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. Windows 11 icon
     48 likes

    Experience the latest Windows OS with a new Start menu, integrated Teams, and gaming technologies like Auto HDR. Improved security with stricter requirements enhances protection, and seamless Microsoft Account integration makes it ideal for modern devices.

    176 Windows 11 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
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    3
    Windows 11 vs Ubuntu Comments
    veddev
    Negative
    0

    Linux is Free and open source, Windows is not.

    Rasheed AZ
    Negative
    0

    Would you like your PC to show you ads even when not browsing the internet? Would you like us to take screenshots of your private activities and unleash our closed source AI on your data? Would you love to be denied the freedom to choose your default web browser? Then buy Microsoft Windows 11 because we have all these amazing spyware features and more!

    Actually, we saved you the hassle of buying it and it's price is already included in the computer you paid for!

    operfeito11
    0

    most people using linux use it to not use windows or mac

    • Windows 11 is Paid and ProprietaryUbuntu is Free and Open Source
    • Windows 11 is an Operating System Ubuntu is a Linux Distro
  2. 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.

    193 Red Hat Enterprise Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    6
    Red Hat Enterprise Linux vs Ubuntu Comments
    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.

    3 of 6 comments
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux is Paid and ProprietaryUbuntu is Free and Open Source
  3. Nobara Linux icon
     35 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  4. Raspberry Pi OS icon
     112 likes

    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.

    201 Raspberry Pi OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
     
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    3
    Raspberry Pi OS vs Ubuntu Comments
    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

    adsmz
    Positive
    0

    it's an operating system. so is ubuntu

    operfeito11
    Negative
    0

    its for raspberry pi, not desktop or laptop

    • Raspberry Pi OS is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  5. Puppy Linux icon
     106 likes

    Puppy Linux is a unique family of Linux distributions meant for the home-user computers. It was originally created by Barry Kauler in 2003.

    201 Puppy Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    2
    Puppy Linux vs Ubuntu Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Puppy is for old computers.

    operfeito11
    Negative
    0

    too lightweight, pain to do everything.

    • Puppy Linux is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  6. CentOS icon
     154 likes

    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
    CentOS vs Ubuntu Comments
    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.

    • CentOS is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
    • CentOS is an Operating System Ubuntu is a Linux Distro
  7. Solus icon
     72 likes

    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
    Solus vs Ubuntu Comments
    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.

    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.

    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.

    3 of 4 comments
    • Solus is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
  8. KDE neon icon
     51 likes

    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.

    133 KDE neon alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    1
    KDE neon vs Ubuntu Comments
    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).

    • 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. MX Linux icon
     44 likes

    MX Linux is an operating system - a cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS communities. It is a midweight OS that combines an elegant and efficient desktop with simple configuration, high stability and solid performance.

    189 MX Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    2
    MX Linux vs Ubuntu Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    4

    It's just a spin from Debian shipped with Xfce desktop and some utilities to make things better for newbies. It's not good because all the packages are very old, the community is very small.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Nothing special, very overrated distro. It's just Debian + Xfce + some useful tools (not created by the MX devs), just used in the distro to make it "easier". It's very stable as Debian is.

    • MX Linux is Free and Open SourceUbuntu is also Free and Open Source
    • MX Linux is Privacy focusedUbuntu is not according to our users
  10. Artix Linux icon
     26 likes

    Artix Linux is a fork (or continuation as an autonomous project) of the Arch-OpenRC and Manjaro-OpenRC projects. Artix Linux offers a lightweight, rolling-release operating system featuring the OpenRC init software.

    93 Artix Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  11. OpenBSD icon
     71 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD
     
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