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 GhostBSD, Univention Corporate Server (UCS), OpenMandriva Lx and Bodhi Linux.

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Alternatives list

  1. Windows 10 icon

    Windows 10

     413 likes
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    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.

    179 Windows 10 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Windows 10 screenshot 1
     
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    1
    11
    Comments about Windows 10 as an Alternative to Windows 8
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Better, more secure and faster

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Windows 8 Icon
    Windows 10 icon

    • Some users think Windows 10 is a great Windows 8 alternative, some don't.

    • Windows 10 is the most popular Windows alternative to Windows 8.

    • Windows 10 is the most popular commercial alternative to Windows 8.

    • Windows 10 is Paid and ProprietaryWindows 8 is also Paid and Proprietary
  2. CentOS icon

    CentOS

     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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    The logon screen
     

    • CentOS is the most popular Linux alternative to Windows 8.

    • CentOS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows 8.

    • CentOS is Free and Open SourceWindows 8 is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Raspberry Pi OS icon

    Raspberry Pi OS

     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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
    Raspberry Pi OS screenshot 1
     
  5. GhostBSD icon

    GhostBSD

     18 likes
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    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
    GhostBSD screenshot 1
     
  6. Univention Corporate Server (UCS) icon

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS)

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

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Self-Hosted
    • Kubernetes
    Univention App Center
     

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Web-based, SaaS & Self-Hosted alternative to Windows 8.

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Freemium and Open SourceWindows 8 is Paid and Proprietary
  7. OpenMandriva Lx icon

    OpenMandriva Lx

     9 likes
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    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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    The logon screen
     
  9. Bodhi Linux icon

    Bodhi Linux

     49 likes
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    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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Bodhi Linux screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Bodhi Linux as an Alternative to Windows 8
    N.A. Ferrell
    Positive
    0

    Bodhi runs very well on older PCs.

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

    Ubuntu Budgie

     14 likes
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    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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Ubuntu Budgie screenshot 1
     
  11. Ubuntu Core icon

    Ubuntu Core

     11 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  12. iPadOS icon

    iPadOS

     2 likes
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    iPadOS is the mobile operating system for iPad devices from version 13 onward. Before version 13, iPad devices ran iOS.

    25 iPadOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • iPad
    iPadOS screenshot 1
     

    • iPadOS is the most popular iPad alternative to Windows 8.

    • iPadOS is Free and ProprietaryWindows 8 is Paid and Proprietary
12 of 52 Windows 8 alternatives