Software Recommendations
Reading time: 4 minutes
Introduction
This is my go-to list of software, which I use every time I resurrect the beloved machines of family members and friends.
In the future, if a friend or family member ask me for software advice, I will point them to this list. I don’t have to worry if they will get the correct software from the correct download page. Less hassle for everyone 🙂.
About the recommendations
My ranking does not follow a scientific scale. However, from my point of view, there are certain criteria that simply make software better. Without order:
- open source code 🐧
- data privacy
- functionality
- no system lock-in (e.g. limited to a certain cloud service)
- usability
- personal and/or professional use
I might recommend more than one tool per category depending on the target audience.
For Android systems, I try to provide the open F-Droid store links, right next to the Playstore links. Get F-Droid setup on your device.
For Linux systems, I try to provide flatpak links. Setup flatpak on your system.
Legend
Hover over the tools name.
Info | Source | Ranking |
---|---|---|
🐧Open source | 📦 Download | 🥇1st place |
💰Comercial | 🤖 F-Droid | 🥈2nd place |
🧍Personal use only | ▶️ Google Play store | 🥉3rd place |
❓Still looking for | 🍎 Apple Appstore | |
⛱️ System default |
Essential tools
Tool | Windows 10 | Linux | macOS | Android | iOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Webbrowser | Firefox | Firefox | Firefox | Firefox ▶️ | Firefox🍎 |
Email Client | Thunderbird | Thunderbird | Thunderbird | K-9 Mail ▶️ | ❓ |
Video player | VLC player | VLC player | VLC player | VLC Player 🤖- ▶️ | ⛱️ |
Archiver | 7-zip | ⛱️ | Keka | ❓ | ❓ |
Music player | Foobar 2000 | Tauon Music Box | ❓ | ❓ | ❓ |
Text Editor | Notepad++ | ⛱️ | ❓ | Markor 🤖- ▶️ | iA Writer🍎 |
Remote Support | TeamViewer🧍 TigerVNC |
TeamViewer🧍 TigerVNC |
TeamViewer🧍 TigerVNC |
TeamViewer Quick Support ▶️ | TeamViewer🍎 |
Office
Tool | Windows 10 | Linux | macOS | Android | iOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SumatraPDF | ⛱️ | ❓ | Pdf Viewer Plus 🤖- ▶️ »nice and simple Pdf Creator 🤖»PDF creator_ |
PDF Expert🍎 »advanced editing features |
|
Office Suite | 🥇Libre Office 🥈OnlyOffice »live collaboration possible 👍 |
🥇Libre Office 🥈OnlyOffice »live collaboration possible 👍 |
🥇Libre Office 🥈OnlyOffice »live collaboration possible 👍 |
❓ | ❓ |
Markdown Editor | 🥇Marktext 🥈Typora »unfortunately not open source |
🥇Marktext 🥈Typora »unfortunately not open source |
🥇Marktext 🥈Typora »unfortunately not open source |
Markor 🤖- ▶️ | iA Writer🍎 |
Note taking / Knowledge Managment | 🥇Zettlr 🥈Obsidian🧍 »unfortunately not open source 🥉TiddlyWiki |
🥇Zettlr 🥈Obsidian🧍 »unfortunately not open source 🥉TiddlyWiki |
🥇Zettlr 🥈Obsidian🧍 »unfortunately not open source 🥉TiddlyWiki |
Markor 🤖- ▶️ | iA Writer🍎 |
Security
Tool | Windows 10 | Linux | macOS | Android | iOS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Password-Manager | 🥇Keepass 2 🥈Bitwarden |
🥇KeepassXC 🥈Bitwarden |
🥇MacPass 🥈Bitwarden |
🥇 Keepass2Android 🥈Bitwarden |
🥇Keepass touch 🥈Bitwarden |
Anti-Virus »those are usually snake-oil which bring more harm than good |
⛱️ »system default “Windows Defender” or nothing. |
⛱️ | ⛱️ | ⛱️ | ⛱️ |