Ubuntu Alternatives for Mac

Ubuntu is not available for Mac but there are some alternatives that runs on macOS with similar functionality. The best Mac alternative is macOS, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Ubuntu and nine of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to Ubuntu are HoloISO, illumos, MINIX 3 and Xinuos OpenServer™ 10.

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Ubuntu alternatives are mainly Operating Systems, but if you're looking for Linux Distros you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Lightweight and Linux Distros. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Ubuntu.
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Alternatives list

  1. macOS icon
     569 likes

    A Unix-based OS for Mac with seamlessly integration with Apple’s ecosystem, offering an intuitive UI, productivity tools like Finder, Spotlight, and Automator, built-in apps like Safari and Photos, Continuity for cross-device functionality, and security features including FileVault and Gatekeeper.

    181 macOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
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    7
  2. illumos icon
     20 likes

    illumos is a free and open-source Unix operating system. It derives from OpenSolaris, which in turn derives from SVR4 UNIX and Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). illumos comprises a kernel, device drivers, system libraries, and utility software for system administration.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  3. MINIX 3 icon
     11 likes

    MINIX is a POSIX-compliant Unix-like operating system based on a tiny microkernel running in kernel mode with the rest of the operating system running as a number of isolated, protected, processes in user mode.

    151 MINIX 3 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
     
  4. Xinuos OpenServer™ 10 is a 64-bit operating system based on the popular FreeBSD and designed to support business applications within an enterprise environment.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
     
  5. BITS-PyOS icon
     1 like

    BIOS-Implementation-Test-Suite-Based Python Operating System.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Chrome OS
     
  6. HP-UX icon
     Like

    HP-UX is Hewlett Packard Enterprise's proprietary implementation of the Unix operating system, based on UNIX System V (initially System III) and first released in 1984. Recent versions support the HP 9000 series of computer systems, based on the PA-RISC instruction set...

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
     
  7. MicroPythonOS is a lightweight, fast, and versatile operating system designed to run on microcontrollers like the ESP32 and desktop systems. With a modern Android-like touch screen UI, App Store, and Over-The-Air updates, it’s the perfect OS for innovators and developers.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Linux Mobile
    • Python
    • Mac
    • Raspberry Pi
     
  8. IBM AIX icon
     Like

    AIX is a series of proprietary Unix operating systems developed and sold by IBM for several of its computer platforms. Originally released for the IBM RT PC RISC workstation, AIX now supports or has supported a wide variety of hardware platforms, including the IBM RS/6000 series...

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
     
9 of 9 Ubuntu alternatives