Operating Systems

Without an operating system, it’s rather difficult to operate a computer. From the mainstays like Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu, to rising stars like Linux Mint and ReactOS, to OSes on our mobile devices like iOS and Android, this software is the fundamental key to what the world sees as modern computing.

  1. Linux Mint icon
     1099 likes

    Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people. The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use. Latest: Wilma (22).

    175 Linux Mint alternatives
    Linux Mint screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Linux Mint screenshot 1
    Linux Mint screenshot 2
    +8
    Linux Mint screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Support for Themes

    Features

    1.  Windows-like
    2.  Based on Ubuntu
    3.  Support for Nvidia drivers
    4.  Cinnamon Desktop
    5.  Debian package compatible
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Linux-based
    8.  Out Of The Box
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  No registration required
  2. Ubuntu icon
     2342 likes

    Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more.

    154 Ubuntu alternatives
    Ubuntu 24.04 with Gnome 46

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Ubuntu
    Ubuntu screenshot 1
    Ubuntu screenshot 2
    +1
    Ubuntu screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Linux-based
    2.  Based on Debian
    3.  APT package manager
    4.  Support for Unicode
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Kde support
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Support for scripting
    11.  Portable
    12.  Dark Mode
  3. Debian icon
     1113 likes

    The Debian Project is an association of individuals who have made common cause to create a free operating system. This operating system that we have created is called Debian.

    186 Debian alternatives
    Debian 9 gnome.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
    Debian screenshot 1
    Debian screenshot 2
    +2
    Debian screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Low memory usage
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Package Control
    4.  Based on Debian
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  No registration required
    7.  Command line interface
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Portable
  4. Fedora icon
     557 likes

    Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

    177 Fedora alternatives
    Fedora 38

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Fedora screenshot 1
    Fedora screenshot 2
    +9
    XFCE spin

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Out Of The Box
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Wayland Support
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Support for BTRFS
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Unix-like
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  No registration required
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Portable
    12.  Rolling Release
  5. Arch Linux icon
     742 likes

    Arch Linux is an independently developed, x86_64 optimized GNU/Linux distribution targeted at competent Linux users. It uses pacman, its home-grown package manager, to provide updates to the latest software applications with full dependency tracking.

    188 Arch Linux alternatives
    arch with KDE 4.4 desktop

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    another arch with KDE 4.3 desktop
    arch for console addict
    +1
    arch with openbox window manager

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Rolling Release
    2.  Arch User Repository
    3.  Wiki documentation
    4.  Community-based
    5.  Linux-based
    6.  No Tracking
    7.  Bleeding edge
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Command line interface
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Package Control
    12.  Works Offline
  6. Android icon
     921 likes

    Open-source mobile operating system, seamlessly integrating with Google services, enabling extensive app support and hardware compatibility across brands.

    46 Android alternatives
    Android screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Android Auto
    • Android SDK
    • Android Wear
    • Android TV
    Android screenshot 1
    Android screenshot 2
    +1
    Android screenshot 3

    Top Android Features

    1.  Linux-based
    2.  ARM support
    3.  Android Wear compatibility
    4.  Google integration
    5. Google Calendar icon  Sync with Google Calendar
    6.  Sync with Google Drive
    7.  Sideload apps
    8.  Upload directly to Google Drive
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Batch Rename Files
  7. LineageOS icon
     308 likes

    A free and open-source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android mobile platform. It is the successor to the highly popular custom ROM CyanogenMod, from which it was forked in December 2016 when Cyanogen Inc.

    48 LineageOS alternatives
    Homescreen
    Notification Shade
    +3
    Settings

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Custom-ROM
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Sideload apps
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Dark Mode
  8. GrapheneOS icon
     102 likes

    GrapheneOS is a privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility developed as a non-profit open source project. It's focused on the research and development of privacy and security technology including substantial improvements to sandboxing, exploit...

    30 GrapheneOS alternatives
    GrapheneOS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  OTA Updates
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Anti Tampering
  9. Tails icon
     224 likes

    The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails) is a Debian 9 based live CD/USB with the goal of providing complete Internet anonymity for the user. The product ships with several Internet applications, including web browser, IRC client, mail client...

    134 Tails alternatives
    Tails screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Electrum
    • Tor Browser
    • GNOME
    • Tor
    • VeraCrypt
    • Thunderbird

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Booting from USB
    2.  Tor
    3.  Online Anonymity
    4.  No Tracking
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  PGP Encryption
    7. Tor icon  Support for TOR
    8.  Based on Debian
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  End-to-End Encryption
    12.  AES-256 Encryption
  10. Manjaro Linux icon
     326 likes

    Manjaro is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on the independently developed Arch operating system. Within the Linux community, Arch itself is renowned for being an exceptionally fast, powerful, and lightweight distribution that provides access to the very latest cutting...

    180 Manjaro Linux alternatives
    Manjaro 19.0 Kyria (Xfce)

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Arch Linux
    Manjaro 17.0 Gellivara (KDE)
    Manjaro 17.0 Gellivara (I3)
    +5
    Manjaro 17.0 Gellivara (I3)

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Rolling Release
    2.  Based on Arch Linux
    3.  Arch User Repository
    4.  Community-based
    5.  Linux-based
    6.  Simple installation
    7.  Out Of The Box
    8.  No Tracking
    9.  Support for Nvidia drivers
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Live booting from usb
    12.  No registration required
  11. Linux kernel icon
     294 likes

    The Linux kernel is the core component of the Linux operating system. It's responsible for managing the system's resources and facilitating communication between hardware and software. It was first created by Linus Torvalds in 1991 and is open-source, allowing for...

    18 Linux kernel alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Geeky
    2.  Command line interface
    3.  Ad-free
  12. Windows 10 icon
     413 likes

    A versatile OS with universal app architecture, free initial year offer, redesigned UI for mouse and touch, virtual desktop, and improved security.

    173 Windows 10 alternatives
    Windows 10 screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows 10 screenshot 1
    Windows 10 screenshot 2
    +1
    Windows 10 screenshot 3

    Windows 10 Features

    1.  Auto Update
    2.  Usability
    3.  PowerShell Scripting
    4. Microsoft OneDrive icon  Onedrive integration
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Tablet support
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Xbox Streaming
    10.  Binary packages
  13. openSUSE icon
     334 likes

    openSUSE is a free and Linux-based operating system for your PC, Laptop or Server.

    182 openSUSE alternatives
    GNOME desktop in openSUSE Leap 15.2.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Kde support
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Rolling Release
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Community-based
  14. DOSBox icon
     404 likes

    DOSBox is an emulator program which emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running a DOS operating system. Many IBM PC compatible graphics and sound cards are also emulated. This means that original DOS programs (including PC games) are provided with an environment in which they...

    16 DOSBox alternatives
    DOSBox screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD

    DOSBox Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  X86-emulation
    3.  Run file in a Sandbox
  15. elementary OS icon
     341 likes

    elementary OS is a free, fast and aesthetically pleasing operating system based on Ubuntu .

    190 elementary OS alternatives
    Boot Screen

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Website
    Installation Screen from ISO
    +11
    Onboarding Window

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  macOS-like
    2.  Based on Ubuntu
    3.  Debian package compatible
    4.  Flatpak
    5.  App center
    6.  Out Of The Box
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Consistent UI
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Dark Mode