Don’t want to stick with Mac, Windows or other paid operating systems and want to try something new? You may be a person who likes to try out different operating systems or maybe you just want to try out an operating system because your friends are using it. Well you can find many operating systems online that are fast and feature-rich. In this article, we’ve listed the best open source operating systems that you can run on your PC.
You can play with the open source OS, discover its operations and maybe learn from it.
List of 8 Best Open Source Operating System 2023
Here is a list of the most efficient open source OS for Windows that you can install right now! Check them out.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a Linux-based OS that is considered as one of the most efficient open source operating systems in the world. It took a group of talented developers located worldwide to create this full-fledged operating system that is fast and feature-rich. Ubuntu includes necessary software such as an instant messenger, office suite, web browser, media maps and much more. It is the most used Linux-based operating system that makes it a perfect alternative to Windows or Mac.
Ubuntu developers practice the Debian architecture. Experts say that Ubuntu is an ideal operating system for old laptop and it includes most of the essential apps such as Thunderbird, F-Spot, Firefox, Transmission, LibreOffice, Open Office etc. It is user-friendly and compatible to both laptop and desktop interface. There are two forms of platform in Ubuntu – “non-LTS (Long Term Support) and LTS”. The latest stable versions of non-LTS and LTS version are 17.04 and 16.04 respectively. The numbers in the version name denote year and month. For example, ‘16’ refers to the year and ‘04’ to the month.
Note:- Ubuntu will not be available in the Unity-based desktop environment. It will shift back to GNOME-based desktop. Ubuntu is compatible with almost every hardware as it’s the most used Linux- based operating system and doesn’t require any additional driver to communicate with the hardware. Click here to download the official Ubuntu software.
Linux Lite
Linux Lite is another free open source operating system that can work on lower end hardware. It’s a lite OS that facilitate users who have inadequate knowledge of a Linux-based operating system. The operating system features all the necessary programs, functionalities, tools, and desktop.
Linux Lite consists of a simple interface and is entirely established on Ubuntu distribution. The operating system is stable and has been supporting with regular updates since five years. Linux Lite is efficiently functional soon after installation. Again users are not required to install any additional drivers after installation. Choose Linux Lite if you want a lightweight open source OS on your PC. Click here to download Linux Lite.
Fedora
Fedora is another popular Linux-based operating system, which is arguably the best open source OS after Ubuntu. Fedora OS is a general purpose OS that is RPM-based, supported by Red Hat and designed by the Fedora Project community.
Fedora’s mission is to create and provide an open source cutting edge technology for free. Therefore, Fedora developers choose to create upstream changes in contrary to create fixes exclusively for Fedora. All Linux distributions can benefit from updates released by Fedora developers.
Fedora has a GNOME-based desktop that can be customized. Its Fedora Spins feature can help you modify and execute variations in the user interface and desktop environment. Click here to download Fedora.
Linux Mint
Linux Mint is an elegant Linux-based OS that displays modernity and power. It is easy-to-use and provides full multimedia support, which makes it a user-friendly open source OS. Linux Mint is Ubuntu-based and is equally popular among amateurs and experts.
Linux Mint uses Debian architecture and consists of one of the most powerful software managers. It is robust and offers better visual aesthetics than Ubuntu. Click here to download Linux Mint.
Solus
Solus is a free open source operating system that can be used on your desktop. It is a new operating system in the Linux family that was created in 2012. Currently, more than 6000 registered users are taking advantage of the software.
Features in Solus include VLC, Transmission, OpenShot Video Editor, XChat, Thunderbird, Budgie desktop environment, PlayOnLinux, Firefox and LibreOffice Suite. Solus 3, the latest version of Solus was released on August 2017. The release is supposed to have some tweaks in its Opus encoder and multimedia filters.
Additionally, Flash and Java plugins are pre-loaded in Solus.
Xubuntu
Xubuntu is the most popular open source operating system for people who still use old XP machines. Xubuntu is Unix-based that executes on XFCE desktop environment. It’s different from Ubuntu and competes well with other full-featured operating systems in the list. The operating system contains GNOME application integrations and an inbuilt compositor. However, it can be slow sometimes.
Chrome OS
Chrome OS is partly an open source operating system that has many attractive features. It is a part of the Chromium and Linux family that has features such as enhanced security, support for picked Android apps, Chrome apps, Google cloud print, Aura windows manager, virtual desktop access, integrated media player and Cloud-based management. The only issue with the operating system is that it only supports Nexus device or its own hardware. Hence, if you are a Google fan, you can surely enjoy Chrome OS with Chromebook.
React OS
ReactOS is another free open source OS that has got nearly 1 million downloads in more than 100 countries. This community-based OS has the ability to run Windows applications, which makes it a great alternative for Windows operating system. Although ReactOS is still growing, users, who love highly customizable operating systems, can select ReactOS. However, the operating system is developer-focused.
These are the best open source operating systems that can be preferred as alternatives to the paid operating systems like Mac or Windows. The list contains a good blend of power and features. Therefore, try them and tell us if you like them in the comments below.