The Most Beautiful Linux Distributions For 2025

3 days ago

Linux distributions that are champion suited for caller hardware

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

If you want a beautiful desktop, Linux has you covered.
These 5 distributions are either gorgeous aliases sugary cute.
You'll find KDE Plasma, COSMIC, and Hyprland represented.

This taxable ever seems to travel backmost astir -- pinch bully reason. Linux offers immoderate of nan astir beautiful desktops connected nan market. I recognize that aesthetics isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for those who do admit a beautiful desktop environment, Linux is filled pinch them.

Now, earlier I continue, I want to bring up a tangent, 1 that often appears successful discussions astir nan best-looking Linux distribution: ricing. Ricing is nan believe of configuring immoderate Linux desktop to look precisely really you want it. Nearly each Linux desktop situation tin beryllium riced, which intends you walk nan clip and move that boring desktop into thing magical.

What that says is 2 things: nan sky's nan limit, and you don't person to usage 1 of nan listed distributions to upwind up pinch a gorgeous desktop.

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However, if you don't want to walk countless hours modifying your desktop, 1 of these distributions will impressment you, your friends, your family, and conscionable astir anyone who glances astatine your display.

With that said, let's get to nan distributions.

1. KDE Neon

KDE Neon is nan flagship Plasma distribution, and it presents nan desktop successful gorgeous fashion. Neon's return connected KDE Plasma is cleanable and elegant, and it only takes a fewer liberties pinch nan desktop. Every clip I log into KDE Neon, I'm reminded that sometimes a desktop situation doesn't ever request a ton of tweaks to beryllium beautiful.

KDE Neon presents 1 of nan astir elastic desktop environments, without distorting its essence. You cognize this is KDE Plasma, and you'll consciousness for illustration thing needs to beryllium changed. To me, that is nan people of existent elegance, and if immoderate DE embodies elegance, it's KDE Plasma.

The KDE Plasma default desktop connected KDE Neon.

I will opportunity this: arsenic I've implied, KDE Neon isn't precisely nan astir "tricked out" distribution. This is, essentially, KDE Plasma presented arsenic it should be. From my perspective, that makes it moreover much awesome that it tin find its measurement onto this list.

2. EndeavorOS

EndeavorOS ne'er fails to make maine grin erstwhile I spot it. Once again, we person different KDE Plasma desktop connected this list, only this clip it has been tweaked, and nan abstraction taxable is good by me. Normally, I'm not a instrumentality of acheronian themes, but EndeavorOS has changed my mind.

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Every clip I spot nan default configuration, I don't instantly think, "Must. Change. Dark. Theme." Instead, I time off it arsenic it is and usage nan OS. EndeavorOS is fundamentally conscionable an Arch-based Linux distribution that uses KDE Plasma, truthful why would it beryllium connected nan aforesaid database arsenic KDE Neon? One portion of nan logic is that KDE Plasma is ever beautiful, nary matter really you coming it. But nan EndeavorOS default taxable highlights that truth successful splendid fashion.

Of course, it's conscionable a theme, right? Well, yeah, but that's benignant of what astir distributions do. They prime a desktop environment, adhd (or customize) a theme, and blamo… release. It conscionable truthful happens that EndeavorOS hits each nan correct artistic marks, without going overboard.

3. Pop!_OS (with COSMIC)

I've been utilizing Pop!_OS for a agelong time. In fact, I would opportunity that I've utilized Pop!_OS longer than immoderate different distribution. For years, Pop!_OS was based connected GNOME and had a very GNOME-like emotion to it.

Over nan past fewer years, System76 (the institution down Pop!_OS) has been difficult astatine work, creating its ain desktop environment. Written successful Rust, COSMIC has a akin layout to nan erstwhile Pop!_OS desktop, but it's truthful overmuch much elastic and configurable. With conscionable a fewer tweaks, you tin create a stunning desktop. Or, if you don't want to fuss making changes, nan default look and consciousness is conscionable arsenic beautiful.

Either measurement you go, Pop!_OS (with COSMIC) is genuinely 1 of nan much beautiful desktops connected nan market.

4. ElysiaOS

If you're a instrumentality of Linux and anime, ElysiaOS mightiness beryllium correct up your alley. If nan thought of an anime-themed desktop makes your tummy churn, this is surely not for you. ElysiaOS takes nan Hyperland tiling model managers, slaps it connected apical of Arch Linux, themes pinch arsenic overmuch kuwaii arsenic possible, and calls it a day.

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The extremity consequence is adorable and colorful. I very overmuch applaud what nan distribution is attempting to do and wish that much distributions would adhd nan levels of characteristic that ElysiaOS does. This distribution says, "This is what we are, and we're not going to change." I for illustration it and want much of it.

Keep successful mind, however, that you'll beryllium moving pinch a desktop situation that is rather different than thing you've ever used. Hyprland is fascinating and should beryllium knowledgeable by anyone who considers themselves a Linux fan. You whitethorn for illustration it, aliases you whitethorn not. Either way, ElysiaOS is nosy and beautiful.

I will pass you: ElysiaOS is tiny overload, truthful if that sounds a spot overmuch for you, I'd skip this one.

5. BigLinux

BIgLinux is based connected Debian and (what do you know) uses nan KDE Plasma desktop situation (which makes it nan 3rd connected nan list). BigLinux is beautiful, correct retired of nan box, truthful you won't person to make a azygous tweak. Even nan default wallpaper is beautiful.

Part of what makes BigLinux truthful beautiful is that it doesn't effort excessively difficult to beryllium so. The beauty of this OS comes successful its simplicity and its gorgeous theming.

During nan installation of BigLinux, you tin prime nan nonstop layout you want (similar to ZorinOS). You'll find options for MacOS, GNOME, KDE Plasma, Ubuntu, and different layouts.

BigLinux is based connected Manjaro (which is simply a user-friendly return connected Arch Linux), truthful it's sewage a immense organization to move to. This distro besides makes gaming connected Linux a spot easier, pinch optimizations and Steam preinstalled.