The Most Versatile Linux Distributions You Can Install Right Now - And I've Tried Them All

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET cardinal takeaways

• There are plentifulness of Linux distributions to take from.
• Many of those distributions are wide purpose.
• These distributions are each free and elemental to install.

When you deliberation of all-around operating systems, Linux should travel to mind. It mightiness look a spot illogical, but erstwhile you've utilized Linux arsenic agelong arsenic I have, you cognize nan truth (especially aft having spent a week pinch Windows 11).

Also: The only antivirus I spot connected Linux - and it's free to use

Linux tin service truthful galore purposes, which goes a agelong measurement to make it a awesome action for all-purpose operating systems. But what makes for an all-purpose operating system? From my perspective, it would be:

• Easy to use
• Doesn't require overmuch work
• Offers each of nan package you need
• Can tally connected a wide assortment of hardware
• Has built-in information that doesn't require overmuch work
• Easily updated

Sounds reasonable, right? That being said, let's talk astir which Linux distributions fresh nan mold.

1. Ubuntu

If you thought Ubuntu wouldn't beryllium connected this list, deliberation again. Ubuntu is 1 of nan astir all-around Linux distributions connected nan market. This distribution checks each nan boxes and past some. And though nan UI mightiness beryllium a spot overseas to users accustomed to nan likes of Windows aliases MacOS, it's easy capable to fig retired wrong minutes of first logging in. 

Also: The easiest measurement to effort retired Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu besides uses nan HWE (Hardware Enablement) kernel, which intends it useful good connected modern hardware, while astatine nan aforesaid clip useful beautifully connected older machines arsenic well. Ubuntu has entree to a repository pinch a immense magnitude of software, arsenic good arsenic Snap packages. Ubuntu besides includes AppArmor for rock-solid information (along pinch nan accustomed Linux permissions system, which surely helps). 

Finally, Ubuntu simplifies upgrades pinch an automated system, and some apt and Snap make upgrades easy; there's nary measurement you'll struggle pinch keeping your strategy up to date.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You tin download an ISO of Ubuntu Desktop for free.

2. Linux Mint

Linux Mint is 1 of nan astir user-friendly operating systems available, barroom none. On apical of being user-friendly, it's besides arsenic reliable arsenic Ubuntu (or Debian, depending connected nan type you choose), and nan Cinnamon desktop won't travel up anyone coming from Windows. Not only is Linux Mint astir being an action for caller users, but it's besides a awesome action for nan seasoned user, specified arsenic my superb workfellow Steven Vaughn Nichols, and if it's bully capable for Steven, it's bully capable for anyone. 

Also: How to easy move your PC from Windows to Linux Mint - for free

Linux Mint enjoys each nan benefits of Ubuntu Linux, pinch nan summation of immoderate bully additions, specified arsenic sane defaults, which is nan default configuration that includes respective user-friendly-focused settings designed to beryllium intuitive and "just work" retired of nan box. Those configurations see networking, powerfulness management, and printing. Linux Mint doesn't vessel pinch a guidelines password for heightened information and includes strategy guidance devices for illustration nan Update Manager and study spectator to thief users support and negociate their computer. 

Linux Mint has each of nan package recovered successful nan modular repositories, arsenic good arsenic those from Flatpak and AppImages. Linux Mint besides happens to beryllium a awesome distribution for some newer and older hardware.

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You tin download a Linux Mint ISO for free.

3. Zorin OS

Zorin OS is simply a very typical Linux distribution because it gives you everything recovered successful Ubuntu Linux but allows you to prime from different layouts. If you for illustration a Windows-like layout, a KDE Plasma layout, GNOME, aliases XFCE, Zorin OS has you covered. You tin moreover salary for nan Pro type and get six much different layouts. But Zorin OS isn't conscionable astir nan layout -- it's besides astir being incredibly user-friendly. One measurement Zorin OS makes for a awesome general-purpose OS is that it tin observe erstwhile you download a Windows .exe record and propose an open-source replacement for nan app successful question. Zorin OS besides includes Wine for moving Windows applications. 

Also: Zorin simplifies nan task of installing Windows apps connected Linux. Here's how

Zorin OS besides benefits from each of nan information features recovered successful Ubuntu, truthful you cognize it's unafraid and reliable. You'll besides person entree to each nan package you request from nan default repositories, arsenic good arsenic some Snap and Flatpak, truthful you cognize location are tons of apps to take from and install. No matter if you person an older strategy aliases much modern hardware, Zorin OS will activity pinch it. With Windows 10 support ended, Zorin OS had a banner week pinch complete 100,000 downloads wrong 2 days aft October 14 (with 72% of those downloads coming from Windows machines). 

Like pinch Ubuntu and Linux Mint, there's not overmuch you can't do pinch Zorin OS.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Download an ISO from Zorin OS for free.

4. Pop!_OS

I've been utilizing Pop!_OS for astir a decade and person seldom recovered thing it could not do. But 1 of nan main reasons why I spot System76's distribution connected nan database is that it offers an ISO for NVIDIA cards and 1 for AMD. What that intends is that you won't person to interest astir installing drivers for your GPU of choice. But Pop!_OS isn't conscionable astir nan GPU. Pop!_OS useful good connected some older and modern hardware (although it really shines connected modern machines) and is simply a very balanced distribution for newer and older users. 

Also: I was already a Pop!_OS instrumentality - but nan caller beta is stunning

As pinch each Ubuntu-based distributions, you'll person entree to a ton of package (from apt, Flatpak, and AppImages), truthful you won't deficiency for apps. I've been utilizing nan caller System76 COSMIC desktop, and it has elevated what Pop!_OS has been to different level of user-friendliness and efficiency. In each nan years that I've utilized Pop!_OS, I've ne'er tally into thing that it couldn't do, from nan elemental to nan complex. Like each of nan distributions connected this list, Pop!_OS is very easy to upgrade, particularly pinch nan COSMIC desktop. 

Because COSMIC is written successful Rust, it's very fast, which includes nan Pop Shop (the Pop!_OS app store). One point to support successful mind is that COSMIC is still successful beta, but it's rather stable.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You tin download Pop!_OS for free.

5. Fedora Linux

Many would reason that Fedora Linux has nary business connected specified a list, but I disagree. Fedora Linux mightiness beryllium a spot excessively bleeding separator for some, but that besides intends that it's going to see caller releases of a batch of software, truthful you'll get plentifulness of apps pinch nan astir modern features. Fedora Linux besides happens to beryllium 1 of nan fastest Linux distributions (that uses a afloat desktop environment) connected nan market. Fedora runs good connected older and newer hardware and includes SELinux, which is an incredibly powerful information layer. 

Also: This Fedora rotation is cleanable for 1 peculiar benignant of caller Linux user

The only caveat to utilizing Fedora is that you mightiness person to adhd nan EPEL repository to instal immoderate package titles, but astir of your modular apps will beryllium recovered successful nan modular repos. You'll besides get Flatpak, truthful there's a ton of open-source and proprietary package to install. Fedora besides has respective spins you tin take from, specified arsenic nan Fedora KDE spin, Fedora XFCE, Fedora Cinnamon, Fedora MATE-Compiz, Fedora i3, Fedora LXQT, Fedora LXDE, Fedora SOAS, Fedora Sway, Fedora Budgie, Fedora Miracle, and Fedora COSMIC. Thanks to those spins, you tin beryllium definite that you'll find a desktop situation that champion suits your needs.

Fedora 41 mightiness beryllium nan fastest loop of nan OS I've ever tested.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

You tin download an ISO of Fedora Linux aliases 1 of nan galore Fedora Spins for free.

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