Useful Desktop Apps for Daily Needs
Estimated Reading Time: 33 minutes Last updated on 25th August 2025
Here is some desktop software that is either commonplace in the world of Linux or needs a bit more publicity, at least in my opinion. The world of open source software offers powerful, free alternatives to virtually every commercial application you might need. From media centres that rival expensive set-top boxes to professional-grade image editors that compete with industry standards, open source solutions provide users with complete control over their digital tools without the constraints of licensing fees or vendor lock-in.
These applications demonstrate the core principles of transparency, community-driven development and user freedom. Whether you're a developer seeking robust coding environments, a photographer needing professional RAW processing capabilities, or simply someone looking to enhance privacy and reduce software costs, these tools show that free doesn't mean compromising on quality or features.
Many have been refined over decades by passionate communities, resulting in mature, stable software that often exceeds their commercial counterparts in specific areas. While some may require steeper learning curves or additional configuration compared to mainstream alternatives, they reward users with unprecedented customization options, privacy protection and the assurance that comes from transparent, auditable code.
The applications featured here span audiovisual production, code development, graphics editing, productivity suites, system utilities and web browsing, covering the essential software needs of most users while offering specialised tools for professional workflows. There are honest assessments of both strengths and limitations, helping you make informed decisions about which tools best fit your specific requirements and technical comfort level.
Audiovisual
Originally launched in 2002 as Xbox Media Player before evolving into Xbox Media Centre and eventually becoming known by its current name, this free and open-source media centre application was developed by the non-profit XBMC Foundation and has grown into one of the most popular cross-platform home theatre software solutions available today. The platform runs on virtually any device including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS devices that have been jailbroken, Raspberry Pi, smart TVs and embedded systems, whilst supporting playback of almost any video, music or image format from local files, network shares and internet streams.
Its comprehensive library management system organises movies, TV shows and music with cover art, posters, cast information and metadata retrieved from online scrapers, complemented by an extensive ecosystem of official and third-party add-ons that extend functionality to include streaming services, live TV, radio and weather information. The software supports live TV and DVR functions when paired with backends like MythTV or TVHeadend, offers extensive customisation through skins and themes that completely transform its appearance and can be controlled via smartphone applications, web interfaces, infrared remotes or game controllers.
However, the platform requires significant setup and configuration compared to more streamlined alternatives, lacks official support for major streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ which necessitates unofficial workarounds and has developed a mixed reputation due to third-party add-ons that enable access to pirated content, making it best suited for users with large local media libraries who want maximum flexibility and control over their media centre experience.
This free and open-source digital video recorder and home media centre system was first released in 2002 as a community-driven alternative to TiVo that allows users to record, organise and play back television broadcasts with full customisation control. The software runs primarily on Linux and macOS with a client-server architecture where a backend server manages tuners, recordings and storage while frontend clients connect from various devices to watch live or recorded content.
Core functionality includes DVR capabilities with scheduling and conflict resolution, time-shifting features like pausing and rewinding live television, commercial detection and skipping, plus media management for video, music and photos with streaming and transcoding support. The system offers extensive customisation through plugins for weather, news, internet streaming services, movies, music, games and web access, along with support for infrared remotes and smartphone apps.
While it provides a full-featured DVR experience comparable to commercial alternatives and supports scalable multi-room setups, the software requires complex installation and configuration, depends on compatible television tuner hardware and has a user interface that feels dated compared to modern media centres like Kodi or Plex. Despite declining popularity as streaming services have replaced broadcast television for many users, it remains a powerful solution for those who want complete control over their DVR and media centre system.
This free, open-source software serves as a comprehensive solution for video recording and live-streaming across Windows, macOS and Linux platforms. The application enables users to capture content from multiple sources simultaneously, including desktop screens, webcams, capture cards and microphones, whilst offering the ability to create different scene layouts that can be seamlessly switched during broadcasts. Users can stream directly to platforms such as Twitch, YouTube and Facebook Live, or record locally in various formats including MP4, MKV and MOV. The software features an integrated audio mixer with per-source volume controls and filtering options, studio mode for previewing scenes before going live, customisable hotkeys and extensive plugin support that expands functionality significantly. Whilst the application provides professional-grade capabilities that rival commercial alternatives and benefits from an active community providing tutorials and plugins, it does present challenges including a steep learning curve for beginners, demanding hardware requirements for live encoding and a functional but less polished interface compared to paid solutions. The software has established itself as the standard choice for streamers, content creators, educators and professionals requiring robust live capture capabilities without financial investment.
Code Development
This free, open-source integrated development environment was originally released in 2001 by IBM as a successor to VisualAge IDE before being donated to the open-source community and is now maintained by the Eclipse Foundation. Primarily known for Java development through the Eclipse JDT, it supports multiple programming languages including C, C++, Python, PHP and JavaScript through its extensive plugin system built on the Eclipse Rich Client Platform architecture.
The IDE runs across Windows, macOS and Linux platforms and offers thousands of plugins for version control systems like Git and SVN, build tools such as Maven and Gradle, cloud deployment and modelling tools including UML. It is distributed in specialised packages tailored for different development needs, from standard Java development to enterprise Jakarta EE applications. Whilst the platform offers high extensibility, mature ecosystem support and enterprise-friendly features under the EPL licence, it can be resource-heavy compared to lighter alternatives and presents a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its comprehensive feature set and complexity.
A long-standing UNIX/Linux text editor that has been doing battle with Vi for longer than many can remember. Like the alternative, it has keyboard shortcuts that do anything but make concessions to Windows conventions, add needless steepening of any learning curve unless you find the appropriate option (CUA) that allows for some emulation of mainstream keyboard shortcuts. Nevertheless, there also is a GUI variant that makes life easier, and I have to concede that it has a history that is longer than even Microsoft itself. As if that weren't enough compensation, it is a powerful piece of software whose functionality goes much further than text editing, whose surface I have only barely begun to scratch. The logic of the interface may differ from that to which many are accustomed, but it is consistent and well-thought-out nonetheless.
A classic open-source editor from the 1990's and early 2000's, NEdit (Nirvana Editor) is a graphical editor designed for Unix and Linux systems using the X Window System. Originally developed at Fermilab, it gained popularity among programmers because it combined the ease of use of a graphical interface with powerful coding features such as syntax highlighting for multiple programming languages, automatic indentation, regular expression support and a built-in macro system for task automation. The editor offered multiple document support through tabs and window management, along with extensive customisation options through user-defined preferences and resource files. Whilst NEdit was considered GUI-friendly compared to traditional keyboard-driven editors like vi or Emacs and provided good coding features whilst remaining fast and lightweight, it has become largely obsolete due to its outdated development, limitation to Linux and Unix platforms only, lack of modern IDE features such as code completion and debugging and a user interface that feels dated compared to contemporary editors like VS Code or Sublime. Today, NEdit remains primarily a legacy tool used by some Unix users who prefer lightweight editing solutions, though it has been largely superseded by modern editors that offer more comprehensive development environments.
Apache NetBeans is a free, open-source Integrated Development Environment that primarily serves Java developers whilst also supporting languages including PHP, JavaScript, HTML5, C and C++. Originally developed as a student project in the mid-1990s, it was later commercialised by Sun Microsystems, maintained by Oracle and has been an official Apache Software Foundation project since 2016.
The IDE offers comprehensive Java support across Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition and JavaFX platforms, features a modular architecture that allows extension through plugins and operates across Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD systems. Notable capabilities include the Matisse GUI builder for drag-and-drop interface design, built-in project templates, integrated version control support for Git, Mercurial and Subversion, plus comprehensive debugging and profiling tools.
Whilst NetBeans provides a mature, stable development environment with excellent enterprise Java capabilities and cross-platform consistency, it tends to be heavier than lightweight editors, has a smaller plugin ecosystem compared to competitors like Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA and features an interface that some consider dated, making it particularly suitable for Java developers, academic use and cross-platform desktop application development.
This community-driven, fully open source distribution of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code provides identical core functionality whilst removing Microsoft's proprietary branding, telemetry and licensing restrictions. Built from the same MIT-licensed code as VS Code, it uses a clean build process that disables embedded tracking and delivers binaries under pure open source licensing.
The project exists because whilst VS Code is technically open source, the official binaries include additional Microsoft-specific elements such as telemetry, marketplace integration and proprietary licensing terms that are not part of the original open source project. VSCodium offers complete telemetry-free operation with true MIT licensing and maintains feature parity with VS Code, supporting the same extensions and settings with only minor exceptions.
However, users may encounter marketplace limitations where some Microsoft-branded extensions are unavailable, experience slightly delayed updates compared to official releases and work within a smaller ecosystem lacking extensive corporate backing. Installation is straightforward through direct downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux or various package managers including Homebrew, WinGet and Snap, whilst migration from VS Code simply requires exporting settings and extensions before importing them into the new environment.
Graphics
This free and open-source photography workflow application serves as a RAW developer primarily designed for photographers who shoot in RAW format and require a non-destructive, professional editing environment similar to Adobe Lightroom. Unlike digiKam which functions more as a photo manager with editing capabilities, this application prioritises RAW development and editing with library management as a secondary feature. The software offers over 60 modules for adjustments including exposure correction, white balance, tone mapping, denoising and colour zones, alongside professional colour management with full ICC profile support and soft-proofing capabilities. Users can apply adjustments selectively through masking and blending tools, benefit from GPU acceleration via OpenCL for faster processing and export to multiple formats including JPEG, PNG and TIFF.
While the application provides extremely powerful RAW editing capabilities that rival commercial alternatives and maintains a non-destructive workflow suitable for professional use, it presents a steep learning curve with an interface that can be intimidating for beginners and requires substantial hardware resources for smooth operation. The digital asset management features, whilst present through tagging and metadata tools, remain less advanced compared to dedicated photo management applications, making this software most suitable for photographers who prioritise comprehensive RAW editing control over extensive library organisation features.
This free, open-source digital photo management application serves as a powerful alternative to Adobe Lightroom, designed for both professional and amateur photographers who need to handle large image collections. Originally developed for KDE but now available across Linux, Windows and macOS platforms, the software offers comprehensive photo organisation through albums, tags, dates, ratings and face recognition capabilities, alongside advanced search functionality that can filter by camera specifications, geolocation and metadata. The editing suite provides non-destructive image processing with RAW support powered by LibRaw, featuring exposure adjustments, colour correction, retouching tools and batch processing options for handling multiple images simultaneously.
Additional professional features include geotagging with map integration, light table mode for comparing photos, direct export to various online platforms and plugin support for extended functionality. While the software rivals commercial alternatives in terms of power and includes regular updates for modern camera support, it presents a steep learning curve with a complex interface that may overwhelm casual users and requires significant system resources compared to simpler alternatives, making it most suitable for photographers requiring professional-grade workflows and RAW processing capabilities.
Standing for GNU Image Manipulation Program, this free and open-source raster graphics editor has been available since 1996 as a powerful alternative to Adobe Photoshop. The software provides comprehensive image editing capabilities including cropping, resizing, colour correction and retouching tools, alongside a full layer system with masks, blending modes and grouping options. It supports numerous file formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PSD and GIF, while offering advanced selection tools, customisable brushes with pressure sensitivity for drawing tablets and extensive scripting support through Python, Scheme and Perl for automation and plugin development.
The program runs across Linux, Windows and macOS platforms with a customisable interface and benefits from thousands of community-developed plugins. While completely free under GPL licence and lightweight compared to commercial alternatives, it presents challenges including a steeper learning curve due to its less polished interface, limited native CMYK colour support for professional print work and a lack of adjustment layers for non-destructive editing, though workarounds exist using masks and layer modes.
Released in 2003 as a free and open-source vector graphics editor, this software serves as the primary alternative to Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW and Affinity Designer across Linux, Windows and macOS platforms. The programme specialises in creating scalable artwork such as logos, icons, illustrations, diagrams and technical drawings using vector-based tools including shapes, paths, freehand drawing and advanced path operations. Built around the W3C SVG standard with native SVG format support, it offers comprehensive features for typography, styling with gradients and patterns, layer management and extensive file format compatibility including PNG, PDF, EPS and DXF. The software supports Python extensions and community plug-ins, provides bitmap tracing capabilities, and includes professional-grade tools for node editing with Bézier curves.
While it delivers powerful vector capabilities rivalling commercial alternatives and maintains active community development, users may encounter performance limitations with complex illustrations, restricted CMYK colour support compared to industry standards and a learning curve distinct from raster editing workflows. The programme excels at precision vector graphics work where scalability and SVG compliance are priorities, complementing rather than competing with raster-focused alternatives in the open-source graphics ecosystem.
This free and open-source digital painting and illustration program is developed by the KDE community and focuses specifically on digital art, concept art, comics and animation rather than general image editing. Available across Linux, Windows, macOS and Android platforms, it offers professional-grade painting tools including over 100 brush presets, advanced brush engines, stroke stabilisers and perspective guides alongside comprehensive layer support, full colour management with ICC profile support and basic 2D animation capabilities. The software excels at digital painting and illustration work, providing tools that rival commercial alternatives like Corel Painter and Clip Studio Paint, with additional features for comic creators including panel templates and speech balloons. Whilst it supports numerous file formats including PSD, PNG, TIFF and SVG, and offers extensive customisation options, it is not designed as a general photo editor and can be resource-intensive on hardware, particularly with large canvases and complex brush work.
This free open-source application serves as a specialised tool for Linux photographers who need to efficiently transfer and organise photos and videos from cameras, phones or memory cards to their computers. Rather than editing or managing images like other photography software, it focuses specifically on the initial import stage of the photography workflow. The program offers highly customisable file renaming based on metadata such as date, time, camera model and sequence numbers, whilst automatically creating organised folder hierarchies by criteria like date or event name. Users can preview thumbnails before downloading and benefit from built-in backup support that simultaneously copies imported files to one or two backup drives for enhanced security. Although the interface is functional rather than polished and the tool remains Linux-exclusive with a narrow focus on importing rather than editing, it excels at automating tedious organisational tasks and integrates well with other Linux photography applications like digiKam, Darktable and RawTherapee for subsequent workflow stages.
Released in 2004 as a free and open-source RAW image processing program, this software focuses on achieving maximum image quality and fine control rather than workflow management or asset organisation. The program operates as a non-destructive RAW developer that works directly on folders without requiring photo imports into a database, featuring a lightweight file browser with metadata support for EXIF, IPTC and XMP formats. Its editing capabilities include high-quality demosaicing algorithms, advanced colour management with ICC profile handling, comprehensive tone and exposure tools, configurable noise reduction and sharpening modules, lens correction features and unique wavelet-based editing tools for fine detail adjustments. The software excels at batch processing and can export to multiple formats including JPEG, PNG and TIFF, making it suitable for integration with other editing applications.
While it offers exceptional image quality, powerful batch processing capabilities and runs across Linux, Windows and macOS platforms at no cost, it lacks comprehensive digital asset management features, presents a steeper learning curve than alternatives and assumes existing knowledge of RAW workflow and colour science principles. The program serves as the technical purist's choice for RAW development, providing maximum control over image processing for photographers who manage their files through folders or separate digital asset management tools.
A free, open-source photo manager for the GNOME desktop environment, this application was first released in 2009 by the Yorba Foundation before becoming part of the GNOME project and serves as the default photo manager on Ubuntu since 2010. The software offers comprehensive photo importing capabilities from cameras and memory cards with automatic date-based organisation, alongside event-based grouping, tagging systems and search functionality. Basic editing features include cropping, rotating, colour adjustments and red-eye removal, all performed non-destructively to preserve original images. Users can export photos in various formats and sizes, upload directly to platforms like Flickr and Google Photos through plugins and create full-screen slideshows with transition effects. The application supports JPEG, PNG, TIFF and RAW image formats whilst maintaining a simple, lightweight interface that integrates well with GNOME systems. Although it provides excellent everyday photo management for Linux users and remains actively maintained with regular updates, the software is limited to Linux platforms only and offers more basic editing capabilities compared to professional tools like GIMP or Darktable.
Markdown Editing
Formerly known as UberWriter, this minimalist open-source Markdown editor was developed by Wolf Vollprecht and Manuel Genovés specifically for GNOME desktop environments on Linux. The application provides a distraction-free writing experience through its clean interface, featuring a focus mode that greys out everything except the current sentence and a full-screen option for enhanced concentration. Writers benefit from real-time word and character counting, syntax highlighting and live preview capabilities, whilst the editor supports multiple colour schemes including light, dark and sepia themes to suit different preferences and lighting conditions. The software uses Pandoc as its parsing engine and offers extensive export functionality to formats such as ODF, PDF, EPUB, RTF, HTML, LaTeX and MediaWiki markup. Additional features include spell-checking, document statistics and standard editing tools, all packaged in a lightweight application released under GPL-3.0 licence.
This free, open-source Markdown editor runs natively on Linux and offers a comprehensive set of features for distraction-free writing. The application provides live preview functionality with synchronised scrolling, allowing users to see their formatted output in real time alongside the editing pane. It supports GitHub-flavoured Markdown including checklists, highlighting and links, whilst offering syntax highlighting for code blocks and mathematical notation through MathJax integration. Users can export their documents as HTML or PDF files with table of contents, customise the appearance through built-in themes like Solarized and GitHub or apply their own CSS styling. The editor includes convenient dialogues for inserting images, links and tables, supports night mode and full-screen editing, and provides extensive keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation. Available across major Linux distributions including Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE and Arch, the software is licensed under MIT and hosted on GitHub.
Microblogging Clients
Originally developed in 2008 as a free and open-source microblogging client for the KDE desktop environment, this Persian-named application meaning "sparrow" allows users to manage multiple social media accounts from a single desktop interface. Initially created for Twitter, it has evolved to support Mastodon, GNU social and Pump.io, making it particularly relevant following Twitter's API restrictions in 2023. The application offers timeline views for different types of content, desktop notifications, media preview capabilities and URL shortening services, all whilst integrating seamlessly with KDE's notification system and Plasma desktop environment.
However, its Linux-focused design limits cross-platform availability and its smaller user base means slower development compared to mainstream alternatives. The application remains dependent on third-party APIs, making it vulnerable when platforms change their access policies, though its recent Mastodon support helps maintain its usefulness for users of decentralised social networks. Best suited for KDE users seeking a straightforward desktop client for managing Mastodon and similar platforms, it provides essential microblogging functionality without the complexity of more feature-rich alternatives.
This free and open-source desktop client serves users of Mastodon and provides partial support for Misskey across Windows, macOS, Linux and as a web version. The application features a customisable column-based interface reminiscent of TweetDeck that allows users to manage multiple accounts simultaneously whilst organising feeds into resizable and colour-coded columns that can be arranged vertically or horizontally. Users can compose posts through a floating window that remains accessible during navigation, and the client includes additional features such as media-only timelines, speech synthesis for content playback and integration with Spotify and Apple Music for sharing currently playing tracks. The latest versions are built on Fedistar technology and offer straightforward installation processes that require simple authorisation through Mastodon instances, making it particularly suitable for users who manage multiple social media accounts or prefer desktop applications over web interfaces for their federated social networking activities.
This free, open-source Electron-based desktop client provides streamlined access to Fediverse platforms including Mastodon, Pleroma, Friendica, Firefish, GoToSocial and Pixelfed through a single-column interface inspired by Slack. The application supports multiple account management, live-streaming updates, desktop notifications and extensive keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation, whilst offering customisable themes including dark mode and filtering tools for hashtags, lists and timeline content.
Available across Windows, macOS and Linux through various distribution methods including app stores, package managers and portable formats, the client prioritises simplicity and focused workflows over multimedia handling, displaying images only as thumbnails that require clicking to enlarge. Although it provides effective core functionality for managing Fediverse accounts without advertising, the Electron foundation results in higher memory usage compared to native applications and users cannot edit posts after publishing, making it most suitable for those preferring a clean, distraction-free environment focused on content reading rather than rich media consumption.
Productivity
This free, open-source office productivity suite from the Apache Software Foundation provides a comprehensive set of applications including a word processor, spreadsheet tool, presentation software, graphics editor, database manager and formula editor. Originally derived from OpenOffice.org and transitioned to Apache in 2011, the suite supports the OpenDocument Format natively whilst offering partial compatibility with Microsoft Office formats like DOCX, XLSX and PPTX. The software runs across Windows, macOS and Linux platforms and includes features such as macro support through its own Basic language, extensibility via OXT add-ons and a sidebar interface that got introduced in version 4.
However, development has significantly slowed since its peak years, with recent updates focusing primarily on maintenance and bug fixes rather than new features. The project currently holds an "amber" status from the Apache Software Foundation due to multiple unresolved security issues, and its contributor base has dwindled considerably since the community split in 2010 that led to LibreOffice's creation. Whilst it remains suitable for users seeking a fully free office suite with moderate system requirements and comprehensive functionality, those requiring frequent updates, stronger security support or complex Microsoft Office file compatibility might find alternatives like LibreOffice (see later) more appropriate for their needs.
This free and open-source office and graphic art application suite was developed by the KDE community as a fork of KOffice in 2010 following disagreements about the original project's direction. Running primarily on Linux but also supporting BSD, Windows and macOS, the suite uses the Qt toolkit for tight integration with the KDE desktop environment. The modular suite includes a word processor called Words, a spreadsheet tool named Sheets, a presentation application called Stage, project management software known as Plan, a diagram tool called Flow, a vector graphics editor named Karbon, a specialised book and eBook writing tool called Author and a touch-optimised interface called Gemini designed for convertible laptops and tablets. Built with native OpenDocument Format support, the suite offers a lightweight alternative to LibreOffice with better KDE integration and touch-friendly capabilities, though it suffers from inconsistent Microsoft Office file compatibility, fewer advanced features and a smaller user base with slower development compared to more established office suites.
A comprehensive open-source office productivity suite developed by The Document Foundation, this free alternative to commercial office software comprises six core applications including Writer for word processing, Calc for spreadsheets, Impress for presentations, Draw for vector graphics, Base for databases and Math for formula editing. Available across Windows, macOS and Linux platforms, with extended support for mobile and web environments through ecosystem partners, the suite has evolved significantly since its 2010 launch as a fork of OpenOffice.org.
Distinguished by its excellent Microsoft Office format compatibility, particularly with DOCX, XLSX and PPTX files, the suite defaults to the OpenDocument Format whilst supporting numerous legacy and proprietary formats. Its active development community ensures frequent updates and security patches, alongside robust customisation options including multiple interface modes, icon themes and scripting support through Basic, Python, Java or C++. The suite serves as an ideal solution for users seeking a feature-rich, offline office environment with strong format compatibility and privacy considerations, though those prioritising cloud-based collaboration or mobile-first design might consider alternative solutions.
A free and open-source email client developed by the Mozilla community since 2003, this desktop application functions as a comprehensive personal information manager that handles email through POP3, IMAP and SMTP protocols with robust security features, while also managing newsgroups, RSS feeds, contacts and calendar tasks through its built-in Lightning component. The cross-platform software runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, offering tabbed email viewing, smart folder organisation, powerful search capabilities, intelligent spam filtering and native end-to-end OpenPGP encryption support. Its extensible architecture supports thousands of add-ons and themes for customisation, allows unlimited email account management and maintains compatibility with major providers like Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo whilst adhering to open standards.
Utilities
This open-source password manager enables individuals and organisations to securely store, manage and share sensitive information including passwords, API keys and other credentials through end-to-end encryption that protects data on users' devices before syncing to servers. The platform operates on a zero-knowledge security model where only users hold their master passwords and encryption keys, whilst offering cross-platform availability through desktop applications, mobile applications, browser extensions and web vaults. Notable capabilities include strong password generation tools, secure credential sharing for teams with detailed access controls, optional self-hosting for advanced users and businesses, and comprehensive two-factor authentication support through TOTP, hardware security keys and third-party integrations. The service has gained recognition as a reliable, transparent and cost-effective alternative to proprietary password managers, particularly valued for its open-source approach and robust security practices.
This free and open-source system cleaner operates across Linux and Windows platforms to enhance computer performance and safeguard user privacy. The application removes temporary files, cache data, logs and other unnecessary files generated by browsers, system utilities and various applications while simultaneously deleting cookies, browsing history and other traces of user activity. Users can customise cleaning operations to target specific applications such as Firefox, Chrome or LibreOffice, and the programme offers secure file deletion capabilities to prevent data recovery. The software supports command line operation and scripting for automated cleaning schedules, whilst maintaining a lightweight design free from advertising or bloat.
This free, open-source file transfer client has been widely used since 2001 for transferring files between local computers and remote servers across Windows, macOS and Linux platforms. The software supports multiple protocols including FTP, FTPS and SFTP, offering users a dual-pane interface with drag-and-drop functionality for intuitive file management. Key capabilities include the ability to bookmark server connections, queue and resume transfers, manage transfer speeds, synchronise directories and handle large files exceeding 4 GB. Users can also edit remote files directly through their preferred local editor. While the application excels as a reliable, well-documented solution that is simple enough for beginners yet robust for professional use, it does have notable limitations including lack of cloud storage integration, a somewhat dated interface, potential bundled adware in Windows installations and no built-in scripting capabilities for automation tasks. The software also includes a separate server component, though this is only available for Windows systems.
This free, open-source graphical frontend for Wine was designed to simplify the process of installing and running Windows software and games on Linux and macOS systems without requiring users to manually configure complex settings. The platform provides a user-friendly interface with pre-configured installation scripts that automatically handle dependencies, libraries and tweaks needed for specific programmes, whilst creating isolated Wine environments for each application to prevent conflicts. It supports multiple Wine versions running simultaneously and focuses particularly on gaming applications with custom graphics and DirectX optimisations. Although the tool makes Wine much more accessible to non-technical users through its automated approach and pre-built scripts, it faces limitations including incomplete software support for programmes without existing scripts, performance constraints inherent to Wine itself and reduced development activity compared to newer alternatives like Lutris and Proton which have gained popularity among Linux users seeking to run Windows games.
This non-caching web proxy operates at the HTTP level to enhance privacy and control internet access through advanced filtering capabilities. The software blocks advertisements, tracking scripts and web bugs to reduce online profiling, whilst also rewriting or removing unwanted content such as pop-ups and banners from web pages. Users can customise filtering rules and access controls through flexible configuration files, and the proxy can be chained with anonymity tools like Tor for enhanced privacy protection. The cross-platform application runs on Unix-like systems including Linux, BSD and macOS as well as Windows, making it valuable for both individual privacy-conscious users and system administrators who need to manage web traffic in controlled environments.
A compact, free utility designed for creating bootable USB drives from ISO images, this tool stands out for its exceptional speed and reliability when installing operating systems or running live environments. The software operates exclusively on Windows but can create boot media for various operating systems including Windows, Linux and rescue disks, supporting multiple file systems such as FAT32, NTFS, exFAT, UDF and ReFS. It handles both MBR partition schemes for legacy BIOS systems and GPT for UEFI configurations, whilst accommodating ISO files, DD images and compressed disk images.
The portable nature means no installation is required, and advanced features include bad block checking, persistent storage creation for certain Linux distributions and BIOS firmware flashing capabilities. Its reputation remains strong among users seeking a clean, advertisement-free tool without unnecessary extras, making it a popular choice for system installation and repair tasks via USB media.
Originally developed by Innotek GmbH and later acquired by Sun Microsystems before becoming part of Oracle Corporation in 2010, this cross-platform virtualisation solution operates on Windows, macOS, Linux and Solaris hosts while supporting a wide range of guest operating systems including Windows, Linux, BSD, Solaris, DOS and experimental macOS installations. The software offers numerous features such as system snapshots for saving and restoring virtual machine states, shared folders and clipboard functionality for seamless file transfer, various virtual networking modes, hardware virtualisation support through Intel VT-x and AMD-V technologies, and portable virtual machine images that can be exported and imported across different host systems. Guest Additions provide enhanced integration between host and guest systems, whilst an optional proprietary Extension Pack adds advanced capabilities like USB 2.0/3.0 device support, disk encryption and remote desktop access. Although VirtualBox excels as a free, cross-platform solution ideal for developers, testers and learners requiring multiple operating system environments, it operates slower than bare-metal or enterprise-grade hypervisors and offers limited 3D graphics acceleration compared to native performance, making it less suitable for demanding virtualisation scenarios than commercial alternatives like VMware or Hyper-V.
Web Browsers
Launched by Google in 2008, this free and open-source web browser project serves as the foundational code for numerous popular browsers including Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi and Opera. The project utilises the Blink rendering engine and V8 JavaScript engine, providing the core browser functionality that companies then build upon by adding their own branding, proprietary features and services. Unlike Chrome, the basic Chromium build operates without Google services such as automatic updates, account synchronisation, Safe Browsing or the Chrome Web Store, making it a more transparent but less user-friendly option.
While it offers excellent cross-platform compatibility across Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, and maintains compatibility with Chrome extensions, it requires manual configuration for features like media codecs and DRM support that most users expect. The browser inherits the same resource-intensive nature as Chrome but provides complete transparency through its open-source codebase, allowing anyone to audit, modify or build their own versions whilst benefiting from cutting-edge web technologies and broad site compatibility.
A free, open-source fork of Firefox launched initially for Linux in March 2020 before expanding to Windows and macOS in 2021, this privacy-focused browser removes telemetry, data collection and convenience features like Pocket and sponsored content that compromise user privacy. The browser comes pre-configured with uBlock Origin, privacy-centric search engines such as DuckDuckGo and Searx, and implements strict tracking protections including URL stripping and fingerprinting defences by disabling WebGL, IPv6 and DRM features. It automatically deletes cookies and site data on exit unless disabled by users, whilst security updates follow Firefox releases by just a few days to ensure timely patches. The browser ranks among the most private options available alongside Brave and Tor Browser in privacy testing, though it lacks built-in Firefox Sync and automatic updates through mainstream app stores, making it ideal for users seeking a hardened browsing experience without typical privacy compromises but potentially unsuitable for those requiring DRM-dependent content or cloud-based convenience features.
Developed by the Mozilla Foundation and first launching as Phoenix in 2002 before becoming Firefox in 2004, this free and open-source web browser has established itself as one of the major browsers alongside Chrome, Safari and Edge. Operating across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS platforms, Firefox distinguishes itself by using its own Gecko engine rather than Chromium, making it one of the few truly independent browsers available. The browser prioritises user privacy through features like Enhanced Tracking Protection, Total Cookie Protection and Facebook Container, whilst offering extensive customisation options through thousands of extensions, themes and deep configuration settings via about:config.
Performance improvements through the Quantum project in 2017 enhanced speed and reduced memory usage, though some benchmarks still show Chrome browsers performing slightly better in certain areas. Built-in tools include Reader Mode for distraction-free reading, an integrated PDF viewer and cross-device synchronisation of bookmarks, tabs and login information. Despite maintaining only around 3% global market share, Firefox serves as a crucial alternative that prevents total Chromium dominance on the web whilst providing transparency through its open-source nature and community-driven development approach, though users seeking even more privacy-focused features often turn to Firefox-based forks like LibreWolf or Waterfox.
This Mozilla-related project serves as a free and open-source internet suite that combines multiple tools into a single package, rather than functioning as just a browser. The suite includes a web browser based on the Gecko engine, an email and newsgroup client similar to Thunderbird, an HTML editor for creating web pages, an IRC chat client and web development tools including a DOM inspector and JavaScript debugger. SeaMonkey represents the spiritual successor to the original Mozilla Application Suite, which Mozilla discontinued in 2005, with development continuing under the SeaMonkey Council, a small community group.
The suite maintains a classic interface reminiscent of older Mozilla and Netscape browsers, whilst offering extension support through a system similar to older Firefox and Thunderbird add-ons. Although it provides the convenience of having all internet tools bundled together with relatively lightweight resource usage, SeaMonkey faces limitations including slower development updates due to its small maintenance team, lagging web compatibility with modern standards and potential security concerns from delayed patching. The suite appeals primarily to users who prefer an integrated internet solution with an old-school feel, though those prioritising modern web compatibility and active development might find Firefox, Thunderbird or other Mozilla-based browsers more suitable.
This free, open-source web browser originated as a fork of Firefox 4.0 code around 2009-2010 but has since evolved independently using the Goanna rendering engine, a modified version of Gecko. Developed by Moonchild Productions and primarily available for Windows and Linux, it aims to preserve the classic Firefox experience that many users feel was lost in later versions. The browser supports legacy XUL and XPCOM extensions that modern Firefox abandoned after version 57, maintains the traditional customisable interface without recent redesigns, and removes features like Pocket, DRM and telemetry by default for enhanced privacy. Whilst it offers a lightweight, resource-efficient browsing experience with its own sync service, it faces limitations including reduced compatibility with some modern web standards, inability to run contemporary WebExtensions and potentially slower security updates due to its smaller development team. The browser appeals particularly to users who value customisation, legacy extension support and a classic Firefox interface, though it may not suit those requiring cutting-edge web compatibility or frequent security updates.
A free, open-source web browser based on the Firefox codebase, this privacy-centric alternative removes telemetry, tracking, DRM and data collection features by default whilst maintaining compatibility with both Firefox WebExtensions and Chrome extensions. Available in two editions, the Current version uses the modern Gecko engine with performance optimisations for 64-bit systems, while the Classic version retains support for legacy extensions that newer Firefox versions no longer support, though this comes with security concerns due to unpatched vulnerabilities. The browser supports Windows, macOS, Linux and Android platforms. Users appreciate its balance of privacy protection and performance without sacrificing browsing functionality, making it particularly suitable for those seeking a Firefox alternative with enhanced privacy controls and broader extension compatibility, though it may not be ideal for users requiring the latest Firefox-specific features or the most rapid security updates.