As a Chromebook user, finding the right apps for even basic tasks can be hard. If you have switched from Windows or macOS, you might be missing all your favorite apps that you are used to using.

Though you might not find most of those apps on Chromebook, the good news is other useful apps are available as alternatives. These apps will assist you in a smooth transition to Chromebook.

So, let's look at the best alternatives to replace your favorite apps on Chromebook.

1. Playing Music: Enjoy Music Player

Enjoy Music Player for Chromebook

Enjoy Music Player allows you to listen to local music from your device storage. You can also listen to music online from streaming services. It is a lightweight app that runs smoothly on all Chromebooks.

The app has all the major music player features such as equalizer, music shuffle, playlist, and fade in and out. It has Google Drive support as well, so you can listen to music from your Google cloud storage.

Download: Enjoy Music Player (Free)

2. Chat: WhatsGreen Multi Messenger

Green Multi Messenger for Chromebook

Installing multiple messenger apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or Skype can hog your Chromebook's memory and storage. Besides, not all of those apps are available for Chromebook.

That's where WhatsGreen Multi Messenger comes in. It supports all the major messaging services that you can access from a single Chrome extension.

The sidebar of the extension allows you to easily access your favorite messaging clients. You can also access some social apps, such as Instagram. As you don't have to open multiple tabs in WhatsGreen Multi Messenger, it is faster to use than most browsers.

Download: Green Multi Messenger (Free)

3. Notes and To-Dos: Google Keep

Google Keep for Chromebook

Google Keep is a pretty popular note-taking app that you can install on your Chromebook. You can easily write your notes by typing or transcribing using our voice. It also lets you add labels to your notes to categorize them.

Google Keep is linked to your Google account, so all your notes are saved in the cloud. It allows you to add photos and other attachments to your notes and you can share your notes with your friends and colleagues to work in collaboration.

Download: Google Keep (Free)

4. Text Editing: Caret

Caret for Chromebook

If you are a writer or a programmer, Caret is a useful app for editing text on Chromebook. You can open your text files from your local storage directly into Caret.

The app has syntax highlighting features for all major programming languages. It also supports key bindings, so you can assign keyboard shortcuts for various actions. You don't need an internet connection to use Caret as it has complete offline support.

Download: Caret (Free)

5. Distraction-Free Writing: WordFlow

Wordflow for Chromebook

WordFlow is an excellent tool for writers who want to brainstorm ideas or want to write something without distractions. It has a clean interface, both light and dark, that keeps you focused.

The app works offline and has support for various keyboard shortcuts. It lets you save files in TXT and MD file formats.

If you are a Scrivener user, you might like WordFlow. Unfortunately, Scrivener is not available for Chromebook or Linux, so the only way to install it on Chrome OS is through Wine, which is a daunting task.

Download: WordFlow (Free)

6. Image Editing: Photopea

Photopea for Chromebook

If you are missing Photoshop on your Chromebook, Photopea is a great alternative for editing your images. You can edit all popular image formats such as PSD, XCF, HJPG, PNG, and many more using Photopea.

The app lets you easily import image files from the web as well. It also has built-in templates to help you create new images, along with handy cloud support.

Download: Photopea (Free, premium version available)

7. Torrenting: JSTorrent

JSTorrent for Chromebook

JSTorrent allows you to download torrent files on your Chromebook. It is fast and handles large files easily. You can also select individual files that you want to download from a torrent.

The app lets you download large torrents easily for hours without interruption as it can prevent standby. It also allows you to stream videos from torrents.

Download: JSTorrent (Free)

8. Screen Capture: Awesome Screenshot and Screen Recorder

Awesome Screenshot and Screen Recorder for Chromebook

Awesome Screenshot and Screen Recorder is a feature-packed and powerful app to capture or record your Chromebook screen. You can record videos of your entire desktop or a single tab and change the resolution and storage location for captured videos.

Similarly, for screenshots, you can take screenshots of the whole desktop or a selected area. Awesome Screenshot and Screen Recorder also provides annotation tools to highlight an element or explain something in a captured image.

Download: Awesome Screenshot and Screen Recorder (Free, subscriptions available)

9. Drawing: Vectr

Vectr for Chromebook

You can create and edit vector graphics on your Chromebook using Vectr. It has various drawing tools such as freehand and pen tools to easily draw artistic shapes.

Vectr allows you to modify the shapes, group multiple layers, and tweak them, to create various designs. You can also view your previous work through the app's history.

There are more drawing and vector editing apps available for Chromebook that you can check out for free.

Download: Vectr (Free)

10. Bootable USB Maker: Chromebook Recovery Utility

Chromebook Recovery Utility for Chromebook

To make your USB bootable, you don't have to look for third-party apps. Chromebook has its own bootable USB maker called Chromebook Recovery Utility.

It is a useful extension that helps you reinstall your Chrome OS to recover the device. You can also use this tool for installing Chrome OS or other OSes on another device using a USB.

Download: Chromebook Recovery Utility (Free)

11. Compression Tool: ZIP Manager

ZIP Manager for Chromebook

Compression tools are probably one of the most used utilities on a PC. ZIP Manager is a Chrome extension that allows you to extract and open multiple compressed file formats such as ZIP, RAR, and 7-Zip on Chromebooks.

You can compress or extract local files and open ZIP files from the internet easily using ZIP Manager.

Download: ZIP Manager (Free)

12. Video Player: VXG Media Player

VXG Media Player for Chromebook

VXG Media Player allows you to stream videos from the cloud. It is a feature-packed media player that supports various video formats.

You can control the latency of streaming videos and auto-reconnect to the streaming server while using VXG Media Player. The app also lets you capture your favorite scenes through its screen capture feature.

Download: VXG Media Player (Free)

13. Spreadsheets: Sheets

Sheets for Chromebook

You can easily work on your spreadsheets on Chromebook through the Google Sheets app, which has tons of features.

The app lets you access all the Sheets features and import your MS Excel files into Google Sheets. All the data is saved to your Google cloud storage, keeping it safe and secure.

Download: Sheets (Free)

14. Presentations: Slides

Slides for Chromebook

You can create presentations on your Chromebook using the Google Slides app. It has various templates to help you create unique presentations. You can even import your MS PowerPoint slides as well.

Everything is stored on your Google cloud storage, so you never lose your slides. You can also share your presentations with friends and colleagues to collaborate and work on the same file.

Here is a complete guide on how to run a PowerPoint presentation on Chromebook.

Download: Slides (Free)

15. VPN: ZenMate Free VPN

ZenMate Free VPN for Chromebook

On a new OS, it can be difficult to find a decent VPN. ZenMate is a free VPN available as a Chrome extension for your Chromebook.

It changes your IP address and allows you to access region-blocked content through the browser. It also allows you to stay secure from trackers and threats on the internet. You have unlimited bandwidth with ZenMate.

Download: ZenMate Free VPN (Free, premium version available)

You Can Also Install Android and Linux Apps

On your Chromebook, you also have the option to install Linux and Android apps. Here are some great Linux app alternatives for Windows programs. You can also check out these Windows programs that are available for Android.

Unlock the Full Potential of Your Chromebook

If you recently switched to a Chromebook, this list of the best Chromebook apps will save you a lot of time, effort, and maybe money as well. It has all the fundamental apps that you might need on your new machine.

You can do a lot with your Chromebook's terminal. Check out these useful Crosh terminal commands to supercharge your Chromebook.