This free Linux app lets you make memes in seconds - no GIMP required

Source: ZDNet

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Linux now has a free app for creating memes.
• No need to learn GIMP for simple meme creation.
• Memerist is free to install and use.

Memerist is an easy‑to‑use Linux app that lets you generate memes quickly. It includes a small library of popular meme images, lets you add your own images, and provides simple text tools with rotation and basic font effects. Export options include .jpg and .png.

Features

• Small built‑in image library + ability to add your own images
• Easy text addition (rotation, limited font effects)
• Export as .jpg or .png
• High‑contrast and “ensh*tify” filters
• Zoom in/out, text and image layers, real‑time preview

How to install Memerist

Memerist is distributed as a Flatpak on Flathub, so it works on any Linux distribution that supports Flatpak.

Installation methods

Via GUI app store
If your distribution’s software center supports Flatpak, simply search for “Memerist” and click Install.

Via command line

flatpak install flathub io.github.vani_tty1.memerist

After installation, you may need to log out and back in for the Memerist icon to appear in your desktop menu.

How to use Memerist

1. Open Memerist.
2. Choose an image from the built‑in library or add your own.
3. Click the B icon in the sidebar to create a text layer.
4. Enter and format your text (rotation, font effects).
5. When finished, click Export, give the file a name, and choose the desired format (.png or .jpg).

Note: Memerist does not support perspective distortion for text layers, so text may appear slightly misaligned on some images. This is generally acceptable for memes, where impact matters more than perfection.

Exporting as .jpg can be useful when a site does not accept .png files or when you need a smaller file size.

Enjoy creating memes on Linux without the overhead of learning GIMP!