Can You Run It on Linux? 12 Vital Apps You’ll Want When You Switch

There has never been a better time to switch to Linux, but you may still be hesitant. After all, you’re not sure if you can run your favorite Windows applications on Linux.

So, let’s take a look at 10 popular Windows apps and games and see if they work on Linux.

1. Chrome Browser

All major browsers (Firefox, Chrome, and Opera) are available on Linux. In fact, you’ll find a vast selection of Linux browsers to choose from, such as Epiphany.

You’ll find that Firefox, Chrome, and Opera offer the same functionality as on Windows or macOS. This means you can sign into your browsers and effortlessly sync bookmarks, passwords, and other settings from Windows.

Mozilla Firefox is preinstalled on most Linux distros, but if you want Chrome you can download it from Google. Note that you can also install the open source Chromium browser.

Download: Chrome

Download: Chromium

2. Outlook

To take care of your email needs, you have plenty of options on Linux—although Outlook isn’t available for Linux.

Thunderbird, one of the most popular email clients, is perhaps the number one email client for Linux. The ExQuilla extension adds Exchange support, something Thunderbird has been missing for years.

But if you need an Outlook equivalent for Linux with Microsoft Exchange support without installing an extension, try Evolution.

Of course, if you don’t need an Exchange email client, you can also easily use any web-based email interface with your preferred browser. So you can access the Outlook web app, along with Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and other hosted webmail from your ISP or employer.

There’s a strong chance your Linux distro has Mozilla Thunderbird or Evolution already installed.

Download: Mozilla Thunderbird

Download: Evolution

3. Microsoft Office

The world’s most popular office isn’t available on Linux. So, you have three options:

• Use Office 365 on your browser
• Run Office using Wine
• Install LibreOffice

Office 365 is a smart option, and if you have a subscription then you still get the most out of Office.

Alternatively, if you want Word, Excel, etc., to run from your Linux desktop, you can install Microsoft Office in Wine.

But overall the best alternative for the Linux desktop is LibreOffice. Full of office suite features, you’ll get a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, database manager, and more. It is intended as an open source alternative to Microsoft Office and matches it app-for-app.

In fact, you’ll only really come across issues if you tend to use very high-level Office features such as Macros. While LibreOffice has macros too, cross compatibility with Office’s macros has room for improvement.

Apart from this, LibreOffice is a top alternative will complete document compatibility. Other open source office solutions are available, but LibreOffice has the edge.

Download: LibreOffice

4. Microsoft Project

One key problem for businesses looking to switch to Linux is finding an alternative to Microsoft Project. While you could run it in Wine, it’s not compatible with anything since Project 2013.

So, is there an equivalent Linux app for Microsoft Project?

Yes, there is. ProjectLibre is compatible with files created in Microsoft Project 2003, 2007, and 2010, and can produce Gantt Charts, network diagrams, and more. Downloaded over 4,500,000 times and translated into 20 languages, ProjectLibre is recommended as the preferred Microsoft Project alternative.

Download: ProjectLibre

5. Photoshop

Photoshop also isn’t available on Linux.

While people seem to have some success at installing Photoshop on Linux with Wine, that often involves installing an older version. If you want up-to-date versions of Photoshop, you’re out of luck.

However, you can easily install GIMP, which is an extremely capable image manipulation tool. Although some of the workflows may be different than in Photoshop, you can achieve virtually the same tasks. And if GIMP doesn’t provide a feature you’re looking for by default, there’s probably a plugin to help you out.

Download: GIMP

6. Windows Video Editor

As of 2018 Windows 10 features a replacement for Windows Movie Maker. Packaged with the Photos tool, Windows Video Editor is a basic video editing tool.

It does the job of editing videos, supports 3D effects, text, slow motion video, and the results can be impressive. You’ll end up with something that looks like a well-produced home movie.

But can you do better on Linux? After all, a whole selection of video editing tools, from Adobe Premiere to Corel VideoStudio Ultimate are available on Windows.

If you’re looking to create very simple home videos, then look no further than PiTiVi. There’s also OpenShot for more advanced projects. Check our guide to Linux video editors for more options.

Finally, as a professional-grade video editor there’s Lightworks, but it also asks for a professional-grade price.

Download: PiTiVi

7. Eclipse

Developers need to have a reliable IDE (Interactive Development Environment) for programming projects. Eclipse is a popular one for many developers, especially those building Android apps. Thankfully, it is also available on Linux and easily installable.

If you use a different IDE such as Visual Studio, which isn’t available on Linux, switching to Eclipse is easy. Eclipse unable to meet your requirements? That’s not a problem. Plenty of online browser-based IDEs are available to fill the gap.

Download: Eclipse

8. Minecraft

One of the world’s biggest video games, Minecraft is a must for many people. Thanks to its Java roots, runs on Linux perfectly. In fact, there’s barely any difference between the Windows and Linux versions.

If you want to modify Minecraft, most mod files will work. The usual Minecraft game modes are available, Minecraft on Linux supports multiplayer—it’s all there. You can even set up Minecraft to host a multiplayer game or build a full Minecraft server with Linux.

Download: Minecraft

9. AutoCAD

Premium industrial-standard computer aided design (CAD) software AutoCAD has long resisted calls to produce a Linux version.

Fortunately, there’s a great free alternative called FreeCAD which can take care of your CAD needs. It’s also made to be modular, so you can add in extra functionality if you need it. Interested? Like many Linux apps, FreeCAD is also available on Windows and macOS, so you can try it before switching.

Download: FreeCAD

10. SketchUp

Sticking with design apps, SketchUp is also a popular option for Windows users. Rather than industrial and mechanical design, however, SketchUp is (usually) used for design and architecture.

But is there a Linux equivalent for SketchUp users?

Again, the PC gods are smiling on your efforts to switch to Linux. BricsCAD Shape is a free tool for single Linux users offering a SketchUp-like experience. It’s part of the wider BricsCAD family, which offers modeling solutions for all purposes—including an AutoCAD alternative, BricsCAD Mechanical.

Download: BricsCAD Shape

11. Steam

Steam is the ultimate PC gaming platform, a vast library of video games delivered digitally to your computer.

Developers Valve released a Linux version in 2013 which is full of AAA games that would previously have been Windows-only.

While not every single Windows game is available on Linux, the list of Linux-compatible games continues to grow. Use Steam’s filter tool to see what games are available to run on Linux and see if you own any. If gaming is important to you, having your favorite games available on Linux will ease the transition considerably.

Download: Steam

12. Spotify

The most popular music streaming service has spread itself rapidly across all desktop and mobile devices.

But is there a Linux version of Spotify?

Yes, there is! You have two options, a DEB option for Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives, and a Snap installer package. Spotify for Linux is a fully featured desktop player, as with Windows and macOS. You’ll be able to sign into your account as normal, access your playlists, follow your favorite artists and so on.

If for some reason Spotify won’t run on your version of Linux, don’t worry. Your Linux web browser will run Spotify’s web player just fine.

Download: Spotify

It’s Time to Switch to Linux!

With these 10 vital apps, you should be ready to tackle Linux without breaking a sweat. With all of the benefits that an open source operating system provides, and knowing that you have apps available to get work done, there’s no excuse for you to not try it out.

Don’t forget to also check out our Best Linux Software list for other great Linux apps to try out!

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The 7 Best Google Docs Alternatives for Online Word Processing

Online word processors come with many advantages. Your documents are accessible from anywhere, they’re open to collaboration and sharing, and are easy to import and export.

When you think of online word processing, you immediately think of Google Docs. It is a great service with an extensive array of features, plus heaps of add-ons, too.

That said, you might not always want to use Google Docs. Thankfully, there are several excellent Google Docs alternatives that you can use for online document editing. Here are the best alternatives to Google Docs you can use right now.

1. Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office (formerly Office Online, also known as “Office on the Web”) is the free offering from the world’s most popular office suite. A Microsoft account is all you need to gain access to almost the entire gamut of Microsoft Office applications. Office Online grants access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook, as well as Sway and a host of other tools.

So, how does the Office on the Web compare to Google Docs (and the wider range of G Suite tools)? The offering is so good that some people have entirely eschewed purchasing Microsoft Office 2019 or Office 365 in favor of the free online suite. The introduction of collaborative tools has only strengthened the free service, too.

However, Microsoft has not given us the crown jewels. The online Office offering does carry some limitations.

For instance, the number of templates available is reduced. As well as this, you can use the integrated styles, but cannot make your own. Office contains a number of these “half-features” that you’ll encounter from time to time. Some are negligible. Others can be massively frustrating—I’m looking at you Merge Formatting.

The free online version of Microsoft Office is still an excellent alternative to Google Docs, despite the shortcomings found in several of the applications.

2. Zoho Docs

Zoho develops a huge number of apps, from a personal wiki to an email service, through CRM and bookkeeping tools, and more. Zoho Docs is Zoho’s answer to Google Docs, and it is a strong alternative online document editor.

The writer itself is excellent, with a ton of editing options, organized in a succinct and aesthetically pleasing sidebar. Almost anything you can do in Word can be done in Zoho, from adding a header and footer to directly posting a document to your blog.

It also features advanced options, such as mail merging and electronic signature support. Another extremely handy feature is the integrated Zoho chat, so you can chat with collaborators while working.

Zoho is the most feature-complete of the Web-based applications, including Google Docs, and is incredibly easy to use. Zoho doesn’t get nearly the press Google Docs does, but I can’t see a reason not to switch. Need more convincing? Here are even more reasons to try Zoho as your Google Docs alternative.

3. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is the online document editing offering from Dropbox, better known for its cloud storage solutions. All you need to use Dropbox Paper is a Dropbox account. Once you sign up, you can begin using this handy Google Docs alternative.

Dropbox Paper has some handy features. Adding and curating images is exceptionally easy, especially if you already use Dropbox as an image host. Similarly, embedding other content is just as easy. There’s also the option to edit using markdown language, which is handy for quick edits and basic styling.

As with other online document editing tools, collaboration and sharing are key. Sharing in Dropbox Paper is as easy as clicking a button and inviting users (other Dropbox users or from Google Accounts), as is allowing commenting in the current document.

One cool collaboration feature is that you can “@” people from your document, even if they’re not currently working on the same document. The person receives a notification that you want them to come and work with you. Another handy collaboration feature is Task Assignment. You can quickly turn any bullet-list into a task list to be assigned to your collaborators.

As a Google Docs alternative, Dropbox Paper is a handy and quick document editing tool. However, it doesn’t have the extensive range of editing tools available to Google Docs or some of the alternatives on this list.

4. ONLYOFFICE

OnlyOffice is a Google Docs alternative that offers both and offline and online document editing tools. As we’re primarily focusing on Google Docs alternatives that don’t require downloading, we’ll focus on the online OnlyOffice version.

Like Zoho Docs, OnlyOffice’s personal document editing tool is one of the most comprehensive alternatives to Google Docs. You’ll find extensive editing options in-line with offline document editing tools. You can customize formatting styles and layouts, invite collaborators to work with you, and even chat within the OnlyOffice window to keep your focus on the work window.

There’s also the option to install OnlyOffice add-ons, which are extensions that increase the functionality of the document editing tool. For example, you can install the WordPress plugin and publish work direct to your website or the Zotero plugin, which helps you manage references and other research materials.

5. Nuclino

Nuclino is a brilliant free collaborative editor and alternative to Google Docs. It is extremely easy to use, has a great user interface (UI), and provides a satisfying experience in pretty much all areas. That said, it isn’t necessarily a direct Google Docs competitor. Google Docs provides a rounded suite of tools, while Nuclino has a definite slant toward team and project management.

Nonetheless, writing and editing in Nuclino is aided by the clean aesthetic and easily implemented editorial tools. Nuclino is versatile, too. Multiple groups, multiple boards, easy invitations, smart tags, and integration with services such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Soundcloud provide a comprehensive service. There’s the option to write and edit using markdown, too.

However, Nuclino isn’t strictly a document editing program if you’re considering a pure editorial experience. If your team depends on advanced document editing and formatting or even just basic spreadsheets, you’ll be importing to Nuclino from another source.

6. Etherpad

If collaboration is what you’re into, give Etherpad a good look. There’s no need to sign up or install Etherpad. You can simply select one of the public instances running Etherpad Lite, many of which feature secure encrypted connections. Once you’re connected, either share a link to the pad or send invitations to your contacts by email.

As users enter the Etherpad, you can edit the text on the pad in real-time, and changes automatically appear. You can chat in the sidebar, highlight which user made a given change, and save revisions so as to revert if someone makes a mistake.

Furthermore, some public Etherpad instances allow you to choose how long the pad remains active for, adding a handy ephemeral document angle to this Google Docs alternative. For example, the Etherpad in the above image allows you to set a 24-hours, 60 days, or 1-year period before destruction.

7. Slite

Slite is another collaborative work tool you can use as an alternative to Google Docs. As it is a collaborative workspace, you might find that Slite replaces more than just Google Docs, too.

The free version of Slite allows you to create 50 shared documents per month, as well as unlimited personal documents. You can also invite an unlimited number of users to your free Slite. Furthermore, it integrates nicely with one of the most popular team management tools, Slack, meaning you can talk and work between the two with ease.

Other integrations include Figma, Loom, Trello, Asana, and GitHub. In that, Slite works as a document editing tool and as a project management option.

Which Is the Best Google Docs Alternative?

Google Docs is an excellent online document editing tool, but what is the best alternative? Well, you can choose a more traditional editor experience in Microsoft Office or Zoho Writer, or try a collaborative experience with Dropbox Paper or Nuclino.

Needless to say, you have more than a handful of Google Docs alternatives to consider before starting your next big project!

Stuck using Google Docs? Check out how you can make a beautiful Google Document using the inbuilt formatting tools.

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10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Invest With the Robinhood App

Following its launch in 2013, Robinhood quickly became a popular way of investing in stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, it’s no longer the golden boy of millennial investing. Indeed, you could even argue that Robinhood is flat-out bad.

Here are several reasons why you may not want to invest with Robinhood.

1. Free Trades Are Now Commonplace

Robinhood’s big selling point used to be its commission-free structure. The free trades came at a price in other ways (some of which we’ll explore shortly), but users figured that the monetary savings were worth the tradeoffs.

But Robinhood is no longer the only show in town. Since its arrival, several major brokers have followed suit and now also offer free trades. Today, you can get free trades with TD Ameritrade, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers, and many more. It means you need to question whether some of Robinhood’s other major shortcomings are still acceptable. In practice, they are probably not.

2. Major Downtime Problems

2020 has been one of the most remarkable years in market history. At the time of writing, we’ve already seen a record-breaking selloff and recovery, including moves of more than 10 percent on a single day, and summer has barely begun.

We don’t want to go into a lesson on investing, so suffice to say that during periods of such extreme volatility, it’s vital that people can access their accounts. Positions can move quickly and investors need to be able to reliably secure profits or cut losses.

It’s not good, therefore, when a broker is inaccessible on some of the most volatile days of the last 50 years. But that’s what happened to Robinhood. Not once. Not twice. But three times.

Worse still, all the outages occurred in the space of one week in early March during the most unpredictable days of the COVID19 crisis. It cost people millions of dollars in positions they could not close. And Robinhood’s response? A “goodwill” payment of $75. It is now facing multiple lawsuits over the issue.

Users can no longer maintain any reasonable faith in the service being available when they need it most. That alone is enough reason to switch broker.

3. Delayed Stock Quotes

If you read Robinhood’s FAQs or independent reviews of the service, you will see that the app has real-time quotes.

That’s only half true. Yes, your orders will always be completed at the real-time price, but the charts and data you see on screen are often delayed. This will prevent you from getting in and out of trades in the most efficient manner.

There are a few factors at play. Most notably, Robinhood uses the same provider as sites like The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, and StockTwits for its quotes. It’s cheap, barebones, and limited to a handful of exchanges. Robinhood does this to save money.

If you have an account with another broker, open the same stock on both apps and you’ll see the differences for yourself.

4. Terrible Crypto Product

We’re not here to debate the merits of crypto as an investment class. But we do understand the appeal of being able to do your stock trading and crypto trading in the same place. On paper, that’s something that Robinhood offers; it launched its crypto trading service in 2018.

But the crypto platform has some shocking drawbacks. The drawbacks are so severe that we’d strongly urge all users to look elsewhere for your crypto needs.

• Coin withdrawals are not available. If you own Bitcoin, you cannot transfer it out of Robinhood to your own private wallet.
• Robinhood does not supply you with access to your wallet or your wallet address.
• You do not hold the private keys for your crypto assets. An oft-repeated (and accurate) piece of advice in the crypto world is that if you don’t have the private keys, you do not own the coins.

All three of these problems directly fly in the face of proper crypto security advice.

On a more simplistic level, Robinhood’s selection of crypto is also extremely limited. Only seven coins are available: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Ethereum Classic, and Litecoin.

5. Payment for Order Flow

Given the free trades, how does Robinhood make money? Sure, there’s Robinhood Gold, but the signup rate is nowhere near enough to warrant the $8 billion company valuation.

The answer is via a practice called payment for order flow. It means that instead of searching for the best price for a given stock, Robinhood is instead selling your data to high-frequency trading (HFT) firms for massive profit. The HTF firms add the data to their algorithms to better understand the flow of retail money. It is they who are Robinhood’s real customers.

A blog post on Seeking Alpha in 2018 revealed the truth after the author spent time studying Robinhood’s SEC filings:

E*TRADE makes $22 per $1,000,000 traded, which sounds like a small number until you realize they cleared $47,000,000 last quarter from this. But off an identical $1,000,000 in volume, Robinhood gets paid $260 from the same HFT firms. If Robinhood did as much trade volume as E*TRADE, they would theoretically be making close to $500 million per quarter in payments from HFT firms.

As the old saying goes, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.

(Note: To learn more about payment for order flow on Robinhood, check out the article on our sister site, Blocks Decoded.)

6. Robinhood Gold

Upgraded to Robinhood gold, am I the next Jordan Belford?? Some are saying yes…

— Ryan (@insert_name1) June 10, 2020

And speaking of Robinhood Gold… For those who don’t know, Robinhood Gold is a subscription service that introduces a few extra features for $5 per month.

• Margin investing.
• Access to professional research such as Morningstar reports.
• Level II market data.
• Larger instant deposits (rather than waiting for money to clear).

Sounds reasonable. But here’s the catch—any broker worth its salt will make all that stuff available for free on its respective platform. It really isn’t worth $5 per month. Robinhood Gold just feels like a way to eke more cash out of inexperienced investors who think that by subscribing they will become better traders.

They won’t.

7. Poor Customer Service

Robinhood’s customer support is notoriously bad. Users complain of waiting weeks for an answer in the app’s Help section, lengthy queues to speak to someone on the phone, no responses to emails, and a general lack of urgency in responding to important issues.

In ordinary circumstances, poor customer service might be forgivable in a free app. However, when large sums of money are involved, clients deserve better. Given the company’s value, we’re sure they could hire a few extra reps easily enough.

8. Lack of Account Types

Robinhood only offers standard, individual investing accounts. You cannot open a joint account, trust account, custodial account, Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or any other type of tax-efficient savings account. Therefore, it’s not a good option if you’re investing for long-term goals, for a child, or as a couple.

Ideally, you should always max out your savings in non-taxable accounts before using taxable products.

9. Lack of Investment Types

Robinhood only lets you invest in four types of assets: US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs, options contracts for US exchange-listed Stocks and ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and American Depository Receipts (ADRs) for 250 global companies.

It might sound like a lot, but you’re missing out on access to many other types of investments, including over-the-counter equities, foreign stocks, mutual funds, bonds, fixed-income assets, and Forex.

Perhaps most concerning is the lack of bonds. Spreading your investment across multiple asset categories is one of the best ways to reduce risk to your portfolio, but at the very least you should hold a mix of equities and bonds.

10. Unimpressive Watchlist Features

A watchlist is a customizable list of stocks that you want to keep an eye on. They are an essential part of planning your investments; they let you quickly see whether specific parameters have been hit, and consequently, whether it’s a good time to buy your desired asset.

Most brokerages’ watchlists are feature-rich. For example, you can create multiple lists for different stocks, opportunities, or ideas. Normally, you can also sort your watchlist in various ways such as by price, volume, bid price, and other key indicators.

Robinhood doesn’t offer any of those features. You can’t even sort your list alphabetically (though at least you can reorder your list manually). The lack of watchlist features makes the app unsuitable for serious stock research.

Remember, if you don’t research stocks thoroughly before purchasing, you’re not investing. You’re gambling.

Should You Avoid Robinhood?

Robinhood is definitely a great way for new investors to get their feet wet in the stock market.

However, it’s important to know that Robinhood’s free trades come at a price, and in a lot of situations Robinhood is an unsuitable investment broker. Once you’ve built up some knowledge and feel confident, it’s worth opening an account with a traditional discount brokerage elsewhere.

If you’d like to learn more about investing, check our articles on the best investment apps for absolute beginners and virtual stock market games that will teach you the basics.

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The 7 Best Rhythm Games You Can Play With a Controller

When rhythm video games come to mind, you probably think of plastic instruments for Guitar Hero and dance mats for Dance Dance Revolution. And while these games are fun, having to use special peripherals is annoying. Especially due to the space required.

Thankfully, there are some great rhythm games that you can play with nothing more than a normal controller. So here are the best rhythm games you can play with just a controller, saving you from having to buy and store annoying plastic peripherals.

1. Superbeat: Xonic

If you’re looking for a straightforward rhythm game with a wide variety of music, Superbeat is a great choice. It features over 50 tracks across genres like indie pop, electronic, and even metal.

The game originally released on PlayStation Vita and let you take advantage of the device’s touchscreen. However, it’s now available on all modern consoles with controller support. You’ll have to tap the right buttons in time with the notes in three levels of difficulty: 4 TRAX, 6 TRAX, and 6 TRAX FX.

4 TRAX only uses four buttons (plus control sticks) for the notes, making it great for beginners. 6 TRAX adds an extra button on each side of the controller, while 6 TRAX FX takes it further by adding the shoulder buttons. You can change the speed at which the notes appear and even add handicaps to further adjust the challenge.

As you play, you’ll unlock challenges in the World Tour mode to test your skills and unlock more content. There’s also DLC available for purchase if you want to pay for more tracks.

Buy: Superbeat: Xonic for Switch | PS4 | XBO | PS Vita

2. Persona Dancing Series

The Persona series has received a number of spin-off titles, with Persona 3, 4, and 5 each getting their own dancing game. Each one is very similar: use the face buttons and control sticks to hit the beats in time with the music. You can customize your character’s outfit and pick from a number of remixed tracks from each game.

Be warned that because they each take place after the stories of their respective Persona titles, playing them will spoil the mainline games. So if you have any interest in the Persona series, play a game before you jump into its Dancing counterpart.

These games are definitely made for fans of the series, but rhythm enthusiasts will still have fun with them. If you don’t care about Persona, which Dancing game you should play comes down to the music you like best. And you can give the soundtracks a listen on YouTube to find out.

Notably, Persona 4 Dancing has a proper story mode; the others are more barebones. Unfortunately, Persona 4 Dancing isn’t available as a standalone download on PS4. The only way to get it on PlayStation 4 is to buy the Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection, which includes all three games.

Buy: Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight for PS4 | PS Vita
Buy: Persona 4: Dancing All Night for PS Vita
Buy: Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight for PS4 | PS Vita
Buy: Persona Dancing: Endless Night Collection for PS4

3. Thumper

Thumper is an interesting beast; the developers call it a “rhythm violence game.” In it, you guide a beetle down a track and have to use the right button inputs to avoid danger. This includes jumping over obstacles and turning to navigate sharp bends.

You’re scored on your performance for each section and stage, so arcade fans will enjoy trying to beat their high score as they improve. The game is available on several platforms, with VR support as an option if you have an Oculus, HTC Vive, or PSVR (have a look at the best free Oculus games if you just got a VR headset).

If you like rhythm elements but want something a little different, this is one to try.

Buy: Thumper for PC | PS4 | XBO | Switch | Oculus Rift
Buy: Thumper: Pocket Edition for Android | iOS ($4.99)

4. Rhythm Heaven Megamix

Rhythm Heaven is a lesser-known Nintendo franchise that focuses on rhythm gameplay. It’s made up of mini games where you use the buttons (or touchscreen) to keep the action flowing along with the music.

For example, Ringside tasks you with responding to a reporter’s questions after a wrestling match; you must hit the button a certain number of times depending on what she asks. Each game has its own rules, but they’re all guided by music. Rhythm Heaven is made by the same team behind the WarioWare series, so they share a quirky sense of humor.

The most recent entry is Rhythm Heaven Megamix, which serves as a compilation of favorite mini games from past titles along with some newcomers. It’s thus a great starting point if you’re new to the series.

Buy: Rhythm Heaven Megamix for 3DS

5. VOEZ

VOEZ was originally released on mobile devices before coming to the Switch shortly after launch. Due to its roots, you can play the game entirely on a touchscreen. It also works with a controller, but this isn’t the ideal way to play.

It’s a simple rhythm experience; notes drop from the top of the screen and you must tap, hold, swipe, and perform other actions on them in time with the music. The aesthetic is clean, and the game features three difficulty levels so you can play at your preferred skill level.

Notably, VOEZ on Switch packs in all of the tracks sold separately in the mobile version. With over 100 songs and a story to discover, there’s a lot to enjoy here. The music favors electronic and pop music from East Asia, so there’s not as much variety as there is with Superbeat, though.

Buy: VOEZ for Switch

Download: VOEZ for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

6. Crypt of the NecroDancer

Crypt of the NecroDancer is primarily a roguelike game, but it has heavy rhythm elements that make it a must-play for anyone interested in both genres. In it, you’ll crawl through dungeons containing all sorts of enemies, traps, and upgrades.

What sets this game apart is that you must move to the beat of the music for the best results. If you misstep, you’ll lose your beat multiplier, which has several negative consequences.

Crypt of the NecroDancer features punishing difficulty; you have to restart from the beginning of the stage if you die, and it will take you dozens of attempts to learn enemy behaviors and the best strategies to succeed. Since it’s randomly generated, you can’t just memorize dungeon layouts, either.

If you don’t mind a challenge, you’ll enjoy exploring the game’s crypts as you move to the beat. The game’s soundtrack is excellent and allows you to switch to several remixes in various genres.

Buy: Crypt of the NecroDancer for PC | PS4 | XBO | Switch | PS Vita | iOS

7. Cytus Alpha

Cytus comes from Rayark, the same developer as VOEZ. The game was initially released on Android and iOS, where you can also play the sequel. Cytus Alpha is a Switch remake of the original title.

The gameplay revolves around a horizontal line that moves up and down the screen. You’ll need to input a tap, hold, or drag as the line passes over each note; the color determines whether you should hit it on the upswing or downswing. Like VOEZ, you can use the touchscreen or controllers to play.

In addition to 200+ songs, Cytus Alpha packs in a story mode as well as online battles, so there’s a lot to do. However, this is also the most expensive rhythm game on the list, coming in at $50. You should try one of the mobile versions first to see if you like it enough to grab the definitive Switch version.

Buy: Cytus Alpha for Switch
Buy: Cytus for Android (Free, in-app purchases available) | iOS ($1.99, in-app purchases available)
Buy: Cytus II for Android ($1.99, in-app purchases available) | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

Ditch Those Plastic Peripherals!

We’ve looked at several great rhythm games that don’t require any special peripherals or a lot of space. Allowing you to just play using a standard controller. So whether you want to tap buttons in rhythm with the music or see how another genre crosses over with rhythm elements, these games will get you tapping your feet.

And if you enjoyed these games, you should also check out the music genres that gamers will love.

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Can You Run It on Linux? 12 Vital Apps You’ll Want When You Switch

There has never been a better time to switch to Linux, but you may still be hesitant. After all, you’re not sure if you can run your favorite Windows applications on Linux.

So, let’s take a look at 10 popular Windows apps and games and see if they work on Linux.

1. Chrome Browser

All major browsers (Firefox, Chrome, and Opera) are available on Linux. In fact, you’ll find a vast selection of Linux browsers to choose from, such as Epiphany.

You’ll find that Firefox, Chrome, and Opera offer the same functionality as on Windows or macOS. This means you can sign into your browsers and effortlessly sync bookmarks, passwords, and other settings from Windows.

Mozilla Firefox is preinstalled on most Linux distros, but if you want Chrome you can download it from Google. Note that you can also install the open source Chromium browser.

Download: Chrome

Download: Chromium

2. Outlook

To take care of your email needs, you have plenty of options on Linux—although Outlook isn’t available for Linux.

Thunderbird, one of the most popular email clients, is perhaps the number one email client for Linux. The ExQuilla extension adds Exchange support, something Thunderbird has been missing for years.

But if you need an Outlook equivalent for Linux with Microsoft Exchange support without installing an extension, try Evolution.

Of course, if you don’t need an Exchange email client, you can also easily use any web-based email interface with your preferred browser. So you can access the Outlook web app, along with Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and other hosted webmail from your ISP or employer.

There’s a strong chance your Linux distro has Mozilla Thunderbird or Evolution already installed.

Download: Mozilla Thunderbird

Download: Evolution

3. Microsoft Office

The world’s most popular office isn’t available on Linux. So, you have three options:

• Use Office 365 on your browser
• Run Office using Wine
• Install LibreOffice

Office 365 is a smart option, and if you have a subscription then you still get the most out of Office.

Alternatively, if you want Word, Excel, etc., to run from your Linux desktop, you can install Microsoft Office in Wine.

But overall the best alternative for the Linux desktop is LibreOffice. Full of office suite features, you’ll get a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, database manager, and more. It is intended as an open source alternative to Microsoft Office and matches it app-for-app.

In fact, you’ll only really come across issues if you tend to use very high-level Office features such as Macros. While LibreOffice has macros too, cross compatibility with Office’s macros has room for improvement.

Apart from this, LibreOffice is a top alternative will complete document compatibility. Other open source office solutions are available, but LibreOffice has the edge.

Download: LibreOffice

4. Microsoft Project

One key problem for businesses looking to switch to Linux is finding an alternative to Microsoft Project. While you could run it in Wine, it’s not compatible with anything since Project 2013.

So, is there an equivalent Linux app for Microsoft Project?

Yes, there is. ProjectLibre is compatible with files created in Microsoft Project 2003, 2007, and 2010, and can produce Gantt Charts, network diagrams, and more. Downloaded over 4,500,000 times and translated into 20 languages, ProjectLibre is recommended as the preferred Microsoft Project alternative.

Download: ProjectLibre

5. Photoshop

Photoshop also isn’t available on Linux.

While people seem to have some success at installing Photoshop on Linux with Wine, that often involves installing an older version. If you want up-to-date versions of Photoshop, you’re out of luck.

However, you can easily install GIMP, which is an extremely capable image manipulation tool. Although some of the workflows may be different than in Photoshop, you can achieve virtually the same tasks. And if GIMP doesn’t provide a feature you’re looking for by default, there’s probably a plugin to help you out.

Download: GIMP

6. Windows Video Editor

As of 2018 Windows 10 features a replacement for Windows Movie Maker. Packaged with the Photos tool, Windows Video Editor is a basic video editing tool.

It does the job of editing videos, supports 3D effects, text, slow motion video, and the results can be impressive. You’ll end up with something that looks like a well-produced home movie.

But can you do better on Linux? After all, a whole selection of video editing tools, from Adobe Premiere to Corel VideoStudio Ultimate are available on Windows.

If you’re looking to create very simple home videos, then look no further than PiTiVi. There’s also OpenShot for more advanced projects. Check our guide to Linux video editors for more options.

Finally, as a professional-grade video editor there’s Lightworks, but it also asks for a professional-grade price.

Download: PiTiVi

7. Eclipse

Developers need to have a reliable IDE (Interactive Development Environment) for programming projects. Eclipse is a popular one for many developers, especially those building Android apps. Thankfully, it is also available on Linux and easily installable.

If you use a different IDE such as Visual Studio, which isn’t available on Linux, switching to Eclipse is easy. Eclipse unable to meet your requirements? That’s not a problem. Plenty of online browser-based IDEs are available to fill the gap.

Download: Eclipse

8. Minecraft

One of the world’s biggest video games, Minecraft is a must for many people. Thanks to its Java roots, runs on Linux perfectly. In fact, there’s barely any difference between the Windows and Linux versions.

If you want to modify Minecraft, most mod files will work. The usual Minecraft game modes are available, Minecraft on Linux supports multiplayer—it’s all there. You can even set up Minecraft to host a multiplayer game or build a full Minecraft server with Linux.

Download: Minecraft

9. AutoCAD

Premium industrial-standard computer aided design (CAD) software AutoCAD has long resisted calls to produce a Linux version.

Fortunately, there’s a great free alternative called FreeCAD which can take care of your CAD needs. It’s also made to be modular, so you can add in extra functionality if you need it. Interested? Like many Linux apps, FreeCAD is also available on Windows and macOS, so you can try it before switching.

Download: FreeCAD

10. SketchUp

Sticking with design apps, SketchUp is also a popular option for Windows users. Rather than industrial and mechanical design, however, SketchUp is (usually) used for design and architecture.

But is there a Linux equivalent for SketchUp users?

Again, the PC gods are smiling on your efforts to switch to Linux. BricsCAD Shape is a free tool for single Linux users offering a SketchUp-like experience. It’s part of the wider BricsCAD family, which offers modeling solutions for all purposes—including an AutoCAD alternative, BricsCAD Mechanical.

Download: BricsCAD Shape

11. Steam

Steam is the ultimate PC gaming platform, a vast library of video games delivered digitally to your computer.

Developers Valve released a Linux version in 2013 which is full of AAA games that would previously have been Windows-only.

While not every single Windows game is available on Linux, the list of Linux-compatible games continues to grow. Use Steam’s filter tool to see what games are available to run on Linux and see if you own any. If gaming is important to you, having your favorite games available on Linux will ease the transition considerably.

Download: Steam

12. Spotify

The most popular music streaming service has spread itself rapidly across all desktop and mobile devices.

But is there a Linux version of Spotify?

Yes, there is! You have two options, a DEB option for Debian, Ubuntu, and their derivatives, and a Snap installer package. Spotify for Linux is a fully featured desktop player, as with Windows and macOS. You’ll be able to sign into your account as normal, access your playlists, follow your favorite artists and so on.

If for some reason Spotify won’t run on your version of Linux, don’t worry. Your Linux web browser will run Spotify’s web player just fine.

Download: Spotify

It’s Time to Switch to Linux!

With these 10 vital apps, you should be ready to tackle Linux without breaking a sweat. With all of the benefits that an open source operating system provides, and knowing that you have apps available to get work done, there’s no excuse for you to not try it out.

Don’t forget to also check out our Best Linux Software list for other great Linux apps to try out!

Read the full article: Can You Run It on Linux? 12 Vital Apps You’ll Want When You Switch

The 5 Best Free Online Digital Whiteboard Apps That Aren’t Google or Microsoft

A whiteboard is an essential collaboration tool in any office for teams. Now that the office has gone remote, it’s time to switch to online whiteboards. Here are some of the best free digital whiteboard apps.

Microsoft has recently launched an online whiteboard app, but it’s not available to use on non-Surface devices yet. The Google whiteboard, called Jamboard for teams, is a paid app that’s part of the G Suite. If all you need is a simple free digital whiteboard app to use with your colleagues, there are better options available right now.

1. Miro (Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS): The Best Digital Whiteboard App

Miro makes it easy for newcomers to use a digital whiteboard even if they’ve never tried such an app before. You can use it on desktop or phones and tablets, and it’s best on touchscreens.

The main whiteboard has a variety of templates you can insert, like kanban boards, flowcharts, mind maps, etc. The rest of the whiteboard space remains blank, and you can insert multiple templates. It’s a fantastic system to use different methods to brainstorm on a digital whiteboard.

Collaboration is a key element of Miro. You and team members can chat and messages, add comments, leave sticky notes, and create a centralized note for meeting elements. You can also link and embed in other team apps like Slack. The premium version also includes video chat, voting, and screen sharing.

Miro is hands-down the best whiteboard app for desktop or mobile. It is packed with more features than any other app out there. The only problem is that its free version limits many of these features, making it great for individuals or really small teams. If you have more than three people needing to use a whiteboard app, considering paying for Miro or one of the other alternatives in this article.

Download: Miro for Windows | macOS (Free)

Download: Miro for Android | iOS (Free)

2. Aww (Web): Packed With Features Like Templates and Board Saving

Similar to Miro, Aww is a feature-packed free digital whiteboard app. It too comes with a number of templates like a kanban board, a user story map, SWOT analysis, and more. However, you can’t insert multiple templates into the same whiteboard space.

Using the free digital whiteboard is as simple as any other app. You have a blank space to draw, add shapes, add text, or post-it notes. Once you sign up, you can even save your boards for later, and duplicate them too. You can also export the board as a PDF or an image.

Aww has other features like the ability to manage which users can see which whiteboards, embedding whiteboards in web pages, basic text chat, and so on.

Compared to Miro, Aww is easier for teams to use for the free version. Again, the free digital whiteboard is limited, and if you like it, consider buying a premium plan for brainstorming online with a whiteboard.

3. Witeboard (Web): Automatic Shape Detection for Good-looking Whiteboards

Witeboard integrates with Slack, powering up the chat app for your team. But Witeboard’s main feature is shape detection.

Drawing on a trackpad or with your mouse on a digital whiteboard isn’t as accurate as using your hand on a whiteboard. But when you trace the rough shape of a circle or rectangle on Witeboard, it automatically turns that into a perfect circle or rectangle. You end up getting a good-looking virtual whiteboard instead of one filled with badly-drawn figures and shapes.

You can also use keyboard shortcuts to draw the figures without shape detection. Press R for rectangle, C for circle, and hold Shift for a straight line, and then click and draw the figure.

Witeboard also saves all the boards you have drawn on in your browser’s cache, so you don’t need to remember the link or go searching for it again. Of course, these boards will be wiped if you clear your cache.

This free whiteboard app is as easy to use as Microsoft Whiteboard or Google’s digital whiteboard apps, and doesn’t even need anyone to sign up to use it. In fact, if you are looking for a whiteboard extension for Google Meet video calls, you can open Witeboard in a separate tab and share the screen with participants. It works like a charm.

4. Ryeboard (Web): Add Images to a Digital Whiteboard

When the whiteboard has gone digital, it naturally makes sense to add other digital elements to it. Why shouldn’t you be able to add a photo to your online whiteboard? Ryeboard is the app to use if you want to attach images.

Ryeboard gives you three types of elements for the digital whiteboard: note, image, or drawing. Drag and drop the element on to the canvas and add text, photos, or start freehand drawing. You can change the size of the note or image, and lock it on the screen when you’re done. For images, you will need to upload them from your hard drive as Ryeboard doesn’t let you grab links directly.

Like the others, you can share your digital whiteboard online with a simple link. You’ll need to register to use Ryeboard, but think twice before using a social login.

5. Draw.Chat (Web): Multiple Whiteboard with Video, Audio, and Text Chat

When you’re collaborating with your team on a digital whiteboard, you might want to chat alongside. Draw.Chat adds text, audio, or video chat to the whiteboard process.

Draw.Chat is not exactly a digital whiteboard app, it’s actually more of a paint app. But that works just as well when you need a whiteboard, right? Being a paint app actually gives you more tools, like drawing shapes, lines, and even using an ink dropper if need be. Draw.Chat also lets you add images.

Plus, with Draw.Chat, you can create multiple virtual whiteboards within your main link. So you could have one digital whiteboard for a flowchart, another for your brainstorming, and so on.

The only drawback is that it might be a bit much for those seeking a simple free online whiteboard. It does a lot, and in turn, it consumes a lot of resources while using it.

Other Online Team Tools to Use

A digital whiteboard is an excellent tool for teams who work remotely or mainly collaborate online. Apart from digital whiteboards like Miro, you should also check out these other free online meeting tools for teams to boost your productivity.

Read the full article: The 5 Best Free Online Digital Whiteboard Apps That Aren’t Google or Microsoft

The 7 Best Google Docs Alternatives for Online Word Processing

Online word processors come with many advantages. Your documents are accessible from anywhere, they’re open to collaboration and sharing, and are easy to import and export.

When you think of online word processing, you immediately think of Google Docs. It is a great service with an extensive array of features, plus heaps of add-ons, too.

That said, you might not always want to use Google Docs. Thankfully, there are several excellent Google Docs alternatives that you can use for online document editing. Here are the best alternatives to Google Docs you can use right now.

1. Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office (formerly Office Online, also known as “Office on the Web”) is the free offering from the world’s most popular office suite. A Microsoft account is all you need to gain access to almost the entire gamut of Microsoft Office applications. Office Online grants access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook, as well as Sway and a host of other tools.

So, how does the Office on the Web compare to Google Docs (and the wider range of G Suite tools)? The offering is so good that some people have entirely eschewed purchasing Microsoft Office 2019 or Office 365 in favor of the free online suite. The introduction of collaborative tools has only strengthened the free service, too.

However, Microsoft has not given us the crown jewels. The online Office offering does carry some limitations.

For instance, the number of templates available is reduced. As well as this, you can use the integrated styles, but cannot make your own. Office contains a number of these “half-features” that you’ll encounter from time to time. Some are negligible. Others can be massively frustrating—I’m looking at you Merge Formatting.

The free online version of Microsoft Office is still an excellent alternative to Google Docs, despite the shortcomings found in several of the applications.

2. Zoho Docs

Zoho develops a huge number of apps, from a personal wiki to an email service, through CRM and bookkeeping tools, and more. Zoho Docs is Zoho’s answer to Google Docs, and it is a strong alternative online document editor.

The writer itself is excellent, with a ton of editing options, organized in a succinct and aesthetically pleasing sidebar. Almost anything you can do in Word can be done in Zoho, from adding a header and footer to directly posting a document to your blog.

It also features advanced options, such as mail merging and electronic signature support. Another extremely handy feature is the integrated Zoho chat, so you can chat with collaborators while working.

Zoho is the most feature-complete of the Web-based applications, including Google Docs, and is incredibly easy to use. Zoho doesn’t get nearly the press Google Docs does, but I can’t see a reason not to switch. Need more convincing? Here are even more reasons to try Zoho as your Google Docs alternative.

3. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is the online document editing offering from Dropbox, better known for its cloud storage solutions. All you need to use Dropbox Paper is a Dropbox account. Once you sign up, you can begin using this handy Google Docs alternative.

Dropbox Paper has some handy features. Adding and curating images is exceptionally easy, especially if you already use Dropbox as an image host. Similarly, embedding other content is just as easy. There’s also the option to edit using markdown language, which is handy for quick edits and basic styling.

As with other online document editing tools, collaboration and sharing are key. Sharing in Dropbox Paper is as easy as clicking a button and inviting users (other Dropbox users or from Google Accounts), as is allowing commenting in the current document.

One cool collaboration feature is that you can “@” people from your document, even if they’re not currently working on the same document. The person receives a notification that you want them to come and work with you. Another handy collaboration feature is Task Assignment. You can quickly turn any bullet-list into a task list to be assigned to your collaborators.

As a Google Docs alternative, Dropbox Paper is a handy and quick document editing tool. However, it doesn’t have the extensive range of editing tools available to Google Docs or some of the alternatives on this list.

4. ONLYOFFICE

OnlyOffice is a Google Docs alternative that offers both and offline and online document editing tools. As we’re primarily focusing on Google Docs alternatives that don’t require downloading, we’ll focus on the online OnlyOffice version.

Like Zoho Docs, OnlyOffice’s personal document editing tool is one of the most comprehensive alternatives to Google Docs. You’ll find extensive editing options in-line with offline document editing tools. You can customize formatting styles and layouts, invite collaborators to work with you, and even chat within the OnlyOffice window to keep your focus on the work window.

There’s also the option to install OnlyOffice add-ons, which are extensions that increase the functionality of the document editing tool. For example, you can install the WordPress plugin and publish work direct to your website or the Zotero plugin, which helps you manage references and other research materials.

5. Nuclino

Nuclino is a brilliant free collaborative editor and alternative to Google Docs. It is extremely easy to use, has a great user interface (UI), and provides a satisfying experience in pretty much all areas. That said, it isn’t necessarily a direct Google Docs competitor. Google Docs provides a rounded suite of tools, while Nuclino has a definite slant toward team and project management.

Nonetheless, writing and editing in Nuclino is aided by the clean aesthetic and easily implemented editorial tools. Nuclino is versatile, too. Multiple groups, multiple boards, easy invitations, smart tags, and integration with services such as YouTube, Vimeo, and Soundcloud provide a comprehensive service. There’s the option to write and edit using markdown, too.

However, Nuclino isn’t strictly a document editing program if you’re considering a pure editorial experience. If your team depends on advanced document editing and formatting or even just basic spreadsheets, you’ll be importing to Nuclino from another source.

6. Etherpad

If collaboration is what you’re into, give Etherpad a good look. There’s no need to sign up or install Etherpad. You can simply select one of the public instances running Etherpad Lite, many of which feature secure encrypted connections. Once you’re connected, either share a link to the pad or send invitations to your contacts by email.

As users enter the Etherpad, you can edit the text on the pad in real-time, and changes automatically appear. You can chat in the sidebar, highlight which user made a given change, and save revisions so as to revert if someone makes a mistake.

Furthermore, some public Etherpad instances allow you to choose how long the pad remains active for, adding a handy ephemeral document angle to this Google Docs alternative. For example, the Etherpad in the above image allows you to set a 24-hours, 60 days, or 1-year period before destruction.

7. Slite

Slite is another collaborative work tool you can use as an alternative to Google Docs. As it is a collaborative workspace, you might find that Slite replaces more than just Google Docs, too.

The free version of Slite allows you to create 50 shared documents per month, as well as unlimited personal documents. You can also invite an unlimited number of users to your free Slite. Furthermore, it integrates nicely with one of the most popular team management tools, Slack, meaning you can talk and work between the two with ease.

Other integrations include Figma, Loom, Trello, Asana, and GitHub. In that, Slite works as a document editing tool and as a project management option.

Which Is the Best Google Docs Alternative?

Google Docs is an excellent online document editing tool, but what is the best alternative? Well, you can choose a more traditional editor experience in Microsoft Office or Zoho Writer, or try a collaborative experience with Dropbox Paper or Nuclino.

Needless to say, you have more than a handful of Google Docs alternatives to consider before starting your next big project!

Stuck using Google Docs? Check out how you can make a beautiful Google Document using the inbuilt formatting tools.

Read the full article: The 7 Best Google Docs Alternatives for Online Word Processing

10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Invest With the Robinhood App

Following its launch in 2013, Robinhood quickly became a popular way of investing in stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, it’s no longer the golden boy of millennial investing. Indeed, you could even argue that Robinhood is flat-out bad.

Here are several reasons why you may not want to invest with Robinhood.

1. Free Trades Are Now Commonplace

Robinhood’s big selling point used to be its commission-free structure. The free trades came at a price in other ways (some of which we’ll explore shortly), but users figured that the monetary savings were worth the tradeoffs.

But Robinhood is no longer the only show in town. Since its arrival, several major brokers have followed suit and now also offer free trades. Today, you can get free trades with TD Ameritrade, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers, and many more. It means you need to question whether some of Robinhood’s other major shortcomings are still acceptable. In practice, they are probably not.

2. Major Downtime Problems

2020 has been one of the most remarkable years in market history. At the time of writing, we’ve already seen a record-breaking selloff and recovery, including moves of more than 10 percent on a single day, and summer has barely begun.

We don’t want to go into a lesson on investing, so suffice to say that during periods of such extreme volatility, it’s vital that people can access their accounts. Positions can move quickly and investors need to be able to reliably secure profits or cut losses.

It’s not good, therefore, when a broker is inaccessible on some of the most volatile days of the last 50 years. But that’s what happened to Robinhood. Not once. Not twice. But three times.

Worse still, all the outages occurred in the space of one week in early March during the most unpredictable days of the COVID19 crisis. It cost people millions of dollars in positions they could not close. And Robinhood’s response? A “goodwill” payment of $75. It is now facing multiple lawsuits over the issue.

Users can no longer maintain any reasonable faith in the service being available when they need it most. That alone is enough reason to switch broker.

3. Delayed Stock Quotes

If you read Robinhood’s FAQs or independent reviews of the service, you will see that the app has real-time quotes.

That’s only half true. Yes, your orders will always be completed at the real-time price, but the charts and data you see on screen are often delayed. This will prevent you from getting in and out of trades in the most efficient manner.

There are a few factors at play. Most notably, Robinhood uses the same provider as sites like The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, and StockTwits for its quotes. It’s cheap, barebones, and limited to a handful of exchanges. Robinhood does this to save money.

If you have an account with another broker, open the same stock on both apps and you’ll see the differences for yourself.

4. Terrible Crypto Product

We’re not here to debate the merits of crypto as an investment class. But we do understand the appeal of being able to do your stock trading and crypto trading in the same place. On paper, that’s something that Robinhood offers; it launched its crypto trading service in 2018.

But the crypto platform has some shocking drawbacks. The drawbacks are so severe that we’d strongly urge all users to look elsewhere for your crypto needs.

• Coin withdrawals are not available. If you own Bitcoin, you cannot transfer it out of Robinhood to your own private wallet.
• Robinhood does not supply you with access to your wallet or your wallet address.
• You do not hold the private keys for your crypto assets. An oft-repeated (and accurate) piece of advice in the crypto world is that if you don’t have the private keys, you do not own the coins.

All three of these problems directly fly in the face of proper crypto security advice.

On a more simplistic level, Robinhood’s selection of crypto is also extremely limited. Only seven coins are available: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Ethereum Classic, and Litecoin.

5. Payment for Order Flow

Given the free trades, how does Robinhood make money? Sure, there’s Robinhood Gold, but the signup rate is nowhere near enough to warrant the $8 billion company valuation.

The answer is via a practice called payment for order flow. It means that instead of searching for the best price for a given stock, Robinhood is instead selling your data to high-frequency trading (HFT) firms for massive profit. The HTF firms add the data to their algorithms to better understand the flow of retail money. It is they who are Robinhood’s real customers.

A blog post on Seeking Alpha in 2018 revealed the truth after the author spent time studying Robinhood’s SEC filings:

E*TRADE makes $22 per $1,000,000 traded, which sounds like a small number until you realize they cleared $47,000,000 last quarter from this. But off an identical $1,000,000 in volume, Robinhood gets paid $260 from the same HFT firms. If Robinhood did as much trade volume as E*TRADE, they would theoretically be making close to $500 million per quarter in payments from HFT firms.

As the old saying goes, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.

(Note: To learn more about payment for order flow on Robinhood, check out the article on our sister site, Blocks Decoded.)

6. Robinhood Gold

Upgraded to Robinhood gold, am I the next Jordan Belford?? Some are saying yes…

— Ryan (@insert_name1) June 10, 2020

And speaking of Robinhood Gold… For those who don’t know, Robinhood Gold is a subscription service that introduces a few extra features for $5 per month.

• Margin investing.
• Access to professional research such as Morningstar reports.
• Level II market data.
• Larger instant deposits (rather than waiting for money to clear).

Sounds reasonable. But here’s the catch—any broker worth its salt will make all that stuff available for free on its respective platform. It really isn’t worth $5 per month. Robinhood Gold just feels like a way to eke more cash out of inexperienced investors who think that by subscribing they will become better traders.

They won’t.

7. Poor Customer Service

Robinhood’s customer support is notoriously bad. Users complain of waiting weeks for an answer in the app’s Help section, lengthy queues to speak to someone on the phone, no responses to emails, and a general lack of urgency in responding to important issues.

In ordinary circumstances, poor customer service might be forgivable in a free app. However, when large sums of money are involved, clients deserve better. Given the company’s value, we’re sure they could hire a few extra reps easily enough.

8. Lack of Account Types

Robinhood only offers standard, individual investing accounts. You cannot open a joint account, trust account, custodial account, Individual Retirement Account (IRA), or any other type of tax-efficient savings account. Therefore, it’s not a good option if you’re investing for long-term goals, for a child, or as a couple.

Ideally, you should always max out your savings in non-taxable accounts before using taxable products.

9. Lack of Investment Types

Robinhood only lets you invest in four types of assets: US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs, options contracts for US exchange-listed Stocks and ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and American Depository Receipts (ADRs) for 250 global companies.

It might sound like a lot, but you’re missing out on access to many other types of investments, including over-the-counter equities, foreign stocks, mutual funds, bonds, fixed-income assets, and Forex.

Perhaps most concerning is the lack of bonds. Spreading your investment across multiple asset categories is one of the best ways to reduce risk to your portfolio, but at the very least you should hold a mix of equities and bonds.

10. Unimpressive Watchlist Features

A watchlist is a customizable list of stocks that you want to keep an eye on. They are an essential part of planning your investments; they let you quickly see whether specific parameters have been hit, and consequently, whether it’s a good time to buy your desired asset.

Most brokerages’ watchlists are feature-rich. For example, you can create multiple lists for different stocks, opportunities, or ideas. Normally, you can also sort your watchlist in various ways such as by price, volume, bid price, and other key indicators.

Robinhood doesn’t offer any of those features. You can’t even sort your list alphabetically (though at least you can reorder your list manually). The lack of watchlist features makes the app unsuitable for serious stock research.

Remember, if you don’t research stocks thoroughly before purchasing, you’re not investing. You’re gambling.

Should You Avoid Robinhood?

Robinhood is definitely a great way for new investors to get their feet wet in the stock market.

However, it’s important to know that Robinhood’s free trades come at a price, and in a lot of situations Robinhood is an unsuitable investment broker. Once you’ve built up some knowledge and feel confident, it’s worth opening an account with a traditional discount brokerage elsewhere.

If you’d like to learn more about investing, check our articles on the best investment apps for absolute beginners and virtual stock market games that will teach you the basics.

Read the full article: 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Invest With the Robinhood App

Match Group completes separation from IAC, new board includes Wendi Murdoch and Ryan Reynolds

IAC and Match Group announced that they have completed a “full separation.”

Previously, Match Group (which owns Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish and Match itself) was a publicly-traded company, with digital holding company IAC as its majority shareholder. Last year, the companies announced a plan that would see IAC’s ownership of Match distributed to IAC’s shareholders — a plan that is complete as of this morning.

The separation also involves a leadership change, with Mark Stein and Gregg Winiarski stepping down from the Match Group board. The company has four new board members: ExecOnline CEO Stephen Bailey, the NBA’s executive president for digital media Melissa Brenner, investor and entrepreneur Wendi Murdoch and actor Ryan Reynolds (also an owner of Aviation American Gin and Mint Mobile).

“Most millennials and Gen Z can’t remember what dating was like before the advent of Tinder, OkCupid and Hinge,” Reynolds said in a statement. “These brands have enormous responsibility and opportunities to affect societies, all while embracing new technologies and remaining at the forefront of pop culture. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and work with the team on their future growth and success.”

Shar Dubey will continue to serve as Match Group’s CEO, a position she took at the beginning of this year, while Joey Levin remains a both IAC’s CEO and Match Group’s executive chairman.

“This is just the largest transaction at the core of our strategy throughout these 25 years,” said IAC Chairman Barry Diller in a statement. “Be opportunistic, be balance sheet conservative, build up enterprises and when they deserve independence let them have it. Be a conglomerate and an anti-conglomerate, a business model that has been unique to us.”

IAC outlines its plans for a Match Group spin-off

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Match Group completes separation from IAC, new board includes Wendi Murdoch and Ryan Reynolds

IAC and Match Group announced that they have completed a “full separation.”

Previously, Match Group (which owns Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, PlentyOfFish and Match itself) was a publicly-traded company, with digital holding company IAC as its majority shareholder. Last year, the companies announced a plan that would see IAC’s ownership of Match distributed to IAC’s shareholders — a plan that is complete as of this morning.

The separation also involves a leadership change, with Mark Stein and Gregg Winiarski stepping down from the Match Group board. The company has four new board members: ExecOnline CEO Stephen Bailey, the NBA’s executive president for digital media Melissa Brenner, investor and entrepreneur Wendi Murdoch and actor Ryan Reynolds (also an owner of Aviation American Gin and Mint Mobile).

“Most millennials and Gen Z can’t remember what dating was like before the advent of Tinder, OkCupid and Hinge,” Reynolds said in a statement. “These brands have enormous responsibility and opportunities to affect societies, all while embracing new technologies and remaining at the forefront of pop culture. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and work with the team on their future growth and success.”

Shar Dubey will continue to serve as Match Group’s CEO, a position she took at the beginning of this year, while Joey Levin remains a both IAC’s CEO and Match Group’s executive chairman.

“This is just the largest transaction at the core of our strategy throughout these 25 years,” said IAC Chairman Barry Diller in a statement. “Be opportunistic, be balance sheet conservative, build up enterprises and when they deserve independence let them have it. Be a conglomerate and an anti-conglomerate, a business model that has been unique to us.”

IAC outlines its plans for a Match Group spin-off

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