Windows 8 AlternativesOperating Systems and other similar apps like Windows 8

Windows 8 is described as 'Operating system that is optimized for tablets, desktops and hybrid devices. It features the new Modern UI (formerly called Metro-Style) that is designed for touchscreen, mouse, keyboard, and pen input' and is a very popular operating system in the os & utilities category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Windows 8 for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, BSD, Mac and Windows apps. The best Windows 8 alternative is Windows 10. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try CentOS or Raspberry Pi OS. Other great apps like Windows 8 are OpenMandriva Lx, GhostBSD, Univention Corporate Server (UCS) and Bodhi Linux.

Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Windows 8 alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Windows 10 icon
     413 likes

    Versatile OS with universal app architecture, free first-year offer for Windows 7 and 8.1 users, redesigned mouse-touch UI, virtual desktop, Microsoft Edge, upgraded security, and enhanced graphics for gaming, supporting fingerprint and face recognition login.

    177 Windows 10 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    |
    1
    Windows 10 vs Windows 8 Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Better, more secure and faster

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Windows 10 is Paid and ProprietaryWindows 8 is also Paid and Proprietary
  2. CentOS icon
     151 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
     
  3. Raspberry Pi OS icon
     106 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.

    194 Raspberry Pi OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
     
  4. OpenMandriva Lx icon
     10 likes

    The OpenMandriva distribution is a full-featured Linux desktop and server, sponsored by the OpenMandriva Association, and is based on ROSA, a Russian Linux distribution project which forked Mandriva Linux in 2012.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  5. GhostBSD icon
     19 likes

    GhostBSD is a user friendly desktop operating system based on FreeBSD , which attempts to conform to the Single Unix Specification. FreeBSD is known for its stability and security in server environments, which, incidentally, provides an...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD
     
  6. UCS is an open platform for central identity & access management, IT management, and active directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.

    94 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Kubernetes
     
  7. Bodhi Linux icon
     49 likes

    Bodhi Linux, a lightweight distribution featuring the fast & fully customizable Moksha Desktop (https://alternativeto.net/software/moksha/about/). The 64-bit is built on top of Ubuntu (20.04). The 32-bit Non-PAE architecture has a Ubuntu 18.04 base – Bodhi Linux 6.0.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
    |
    1
    Bodhi Linux vs Windows 8 Comments
    N.A. Ferrell
    Positive
    0

    Bodhi runs very well on older PCs.

    • Bodhi Linux is Free and Open SourceWindows 8 is Paid and Proprietary
    • Bodhi Linux is MinimalisticWindows 8 is not according to our users
  8. Ubuntu Budgie icon
     14 likes

    Ubuntu Budgie (previously budgie-remix) is an Ubuntu-based distribution featuring the Budgie desktop, originally developed by the Solus project. Written from scratch and integrating tightly with GNOME stack, Budgie focuses on simplicity and...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  9. Ubuntu Core icon
     11 likes

    Ubuntu Core, a minimalist rendition of Ubuntu , is a lightweight, transactionally updated operating system designed for deployments on embedded and IoT devices, cloud and more.

    142 Ubuntu Core alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
12 of 52 Windows 8 alternatives