Linux Mint

Best Apps to Install on Linux Mint in 2021

Best Apps to Install on Linux Mint in 2021

Linux Mint is a popular Linux distro alongside Ubuntu. There is not much difference between the functionalities and features of the two. Hence, the various app that is compatible with Ubuntu also works effortlessly on Linux Mint.

The advantage of using Linux distros and apps is that most are free and open-source.

As Linux Mint is an alternative to Ubuntu, you can find an alternative to every popular and widely used app. Thus, there is no scarcity of apps in each category. However, finding a reliable app is not an easy task because of so many options.

So, to ease this task for you, I'm going to give you a brief introduction to the 10 best applications you can try on Linux Mint.

1. Stacer

Stacer is an open-source system optimizer and application monitor for Linux and its distros like Ubuntu and Linux Mint. It is a great tool for system administrators to manage system resources and keep track of its performance.

The user interface is clean and beautiful. It is very easy to use and understand, even for new users. The resource tab displays CPU, RAM, Disk, CPU load average, and network activity for the last 60 seconds. It also comes with an APT repository manager, which you can use to activate, disable, or delete any repository.

Stacer is a must-have app on any Linux distro. It is a feature-rich application that lets you manage start-up apps, crash reports, application caches, and logs. With the help of an uninstaller, you can uninstall any unwanted apps from here.

2. VLC Media Player

VLC is a popular, free, and open-source cross-platform media player and streaming application. It is one of the most widely used media players across popular platforms such as Windows, Mac, and Linux. It effortlessly supports all the majorly used video and audio file formats out there.

Its user interface is quite clean and simple, how every standard media player should have. I have been using this media player for almost a decade now and it doesn't give me any reason to switch to another one.

The reason behind its popularity is the excellent tools that it offers, like tweaking video and audio playbacks. You can do all this with keyboard shortcuts, isn't that excellent?

3. Telegram

Telegram is a free and cross-platform cloud-based instant messaging application. It was initially launched on iOS in August 2013 and later ported to Android in October 2013. Since its inception, it has gain so much popularity, and now it is one of the most widely used instant messaging and communication apps out there.

It offers services like end-to-end encrypted video calling, VoIP, file sharing, text messaging, and many other features. Cloud-based service, you can access telegram from anywhere from any device.

You can share large files using Telegram as there is no capping for file size while sharing. End-to-end encryption means you get complete privacy while sharing important messages and data.

If you wish to port from popular messaging apps such as WhatsApp to Telegram then you can bring your chat history to Telegram easily.

4. Audacity

Audacity is a free and open-source audio recording and editing application for Linux and its distros. It is a cross-platform application that also runs on Windows, Mac, and Unix-like operating systems.

It is the best audio editing and recording tool you will ever find for Linux and its distros like Ubuntu and Linux Mint. It offers features such as recording, export/import, 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit sound quality. Editing is made easy with unlimited sequential undo and redo; real-time preview of the various effects you apply.

It supports all the majorly used modern as well as classic audio file formats. So, if you are into audio editing and recording, then you should try audacity.

5. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a cross-platform source code editor developed for programmers and developers. It supports many programming and markup languages. Python application programming is its main interface.

It is a feature-rich code editor with features like goto anything, goto definition, multiple selections at once, command palette, powerful API and package ecosystem, split editing, instant project switch, and many more. On top of this, the code editor is highly customizable, you can customize key binding, menus, snippets, macros, and more.

It is a great code editor, a must-have application for web developers.

6. GIMP

GIMP or also known as GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free and open-source image editor. It is a cross-platform image editor which is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

GIMP is an ideal application for graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, and personal users.  It offers many tools that get your job done very easily. It also supports third-party plugins, which makes it even more powerful image editing software.

With the help of tools on offer, you can achieve high-quality image output. Here, your imagination is your limit. GIMP can be used for producing icons, design elements and to design user interface components and mock-ups.

7. Steam

If you are a fan of video games like Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2, and want to play them on Linux Mint then Steam is the solution for you. Steam is a video game distribution application by Valve. It is a cross-platform application and very popular among gamers around the world.

Thanks to steam, many popular games can now be played on Linux and its distros like Linux Mint. It has thousands of games in various categories. Some of them are free and some need to be purchased.

8. Geary

Geary is a free and open-source email client for Linux and its distros. Thunderbird email ships-in ore-installed with Linux Mint and Geary is the better alternative to it. The user interface is quite simple but very powerful and easy to use.

Talking about user experience, it is pretty smooth. Setting up your account on Geary is a swift process, you need to provide few details and then you are good to go. It supports popular mail services like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Microsoft Outlook,     and other widely used IMAP servers.

You also get desktop notifications, fast keyword search, and HTML mail composer are some of its key features.

9. Spotify

Who doesn't love to listen to their favorite music while working? It keeps you relax and helps you to concentrate on work for long hours. Spotify is one of the best and famous music streaming apps worldwide, with a huge collection of regional and international music.

User interface is very modern and very easy to use. You can easily access your favourite genres. On older machine users, it might be difficult to use it as it demands high system resources for functioning smoothly.

10. Peek

Peek is an animated GIF screen recorder for Linux and its distros like Linux Mint. It is a good tool for developers and content creators on streaming platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can showcase specific features of your app or other projects through GIF.

It is not like other screen recorder apps as it lacks the features that regular screen recording app has to offer. But it still proves to be a handy app for some users.

So, these are the best 10 apps you can install on Linux Mint. Obviously, we cannot cover all the apps in one list as there are other apps you can try on Linux Mint. Tell us which apps you use on Linux most. Feel free to share your views with us at @linuxhint and @SwapTirthakar.

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