Comparison of Linux distributions


Technical variations of Linux distributions include support for different hardware devices and systems or software package configurations. Organizational differences may be motivated by historical reasons. Other criteria include security, including how quickly security upgrades are available; ease of package management; and number of packages available.
These tables compare notable distribution's latest stable release on wide-ranging objective criteria. It does not cover each operating system's subjective merits, branches marked as unstable or beta, nor compare Linux distributions with other operating systems.

General

The table below shows general information about the distributions: founder or producer, maintainer, release date, the latest version, etc.
Linux distributions endorsed by the Free Software Foundation are marked 100% Free under the System distribution commitment column.
DistributionFounderMaintainerInitial release yearCurrent stable versionSecurity updates Release dateSystem distribution commitmentForked fromTarget audienceCostStatus
AlmaLinuxAlmaLinux OS FoundationAlmaLinux OS Foundation202110 yearsRed Hat Enterprise Linux general
Alpine LinuxAlpine Linux TeamAlpine Linux Team2006LEAF Projectsecurity, lightweight, general
ALT LinuxALT Linux TeamALT Linux Team, ALT Linux LLC2001Mandrake Linuxgeneral, school
antiXAnticapitalistaAnticapitalista2007Debian, MEPISold computers
ArchBangWillensky AristideStan McLaren2011RollingRollingRollingArch Linux general
Arch LinuxJudd Vinetdev team2002RollingRollingRollingIndependent, inspired from CRUXgeneral
BLAGBrixton Linux Action GroupBrixton Linux Action Group2002Fedoradesktop
Bodhi LinuxBodhi Linux TeamBodhi Linux Team2011Debian, Ubuntudesktop, lightweight
CanaimaCANTV / CNTI / CENTIDEL / Edelca / VIT / FUNDACITE / Free software communityCANTV / CNTI / CENTIDEL / Edelca / VIT / FUNDACITE / Free software community2007Debian, UbuntuGovernment of Venezuela
CentOSCentOS ProjectCentOS Project20038.510 years2021-11-16Red Hat Enterprise Linux server, workstation
CentOS StreamCentOS ProjectCentOS Project2019105 years2024-12-12Upstream of Red Hat Enterprise Linux server, workstation
ChakraJan Mette and Arch Linux KDEmod developersThe Chakra Project Team2010RollingRolling2017.10Arch Linuxdesktop
Chimera Linuxq66Chimera Linux team2021RollingRollingRollingIndependentgeneral
ChromeOSSundar PichaiGoogle2011RollingGentoo Linuxweb applications
Clear Linux OSArjan van de VenIntel2015RollingRollingRollingIndependentcontainer, server, desktop
ClearOSPeter BaldwinClearFoundation2000RHEL, CentOSserver, gateway, network
CrunchBang LinuxPhilip NewboroughPhilip Newborough2008Debiandesktop
CRUXPer LidénCRUX Community2002Independentgeneral
Damn Small LinuxJohn Andrewsdev team2003Debian, Knoppixlightweight, portable
DebianIan MurdockDebian Project1993~5 years, 10 years Freexian ELTS Independent, inspired by Softlanding Linux System (SLS)general, server, desktop
Debian EduDebian Project2004~3 yearsDebianschools
DevuanThe "Veteran Unix Admins" The "Veteran Unix Admins" 2016Debiangeneral
DeepinWuhan Deepin Technology Co., Ltd.Wuhan Deepin Technology Co., Ltd.2004Debiangeneral
Dragora GNU/Linux-LibreMatias A. FonzoMatias A. Fonzo2009Independent, inspired from Slackwaregeneral
dyne:bolicJaromilJaromilx2005Debianmultimedia
Elementary OSDanielle Foréelementary LLC2011Ubuntu, Debiangeneral
ELinOSSYSGOSYSGO1999Independentembedded systems
Emdebian GripEmbedded Debian ProjectEmbedded Debian Project2009End-of-lifeDebianembedded systems
EndeavourOSBryan PoerwoatmodjoEndeavourOS2019Rolling2022-09-14Arch Linuxgeneral
Fedora LinuxFedora ProjectFedora Project20031 year + 1 monthRed Hat Linuxgeneral
FreespireLindows.com, Inc.PC/OpenSystems LLC2001desktop
Gentoo LinuxDaniel RobbinsGentoo Foundation, Inc.2002RollingRollingRollingEnoch Linuxgeneral
Guix System|Guix System]Ludovic CourtèsLudovic Courtès, Ricardo Wurmus, the Guix community2012RollingIndependent, inspired by NixOSgeneral
gNewSenseBrian Brazil and Paul O'MalleySam Geeraerts with sponsorship from the Free Software Foundation2006Debiangeneral, server
GrmlMichael ProkopThe Grml Team2005Debianlive, maintenance, security, network, forensic, accessibility
Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libreHyperbola FoundersHyperbola Founders20173 years, 5 years Arch Linuxgeneral
IPFireMichael TremerIPFire Project20042.29 - Core Update 197Rolling2025-9-19Independentfirewall, router, security
Kali LinuxMax Moser, Mati Aharoni, Martin J. MuenchOffensive Security2013Debianauditing, forensic, security, network
KnoppixKlaus Knopperdev team2000Debianlive
KororaChris SmartDev Team2005Fedoradesktop
LibreCMCLibreCMC teamLibreCMC team2010Merged from LibreWRTembedded systems
LinspireLinspire, Inc.Linspire, Inc.2001
Linux MintClement Lefebvredev team20065 years ; ~3 years
Debian, Ubuntu desktop
Linux LiteJerry BezenconLinux Lite Team2012Ubuntudesktop
MageiaMageia Communitymageia.org20101 yearMandriva Linuxgeneral
Mandriva LinuxMandrakesoft S.A.Mandriva S.A.1998Red Hat Linuxgeneral
Manjaro LinuxRoland Singerdev team2012RollingRollingRollingArch Linuxgeneral
MEPISWarren WoodfordMEPIS LLC2003Debiandesktop, server
MIRACLE LINUXCybertrust JapanCybertrust Japan200010 yearsRed Hat Enterprise Linux server
Musix GNU+LinuxMusix teamMusix team2008Debianmultimedia
MX LinuxMX Linux teamMX Linux team2013255 years2025-04-13Debian, MEPIS, antiXdesktop
NetrunnerBlue Systemsdev team2009as per DebianDebiandesktop
NixOSEelco Dolstra and Armijn HemelNixOS Foundation20030.5 years–general, server, desktop
Novell Open Enterprise ServerNovellNovell, Inc. dev team200320232022-10SUSE Linux Enterprise Serverserver
OpenELECStephan Raue, OpenELEC TeamOpenELEC Team20118.0.42017-06-04Kodimultimedia
openSUSESUSE LinuxopenSUSE Project20061.5 yearsSlackware, Jurixgeneral, desktop
OpenWrtOpenWrt team2007Independentembedded systems
OpenMandriva LxOpenMandriva AssociationOpenMandriva Association2013Mandriva Linuxgeneral
Oracle LinuxOracle CorporationOracle Corporation2006Red Hat Enterprise Linux server
Parabola GNU/Linux-libreParabola HackersParabola Hackers2009RollingRolling2021-08-11Arch Linuxgeneral
PardusScientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey TÜBİTAK2005Gentoo
Debian		general
Parrot OSLorenzo "Palinuro" FaletraParrot Dev Team2013RollingDebiansecurity, desktop
ParsixAlan BaghumianParsix Project2005Debiandesktop
Parted MagicPatrick VernerParted Magic LLC.2007Independentlive, maintenance
PCLinuxOSBill Reynoldsdev team20032025.09Semi-rolling2025-09-20Mandriva Linuxdesktop
Pop! OSCarl RitchellSystem7620172 years for LTS releases.
2–3 months after the next release for other releases.		Ubuntudesktop, laptop
PentooMichael Zanetta, Rick Farina, Jens PranaitisPentoo20052019.12019-01-17Gentoo Linuxauditing, security
PorteusFanthomPorteus2010Slackwarelightweight, portable
ProteanOSLibiquity2011RollingRollingRollingembedded
Puppy LinuxBarry KaulerPuppy Foundation2003Independent, inspired from Vector linuxlightweight, portable
PureOSTodd WeaverPurism2009Stable and RollingDebiangeneral, security, privacy
Qubes OSJoanna RutkowskaInvisible Things Lab2012Xen and Fedorasecurity by compartmentalization, desktop
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Red HatRed Hat200212 yearsRed Hat Linux, Fedorageneral
Red Hat LinuxRed HatRed Hat1995 alias Shrike–server, workstation
Rocks Cluster DistributionUCSD Supercomputing Center, ClustercorpUCSD Supercomputing Center, Clustercorp2000Red Hat Linuxserver, workstation
Rocky LinuxRocky Enterprise Software FoundationRocky Enterprise Software Foundation202110 yearsRed Hat Enterprise Linux general
ROSALLC NTC IT ROSA2011Mandrivaserver, general
Sabayon LinuxFabio Erculianidev team2005Gentoo Linuxgeneral
Salix OSCyrille Pontvieux, George Vlahavas, Pierrick Le Brun, Thorsten MühlfelderSalix team2009Slackwaregeneral
Scientific LinuxCERN, Fermilabdev team2004Red Hat Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux server, workstation
SlackwarePatrick Volkerdingdev team1993Softlanding Linux System (SLS)general
SlaxTomas MatejicekTomas Matejicek2002Debian, Slackware live
SliTaz GNU/LinuxChristophe Lincolndev team2008RollingRolling2020-02-23Independentportable
SolusIkey Dohertydev team2005RollingRolling2021-07-11Pardus Linuxdesktop
SolydXKArjen Balfoortdev team2013Debian packages as per DebianDebiandesktop
SparkyLinuxSparky Linux team2012Debiangeneral, video games
Source Mage GNU/LinuxRyan Abrams, Eric Schabelldev team2002Sorcerergeneral
SteamOSValveValve2013Debian
Arch Linux 		video games
SUSE Linux EnterpriseSUSESUSE2000SP513 years per version2023-06-20Common code base for x86-64, Power, System z, Arm64Slackware, Jurixedge, workstation, server, supercomputer
TailsTails Development Team2009–Debiansecurity-focused aimed for anonymity and privacy
Tiny Core LinuxRobert ShingledeckerTeam Tiny Core2009Independent, inspired from Damn Small Linuxportable
Trisquel GNU/LinuxRubén Rodríguez Pérez Rubén Rodríguez Pérez 20053 yearsUbuntu LTSdesktop
TurnKey GNU/LinuxAlon Swartz, Liraz SiriTurnKey GNU/Linux Team2008Debian packages as per Debian; TurnKey packages for life of current major version Debianserver based software appliance library aiming to balance security and ease of use
Ubuntu and DerivativesCanonical Ltd.Canonical Ltd.2004
Standard releases 9 months, LTS releases 5 years. Flavor LTS releases 3 or 5 years. Ubuntu Pro 10 years.
Debiangeneral, server, desktop, supercomputer, IBM mainframe
Univention Corporate ServerUnivention GmbHUnivention GmbH2004up to 6 months for free Core Edition; up to 7 years if maintenance is purchased, see:Debianhome, business, and school
UtutoDiego Saravia, Daniel OliveraUTUTO dev team2000XS 20122012-04-27Ututo XS: Gentoo Linux, Ututo UL: Ubuntugeneral
VectorLinuxRobert S. Langedev team1999Slackwaredesktop
Void LinuxJuan Romero PardinesJuan RP and contributors2008RollingRolling2022-10-17Independent, partially inspired by FreeBSD/NetBSDgeneral
WebconvergerKai HendryWebconverger Limited2007Debiankiosk software, digital signage
XandrosXandros IncorporatedXandros Incorporated20012007-07-26Corel Linux
ZentyaleBox TechnologieseBox Technologies2005Debian, Ubuntusmall business server
ZenwalkJean-Philippe Guillemindev team2004Slackwaregeneral
Zorin OSZorin GroupZorin Group2009Ubuntugeneral, desktop
DistributionFounderMaintainerInitial release yearCurrent stable versionSecurity updates Release dateSystem distribution commitmentForked fromTarget audienceCostStatus

Technical

The table below shows the default file system, but many Linux distributions support some or all of ext2, ext3, ext4, Btrfs, ReiserFS, Reiser4, JFS, XFS, GFS2, OCFS2, and NILFS. It is possible to install Linux onto most of these file systems. The ext file systems, namely ext2, ext3, and ext4 are based on the original Linux file system.
File systems have been developed by companies to meet their specific needs, by hobbyists, or adapted from Unix, Microsoft Windows, and other operating systems. Linux has full support for XFS and JFS, FAT, and HFS, the main file system for the Macintosh. Support for Microsoft Windows NT's NTFS file system has been developed and is now comparable with other native Unix file systems. CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs' ISO 9660 and Universal Disk Format are supported.
Unlike other operating systems, Linux and Unix allow any file system regardless of the medium it is stored on, whether that medium is a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a USB flash memory key, or even contained within a file located on another file system. Similarly, many C compilers, init systems, desktop environments and window managers are widely supported.
DistributionDefault Linux kernelDefault file systemDefault init systemInstall-time desktop environment or window manager selectionReproducible builds
Alpine Linuxext4openrc none
ALT Linuxext3systemdKDE Plasma Workspaces, Xfce
Arch LinuxnonesystemdAwesome, bspwm, Budgie, Cinnamon, COSMIC, CuteFish, Deepin, Enlightenment, GNOME, Hyprland, i3, KDE, LXQt, MATE, Qtile, Sway, Xfce
BLAGext3sysvinitGNOME
Bodhi Linuxext4systemdMoksha
CanaimasystemdGNOME, KDE Plasma and Xfce
CentOSxfssystemdGNOME
Chakraext4systemdKDE Plasma Workspaces
Chimera LinuxnonedinitGNOME, KDE Plasma
Clear Linux OSGNOME
ClearOSext3systemd none
CoreOSext4systemd-
CrunchBang Linuxext4sysvinitOpenbox
Damn Small Linuxext3sysvinitJWM
Debianext4systemdGNOME, KDE, Xfce, LXDE
Devuanext4sysvinitXfce
Dragora GNU/Linux-Libreext4runitXfce
dyne:bolicsystemdGNOME
FedorabtrfssystemdGNOME, Spins for: KDE, Xfce, Cinnamon, MATE, i3, LXQt, LXDE, Phosh, Sway and Budgie
Funtoononeopenrc-
GentoononeopenrcAwesome, Enlightenment, Fluxbox, GNOME, KDE, LXDE-Meta, Openbox, XBMC and Xfce
gNewSenseext3sysvinitGNOME
Guix Systemext4GNU ShepherdGNOME, Xfce, MATE, Enlightenment, Openbox, awesome, i3, ratpoison, EXWM
Hyperbola GNU/Linux-librenoneopenrc
IPFireext4sysvinitN/A
Kali Linuxext4systemdGNOME
KnoppixxfsmicroknoppixLXDE
LibreCMCext4busybox-init none
Linux Mintext4systemdMATE, Cinnamon, KDE 4, XFCE
Mageiaext4systemdKDE Plasma Workspaces, GNOME
Mandriva Linuxext4systemdKDE Plasma Workspaces
Manjaro LinuxnonesystemdXfce, KDE, GNOME
MEPISext4sysvinitKDE Plasma Workspaces
MIRACLE LINUXext4systemdGNOME
Musix GNU+Linuxext4initscriptsLXDE
MX Linuxext4sysvinitFluxbox, KDE and Xfce
NixOS or Linux-librenonesystemdGNOME or KDE Plasma, CDE, Cinnamon, Enlightment, Kodi, Lumina, LXQt, MATE, Pantheon, Phosh, RetroArch, Xfce, Xterm. 40 window managers
OpenELECSquashFSshell scriptXBMC Media Center
openSUSEbtrfssystemdKDE Plasma Workspaces, GNOME, Xfce
OpenWrtoverlayfs+SquashFS/JFFS2procd none
Parabola GNU/Linux-librenoneopenrc or systemd none
Pardusext4systemdKDE Plasma Workspaces
Parsixext4systemdGNOME
PCLinuxOSnonesysvinitKDE Plasma Workspaces, GNOME, LXDE, Xfce, Enlightenment, Openbox
PentooSquashFSopenrcEnlightenment
PorteussysvinitKDE, LXDE, Xfce, Openbox, Razor-qt
Puppy LinuxSquashFS containing ext2busybox-initJWM
PureOSext4systemdGNOME
Red Hat Enterprise LinuxxfssystemdGNOME
Rxart Desktopext3KDE Plasma Workspaces
Sabayon Linuxext4systemdKDE Plasma Workspaces, GNOME
Scientific Linuxext4sysvinit, systemdGNOME
SlackwareRC.d and sysvinit compatibleKDE, XFCE Fluxbox, Blackbox, fvwm2 twm
SlaxSquashFSsysvinitKDE Plasma Workspaces
SliTaz GNU/Linuxext3busybox-initOpenbox
Solusext4systemdBudgie, Gnome, MATE, KDE
Source Mage GNU/Linuxext2simpleinit-msb none
SteamOSbtrfs, ext4systemd
SUSE Linux Enterprise DesktopbtrfssystemdGNOME
TailssystemdGNOME
TrisquelsystemdMATE
TurnKey GNU/Linuxext4systemdnone - headless server by design; provides Webmin for administration
Ubuntu/Edubuntuext4systemdGNOME
Ubuntu GNOMEext4systemdGNOME 3
Ubuntu MATEext4systemdMATE
Kubuntuext4systemdKDE Plasma Workspaces
Xubuntuext4systemdXfce
Lubuntuext4systemdLXQt
Ututoext3systemdGNOME
VectorLinuxReiserFSsysvinitKDE, Openbox, Fluxbox, IceWM, Xfce
Void Linuxnonerunit none
Webconvergergitfssysvinitdwm enforcing a Browser-only interface
XBMC Liveext3systemdXBMC Media Center
Zentyalext4systemdLXDE
Zenwalkext4sysvinitXfce
DistributionDefault Linux kernelDefault file systemDefault init systemInstall-time desktop environment or window manager selectionReproducible builds

Instruction set architecture support

Linux kernel portability to instruction set architectures other than x86, was an early feature added to the kernel.
Distributionx86x86-64armia64ppcppc64sparc32sparc64hppaloongarch64mipsshs390s390xalpham68kriscv
Alpine Linux
Arch Linux
BackTrack
BLAG
Bodhi Linux
BOSS Linux
CentOS
Chakra
Chimera Linux
Clear Linux OS
CRUX
Debian
Devuan
Dragora GNU/Linux-Libre
dyne:bolic
Fedora
Finnix
Gentoo
gNewSense
Guix System
Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre
IPFire
Kali Linux
LibreCMC XBurst
Manjaro Linux
MEPIS
MIRACLE LINUX
Musix GNU+Linux
MX Linux
NixOS
OpenELEC
openSUSE Leap
openSUSE Tumbleweed
OpenWrt
Oracle Linux
Parabola GNU/Linux-libre
Red Flag Linux
Red Hat Linux
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
3+
3+
3+
3+
Sabayon Linux
Scientific Linux
SHR
Slackware
Solus
Source Mage GNU/Linux
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
Trisquel GNU/Linux
TurnKey GNU/Linux
Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu/Lubuntu, including 64-bit ARMv8-A
Ututo
Void Linux
XBMCbuntu
Yellow Dog Linux
Distributionx86x86-64armia64ppcppc64sparc32sparc64hppaloongsonmipsshs390s390xalpham68kriscv

Package management and installation

Information on features in the distributions. Package numbers are only approximate. Some distributions like Debian tend to separate tools into different packages – usually stable release, development release, documentation and debug. Also counting the source package number varies. For debian and rpm based entries it is just the base to produce binary packages, so the total number of packages is the number of binary packages. For Arch based entries, it is additional.
DistributionFree software repositoriesApproximate number of pre-compiled packagesApproximate number of source packagesDefault package management toolPackage formatDefault installerGraphical installation processNetinstallNetboot
Alpine Linux13888apk.apksetup-alpine
ALT Linux8300APT, RPMRPM
Arch Linux1375194227 from AURPacman.pkg.tar.zst and
BLAG10000RPM, yum, APTRPM
Bodhi LinuxAPT.dpkgUbiquity
CanaimaAPT.debdebian-installer
CentOS6813RPM, yum/up2dateRPMAnaconda
Chakra3074Pacman .pkg.tar.xz
Chimera Linuxapk.apk-
ClearOSRPM, yumRPM
Clear Linux OSSwupd
CrunchBang LinuxAPT.deb
Debian17193728923APT.debDebian-Installer
DevuanAPT.debDebian-Installer
Dragora GNU/Linux-Libre484pkgsystem.tlz
dyne:bolicAPT.debDebian-Installer
Fedora6841941996DNF, yum, PackageKitRPMAnaconda
Gentoo11819105Portage.ebuild,.tbz2None
gNewSenseAPT.debDebian-Installer
Guix SystemGuix.scm, .goguix system init
Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre6128Pacman.pkg.tar.lzNone
IPFirepakfirecustom formatIPFire installer
KnoppixAPT.deb
LibreCMC826
Linux MintAPT.debUbiquity
Mageia17283, 11409 8834urpmi, rpmdrakeRPMDrakX
Mandriva Linux22600urpmi, rpmdrakeRPMDrakX
Manjaro LinuxPacman.pkg.tar.xzCalamares
MEPISAPT.debMEPIS Install
MIRACLE LINUX71092899RPM, yum, dnfRPMAnaconda
Musix GNU+Linux1819APT.debDebian-Installer
MX LinuxAPT.debGazelle InstallerNoNo
NixOS129926124166nix.nixCalamares
OpenELEC140XBMCbuntu addon manager, own and 3rd party addons.zip
openSUSE42236 with PackMan34000YaST, ZypperRPMYaST
OpenWrt2000opkg.ipk-
Parabola GNU/Linux-libre23000Pacman.pkg.tar.xzNone or Calamares
Pardus4000APT.debDebian-Installer
Parsix14900APT.deb
PCLinuxOS12000APT, RPMRPM
Puppy700PupGet, DotPup.pup,.pet
Red Hat Enterprise Linux3000 RPM, yumRPMAnaconda
RxartAPT.deb
Sabayon LinuxPortage, Entropyebuild,.tbz2Calamares
ScientificAPT/yumRPM
Slackware22927705 from SlackBuildsslackpkgtgz, .txz, .tlz,.tbz
Slax2050none.lzm
SliTaz GNU/Linux3381Tazpkg.tazpkgtazinst
Solus9500eopkg.eopkgos-installer
Source Mage GNU/Linux1188876Sorcery Package Managersrc
SUSE Linux2409411385YaST, ZypperRPMYaST
Tiny Core Linux25160ab, tce-loadtcztc-install, core2usb
Tiny SliTaz50Web sitetazpkg
Trisquel52748APT.debUbiquity
TurnKey GNU/Linux 21041 APT.debDI-Live
Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu11006624474APT.debUbiquity
Ututo5000UTUTO Package Managerebuild
Vector Linuxslapt-get, gslapt, installpkgtgz
Void Linux60006719xbps.xbpsncurses script
XBMC LiveAPT.deb
ZentyalAPT.debdpkg
Zenwalk2000netpkg, installpkg, upgradepkgtgz, txz
DistributionFree software repositoriesApproximate number of pre-compiled packagesApproximate number of source packagesDefault package management toolsPackage formatDefault installerGraphical installation processNetinstallNetboot

Apple Silicon Support

DistributionDirect InstallWorking VirtualisationCommunity Version
Kali
Ubuntu
Fedora
Red Hat