Linux has come a long way from a command line interface to an intuitive and stunning graphical user interface. Today, all the Linux distros come with a beautiful desktop environment, easy-to-use interface, and user-friendly motto implementation in the core.
I rather just say that Linux does not only come with a nice-looking desktop manager but also it offers a wide range of useful and effective sets of free and open source software for completing all the basic and advanced needs.
I use one of the best and most popular Linux distros, Ubuntu. I always recommend that others use or at least try all the most popular Linux distros and get settled with anyone who shows promise and is best suited for that individual user.
Most Popular Linux Distros
Here today, I would like to suggest you use any of these Linux distros and be ready to be amazed by the huge set of features that a most popular Linux distro can offer.
5. Manjaro Linux
Manjaro is one of the best and most popular Linux distros based on Arch Linux. This Linux distro is best fitted and user-friendly for newcomers and advanced users. As it’s based on Arch Linux, it does support a total of three sets of software repositories, including Unstable, Testing, and Stable software repositories. Manjaro supports command line packages and GUI software installation – “Pacman.”
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Main Features
- It supports cutting-edge software and has a stable application base that is in line with Arch Linux.
- Comes in many flavors like KDE, Cinnamon, LXDE, MATE, LXQt, Gnome, Xfce, and much more.
- Offers a very easy and intuitive installation process.
- It comes with pre-installed packages, including multimedia codecs to enjoy audio and video.
- Extensive desktop configuration ability.
- You can install multiple kernels, and it offers a special bash script for managing graphics drivers.
4. OpenSUSE
OpenSUSE is a community-sponsored one of the stable Linux distros made by SUSE Linux and other companies – Novell. After using the same code base in collaboration and sync with SUSE Linux Enterprise – SLE, it stops releasing the regular version rather than focusing on a stable and long life cycle. So, OpenSUSE code takes all the good features from SUSE Linux Enterprise and vice versa.
Main Features
- OpenSUSE has a total of three main goals – make OpenSUSE the easiest and most widely used Linux Distro; make OpenSUSE the most usable desktop environment for newbie and experienced users based on open-sourced collaboration; make OpenSUSE simple, easy, and the best choice for development and packaging processes to Linux developers and software vendors.
- Comes with a lot of variations, including Cinnamon, GNOME, IceWM, KDE, LXDE, Openbox, WMaker, and Xfce.
- It does not focus on regular release but on rolling for a long-term cycle and cutting-edge stable features.
3. Ubuntu Linux
Ubuntu is one of the most popular, stable, and best-fitted for newcomers to Debian-based Linux distro. It has its software repositories, which are regularly synced with the Debian repository so that all the applications get stable and the latest release.
Ubuntu was developed by Canonical, and this company has devoted a great effort to making Ubuntu popular and well-known in the Linux community, which now greatly supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, servers, and cloud VPS.
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Main Features
- This Linux Distro is a rock-solid, stable, and secure OS.
- Ubuntu comes with various desktop environments like Gnome, KDE, XFCE, MATE, etc.
- Though Ubuntu is based on Debian, it’s also the foundation for Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Deepin, and much more.
- Users can try all the core features before installing the full Ubuntu desktop using the installation image.
- Best and Most user-friendly for new users on Linux who do not know Gnome from bash.
- Many essential apps come pre-installed, and the user can install all the necessary software from the official apps repository.
- It’s one of the best customizable Linux distros for the advanced users.
- Ubuntu comes with one of the best, smoothest, most modern, and unique desktop environments, “ Gnome.”
- Each after six months, it offers new releases, and every two years, it releases a Long Term Support (LTS).
2. Debian
Debian is the most stable Linux distro, with the motto of free OS and a huge set of free software for everyone. Debian does not focus on new releases frequently, like Ubuntu and Linux Mint, but its prime focus is on super stable releases. For that reason, Debian releases a stable version every two years. Debian is a grandfather distro used to make many popular and effective distros, including Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Deepin, Elementary OS, etc.
Main Features
- Debian always comes with a super stable version, which is thoroughly tested and bug-fixed.
- More than 50000 stable and free software is there in the Debian repositories.
- Literally, a user can find effective and useful applications in the Debian software repository, which is completely free.
- It comes with all the desktop flavors that a user can imagine, like AfterStep, Awesome, Black Box, Cinnamon, Fluxbox, flwm, FVWM, GNOME, i3, IceWM, ion, JWM, KDE, LXDE, MATE, Openbox, pekwm, Ratpoison, LXQt, WMaker, XBMC, Xfce.
1. Linux Mint
Linux Mint is the #1 most popular and best user-friendly Ubuntu-based Linux distro available out there. Linux Mint is a similarly perfect fit for both newcomers and advanced users. The main motto of Linux Mint is “From freedom came elegance,” which provides a stable, powerful, easy-to-use, and complete out-of-the-box experience.
Main Features
- As Linux Mint is a Ubuntu-based Linux distro, it will be fully compatible with Ubuntu software repositories.
- Comes with a full-packed system including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java, and other components.
- Linux Mint comes with a set of different flavors, as per user need, including Cinnamon, MATE, Cinnamon Edition – “EDGE,” and Xfce.
- Its installation process is super easy for any newbies to go ahead.
- If you like Mac OS, then you must definitely go for the Linux Mint Cinnamon desktop environment, which is super stable and looks elegant.
Honorable Mention
Some Honorable Mentions of the Most Popular Linux Distros are given below:
- Zorin OS
- MX Linux
- Elementary OS
- Arch Linux
- Fedora Linux
Final Thought
Linux is not only a name for versatile OS. Rather, it offers a complete and full-featured set of desktop environments where everything is free, open source, and community-driven. Lots of community members are always ready to help you out with any Linux problem.
Which one did you like from the above list of most popular Linux distros? Did you try all or just one? Share your Linux experiences and suggestions with the other users in the comment below. Share this article with your friends and family through social media and spread Linux love.
