Ubuntu Alternatives

Ubuntu is described as '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' and is a leading Linux Distro in the os & utilities category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Ubuntu for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Windows, BSD and Mac apps. The best Ubuntu alternative is Linux Mint, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Ubuntu are Debian, Manjaro Linux, Fedora and Kubuntu.

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Ubuntu alternatives are mainly Operating Systems, but if you're looking for Linux Distros or Mobile OSs 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. Aurora OS icon
     18 likes
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    Aurora is a delightful KDE desktop experience for end-users that are looking for reliability and developers for the most-hassle free setup. Zero maintenance included.

    63 Aurora OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • KDE Plasma
    • Fedora
     
  2. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Red Hat is the leader in development, deployment, and management of Linux and open source solutions for Internet infrastructure - ranging from embedded devices to secure Web servers. Red Hat was founded in 1994 by visionary entrepreneurs Bob Young and Marc Ewing.

    183 Red Hat Enterprise Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    6
    11
    Comments about Red Hat Enterprise Linux as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    Top Positive Comment
    VB22
    0

    Free if you use the Developer version (needs signup), but it covers up to 16 servers - https://developers.redhat.com/articles/faqs-no-cost-red-hat-enterprise-linux

    Top Negative Comment
    veddev
    0

    Ubuntu and Linux in general is free, RHEL is not.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    It's especifically for server usage, not for desktop. That's why it shouldn't be a recommendation.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 6 comments
    Ubuntu Icon
    Red Hat Enterprise Linux icon
    • Most users think Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a great Ubuntu alternative.

    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux is Paid and ProprietaryUbuntu is Free and Open Source
  3. Nobara Linux icon
     27 likes
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    The Nobara Project, to put it simply, is a modified version of Fedora Linux with user-friendly fixes added to it. Fedora is a very good workstation OS, however, anything involving any kind of 3rd party or proprietary packages is usually...

    102 Nobara Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  4. Solus icon
     71 likes
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    Solus Operating System is a Linux distribution built from scratch, exclusively for desktop systems. There is no scope-creep associated with generic platforms, and the project aims to provide a modern and focused desktop-centric solution, that is designed to keep out of the way...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    4
    9
    Comments about Solus as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    Guest
    Positive
    7

    Solus created the Budgie desktop. Solus is a rare curated-rolling-release distro. Solus has Steam Implementation Built-in, excellent for gamers. GUI to manage drivers and easy access to newer drivers. Not bloated like Ubuntu. The community is very kind and helpful.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    6

    It doesn't have many applets compared to Ubuntu Budgie, so customization on Solus, especially its flagship with Budgie is pretty limiting.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    mlemmark
    Negative
    3

    It has an alien-like package manager and small quantity of packages available. It's easy to use, but since it has very small number of packages, it tends to force the user [indirectly] to use snap/flatpak as the only way to have the application that are missing in their repos, but it also brings other issues.

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    3 of 4 comments
    Ubuntu Icon
    Solus icon
    • Most users think Solus is a great Ubuntu alternative.

    • Solus is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  5. Raspberry Pi OS icon
     105 likes
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    Raspberry Pi OS (previously called Raspbian) is the Foundation’s official supported operating system. You can install it with NOOBS or download the image below and follow our installation guide.

    194 Raspberry Pi OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
     
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    3
    8
    Comments about Raspberry Pi OS as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    it's cool, a debian for the raspberry, i use it for my pi's, but i am looking for a replacement for my desktop

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    adsmz
    Positive
    0

    it's an operating system. so is ubuntu

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    operfeito11
    Negative
    0

    its for raspberry pi, not desktop or laptop

    Ubuntu Icon
    Raspberry Pi OS icon
    • Most users think Raspberry Pi OS is a great Ubuntu alternative.

    • Raspberry Pi OS is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  6. CentOS icon
     150 likes
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    CentOS is a community-supported, free and open source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    1
    7
    Comments about CentOS as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    Guest
    Negative
    9

    Very old packages, same as Debian Stable and Red Hat. It's often use as server, not as a desktop. If you want huge stability, you can use it.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ubuntu Icon
    CentOS icon
    • Most users think CentOS is a great Ubuntu alternative.

    • CentOS is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  7. Puppy Linux icon
     101 likes
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    Puppy Linux is a unique family of Linux distributions meant for the home-user computers. It was originally created by Barry Kauler in 2003.

    194 Puppy Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    2
    8
    Comments about Puppy Linux as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    operfeito11
    Negative
    0

    too lightweight, pain to do everything.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Puppy is for old computers.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ubuntu Icon
    Puppy Linux icon
    • Most users think Puppy Linux is a great Ubuntu alternative.

    • Puppy Linux is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  8. KDE neon icon
     50 likes
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    KDE neon is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that offers a stable and easy-to-use platform, featuring the latest KDE Plasma desktop and application releases.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    1
    9
    Comments about KDE neon as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    Guest
    Positive
    6

    A good alternative to Ubuntu and Kubuntu because it only ships the necessary, no useless packages like Kubuntu. It's a minimalistic distro. If you want the new versions of Plasma Shell, you should install it instead of Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE).

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ubuntu Icon
    KDE neon icon
    • Almost everyone thinks KDE neon is a great Ubuntu alternative.

    • KDE neon is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
    • KDE neon is Privacy focusedUbuntu is not according to our users
  9. Deepin icon
     60 likes
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    Deepin is a reinterpretation to creativity and individuality. It is not only a rebirth to the system appearance, but also a brand-new upgrade to the operating experience! All of this lets deepin become the best partner of your computer.

    198 Deepin alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    3
    Comments about Deepin as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    mlemmark
    Positive
    4

    This distribution is a proof of concept, a proof that you don't need to be big to do big things, I mean, their created the whole set of apps, the desktop environment, the installer, basically all by themselves while Ubuntu still depends on GNOME and haven't created such beautiful, fast, modern desktop environment.

    Guest
    Negative
    3

    Bad translation, a lot of things, like its store is both in English and Chinese, they removed the internacional store function. They just care about the Chinese users and takes so long to send security updates and their store is very dated since it bases itself on Debian Stable.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It does all Ubuntu does but with the most beautiful UI in a Linux ever.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ubuntu Icon
    Deepin icon
    • Most users think Deepin is a great Ubuntu alternative.

    • Deepin is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  10. Vanilla OS icon
     16 likes
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    Vanilla OS is an operating system built with simplicity in mind. It's fast, lightweight, beautiful and ready for all your daily tasks.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  11. OpenBSD icon
     67 likes
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    The OpenBSD project produces a FREE, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based UNIX-like operating system. Our efforts emphasize portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security and integrated cryptography.

    189 OpenBSD alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD
     
  12. Haiku icon
     100 likes
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    Haiku is an open-source operating system that specifically targets personal computing. Inspired by the BeOS, Haiku is fast, simple to use, easy to learn and yet very powerful.

    225 Haiku alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Haiku
    • Self-Hosted
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Haiku as an Alternative to Ubuntu
    Guest
    Negative
    6

    Very outdated, no one created programs for it, it's a forgotten OS. Very limited in packages, drivers and stuff.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ubuntu Icon
    Haiku icon
    • Haiku is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
    • Haiku is Privacy focusedUbuntu is not according to our users
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