Goal
Just because something has become the “default” choice doesn’t make it the only choice. Many daily driver apps have replacements that could save you money or better fit your needs.
If you’re looking to replace apps that I don’t have listed here, let me know and I’ll update the list.
This guide is for people:
- Who want to stop paying for subscription based applications.
- Who want to stop paying for subscription services.
- Who need alternatives to apps that will work on Linux.
These are the main factors we’re looking at for each substitution:
- Is the app free?
- Is there a distinction between licensing for personal and commercial?
- Is the app open source or proprietary?
- What operating systems does the app support?
- OSs in consideration: Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS, Android
- Is the service self-host-able?
- What knowledge is require to self host?
- How hard is it to transition to and learn to use the new app?
The Ultimate App Replacement Guide
Adobe
There are 3 main reasons to want to leave Adobe’s apps:
- You used to use CS6, and you’re mad that CC moved to a subscription model.
- You’re a Linux user, Adobe doesn’t offer apps for Linux.
- Adobe is the root of all evil and you don’t want to give them money.
Photoshop
Replacing Photoshop is pretty easy.
Affinity Photo 2 (Now called Affinity Studio)
Price: Free with paid features
Code: Proprietary
Transition Difficulty: Relatively Low, good compatibility
Operating Systems
Windows: Yes
Linux: No (But there are work arounds)
MacOS: Yes
iOS: iPad only
Android: No
GIMP
Price: Free. Always.
Code: Open Source
Transition Difficulty: High, some compatibility with PSD files.
Operating Systems
Windows: Yes
Linux: Yes
MacOS: Yes
iOS: No
Android: No
Premiere
Slightly more difficult to replace, but we still have DaVinci Resolve at least.
DaVinci Resolve
Price: Free with paid features.
Code: Proprietary
Transition Difficulty: Medium, some support for existing projects.
Operating Systems
Windows: Yes
Linux: Yes
MacOS: Yes
iOS: iPad Only
Android: No
Audition
Idk if anyone actually uses this instead of Audacity, but here’s the recommendation to just use Audacity.
You’re probably not doing mixing on a level where you need anything beyond that.
Audacity
Price: Free
Code: Open source
Transition Difficulty: Easy for basic use, much harder for advanced use. NO .sesx support.
Operating Systems
Windows: Yes
Linux: Yes
MacOS: Yes
iOS: No
Android: No
Illustrator
Affinity Designer 2 (Now called Affinity Studio)
InDesign
Affinity Publisher 2 (Now called Affinity Studio)
Office Suite
Word/Excel
LibreOffice
Outlook
Thunderbird
Access
DBeaver
Streaming Media
Netflix/Hulu/Disney+/Crunchy Roll/etc.
This list has gotten stupid long and it feels we’re right back in the cable days. These are streaming services so this section will require self hosting.
Jellyfin
Plex
Spotify
Plexamp
Navidrome
Cloud Services
Google Photos & Drive
Proton Drive
Immich
NextCloud
Web Browser
Chrome/Edge
For those who don’t know, the difference between Chrome and Edge is very small. They both run on Chromium, and you’re really just picking if you want to send your data to Google or Microsoft. This switch is very simple.
UnGoogled Chromium
Opera/Opera GX
If you’re using this you actually must have some sort of humiliation kink. All your data is being sent to the Chinese government. This is not a joke. This is also a Chromium based browser, but it’s somehow worse then just using Google Chrome. Move to ANY other browser. Vivaldi was even made by ex-opera devs.
Vivaldi
Brave
You’re larping security. This a Chromium based browser. Just run UnGoogled Chromium with an add blocker or move to a Firefox based browser for actual hardening.
Firefox
Waterfox
Firefox
Firefox is pretty solid, If you’re a nerd, you can harden Firefox to make it one of the best browsers in existence. However, if that’s something you want and you don’t want to do all the work for it, grab Librewolf.
Librewolf
Chat Apps
Discord
Instead of typing all this again go read Finding a Discord Replacement
