Linux is a far cry from the esoteric bundles of code it once was, and the number of polished distros offering variants for Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu is a testament to that.
If you’re new to Linux or are looking for a change, these distros are easily among the best options in 2024. This list was designed to cover different experience levels and use cases. Whether you’re a system admin, developer, or desktop user, this article will show you some of the best Linux distros that you can install today.
- 1. Customization: Arch Linux
- 2. Simplicity: MX Linux
- 3. Ease of Use: Linux Mint
- 4. Privacy: Tails
- 5. Forensics: Kali Linux
- 6. Runs from RAM: Puppy Linux
- 7. Old Computers and Netbooks: Bodhi Linux
- 8. For the Power User: Manjaro
- 9. For the Experienced: Gentoo
- 10. Reproducible: GNU Guix
- 11. Gaming and Multimedia: Pop!_OS
- 12. Stability: Rocky Linux
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Customization: Arch Linux
Arch Linux has grown to become one of the leading Linux distros since its launch in 2002. The distro is minimal in its default state but offers an unbridled level of customization for the more experienced user.
There’s no default desktop environment, so you can choose and install one that’s best suited to your personal tastes and the power of your PC. The minimum requirements of Arch Linux are a modest 512MB RAM and an x64 CPU.
It’s not the easiest to install, given how much it leaves in the user’s hands to figure out, but the documentation is very good (one of the best), and its rolling-release model means your custom-tweaked desktop environment will always be up to date.
For more in-depth details on this great distro, check out some of the best Arch Linux distros that are easy to use.
2. Simplicity: MX Linux
Describing itself as a “midweight” Linux distro, MX Linux runs like a dream, even on lower-end PCs, and its fairly minimal starting setup makes it a favorite among developers. Yes, its default XFCE desktop environment may look a little dated next to more renowned distros like Ubuntu, but there’s something to be said for keeping things simple.
The important stuff is never more than a couple of clicks away in MX Linux. The taskbar brings up a menu of MX Tools, which includes crucial things like PC maintenance and setup options for your system sound and keyboard.
The base installation of MX Linux includes a solid bunch of packages that feature Firefox, VLC, LibreOffice and GIMP, You can, of course, get more through the Synaptic Package Manager, which will point you to the package repositories for MX Linux.
3. Ease of Use: Linux Mint
If you’re fresh to this whole Linux business, then it’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed if you’re migrating over from Windows or macOS. For that reason, you may want to start simple, and Linux Mint is just what you need.
Linux Mint comes packed with much of the software you need to get straight back into your workflow, such as LibreOffice and some decent onboard media software. You also have a choice of four main desktop environments, with Cinnamon being the most Windows-like, with its pseudo-Start menu (though MATE remains a popular choice too).
While some might recommend Ubuntu as a starter distro, Linux Mint offers a better advantage as it’s pretty light resource-wise. This means that it will run faster and use less memory compared to other systems that provide a similar setup.
Linux Mint is also always in sync with the latest Ubuntu LTS releases. As such, you can expect the distro to consistently receive free security and application updates for at least 5 years. This approach provides you with the best of what Ubuntu can offer security-wise while still maintaining an easy-to-use desktop system.
4. Privacy: Tails
Privacy is a concept that is becoming more important as technology becomes inherently woven into our daily lives. It boils down to what you perceive as your threat model.
If you are trying to be 100 percent anonymous on the Internet, for example, you will have to try very hard. If you want to prevent companies from building a data profile on you, then things are easier.
A good way to be more anonymous online is to use Tails.
Tails OS is a Debian-based Linux distro that comes pre-configured for use with the Tor Network. Tor is a public decentralized network that allows users to send and receive traffic through several relays. The concept is simple – each relay has its own IP address that hides the original location of the user by creating several “layers.” This is especially useful for privacy-conscious individuals or users within countries that have oppressive governments.
Tails is also small enough that you can reliably run it from portable storage. It also only uses the computer’s RAM which means that it doesn’t leave any traces on both the machine that you’re using and the Tails system itself.
Lastly, it comes with a bunch of privacy-based encrypted tools, like an instant messenger, KeePassX password manager, and email encryption tools. Crucially, LibreOffice is there for most of your productivity needs.
FYI: learn more about privacy and anonymity by hosting your own private Monero node over Tor.
5. Forensics: Kali Linux
Linux is a strong player in the area of forensics. There are many distros to pick from in this category, but we’ve chosen Kali Linux.
Kali Linux is a Debian-derived Linux distribution designed for digital forensics and penetration testing. It is maintained and funded by Offensive Security Ltd.
The toolset is very comprehensive, and prior knowledge would be useful. However, you could also use the distro as a tool for getting into cybersecurity and network engineering. In that regard, you should take advantage of Offensive Security’s courses to learn more about what the system can offer you.
Concerned about getting your GPU to work with Linux? Here’s how to install Nvidia drivers on Debian systems.
6. Runs from RAM: Puppy Linux
Puppy Linux is a super lightweight distro that will run entirely within RAM on your machine. This is incredibly useful if you need to perform tasks quickly. You can install it in a USB stick and run the entire system from RAM. Current versions of Puppy Linux generally take up to about 210 MB, allowing the boot medium to be removed after the operating system has started.
It has variations built on Slackware and Ubuntu, but they both have the same tools for the most part.
We generally tend to use it when we need to repurpose and wipe hard drives using either the dd command or hdparm
, but it is a fully stocked distro for a variety of tasks.
7. Old Computers and Netbooks: Bodhi Linux
Despite the rise of the tablet, there are still users who have lighter portable netbooks who make use of Linux. The same can be said for older machines that can be given new life. A great distro for this is Bodhi Linux.
While a derivative of Ubuntu, it is an elegant and lightweight distro featuring Moksha, an Enlightenment-based desktop environment. Along with the polished desktop, Bodhi offers a minimal install, which leaves the user free to customize easily. Bodhi offers a variety of ISO files and can be installed on Chromebooks and legacy devices.
Good to know: lightweight desktop environments are one of the most common ways of prolonging an old computer’s life. Find out what’s the best lightweight desktop between XFCE and LXDE.
8. For the Power User: Manjaro
If you are tired of having to constantly upgrade your Linux distro from version to version, Arch Linux is the one for you. Manjaro is based on Arch Linux and comes with all the benefits of a full vanilla Arch install but leaves that complication at the door. Manjaro is Arch with no assembly required.
The Arch Linux Wiki is unparalleled when it comes to distribution documentation. Everything in it applies to Manjaro. You also have the benefit of Arch’s huge repositories that are always up to date and the various AUR helpers.
If you’re more comfortable with Linux and looking for a new distribution packed with power and options, Manjaro is definitely worth consideration.
9. For the Experienced: Gentoo
Gentoo might seem like an odd choice if you’ve paid attention to all the memes and noise around it. Gentoo is no joke, though. It’s easily the most flexible distribution around, and you can configure it to be as stable or bleeding edge as you need. Essentially, Gentoo is whatever you make it.
Gentoo is a source-based distribution, meaning you compile every package that is installed from its source code when you install it. While this does take additional time, it also presents an opportunity to customize every package to meet your needs.
Whether you are installing Gentoo on a desktop or server, you can tailor it precisely. For desktops, you can choose your desktop environment or window manager without any unnecessary bloat. Servers provide a similar situation, allowing for lightweight purpose-built installations. As a bonus, Gentoo doesn’t make any decisions for you, not even for something like Systemd. If you don’t want it, you don’t need it.
On the side of security, the Gentoo Hardened project is one of the best, if not THE best, projects within a Linux distribution to increase its overall security. Even without the GRSecurity patches that were previously a large part of the project, Gentoo Hardened is an excellent option for server or desktop security.
10. Reproducible: GNU Guix
GNU Guix is a brilliant Linux distribution that allows you to build systems that you can recreate on any computer. This can be especially useful if you are a systems administrator and want a quick way to deploy Linux.
The way GNU Guix does this is by using a single programming language to manage the entire system. Unlike other distributions, you only need to remember a single format for all of your program’s configurations.
Further, GNU Guix also creates a transactional sandbox history of every package that you install. Similar to NixOS, this allows you to roll back and seamlessly jump through different versions of your software. It is useful if you want to either experiment with new software or want a reliable package system.
11. Gaming and Multimedia: Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS is a simple, yet effective distribution that aims to create an easy-to-use environment for multimedia and gaming in Linux. It was originally a fork of Ubuntu and is currently the default operating system in System76 laptops.
Aside from its multimedia support, Pop!_OS also sports a custom version of GNOME that includes several extra features. For example, it is possible to convert your desktop into either a stacking or tiling layout. It can be especially useful for power users who want to have a quick way of managing windows.
Further, Pop!_OS also has extensive support for several scientific and development software. By default, it includes IDEs, such as Jupyter, MATLAB, and Android Studio. Pop!_OS can be an option if you are looking for a distribution that you can use for both work and play.
12. Stability: Rocky Linux
Rocky Linux is an enterprise-grade distro that provides a powerful and complete system that you can run on both as a desktop and a server. It aims to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. This makes it one of the best Linux distros that can give a stable platform if you want a no-fuss computing experience.
Besides compatibility and stability, Rocky Linux also excels at providing easy-to-read manuals and guides for the distro and its tools. As such, this is a great option if you’re looking for a system that can teach you the fundamentals of Linux in a consistent and reliable environment.
Lastly, Rocky uses SELinux as its main security framework. It provides a strict and comprehensive way of managing your system’s security policies. Further, you can also use SELinux to finely tune how programs can interact with your system’s kernel on a “per-function” basis.
FYI: learn how you can secure your personal servers by using SELinux to manage its security policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common pitfalls when choosing a Linux distro?
Almost all Linux distributions today offer similar hardware compatibility because the Linux kernel already includes support for the most common hardware. Unless your machine uses a rare architecture, most Linux distributions should work out of the box.
However, even the best Linux distros differ in software availability. This is because most distros today build and provide their own package repositories. You need to be aware of which distributions offer the software that you need. For example, Arch Linux does not provide most third-party packages out of the box.
Is it better to use a rolling release or an LTS distro?
This will largely depend on how you intend to use your machine. A rolling release distro benefits users who need the latest software updates. For example, if you are writing a program that you want to work with the latest software, you’ll have to use a rolling release distribution.
On the other hand, a Long-Term Support (LTS) distro tends to cater to users who want a stable computing experience and don’t want to constantly update their system. This could either be a family relative who is not familiar with computers or a security-conscious user who wants an “air-gapped” machine.
Is it possible to migrate my files from an old distro to a new one?
Yes. However, the backup process for your files will depend on the distro you are currently using. Unlike other operating systems, Linux doesn’t provide a one-click solution to storing your files outside your machine.
Despite that, backing up your files is usually straightforward. For the most part, you only need to save your “/home” directory since it contains all of your personal files. You can also use a tool such as rclone to upload your files as an encrypted backup.
Image credit: Giorgio Trovato via Unsplash (Background) and Wikimedia Commons (Logo). All screenshots by Ramces Red
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