Source: http://www.linuxalt.com/
There are many articles written about the reasons why users may wish to convert to Linux. Frequently cited reasons include the favorable licensing terms, the freely distributable software (with source code), support from the Linux community, improved security, open file formats, the fact that Linux can run on a wide variety of platforms, etc. However, unless a desktop user is provided with real alternatives to the existing software he or she currently uses, migration to a different operating system is going to be very difficult.
This collection of articles aims to dispel the myth that Linux isn't ready for the desktop user to move away from the Microsoft world. If you are contemplating switching from Windows to Linux, please be assured that many of your favorite desktop applications have Linux equivalents, often with a comparable feature set.
For each Linux application, we have compiled a portal page providing an overview of the software, a screenshot of the application in action, a comprehensive list of its features, and links to sites offering information and support on the software such as forums, tutorials, and reviews.
Unlike their Window counterparts, the vast majority of the Linux applications listed below are available to download without charge (a few of the Linux equivalents are commercial, or released under a proprietory license). Popular Linux distributions conveniently include many of the software applications listed below (see our Linux Distribution Guide if you are unsure what is meant by the term distribution, or if you would like more information on what they offer).
Alternatively, we have also provided a large flat list of all the software included, which is in alphabetical order.
Windows Software
Category
Linux Equivalent
3D Studio Max
3D Computer Graphics
Art of Illusion
Blender
K-3D
ACDSee
Graphics Viewer
Cornice
gThumb
Gwenview
Imgv
Adobe Acrobat Pro
PDF editor
PDFedit
Adobe After Effects
Realtime Editing
Jahshaka
Adobe Flash Player
Multimedia
Gnash
Adobe Reader
Office Utility
Adobe Reader
Evince
KPDF
okular
Abode InDesign
Desktop Publishing
Scribus
Adobe Illustrator
Graphics
Inkscape
Skencil
Xara Xtreme
Adobe PhotoAlbum
Digital Camera
digiKam
Adobe Photoshop
Graphics
CinePaint
GIMP
Gimpshop
Krita
Pixel
AOL Instant Messenger
Communication
Kopete
Pidgin
ArcGIS
Geographic Information Systems
GRASS
Quantum GIS
uDig
AutoCAD
CAD
K-3D
QCad
BRL-CAD
Borland Delphi
Pascal Development
Lazarus
CDex
Multimedia
Grip
K3b
RipOff
Sound Juicer
ChemDraw
Chemical Structures
XDrawChem
Citrix Presentation Server
Networking
NX Free Server
RealVNC
Vinagre
Copernic Tracker
Web site tracking
Specto
DigiGuide
TV Guide
Maxemum TV-Guide
Dreamweaver
Web Development
Bluefish
Quanta Plus
KompoZer
Nvu
Screem
Eviews
Econometrics
gretl
Filezilla
FTP Client
gFTP
Filezilla
FireFTP
KFTPgrabber
Final Cut Pro
Multimedia Editor
Avidemux
Cinelerra
Kino
Rosegarden
FL Studio
Midi Sequencer
Drum Machine
EnergyXT2
Hydrogen
LMMS
Forte Agent
Usenet newsreader
KNode
Pan
GetRight
Download Manager
Downloader for X
GWGET
KGet
Gmail Notifier
Email Tool
CheckGmail
Gmail Notifier
Mail Notification
Google Desktop Search
Search Tool
Beagle
Google Desktop
Guitar Pro
Multitrack editor
TuxGuitar
Inspiration
Mind mapping
FreeMind
Semantik
View Your Mind
iTunes
Media Player
Amarok
Banshee
Exaile
gtkpod
Rhythmbox
Songbird
Launchy
Application Launcher
GNOME Do
Katapult
Legacy
Genealogy
GRAMPS
Logos Bible Software
Bible studies
BibleTime
GnomeSword
MATLAB
Numerical computation
MATLAB
Octave
Scilab
Mathematica
Computer algebra
Mathematica
Maxima
Meal Master
Recipe Manager
Gourmet Recipe Manager
Microsoft Access
Database
Kexi
OpenOffice.org
PostgreSQL
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
Gnumeric
OpenOffice.org
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Web Browser
Firefox
Konqueror
Opera
Microsoft HyperTerminal
Communications
GtkTerm
minicom
Microsoft Money
Money Management
GnuCash
Microsoft NetMeeting
VoIP and videoconferencing
Ekiga
Microsoft Office
Office Suite
Google Docs & Spreadsheets
KOffice
OpenOffice.org
Microsoft Office OneNote
Notetaking
BasKet Note Pads
Tomboy
Microsoft Outlook
Email Client
Balsa
Evolution
KMail
Sylpheed
Thunderbird
Microsoft Powerpoint
Presentation
KPresenter
OpenOffice Impress
Microsoft Project
Project Management
KOffice KPlato
GanttProject
TaskJuggler
Microsoft Silverlight
Web Application Framework
Moonlight
Microsoft Word
Wordprocessor
AbiWord
Kword
OpenOffice.org
Microsoft Visio
Office Drawing
ArgoUML
Dia
Kivio
Microsoft Visual Basic
Programming Language
Gambas
Microsoft Visual Studio
Development Environment
Anjuta
Code::Blocks
Eclipse
Geany
KDevelop
NetBeans IDE
Microsoft .NET Framework
.NET Development
Mono
mIRC
IRC Client
Konversation
XChat
MegaStar
Astronomy
Celestia
Stellarium
Movie Collector
DVD Cataloging
GCstar
Griffith
Tellico
vMovieDB
Nero Burning Rom
CD/DVD Burning
Brasero
GnomeBaker
K3b
Nero Linux
Nero Recode
MPEG-4 encoder
HandBrake
Nero Vision Express
DVD Authoring
KMediaFactory
Q DVD-Author
NewsBin Pro
Usenet Binary Downloader
KLibido
Pan
NewzCrawler
News Aggregator
Akregator
BlogBridge
Liferea
RSSOwl
Thunderbird
Notepad
Simple Text Editor
Cream
gedit
Kate
SciTE
Scribes
OmniPage
Text Recognition (OCR)
Kooka
Palm Desktop
Personal Information
Manager
Chandler
Evolution
J-Pilot
Kontact
KPilot
qOrganizer
Spicebird
Parasoft Insure++
Debugging
Valgrind
Partition Magic
System Utility
GParted
Picasa
Photo Management
blueMarine
F-Spot
Picasa
PowerDVD
DVD Player
MPlayer
VLC
Quicken
Personal Finance
GnuCash
Grisbi
kMyMoney
Moneydance
Quick Books
Financial / Taxation
MyBooks Professional
Scientific Word
Typesetting
Kile
LyX
TeXmacs
Skype
Internet Telephony
Skype
QuteCom
Soundrec
Audio Recorder
Audacity
Jokosher
Traverso DAW
SPSS
Statistical Analysis
PSPP
R
SPSS
Symantec Ghost
Backup
Clonezilla
Partition Image
PING
Symantec Veritas NetBackup
Backup
Amanda
Bacula
Keep
Traktor DJ
Disc Jockey Tool
Mixxx
Tweak UI
Utility
Ubuntu Tweak
µTorrent
BitTorrent client
Deluge
KTorrent
Transmission
Vuze
Videora
iPod Video Conversion
thin liquid film
VideoReDo
Video Editing
Avidemux
Kdenlive
Lives
VMware Workstation
Virtualization
VirtualBox
VMware Workstation
Winamp
Multimedia Player
Audacious
Amarok
Banshee
Helix Player
Windows Calculator
Calculator
SpeedCrunch
Windows File Explorer
File Management
Endeavour Mark II
Konqueror
Krusader
Nautilus
PCMan File Manager
Thunar
Xfe
Windows Live Messenger
Communication
aMSN
emesene
Kopete
Mercury Messenger
Pidgin
Windows Media Center
Home Media Box
Moovida
Freevo
LinuxMCE
MythTV
Windows Media Player
Multimedia Player
Kaffeine
KPlayer
MPlayer
Totem
xine
WinIso
CD Image File Utility
KIso
WinZip
Compression Utility
File Roller
ZoneAlarm
Firewall
Guarddog
Firestarter
The list above is not exhaustive. We welcome suggestions for titles to be added to the existing Linux equivalents, other software you would like us to list, or sites that have relevant information about the already listed software. Send your emails to our resident webmaster. Visit our changelog.
The table below will provide alternatives to more specialised Windows software, typically software that a systems administrator needs to perform his or her job.
Windows Software
Category
Linux Equivalent
Check Point VPN-1
Virtual Private Networking
OpenVPN
CommView
Protocol Analyzer
Wireshark
HP OpenView Network Node Manager
Network Management
Nagios
NeDi
OpenNMS
Pandora FMS
Microsoft Exchange Server
Groupware
Zimbra
Microsoft Internet Information Services
Web Server
Apache HTTP Server
Plesk
Web Server Administration
Webmin
