20 Must-Have Ubuntu Apps in 2017

As the month of March comes to a close I thought it is only fair that I share my preferred apps for Ubuntu users so far with you.

Most of these apps will run on any Linux distro so this list isn’t restricted to Ubuntu OS and it includes applications for the most important tasks a typical user will run during the course of his day. So without further ado, let’s get to it.

1. Unity Teak Tool (or Gnome Tweak Tool)

Unity Tweak tool is one of the first tools application consultants advise users to install immediately after installing a distro like Ubuntu because it provides users with the ability to configure their system the way they want via setting options that include desktop hot corners, icon sizes, theme and icon customization, workspace number and colors, etc.

Install Unity Tweak Tool via the terminal:

$ sudo install unity-tweak-tool

2. Google Chrome (Browser)

Google Chrome Browser is arguably the best browser you can have. As a Google project, you can trust it to have features the best browsers offer including developer tools, web development standards, and support for the newest technologies.

Download Google Chrome for Linux

3. VLC Media Player

VLC is arguably the best cross-platform video media player you can use. It has a ton of features including extensive theming options, a clean and responsive UI, audio and video quality tweaks, multiple audio streams, online video streaming, etc. VLC media player can play virtually any audio and video format you throw at it.

Download VLC for Linux

4. GIMP (Image Editing)

While you might be complaining that Adobe has not ported Photoshop and Illustrator to Linux yet, Gimp is the ideal alternative for Linux users.

You can even theme it to make it look and act like Photoshop (with regards to shortcut keys) if you miss Adobe that much.

Install Gimp Tool via the terminal:

$ sudo apt-get install gimp

5. Shotcut (Video Editing)

Shotcut is a free, Open Source, cross-platform video editor with a sleek User Interface and support for a broad range of video formats.

6. Steam (Linux Gaming)

This one is a no-brainer. It’s thanks to Steam that thousands of games are now available for the Open Source community and gaming issues on Linux are almost completely a thing of the past. If you’re a gamer, you can’t go wrong with Steam.

Download Steam for Linux

7. Visual Studio Code (Text Editor)

One of Visual Studio Code’s best features is its educational feature in which it explains how HTML tags (for example,) are used as it makes suggestions while you write.

It has out of the box integration with Git, the flexibility of Sublime Text and beauty of Atom text editor.

Sublime Text 3 was my favorite text editor until I began to use Visual Studio Code. You might fall in love with it too.

8. Peek (Screen Recording)

Peek is a handy utility tool with which you can record your screen and quickly turn the videos into Gif animations. It is beautifully designed, lightweight, and straightforward.

9. Nylas (Email Client)

Nylas is already my favorite email client even though it isn’t available for Linux yet.

It has such an excellent performance and artillery of features on the Windows and Mac that you might not want to use anything else when it’s finally available for Linux.

In the meantime, Trojita is another email client you can check out.

10. Simple Weather Indicator (Weather App)

If you want to keep track of the weather conditions in designated locations without stress then Simple Weather Indicator is the way to go. Interact with it from your desktop panel bar.

Another indicator app you can check out is Battery Monitor to keep track if your system battery status from desktop bar.

11. GitBook Editor (GitBook Workflow)

If you’re a GitBook user then there isn’t any desktop client better than GitBook’s own cross-platform GitBook Editor. It is nicely designed and free to use.

12. Ramme (Unofficial Instagram Desktop Client)

Ramme is an Electron-based unofficial cross-platform Instagram desktop app with support for theme customization, keyboard shortcuts, background behavior, and automatic updates.

If for one reason or the other you’re not able to constantly be on your phone to interact with your Instagram account, Ramme is the way to go.

13. Whatever (Evernote Alternative)

Whatever is an Electron wrapper for Evernote’s web version possessing the same look and feel the Evernote client apps for other platforms possess by mirroring all of its functionality including a background working mode and tray icons.

14. MOC (Music On Console) (Console Music Player)

You might need to run a native console-based music player especially of you’re a console power user and you can’t go wrong with MOC music player. It is lightweight and would never negatively get in the way of your system’s process flow.

Another console-based music player you can check out is Tizonia.

15. GPMDP (Google Music Play Desktop Client)

Google Play Music Desktop Player is an Electron replica of Google Play Music that is interestingly more awesome than its parent app.

It integrates nicely with Unity, requires fewer web resources than Google Play Music, features last.fm integration and is HTML5 based.

16. Skype (VoIP)

Skype is another no-brainer on this list. It has the most market share and you probably want to have it on your desktop since apparently, one is more likely to have a Microsoft account than any other.

If you don’t want to swing in Skype’s way yet then you can always use Wire – it’s an awesome alternative messaging app to Skype for Linux.

17. Stacer (System Optimizer)

With Stacer you can perform system diagnosis to check your CPU, memory, and disk usage, start-up apps, wipe cache, and uninstall apps. It is an Electron app that’s FOSS and features a clean UI.

18. Conky (Customization Tool)

Conky is a lightweight system monitoring tool that lets you display system information like memory and disk usage, weather, battery and network statistics, running applications, etc, on your desktop like a boss as long as you can fit the instruction into its configuration settings.

If you’re a customization buff and you don’t have Conky then you’re missing something.

19. GDebi (Package Installer)

Gdebi is a utility tool that works as an alternative to your default Software Center for installing applications – specifically, .deb packages while resolving and installing its dependencies and you can use it right from your terminal.

20. Open Pics (Free Image Resources)

Need free high-resolution images to work on your web and photography projects? Search and download them right from your desktop using the Electron-based Free Stock Image App for Linux OpenPics.

There are a lot more apps that can go on the list but the idea is to make a blanket case for Ubuntu users. Nevertheless, if I failed to mention any apps that are a must-have for your line of work feel free to make your suggestions as well as edits in the comments section.