There is no universal official “top 10” Ubuntu app list for 2022. A May 2022 Ask Ubuntu answer reported a suggested-app screen spanning coding, communication, creative work, media and games, but it was one user’s account—not a list every Ubuntu installation showed or a canonical ranking. This task-based guide turns those examples into a practical shortlist for Ubuntu 22.04, while distinguishing optional downloads from apps already included with Ubuntu.
Before adding apps, check what Ubuntu already includes
Ubuntu Desktop comes with a default set of applications; installing more is useful when a specific task is missing, not simply because a recommendation appeared. Ubuntu’s documentation explains how to find additional software through App Center and notes that applications may be offered as snaps or Debian packages. When both formats are available, App Center lists the snap first. The current help page’s terminology may not match every Ubuntu 22.04 screen, so use release-appropriate instructions when following installation steps. Ubuntu: Install additional applications
The list below is a selection of useful candidates, not a claim that all ten were preinstalled, displayed to everyone, or officially ranked as the best. The reported 2022 suggestions included Visual Studio Code, Zoom, Spotify, Slack, PyCharm Community, Android Studio, Microsoft Teams Preview, Krita, Plex Media Server, VLC, OBS Studio, GIMP, GitKraken, Discord and 0 A.D. The May 29, 2022 Ask Ubuntu report is a snapshot from one new-install experience.
10 Ubuntu apps to consider by task
1. Visual Studio Code for programming and editing
Visual Studio Code is a code editor for people who want an extensible workspace for programming and related development tasks. It appeared as “code” in the reported suggestions. Consider it if Ubuntu’s included text editor is not enough for your coding workflow; check the app’s publisher, package format and compatibility with your Ubuntu release before installing.
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2. PyCharm Community for Python development
PyCharm Community was another reported suggestion, aimed specifically at Python development. It is a more focused choice than a general text editor when you want an integrated development environment. If you write several languages or prefer a customizable editor, compare it with Visual Studio Code rather than installing both by default.
3. Android Studio for Android development
Android Studio is the listed option for building Android applications. It is relevant to developers who need Android-specific tooling, not to every Ubuntu user. Confirm the current system requirements and installation method for your Ubuntu version before choosing it; the 2022 report establishes only that a respondent saw it among suggested programs.
4. Zoom for video meetings
Zoom appeared as “zoom-client” in the reported list. It is a candidate for people whose school, workplace or contacts use Zoom. Check that the download or store listing is the intended publisher’s version and that its release supports your Ubuntu setup.
5. Slack for team messaging
Slack was also among the reported suggestions. It can make sense when a team communicates in Slack and you want a desktop app rather than relying on a browser tab. Its usefulness depends on having a workspace to join; it is not a general-purpose replacement for every messaging service.
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6. Krita for digital painting and illustration
Krita was included as a creative-work example. It is a relevant choice for digital painting and illustration, rather than a basic system utility. Ubuntu’s community application index groups software under areas such as graphics and photo, which can also help when browsing for creative tools, although that wiki is old and should not be treated as a current availability list. Ubuntu Community Help Wiki: Applications
7. GIMP for image editing
GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) appeared in the reported suggestions as another graphics application. It suits image-editing tasks; compare its feature set and workflow with Krita’s illustration focus before deciding which one you need. A recommendation alone does not establish that it is installed by default.
8. VLC for media playback
VLC was among the media options in the reported list. It is a candidate when you need a media player for local audio or video files. Check the current store entry or package source and its publisher before installing, particularly if multiple formats are offered.
9. OBS Studio for recording and streaming
OBS Studio was listed alongside media apps. It is the more task-specific choice here for recording or live-streaming workflows, so it is not necessary if you only need to watch videos. Verify that the available package is suitable for your Ubuntu release and intended use.
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10. 0 A.D. for a strategy game
0 A.D. was the game in the reported set. It belongs on a shortlist only if you want a game; the suggested-app report does not make it an essential Ubuntu component or establish current package availability. Look up the release-compatible store entry before installing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Ubuntu’s historical app recommendations worked
In an April 2021 Ubuntu Community Hub discussion, desktop community participant Alan Pope described recommendations as choices that led users to a graphical storefront where they could review an app’s description, license and reviews before deciding whether to install it. He wrote: “The user doesn’t get these applications installed by default.” He also said the list was not paid placement, and described inclusion qualities such as working well, being maintained, having an accurate store page and being useful to many Ubuntu users. This is an explanation of that historical recommendation list, not a guarantee about every current App Center recommendation or storefront process. Ubuntu Community Hub: Revisiting recommended applications
How to choose and install an app safely
- Identify the task. Decide whether you need a code editor, meeting client, graphics tool, media player or something else. Avoid installing a recommendation that does not solve a problem you have.
- Check the default apps. Ubuntu includes a default application set, so confirm that an existing app does not already meet your need.
- Open App Center. Search for the app or browse categories, then read its description and reviews. Ubuntu’s current documentation covers this discovery route, though labels and screens can vary by release. See Ubuntu’s App Center guidance
- Review the package and publisher. Ubuntu software may be distributed as a snap or Debian package. If both are available, the current documentation says App Center lists the snap first. Confirm the publisher and release compatibility rather than assuming that every search result is equivalent.
- Install only when the listing fits. Use the store’s install action after checking the app description, license and other available details. If the app is unavailable or the package instructions do not match Ubuntu 22.04, consult the app publisher’s release-specific guidance instead of applying a command intended for another release.
What the 2022 roundup can—and cannot—tell you
Ubuntu’s release notes identify the release as Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, which anchors this historical guide to the 2022 desktop rather than promising that every example remains available in the same form today. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS release notes
Quick Recap
- The app examples are period-specific and drawn from one user’s report of suggested programs.
- The available package, publisher listing and installation interface can change; check them for the Ubuntu release you are actually using.
- The older Ubuntu applications wiki is useful as a set of browsing categories, not as proof of current package status.
- A suggested app is not necessarily installed by default, and recommendations are not a universal ranking.
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