Linux Mint Alternatives and Similar Software

Ubuntu

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. The latest release is 20.04 Focal Fossa, which is a LTS or Long Term Support version and supported until 2025 under public support and until 2030 as a paid option.

• Ubuntu is less inituitive and takes up more resources AegisCZ • Aug 2017 • 21 agrees and 3 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• As of 2018, Ubuntu's installer will collect data about user devices. This has caused outrage amongst Linux users. Firstly, it's opt-out, rather than opt-in. Secondly, it shouldn't even be there. Thirdly, Canonical (Ubuntu's creators) have a very poor record on privacy, including harvesting local searches to drive Amazon sales and hostility to critics or their privacy practices. Try Linux Mint or Manjaro instead. JohnFastman • Apr 2018 • 15 agrees and 4 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Ubuntu is more stable and more up-to-date than Mint. Without Ubuntu, there's no Mint. But I like both. felippehd • Jul 2018 • 4 agrees and 10 disagrees Disagree   Agree

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Debian

WHAT is Debian? 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. An operating system is the set of basic programs and utilities that make your computer run. At the core of an operating system is the kernel. The kernel is the most fundamental program on the computer and does all the basic housekeeping and lets you start other programs.

• Mint and other Ubuntu-based Linuxes are actually all based themselves on Debian "under-the-hood". So Debian is compatible with these and so might be a good alternative for that reason (e.g. uses .deb files to install software). However, Debian is less user-friendly and, in my experience, can be a headache to install. On the plus side, it's rock solid stable and therefore a good choice for servers as long as you keep it up to date for security purposes. JohnFastman • Dec 2016 • 7 agrees and 0 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Debian doesn't have a GUI for managing properietary drivers and doesn't allow users to install them easily due to its philosophy. That's a thing that lot of users forget or even don't tell you about Debian. Guest • Dec 2017 • 6 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree

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Arch Linux

Arch Linux is an independently developed, i686- and x86_64-optimised 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. Operating on a rolling release system, Arch can be installed from a CD image or via an FTP server. The default install provides a solid base that enables users to create a custom installation.

• Arch linux is a difficult to get into distro for beginners or even average users because it requires a detailed knowledge of how you want the system setup and to be able to do this from the command line prompt. However, for those wanting an Arch-based distro that is even more user friendly than Mint, try Manjaro: comes in many different flavours, works "out-of-the-box" all times I've tried it, has faster responses to security vulnerabilities and has great community support. JohnFastman • Dec 2016 • 5 agrees and 2 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Natively doesn't support some wireless drivers AegisCZ • Aug 2017 • 1 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree

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Manjaro Linux

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 edge – and bleeding edge – software. However, Arch is also aimed at more experienced or technically-minded users.

• Its a different repo base but the UI looks like the one from Linux Mint Guest • Jan 2018 • 3 agrees and 0 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Manjaro (especially the KDE edition) has a fairly similar overall interface and feature set, plus it's based on Arch! It's also the first linux distro I've tried and didn't run into issues or missing features :) NikWillOrStuff • Feb 2020 Disagree   Agree

Free Open Source Linux Arch Linux

Fedora

The Fedora Project is an openly-developed project designed by Red Hat Enterprise Linux , open for general participation, led by a meritocracy, following a set of project objectives. The goal of The Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete, general purpose operating system exclusively from open source software. Development will be done in a public forum. The project will produce time-based releases of Fedora about 2-3 times a year, with a public release schedule.

Free Open Source Linux

elementary OS

elementary OS is a free, fast and aesthetically pleasing operating system based on Ubuntu . elementary OS ships with a carefully curated selection of apps that cater to every day needs so you can spend more time using your computer and less time cleaning up bloatware.

• For a long time Linux Mint has been considered ideal for beginners because 1) it's 100% Ubuntu-compatible (and therefore enjoys large community support and compatibility with many apps) and because it's "user-friendly"-focused. Elementary achieves all the same goals using an even more user friendly user interface. Mint servers were also hacked in early 2016, so take from that what you will. JohnFastman • Dec 2016 • 3 agrees and 0 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• If you're used to Mac OS style, you'll be pleased when using Elementay OS since it ressembles Apple system. Its desktop environment is known as Pantheon and it's based on Ubuntu. Guest • Dec 2017 Disagree   Agree

Free Open Source Linux

Windows 10

Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system released by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems To encourage its adoption, Microsoft announced that during its first year of availability, Windows 10 would be made available free of charge to users of genuine copies of eligible editions of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

• Paid, not open source, horrible license and performance. santobielnr • Aug 2017 • 30 agrees and 2 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Windows 10 is closed source and has no focus on protecting user privacy. It also doesn't give its users as much power, in exchange for ease of use, and uniformity. Buster_Blue • Sep 2017 • 21 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Windows is not Linux, Mint is; Windows is not open source, Mint is; Linux applications do not run natively on Windows; etc., etc., etc. Guest • Jan 2018 • 17 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Microsoft is outright hostile to the privacy of its users: Windows 10 collects EVERYTHING it can about you, right down to what you type (yes, passwords included) and how much time you spend in which app. Updates often revert your settings and install software you don't want. It's also expensive and closed source and far more vulnerable to malware than any Linux distro. JohnFastman • May 2018 • 11 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• It is not open source (paid). Only reason to use Windows is gaming and good native drivers AegisCZ • Aug 2017 • 10 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Not open source, not as pliable and agile, lots of snooping by ad agencies Guest • Jul 2019 • 1 agrees and 0 disagrees Disagree   Agree
• Not free, MAJOR privacy issues, features that are forced on the user. No way comparable to Linux. beat_truck • Apr 2018 • 6 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree

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Xubuntu

Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Xubuntu comes with Xfce, which is a stable, light and configurable desktop environment. It is based on Ubuntu the easy to use Debian based Linux kernel based operating system.

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Tails

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 and instant messenger, all pre-configured with security in mind and with all traffic anonymised. To achieve this, Incognito uses the Tor network to make Internet traffic very hard to trace.

• Tails is for dissidents/activists and everyone else who needs superb privacy. Everything else is basically ignored by tails. Its the worst of all alternatives to ubuntu. Guest • Jan 2017 • 2 agrees and 1 disagrees Disagree   Agree

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ReactOS

ReactOS™ is an Open Source effort to develop a quality operating system that is compatible with applications and drivers written for the Microsoft® Windows™ NT family of operating systems (NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Seven). The ReactOS project, although currently focused on Windows Server 2003 compatibility, is always keeping an eye toward compatibility with Windows Vista and future Windows NT releases. The code of ReactOS is licensed under GNU GPL 2.0.

• ReactOS is not Linux and is made to run Windows programs. It is also not very well developed or stable yet. beat_truck • May 2018 • 4 agrees and 2 disagrees Disagree   Agree

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