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, Windows, Mac and AmigaOS 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 Raspberry Pi OS or CentOS. Other great apps like Windows 8 are GhostBSD, Ubuntu Budgie, SUSE Linux Enterprise and Bodhi Linux.

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Windows 8 alternatives are mainly Linux Distros but may also be Operating Systems or Mobile OSs.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows 8.
Windows 8 iconWindows 8
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Windows 8 is a 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.

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Windows 8 alternatives page was last updated Oct 4, 2022
  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.

    173 Windows 10 alternatives
    Windows 10 screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Windows 10 Features

    1.  Auto Update
    2.  Usability
    3.  PowerShell Scripting
    4. Microsoft OneDrive icon  Onedrive integration
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Tablet support
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  No registration required
    9.  Xbox Streaming
    10.  Binary packages
    Windows 10 iconWindows 8 Icon

    Windows 10 VS Windows 8

    Is Windows 10 a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
    Comments about Windows 10 as an Alternative to Windows 8
     
    Guest

    Better, more secure and faster

    Positive commentJan 20, 2017
    1
    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. Raspberry Pi OS icon
     101 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.

    186 Raspberry Pi OS alternatives
    Raspberry Pi OS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi

    Raspberry Pi OS Features

    1.  ARM support
    2.  Linux command line
    3.  Based on Debian
    Raspberry Pi OS iconWindows 8 Icon

    Raspberry Pi OS VS Windows 8

    Is Raspberry Pi OS a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
    • Raspberry Pi OS is the most popular Linux alternative to Windows 8.

    • Raspberry Pi OS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows 8.

    • Raspberry Pi OS is Free and Open SourceWindows 8 is Paid and Proprietary
  3. CentOS icon
     147 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.

    148 CentOS alternatives
    The logon screen

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    CentOS Features

    1.  Shell integration
    CentOS iconWindows 8 Icon

    CentOS VS Windows 8

    Is CentOS a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
  4. GhostBSD icon
     13 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...

    187 GhostBSD alternatives
    GhostBSD screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    GhostBSD iconWindows 8 Icon

    GhostBSD VS Windows 8

    Is GhostBSD a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
  5. Ubuntu Budgie icon
     13 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...

    189 Ubuntu Budgie alternatives
    Ubuntu Budgie screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Based on Ubuntu
    2.  Linux-based
    Ubuntu Budgie iconWindows 8 Icon

    Ubuntu Budgie VS Windows 8

    Is Ubuntu Budgie a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
  6. SUSE Linux Enterprise icon
     14 likes

    SUSE is the original provider of the enterprise Linux distribution and the most interoperable platform for mission-critical computing. It's the only Linux recommended by VMware, Microsoft and SAP. And it's supported on more hardware and software than any other enterprise...

    149 SUSE Linux Enterprise alternatives
    SUSE Linux Enterprise screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No Tracking
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Well documented
    5.  Linux-based
    6.  Unix-like
    SUSE Linux Enterprise iconWindows 8 Icon

    SUSE Linux Enterprise VS Windows 8

    Is this a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
  7. Bodhi Linux icon
     47 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.

    117 Bodhi Linux alternatives
    Bodhi Linux screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Compatible with older computers
    2.  32-bit support
    3.  Based on Ubuntu
    Bodhi Linux iconWindows 8 Icon

    Bodhi Linux VS Windows 8

    Is Bodhi Linux a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
    Comments about Bodhi Linux as an Alternative to Windows 8
     
    N.A. Ferrell

    Bodhi runs very well on older PCs.

    Positive commentOct 4, 2022
    0
    Windows 8 Icon
    Bodhi Linux icon
    • Bodhi Linux is Free and Open SourceWindows 8 is Paid and Proprietary
    • Bodhi Linux is LightweightWindows 8 is not according to our users
  8. antiX icon
     17 likes

    antiX is a fast, lightweight and easy to install systemd-free Linux live CD distribution based on Debian Stable for Intel-AMD x86 compatible systems.

    178 antiX alternatives
    antiX screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Based on Debian
    antiX iconWindows 8 Icon

    antiX VS Windows 8

    Is antiX a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
  9. KaOS icon
     8 likes

    KaOS is a desktop Linux distribution that features the latest version of the KDE desktop environment, the Calligra office suite, and other popular software applications that use the Qt toolkit. It was inspired by Arch Linux, but the developers build their own packages which are...

    128 KaOS alternatives
    KaOS screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux

    KaOS Features

    1.  Rolling Release
    2.  Linux-based
    KaOS iconWindows 8 Icon

    KaOS VS Windows 8

    Is KaOS a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
  10. Netrunner icon
     14 likes

    Netrunner is an Debian -based distribution with a focus on desktop computing. It boasts a carefully tuned KDE Plasma Plasma 5 desktop.

    155 Netrunner alternatives
    Netrunner screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Netrunner Features

    1.  Based on Debian
    2.  KDE
    Netrunner iconWindows 8 Icon

    Netrunner VS Windows 8

    Is Netrunner a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
  11. Univention Corporate Server (UCS) icon
     32 likes

    UCS is an open platform for central Identity & Access Management, IT Management, and Active Directory, with a web portal for easy access to applications.

    96 Univention Corporate Server (UCS) alternatives
    Univention App Center

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) Features

    1.  DHCP Server
    2.  Single Sign-On
    3.  Based on Debian
    4.  ARM support
    5.  Active Directory Migration
    6.  Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
    7. Microsoft Active Directory icon  Active Directory integration
    8.  SAML Single Sign-On
    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) iconWindows 8 Icon

    Univention Corporate Server (UCS) VS Windows 8

    Is this a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is the most popular Mac alternative to Windows 8.

    • Univention Corporate Server (UCS) is Free and Open SourceWindows 8 is Paid and Proprietary
  12. Oracle Solaris icon
     11 likes

    Oracle Solaris is the #1 enterprise OS, delivering breakthrough high-availability, security, efficiency, and industry-leading scalability/performance.

    156 Oracle Solaris alternatives
    Oracle Solaris screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted

    Oracle Solaris Features

    1.  Unix-like
    Oracle Solaris iconWindows 8 Icon

    Oracle Solaris VS Windows 8

    Is Oracle Solaris a good alternative to Windows 8?
     
    • Oracle Solaris is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Windows 8.

    • Oracle Solaris is Paid and ProprietaryWindows 8 is also Paid and Proprietary
12 of 52 Windows 8 alternatives