5 apps new Linux users should install on day one

Most Linux distros are intentionally minimal to avoid bloat, offering a fresh and clean environment. While this is a major perk, knowing what to install first can be tricky for newcomers. So, to help kickstart your journey, here are five essential apps that belong on every new Linux PC.

I've always said that installing Linux is only half the job—you still need to install all your favorite apps and tweak your settings to favorable configurations . That said, these five apps should cover all the basic things you need—and then some—to ensure you have the optimal experience using Linux.

GNOME Tweaks and GNOME Extensions (if using Ubuntu or Fedora)

Make GNOME even better

If you're using a GNOME-based distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora—two of the most popular options—the first thing you need to do is install GNOME Tweaks and GNOME Extensions. They should be readily available from your distro's graphical software store. However, you can also install them using the terminal:

This is necessary because GNOME, by default, is fairly minimal and lacks crucial customization features. GNOME Tweaks gives you richer control over your desktop experience—you can change the placement of window buttons, switch themes, configure fonts, and set startup applications. GNOME Extensions, on the other hand, lets you install community-built extensions that add impressive new functionalities to GNOME. There are literally dozens of fantastic extensions available that can completely transform your workflow and make GNOME one of the most powerful desktop environments.

KDE Connect (or GSConnect)

Transfer files between all of your devices

KDE Connect lets you pair your smartphone with your Linux PC and then use one to control the other. Once connected, you can see notifications on both devices, send files between your phone and PC, remotely control media playback, use your phone as a trackpad or remote keyboard, and even execute terminal commands on your PC directly from your phone.

The app comes pre-installed with KDE Plasma-based distros —but if you're using a GNOME-based distro, you'll need to install the GSConnect extension . On your smartphone, install it from the Play Store (or App Store), pair both devices, and voilà—your phone and PC can now communicate seamlessly.

KDE Connect works seamlessly between Android and Linux, offering full feature support. However, on iPhone, the feature set is a bit limited, and file transfers from PC to iPhone and background notifications don't work as reliably.

A Chromium-based browser

It doesn't have to be Chrome!

Most Linux distributions ship with Firefox as the default browser—and while it's definitely a great option, some web apps don't work well on Firefox. For example, I've personally faced a lot of issues using Firefox to run Canva, Netflix, Notion, and Google Meet (which is what I use for all client meetings).

Now, you can definitely install Google Chrome on Linux if that's what you're used to, but I'd urge you to try Chromium —the open-source engine powering Google Chrome. You can also explore other Chromium-based browsers like Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi—all of which are fully compatible with all Chrome extensions . You can install all of these from your distro's official repo!

OnlyOffice

The better Office alternative

While LibreOffice is the default office suite for almost every Linux distro, I personally think OnlyOffice is a better alternative—especially if you are used to working with Microsoft Office and need to collaborate with folks who use Word and Excel.

First, OnlyOffice offers a sleek and modern interface that's similar to Microsoft Office, which should help you better navigate the app and find the options you need. LibreOffice, on the other hand, can look a bit old and dated while also following a different layout that can take some getting used to.

I've also noticed that OnlyOffice offers better compatibility with files created using Microsoft Office. I've opened DOCX and XLSX files and rarely encountered formatting issues, which is not something I can confidently say about LibreOffice—especially when working with complex documents with a lot of intricate styling and formatting.

Flatpak

Install new apps the easy way

Strictly speaking, Flatpak is not an app but a universal software repository, but since you install it like any other Linux app—and it's my preferred way to install apps on Linux —I'm going to include it on the list.

You see, most Linux distros will come with their own official software repository, and it might not have the app you want to use! However, most modern apps released for Linux now have Flatpak versions, so installing it gives you access to all of those apps , regardless of your distro choice.

A few distros come with Flatpak pre-installed, but if yours didn't, check the installation guide —it's usually two or three terminal commands. Once installed, immediately use it to download Bazaar and Flatseal using these commands:

Bazaar gives you a graphical software store to browse and download all available Flatpaks. Meanwhile, Flatseal lets you control the system permissions that each Flatpak has on your PC.

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Remember, these are just the bare essentials

There you have it—five Linux tools and apps that you should install on day one to get the smoothest experience using Linux. While this list just covers the essentials to get you started, the beauty of Linux is that there are always more cool apps to discover —so keep exploring!