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Switching from a Mac

Which distro to pick, what works on your Mac, and what to use instead of your Mac apps.

Intel or Apple Silicon?

Intel Macs run most distros, though some need extra Wi-Fi or camera drivers. Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2) run Fedora Asahi Remix, installed next to macOS. Newer chips and some features aren't supported yet; check the Asahi feature list for your model.

Good places to start

  1. elementary · #22 in popularity

    Dock, clean design and a curated app store, much like macOS.

    Clean, macOS-like desktop with a curated app store.

    Telemetry: None

  2. Zorin · #6 in popularity

    Has a macOS-style layout with a dock and top bar.

    Polished desktop with Windows- and macOS-style layouts; aimed at people leaving Windows.

    Telemetry: Anonymous count, on by default

  3. Ubuntu · #9 in popularity

    GNOME's dock and app overview feel close to Mission Control.

    The most widely documented desktop Linux; long-term support releases.

    Telemetry: Off unless you opt in

  4. Fedora · #7 in popularity

    The base for Fedora Asahi Remix, which runs on Apple Silicon Macs.

    Up-to-date software on a fixed release cycle; a common choice for developers.

    Telemetry: Anonymous count, on by default

Not sure? Answer a few questions for three matches with reasons.

What changes day to day

Which Macs
Intel Macs run most distros. Apple Silicon (M1 and M2) Macs run Fedora Asahi Remix; newer chips and some hardware (like Thunderbolt) aren't fully supported yet. Check the Asahi Linux feature list for your model.
Keyboard shortcuts
Copy and paste use Ctrl instead of Cmd. GNOME and KDE let you remap keys if you'd rather keep your Mac habits.
Apple services
iMessage and starting FaceTime calls aren't available. iCloud Drive, Photos, Notes and Mail work through icloud.com in the browser. AirDrop can be replaced by LocalSend, which also runs on iPhone.
Installing apps
Apps come from an app store, like the Mac App Store. Homebrew also works on Linux if you use it.
Creative apps
Adobe apps, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro don't run on Linux. DaVinci Resolve, Blender, Krita, darktable and Bitwig Studio do. See the table below.

Your apps on Linux

What to use instead of 78 common apps from a Mac. Missing one? Tell us.

78 of 78 apps

You useOn Linux
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPointOffice and email
  • Microsoft 365 on the web In the browserFull editing in the browser with a Microsoft account.
  • LibreOffice Linux appOpens and saves Office files; complex layouts can shift.
  • ONLYOFFICE Desktop Linux appLooks closer to Microsoft Office.
OutlookOffice and email
  • Outlook on the web In the browser
  • Thunderbird Linux appWorks with Microsoft 365 accounts.
  • Evolution Linux appSupports Exchange accounts.
OneNoteOffice and email
  • OneNote on the web In the browser
  • Joplin Linux app
  • Obsidian Linux app
Adobe AcrobatOffice and email
  • Okular Linux appReads, annotates and signs PDFs.
  • Xournal++ Linux appHandwriting and notes on PDFs.
  • Master PDF Editor Linux appPaid; edits PDF text.
Pages, Numbers, KeynoteOffice and email
  • iWork on icloud.com In the browser
  • LibreOffice Linux appCan open Pages, Numbers and Keynote files.
Apple MailOffice and email
  • Thunderbird Linux app
  • Evolution Linux app
NotionOffice and email
  • Notion on the web In the browser
  • AppFlowy Linux appOpen-source alternative.
EvernoteOffice and email
  • Evernote on the web In the browser
  • Joplin Linux appCan import Evernote exports.
ObsidianOffice and email
  • Obsidian Linux app
TodoistOffice and email
  • Todoist Linux app
Adobe PhotoshopPhoto and design
  • GIMP Linux app
  • Krita Linux appStrong for painting.
  • Photopea In the browserOpens PSD files in the browser.
  • Photoshop No good optionNo Linux version; Wine results are poor.
Adobe LightroomPhoto and design
  • darktable Linux app
  • RawTherapee Linux app
  • digiKam Linux appLibrary and tagging.
Adobe IllustratorPhoto and design
  • Inkscape Linux app
  • Illustrator No good option
Adobe InDesignPhoto and design
  • Scribus Linux appCan't open InDesign files.
Affinity Photo, Designer, PublisherPhoto and design
  • Krita, Inkscape, Scribus Linux app
  • Affinity No good optionNo Linux version.
FigmaPhoto and design
  • Figma in the browser In the browserFull app; there's no official desktop app for Linux.
  • Penpot In the browserOpen source; can be self-hosted.
CanvaPhoto and design
  • Canva on the web In the browser
Pixelmator ProPhoto and design
  • GIMP Linux app
  • Krita Linux app
Apple PhotosPhoto and design
  • iCloud Photos on icloud.com In the browser
  • digiKam Linux app
  • Shotwell Linux app
AutoCADPhoto and design
  • FreeCAD Linux app
  • LibreCAD Linux app2D only.
  • BricsCAD Linux appPaid; reads DWG.
  • AutoCAD No good option
Fusion 360, SolidWorksPhoto and design
  • Onshape In the browser
  • FreeCAD Linux app
  • Fusion 360 / SolidWorks No good option
SketchUpPhoto and design
  • SketchUp for Web In the browser
  • Blender Linux app
BlenderPhoto and design
  • Blender Linux app
Adobe Premiere ProVideo and audio
  • DaVinci Resolve Linux appFree version can't decode H.264/H.265 on Linux; Studio can.
  • Kdenlive Linux app
  • Shotcut Linux app
Final Cut ProVideo and audio
  • DaVinci Resolve Linux app
  • Kdenlive Linux app
iMovieVideo and audio
  • Kdenlive Linux app
  • Shotcut Linux app
  • OpenShot Linux app
Adobe After EffectsVideo and audio
  • Blender Linux appDifferent workflow.
  • After Effects No good option
QuickTime PlayerVideo and audio
  • VLC Linux app
  • mpv Linux app
OBS StudioVideo and audio
  • OBS Studio Linux app
AudacityVideo and audio
  • Audacity Linux app
Adobe AuditionVideo and audio
  • Audacity Linux app
  • Ardour Linux app
FL StudioVideo and audio
  • Bitwig Studio Linux appPaid.
  • REAPER Linux appPaid.
  • LMMS Linux app
  • FL Studio Through WineRuns in Wine for many users.
Ableton LiveVideo and audio
  • Bitwig Studio Linux appPaid; similar workflow.
  • Ableton Live Through WinePartly works in Wine; not supported.
Logic Pro, GarageBandVideo and audio
  • Bitwig Studio Linux appPaid.
  • REAPER Linux appPaid.
  • Ardour Linux app
  • LMMS Linux app
SpotifyVideo and audio
  • Spotify Linux app
  • Spotify web player In the browser
iTunes, Apple MusicVideo and audio
  • Apple Music on music.apple.com In the browser
  • Rhythmbox, Strawberry Linux appFor your own music files.
Apple TV appVideo and audio
  • tv.apple.com In the browser
Netflix, Disney+, Prime VideoVideo and audio
  • In Firefox or Chrome In the browserUsually lower resolution than on Windows or Mac.
SteamGaming
  • Steam Linux appRuns most Windows games through Proton.
GeForce NOWGaming
  • GeForce NOW Linux app
Microsoft TeamsChat and calls
  • Teams on the web In the browserMicrosoft retired the Linux app in 2022.
ZoomChat and calls
  • Zoom Linux app
SlackChat and calls
  • Slack Linux app
DiscordChat and calls
  • Discord Linux app
WhatsAppChat and calls
  • WhatsApp Web In the browser
SignalChat and calls
  • Signal Desktop Linux app
TelegramChat and calls
  • Telegram Desktop Linux app
iMessageApple services
  • iMessage No good optionApple doesn't offer it outside its devices.
FaceTimeApple services
  • FaceTime links In the browserYou can join a call from a link, not start one.
Google DriveFiles and cloud
  • Google Drive on the web In the browser
  • Insync Linux appPaid.
  • rclone Linux appCommand line.
DropboxFiles and cloud
  • Dropbox Linux app
iCloud DriveApple services
  • iCloud Drive on icloud.com In the browser
  • iCloud Drive sync No good option
AirDropApple services
  • LocalSend Linux appAlso on iPhone and Android.
File Explorer, FinderFiles and cloud
  • Dolphin, Files, Nemo Linux appDepends on the desktop.
iCloud Notes, Reminders, CalendarApple services
  • icloud.com In the browser
Keychain, iCloud PasswordsApple services
  • Bitwarden Linux app
  • KeePassXC Linux app
  • iCloud Passwords No good option
XcodeDeveloper tools
  • Xcode No good optionBuilding iPhone and Mac apps needs a Mac.
Visual Studio CodeDeveloper tools
  • Visual Studio Code Linux app
JetBrains IDEsDeveloper tools
  • JetBrains IDEs Linux app
Docker DesktopDeveloper tools
  • Docker Engine Linux appRuns directly on Linux.
  • Podman Desktop Linux app
HomebrewDeveloper tools
  • Your distro's package manager Linux app
  • Homebrew Linux appAlso works on Linux.
Microsoft Store, App StoreSystem and utilities
  • GNOME Software, KDE Discover Linux appInstall apps from your distro and Flathub.
Task Manager, Activity MonitorSystem and utilities
  • Mission Center Linux app
  • System Monitor Linux app
Snipping Tool, macOS screenshotsSystem and utilities
  • Spectacle, GNOME Screenshot Linux appBuilt in.
  • Flameshot Linux app
File History, Time MachineSystem and utilities
  • Déjà Dup, Pika Backup Linux appYour files.
  • Timeshift Linux appSystem snapshots.
Spotlight, Alfred, RaycastSystem and utilities
  • KRunner, GNOME search Linux appBuilt in.
  • Ulauncher Linux app
Rectangle, MagnetSystem and utilities
  • Built-in window tiling Linux appKDE Plasma and most desktops snap windows.
TeamViewer, AnyDeskSystem and utilities
  • TeamViewer Linux app
  • AnyDesk Linux app
  • RustDesk Linux appOpen source.
Remote Desktop (RDP)System and utilities
  • Remmina Linux app
  • KRDC Linux app
1PasswordSystem and utilities
  • 1Password Linux app
BitwardenSystem and utilities
  • Bitwarden Linux app
Proton VPN, MullvadSystem and utilities
  • Proton VPN Linux app
  • Mullvad Linux app
Google Chrome, Microsoft EdgeSystem and utilities
  • Chrome Linux app
  • Edge Linux app
  • Firefox Linux appDefault on most distros.
SafariSystem and utilities
  • Firefox, Chrome Linux app
  • Safari No good option
QuickenMoney and other
  • GnuCash Linux app
  • KMyMoney Linux app
  • Quicken Simplifi In the browser
TurboTax, H&R BlockMoney and other
  • Online versions In the browser
KindleMoney and other
  • Kindle Cloud Reader In the browser
  • Calibre Linux appFor DRM-free ebooks.
iTunes device sync, Finder iPhone syncApple services
  • iPhone backup and sync No good optionPhotos can be copied over USB; full backups need a Mac or Windows PC or iCloud.

Linux app
Made for Linux, or the maker ships a Linux version.
Community package
Packaged by volunteers on Flathub; the maker doesn't support it.
In the browser
Use the website or web app in Firefox or Chrome.
Through Wine
Runs the Windows version through a compatibility layer. Often works, sometimes breaks after updates.
No good option
Nothing on Linux does this job well yet.

Get help installing

End of 10 lists repair cafés, install events and local helpers worldwide, run by volunteers. Each distro's own site has install guides; start with a live USB so you can try it first.

Want to try Linux without touching your computer? Rent a small server for an hour: DigitalOcean or Vultr . Affiliate links: we may earn a commission.

Questions

Can I run Linux on an Apple Silicon Mac?

Yes, on M1 and M2 Macs, with Fedora Asahi Remix. Support for newer chips is still in progress; check the Asahi Linux site for your model.

Which Linux looks most like macOS?

elementary OS is the closest. Zorin OS has a macOS-style layout, and GNOME (Ubuntu, Fedora) has a dock and an app overview.

Can I use iMessage or FaceTime on Linux?

No. Apple doesn't offer iMessage outside its devices. You can join a FaceTime call from a link in the browser, but not start one.

Do Adobe apps run on Linux?

No. GIMP, Krita, Inkscape, darktable and DaVinci Resolve cover most of the same work, and Photopea opens PSD files in the browser.

Picks and app notes are LinuxStatistics editorial notes based on each project's own documentation. Corrections welcome via the suggestion form. Install help listings from End of 10 (CC BY 4.0).