What apps are available on GNOME?

GNOME ships with a set of core apps for everyday computing, and you can add many more third-party apps through Flathub, the Linux app store. Apps built specifically for the platform can also earn recognition through GNOME Circle, a certification and mentoring program for well-designed GNOME apps. The exact preinstalled set varies by distribution, so check your distro's package list if you need a specific app out of the box.

Core apps: what comes with GNOME

GNOME describes its bundled apps as covering "all your everyday computing needs," with a simple and consistent design so that "once you've used one, each feels familiar and intuitive." The practical effect is a coherent set of first-party tools rather than a loose collection of utilities.

The site does not publish a full app inventory on the page described here, so treat "core apps" as the everyday productivity and system tools your distribution includes with the GNOME desktop. If a particular app matters to you, confirm it in your distro's default installation before relying on it.

How core apps fit the desktop workflow

The shell and the apps are designed to work together. Pressing the Super key opens an overview where you can switch or launch apps and search for anything on your computer. You can also spread work across as many workspaces as you need. This matters when choosing apps: launcher-based search and workspace switching are part of the intended experience, not add-ons.

Third-party apps: Flathub and GNOME Circle

Two routes extend what's available beyond the core set.

Flathub is the broader catalog; GNOME Circle is a quality signal. An app in GNOME Circle has been built for the GNOME platform and meets the program's design expectations, while Flathub is where you go to browse and install a much wider range of third-party software.

For developers

If you want to build apps rather than just use them, GNOME offers a developer platform built on a completely independent technology stack, plus a developer portal and a design system. The project also lists ways to get involved in code, design, translation, and testing.

Deciding whether GNOME's app situation fits you

• You want a consistent built-in toolkit: GNOME's core apps are designed to feel uniform, which reduces relearning between tools.
• You need niche or specialized software: plan on Flathub as your main source, and verify the specific app is available there.
• You care about design quality signals: prefer GNOME Circle apps when a well-integrated option matters more than catalog breadth.
• You are on a specific distribution: GNOME is the default experience on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora Workstation, SUSE Linux Enterprise, Vanilla OS, Endless OS, and others, so the preinstalled app set follows your distro's choices.

GNOME states that its software has no restrictions on use and respects privacy, and that every aspect of the project is open. Those are the project's own descriptions; confirm licensing and privacy details for any individual app you install, especially third-party ones from Flathub.