Linux Apps for Chromebooks in 2026: Our Top Picks and Why You Need Them
For basic productivity, these apps will have you covered
Updated on January 20, 2026
Owning a Chromebook doesn’t mean you’re limited to just basic apps. In fact, not only can you run Android apps on your Chromebook, but your laptop also supports Linux apps.
If you’re ready to expand your options, we’ve put together a list of the best Linux apps that work on a Chromebook.
Best Office Suite: LibreOffice
Because Microsoft 365 isn’t available for Linux, you have access it via a browser. And you’ll need a subscription to the web version. And maybe this isn’t an ideal situation.
LibreOffice is an open-source productivity suite that works across a variety of platforms, not just Linux. It includes a word processor (Write), spreadsheet tool (Calc), presentation editor (Impress), and vector graphics editor (Draw).
This install process installs both the LibreOffice suite and a Chrome OS Linux theme to match your operating system.
Best Video Editor: Kdenlive
Editing videos is a big deal these days, whether you’re a YouTube content creator or you share your content on any of the other media and social network sites.
Kdenlive will provide you with a complete video editing tool, and it works great even on a Chromebook.
Best Email Solution: Evolution
Evolution is a desktop-inspired client that offers email, calendar, and contact tools all rolled into a single application. You can also create personal tasks with reminders, as well as memos or in-app notations if you will. Plus, it’s compatible with any POP or IMAP-based email account, including Gmail.
Best FTP Client: FileZilla
On a Chromebook, if you need to connect to a remote server to download or upload files—such as the root directory of a website you own—you’ll need to deal with some messy workarounds. A more convenient option is to download an FTP client via Linux, particularly FileZilla.
You can drag and drop files to move between the platforms easily. You can also download content to your Chromebook to edit offline. If you have Visual Studio installed you can edit web and HTML files, too.
FileZilla can only access files stored in the ‘Linux Apps’ directory. If you want to work with a file from the Chrome platform you’ll first need to move the content to the appropriate directory using a file manager.
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