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I’ve used many Linux distros over the years, sometimes even more than one at the same time. But Ubuntu remains my first choice. I’m going to explain why that is and how Ubuntu compares with the other major distros available.
Ubuntu has been around for nearly 20 years, boasting the kind of longevity that few Linux distros can. Ubuntu’s developer, Canonical, must be doing something right.
Since its debut in 2024, its creators and fans have citedUbuntu as the perfect beginners' distro. Ubuntu offers a simple graphical setup process, stability for those who just want to get their work done, and plenty of online support.
While it’s still popular, it’s not without controversy. The change that’s caused the most consternation in the Ubuntu community issnaps, a new package manager. Users have criticized the performance of snaps with certain applications like Firefox.
Despite the changes, Ubuntu remains a top choice for Linux users, including both newbies and experienced Linux wizards.
Download:Ubuntu
Debian is one of the oldest Linux distributions that’s still in wide use. Debian was the basis for Ubuntu. It also happened to be the first distro I installed on a PC hard drive back in the 2000s.
One key difference from Ubuntu is that Debian is a community project, while Ubuntu is backed by Canonical.
Debian has a reputation for being more difficult to install than Ubuntu. It seems less polished than Ubuntu and assumes more technical knowledge. Still, with over 30 years under its belt, Debian maintains a loyal following.
Debian has three versions available: Stable, which tends to have older packages, Testing, which features newer packages, and the bleeding-edge Unstable.
Download:Debian
Fedora was created after Red Hat decided to focus its efforts on the enterprise market. A key feature of Fedora is its rapid release schedule, with a new version every six months. It’s also known for insisting on free software, refusing proprietary apps and codecs in contrast to Ubuntu.
Download:Fedora Workstation
4. Arch Linux
Arch has been the hacker’s favorite for some time. The main reasons for this are twofold: it’s a rolling-release distro and also a minimalist one. The newer software appeals to developers and power users. Arch’s minimalism also appeals to Linux experts who don’t need as much hand-holding.
But this very minimalism is Arch’s main disadvantage. It’s so cut-down that it doesn’t have an installation program—or, at least, it didn’t for a long time. The main way to install Arch is byissuing a lot of arcane terminal commandsto set up your partitions and download your packages. That said, the quality of Arch’s wiki is so good that even people who use other distros rely on it for information on the more technical parts of Linux.
The tradeoff is that you get a Linux system that’s completely customized to your needs. You have to decide if the payoff rewards the effort in bringing up an Arch system.
Unlike Ubuntu, this distro is poorly suited to beginners. Because everything is so manual, it’s easy to get overwhelmed if you don’t have much Linux experience.
Download:Arch Linux
5. Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS, is a distribution that’s based on Ubuntu and maintained by System76, a manufacturer of computers with Linux pre-installed. Despite its association with System76 PCs, it can run on other systems, although its features are tailored to System76 machines.
This distro is targeted at creative professionals and scientific users, two user groups that often opt for Macs instead.
Download:Pop!_OS
6. EndeavourOS
EndeavourOS is a spin on Arch that aims to take the pain out of installing it. Like Arch, it’s terminal-based and based on a rolling-release model, but it comes with a GUI by default.
Download:EndeavourOS
7. Zorin OS
Zorin OS aims to offer Windows and Mac users a friendly on-ramp into the Linux world. If this idea sounds similar to Ubuntu, that might be because Zorin is based on Ubuntu. Zorin adds the ability to tailor the interface toward users who are more familiar with the major proprietary OSes. It even offers a lightweight edition for older machines.
One major difference from Ubuntu is the existence of a paid “Pro” edition. Zorin OS promises more advanced software but you can find a lot of its features for free in other distros, including Ubuntu.
Download:Zorin OS
8. OpenSUSE
Like Debian,OpenSUSE is another system that’s been around almost as long as Linux itself has. It started as a modified version of Slackware, before going into its own direction. OpenSUSE is the free counterpart to SUSE Enterprise Linux.
It’s got some nifty features of its own, including the YaST management tool, and is a good alternative to Ubuntu.
OpenSUSE is available in the stable Leap and rolling-release Tumbleweed.
Download:OpenSUSE Leap
9. Kali Linux
Like Ubuntu, Kali is based on Debian. But Kali Linux has a much more specialized use case than Debian and Ubuntu.
Kali Linux focuses on security, ethical hacking, and penetration testing. While it’s a complete desktop system, the tools it includes focus on testing remote systems for security holes that hackers could exploit.
Download:Kali Linux
10. Rocky Linux
Rocky Linux was created when Red Hat announced that it would discontinue CentOS in favor of the rolling-release CentOS Stream in an apparent effort to move users to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Rocky Linux remains a community-based system. It’s intended mainly for servers and doesn’t have much to offer desktop users.
Download:Rocky Linux
11. AlmaLinux
AlmaLinux is another free Linux distro that aims to be a free replacement for RHEL. It’s also mainly geared toward servers, particularly web hosting. Alma and Rocky are worth learning if you’re considering a career in IT, as many corporate servers are based on RHEL.
Download:AlmaLinux
Why Ubuntu Is Still Your Best Bet
Why has Ubuntu remained popular for almost 20 years? Why has it had this staying power despite so many other distros coming and going? There are several possible reasons.
Ease of Use
From the beginning, Ubuntu has focused on being easy to install and use. Back in the days of CD-Rs, you’d just burn the ISO and reboot. While you could use the command line, the desktop was intuitive for someone who was used to Windows or macOS.
A key thing Ubuntu got right was the ability to try it out without fully committing. While you can wipe out your OS and use Ubuntu instead, you might still want to keep Windows around to run specific apps or games.
There are several ways to split your machine’s personality. You can run a live environment from a USB stick or optical disk. Or you can run a virtual machine. Or you can install Ubuntu inWindows Subsystem for Linux, and run it alongside Windows. If you use WSL 2, you can run a real Linux kernel.
Excellent Hardware Support
Another reason for Ubuntu’s longevity is that it supports hardware in current use. Of course, you may get Ubuntu for a standard PC, but its architecture support is wider. A business that runs IBM POWER servers can get Ubuntu, or you caninstall Ubuntu on an ARM-powered Raspberry Pi.
An Accessible Community
Even with Canonical’s increasing focus on the enterprise, Ubuntu maintains its hobbyist roots. Its friendly community, which accommodates users of all skill levels, helps to avoid the hurdles of installing a completely different operating system.
While the Linux community can attract accusations of elitism, Ubuntu was one of the first to enforce a code of conduct for anyone wanting to contribute, and that includes community support channels.
It’s all of these reasons and more that Ubuntu is a distro that I and many other Linux users keep coming back to. For me, it just works. It’s the Linux equivalent of a comfortable pair of shoes.
