist management.
• ncdu: Quickly scan and analyze disk space, navigate directories interactively, and delete files to free up space.
• nnn: A lightweight, fast terminal file manager with shortcuts for common filesystem tasks.
• mapscii: Explore maps based on OpenStreetMap straight from your terminal, controlling navigation via keyboard or mouse.

If you need straightforward file transfer or FTP management, Filezilla remains a popular choice, easily secured via SFTP if you also install the openssh-server package on your machine.

Other Niche Yet Invaluable Tools and Community Favourites

TypeCatcher is a handy tool for Google Fonts enthusiasts—browse, download, and install fonts directly onto your system with just a few clicks. Since Ubuntu MATE often uses Pluma, some users prefer to add gedit with plugins for the text editing experience.

If taking screenshots is part of your routine, Shutter remains one of the most comprehensive screenshot utilities. Supports advanced actions such as cropping, annotations, auto-saving, and direct uploads.

Synapse enhances workflow productivity: launch it with Ctrl+Space, type to find and open apps, documents, or music quickly. It learns your habits, making frequent actions faster.