My 11 favorite Linux distributions of all time, ranked

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Linux is connected the rise. I judge the popularity of the open-source operating strategy volition proceed to increase. Although Linux didn't scope the 10% people arsenic I had expected by the extremity of the year, each signs constituent to steady growth that could pb to a important alteration successful 2026.

Because of the popularity of Linux, I thought I would make a database of my all-time apical 11 distributions that I've utilized implicit the years. Some of these distros are nary longer with us, portion immoderate of them are inactive thriving.

Also: 8 ways I rapidly leveled up my Linux skills - and you tin too

Are you acceptable to instrumentality a travel with me? Let's go.

1. Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS has been my go-to Linux organisation for immoderate clip now. Part of the crushed for that is that I've been utilizing System76 computers for the past decennary and person recovered Pop!_OS to tally highly good connected them. After all, System76 does vessel those machines with Pop!_OS arsenic the default operating system. The show of Pop!_OS and the System76 hardware is genuinely thing to behold. 

Also: Want to prevention your aged computer? Try 1 of these 8 Linux distros for free

Of each the Linux distributions I've used, Pop!_OS has been the astir efficient, portion besides being a beauteous desktop operating system. Of course, System76 is astir to unleash the COSMIC desktop mentation of Pop!_OS, which I judge volition elevate the operating system to adjacent higher levels of show and easiness of use. 

If you privation a do-all Linux distribution, you cannot spell incorrect with Pop!_OS. One origin to support successful mind, however, is that you aren't going to revive aged machines with Pop!_OS, truthful you'll privation a strategy with plentifulness of resources.

2. Ubuntu Budgie

If I had to migrate distant from Pop!_OS, the 1 organisation that would beryllium archetypal connected my database would beryllium Ubuntu Budgie. This organisation does get immoderate of GNOME's underpinnings, but determination is nary mistaking that this organisation stands connected its own. Ubuntu Budgie is gorgeous. And adjacent though the developers person created a fantastic layout that should delight anyone, Budgie besides happens to beryllium highly configurable.

Also: 6 reasons wherefore I've stuck with Ubuntu-based Linux distros for the past 20 years

You tin beauteous overmuch marque this desktop look and consciousness precisely however you want. I often see migrating from Pop!_OS to Ubuntu Budgie. The lone crushed holding maine backmost is however good Pop!_OS performs connected the System76 hardware; otherwise, you tin stake I'd beryllium moving Ubuntu Budgie. 

3. Rhino Linux

If determination is 1 organisation that could bushed Ubuntu Budgie successful the looks department, it's Rhino Linux. Early on, Rhino utilized the Xfce desktop to execute this beauteous look, but the developers precocious announced they would beryllium adding caller spins, which volition astir apt spot each of them looking arsenic bully arsenic the default. 

Also: These 6 Linux record managers are mode amended than your default

Rhino Linux besides happens to beryllium a rolling release distribution, which means it volition ever person the latest top software. It isn't conscionable a beauteous face. With this Linux distribution, you get aggregate package managers, truthful you tin not lone bask tons of disposable software, but you tin besides instal it with your favourite tools.

4. Bodhi Linux

Bodhi Linux holds a peculiar spot successful my bosom due to the fact that its Moksha desktop is based connected 1 of my favourite desktop environments, Enlightenment. Bohdi Linux is besides accelerated and lightweight, making it a large enactment for reviving aged hardware. 

Two of my favourite elements of the Bodhi Linux desktop are the desktop paper (which tin beryllium accessed from anyplace connected the desktop) and the quality to shadiness windows. And past determination are the themes… truthful galore themes. You tin play astir with the look and consciousness of Bodhi until it is precisely the mode you privation it. Bodhi Linux is based connected Ubuntu, truthful you cognize it's reliable. 

Also: This lightweight Linux distro makes switching from Windows 10 easy

One happening I volition accidental astir Bodhi Linux that mightiness springiness immoderate users intermission is that it's not the champion organisation for those who are caller to Linux due to the fact that the desktop does instrumentality immoderate getting utilized to. 

5. elementaryOS

elementaryOS is different organisation that holds a peculiar spot successful my overstuffed heart. elementaryOS was my default for astir 5 years, and it was a fantastic distribution, done and through. This Linux organisation looks beauteous from each angle. No substance what you bash oregon open, you know you're utilizing elementaryOS. elementaryOS besides takes your privateness seriously, with the assistance of a diagnostic called Secure Session. 

Also: I tested the caller elementaryOS 8.1 beta, and it perfectly brings the magic

If you ever wanted a Linux organisation that looks and feels similar MacOS, elementaryOS is what you want. The developers person gone to large lengths to guarantee that each facet of the OS maintains a accordant look and feel. I would besides spell truthful acold arsenic to accidental that elementaryOS is 1 of the best distributions for caller Linux users.

6. Ubuntu

It's a uncommon juncture that you'll spot a champion of Linux database that doesn't see Ubuntu. Anyone looking to hop disconnected the Windows 10 bid would beryllium astute to see Ubuntu, particularly fixed its extended support. Ubuntu is specified a bully Linux organisation that beauteous overmuch every distro I've utilized implicit the years has been based connected it. That's a persuasive selling point. 

Also: 6 astir Windows-like Linux distros due to the fact that aged habits dice hard

Ubuntu isn't conscionable casual to use; it besides has large hardware support. If you are thinking astir migrating from Windows 10 to Ubuntu, I would suggest you effort dual-booting with Ubuntu first. If you similar what you see, past yet you tin scrap Windows 10. Ubuntu is fast, reliable, and has offered a accordant desktop UI for a agelong time. 

7. Fedora

Fedora is that Linux organisation that I loved to hatred oregon hated to love. Prior to the organisation yet uncovering its footing (around mentation 40), Fedora was doggedly slow. When v40 hit, Fedora proved that it could execute alongside the champion distributions. All of a sudden, Fedora was fast, faster than immoderate Linux organisation I'd utilized (that wasn't a lightweight offering). 

Also: The 6 Linux distros I urge astir for gaming successful 2025 - including my favorite

Fedora defaults to GNOME, but determination are spins for respective antithetic desktop environments you tin try. One of my favourite spins is Fedora KDE, which is beauteous portion inactive performing similar a champ.

8. Ubuntu Server

If I'm deploying a server, you tin stake that the archetypal organisation I'll usage is Ubuntu Server. Even though Ubuntu Server doesn't person a GUI, it's inactive 1 of the easiest server operating systems you tin install. Ubuntu Server is besides precise casual to manage, stone solid, and secure. 

Also: 8 ways each Linux distro could marque things a batch easier for newbies

Out of each the server distributions connected the market, Ubuntu Server vastly simplifies the bundle installation process with some apt and snap. If the bundle you privation isn't recovered successful the modular apt repository, you tin easy add much repositories to grow the enactment of disposable apps.

9. ZorinOS

ZorinOS is exactly what a desktop operating strategy should be. It's besides 1 of those distributions that I volition ever urge for caller users (and those migrating from Windows) due to the fact that you get to take the desktop layout arsenic soon arsenic you log in. Choose from a Windows-esque layout, a GNOME-like desktop, and others. You tin adjacent acquisition the Pro edition, which includes 10 full layouts (one of which resembles MacOS). 

Also: The champion Linux distributions for beginners successful 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

Back successful 2023, I proclaimed that ZorinOS was the champion organisation of the year. If you privation an operating strategy that is effortless to use, beautiful, and allows you to easy power betwixt layouts, ZorinOS is the 1 for you.

10. Mandrake Linux

This is 1 of the 2 distributions connected the database that nary longer exists. Mandrake Linux was a peculiar organisation due to the fact that it was 1 of the archetypal that focused connected being user-friendly. Although Mandrake went the mode of the dinosaurs, it lives connected successful distributions similar Open Mandriva. 

Also: My 5 favourite distros of Linux past - and wherefore I'm inactive reasoning astir them

I'll confess that Mandrake Linux is connected the database due to the fact that I retrieve partying with the improvement squad astatine my first-ever Linux conference. That squad not lone knew however to person fun, but they besides knew that the aboriginal of Linux was listening to the users and taking their needs and concerns precise seriously. 

Mandrake Linux was 1 of the galore reasons wherefore I continued utilizing Linux and person been utilizing it for nearly 30 years. So, to anyone who worked connected that fantastic distribution, I extremity my metaphorical chapeau to you.

11. Caldera OpenLinux

Like Mandrake Linux, Caldera OpenLinux is nary longer with us. The crushed I included this organisation connected the database is that it was the precise archetypal Linux organisation I ever utilized (version 1.0, to beryllium exact). Had it not been for a finicky modem, I astir apt would person stuck with Caldera, but that was not the case. Even so, I cannot person this database without including my first. It's similar a archetypal kiss, a archetypal location run, a archetypal completed marathon, the archetypal publication you decorativeness writing, oregon the archetypal clip you implicit a Zelda crippled - it's conscionable special.

Caldera OpenLinux volition ever clasp a peculiar spot successful my heart. It doesn't substance however bully oregon atrocious the organisation was; it lone mattered that it existed and helped maine marque the imperishable leap from Windows.