I recently made the switch from Linux on all my ex-Windows devices, and I couldn’t be happier, especially since I’d been holding onto Windows 10 for far too long. For me, Windows 10 always felt much better than Windows 11, but at the end of the day, the operating system itself has never been the main thing.
What really matters is the apps, because that’s where I spend most of my time. I was fully expecting Linux to be a painful experience, but to my surprise, a handful of apps made the transition almost seamless.
WinBoat
Your Windows apps still have a home here
WinBoatFunnily enough, one of the biggest apps that made switching to Linux easier for me was one that let me run Windows apps. I’ve played around with Wine and CrossOver in the past, but WinBoat stood out as the most reliable option by far.
What makes WinBoat great is how effortlessly it sets up a Windows virtual machine for you. You don’t have to worry about ISO files, configuring virtual disks, or digging through confusing setup menus. Everything feels polished and straightforward, almost like you’re installing a regular app. It’s the kind of experience that makes Linux feel far less intimidating if you’re new to it.
In terms of compatibility, it’s much more consistent than Wine. Most productivity apps, like Microsoft Office, run without a hitch, and even some heavier Adobe tools are also semi-usable. It’s a lifesaver if you’re still caught in that Windows software ecosystem and aren’t ready to give up your usual workflow yet.
Performance-wise, though, there’s a limit. Since there’s no GPU passthrough, you’ll be running everything off your CPU. That means it’s not meant for gaming (I’ll get to that later) or any kind of graphically demanding task. But if your use case revolves around office work, browsing, and lightweight creative tools, WinBoat feels like a perfect bridge between both worlds.
That said, I’d only recommend using WinBoat as a temporary fix. In the long run, it’s better to adapt your workflow to Linux-native apps for better performance.
Heroic Games Launcher
Run Epic and GOG games with Steam’s compatibility
As I mentioned earlier, WinBoat isn’t exactly the best way to run games, but thankfully, there are ways around that, too. You might’ve noticed that most of your Steam games run fine out of the box, and that’s thanks to Valve’s Proton compatibility layer. The only real downside is that it’s limited to your Steam library, which means any Epic or GOG titles just sit unused.
That’s where Heroic Games Launcher comes in. It’s an open-source launcher that brings all your non-Steam libraries together under a native, easy-to-use interface. It supports both Epic Games and GOG, letting you install, launch, and update games directly without needing to mess around with Wine or any complex scripts.
Just like Steam, Heroic also uses Proton under the hood. It automatically handles Proton and Wine configurations, lets you tweak game settings, and even supports importing games you already have installed. You can also fine-tune which compatibility layer you want to use for each title, all through a clean UI.
I actually switched to Linux primarily for gaming, and performance has been better than I expected for most titles. Heroic has been a total lifesaver in that sense.
LocalSend
AirDrop, but make it cross-platform
This is an app I also used on Windows, but considering how bad Microsoft’s native implementation of Phone Link is, I’d definitely recommend it to anyone. Phone Link randomly refuses to connect or drops out midway through a transfer, which makes even basic file sharing more frustrating than it should be.
LocalSend, on the other hand, gets everything right. It’s completely free, open source, and works on practically every platform, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It transfers files directly over your local network, so there’s no dependency on the internet or any external servers. Everything happens instantly and privately within your own network.
Once installed, your devices automatically detect each other as long as they’re on the same network. You can send photos, documents, or even full folders without cables, logins, or complicated pairing steps (take notes, Microsoft).
I’ve been using it daily to transfer files between my Linux laptop and Android phone, and it’s been faster than AirDrop in my experience. It’s reliable, lightweight, and one of those rare apps that just works with no shenanigans like paywalls or ads.
GIMP
Everything Photoshop does, minus the price tag
While you can use Photoshop with WinBoat, it doesn’t really work well unless you’re doing very basic tasks. That’s why GIMP is such an excellent alternative. It’s a fully open-source image editor that runs natively on Linux, Windows, and macOS, so there’s no Adobe subscription trying to lock you in.
GIMP covers almost everything most people need, from layers and masks to brushes, filters, and advanced retouching tools. I won’t deny that it isn’t as feature-rich as Photoshop, but for most workflows, it gets you about 90 percent of the way there. You can handle photo edits, digital art, and even complex compositing without ever touching a Windows VM.
If you’re someone switching to Linux and worried about losing access to Photoshop, give GIMP a shot. It’s free, it’s powerful, and with a bit of practice, it can handle nearly everything you’d normally rely on Photoshop for. If GIMP isn’t your cup of tea, I would also recommend Photopea, which is a Photoshop equivalent that runs entirely in your browser.
TimeShift
Because Linux can break too
Linux has been more reliable than Windows for me overall, but I’ve still managed to break my entire install more than once. Timeshift works a lot like Windows’ System Restore, letting you take snapshots of your system at specific points in time.
If something goes wrong—like an update fails, a tweak breaks your setup, or you accidentally delete something important—you can roll back to a previous snapshot and get everything back exactly as it was. It also supports automatic snapshots, so you don’t have to remember to back up manually, which makes experimenting with Linux far less stressful.
If you’re worried about accidentally breaking your system, Timeshift gives you that safety net. You can try new apps, tweaks, or updates without the constant fear of messing everything up, and it quickly becomes one of those tools you rely on every day.
Forget Windows 11, switch to Linux
With Windows 10 finally out of support and so many perfectly capable devices left stranded because of Microsoft’s absurd minimum requirements, there’s never been a better time to give Linux a shot. It’s no longer the scary, complicated OS I expected it to be.
With the right apps, you can keep your workflow intact and make life easier than it ever was on Windows.
