Which free linux is best

Best Linux Distributions That are Most Suitable for Beginners

Last updated March 25, 2021 By Aquil Roshan 326 Comments

Brief: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the list of Linux distributions available. In this article, we will mention the best Linux distros for beginners.

Let’s face it, Linux can pose an overwhelming complexity to new users. But then, it’s not Linux itself that brings this complexity. Rather, it’s the “newness” factor that causes this. Not getting nostalgic, but remembering my first time with Linux, I didn’t even know what to expect. I liked it. But it was an upstream swim for me initially.

Not knowing where to start can be a downer. Especially for someone who does not have the concept of something else running on their PC in place of Windows.

The first thing that confuses a newcomer is that Linux is not a single operating system. There are hundreds of Linux distributions. We have covered why there are so many Linux in detail, so I am not going to discuss it again.

Here are a few lists of Linux distributions based on different criteria:

In addition to that, there are distributions that cater to the needs of newcomers especially. So, here, we shall focus on those options.

Best Linux Distros for Beginners

Please remember that this list is no particular order. The main criteria for compiling this list is the ease of installation, out of the box hardware support, ease of use, and availability of software packages.

1. Ubuntu

• Easy to use
• Unique user experience
• Huge collection of software applications available through the software center
• Essential tools pre-installed

You must have heard about Ubuntu — no matter what. It is the most popular Linux distribution overall. Not just limited to servers, but also the most popular choice for Linux desktops.

It is easy to use, offers a good user experience, and comes pre-installed with essential tools to get a head start. Of course, Ubuntu managed to “simplify” the Linux experience years back and that is the reason why it is still so popular even with several impressive Linux distributions available right now.

Ubuntu offers a very convenient installation procedure and ensures best hardware compatibility when compared to some other non-Ubuntu based Linux distributions.

The original Ubuntu relies on GNOME desktop. Even though it is easy to use, it may not prove to be a familiar user interface if you’re coming from the Windows platform. In that case, you can try out some official flavors of Ubuntu like Kubuntu, Lubuntu to get a Windows-like user interface.

Ubuntu has a great documentation and community support. Ubuntu forums and Ask Ubuntu provide an appreciable quality support in almost all aspects regarding Ubuntu. You should easily find answers to common issues and even if you notice something new, the community will help you out troubleshooting.

2. Linux Mint

• Familiar user interface with Windows
• Performs great with older hardware
• Some improvements over Ubuntu

Linux Mint is arguably the best Ubuntu-based Linux distribution suitable for beginners. Yes, it is based on Ubuntu, so you should expect the same advantages of using Ubuntu. However, instead of GNOME desktop, it offers different desktop environments like Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE. In fact, Linux Mint does a few things better than Ubuntu.

Not just limited to the familiar user interface, which will be a bonus for Windows users. It provides an impressive performance with minimal hardware requirements, especially with Xfce or MATE desktop environment.

It also uses the same software repository as Ubuntu. You don’t have to worry about the availability of software to install.

Linux Mint is a fantastic Windows-like distribution. So, if you do not want a unique user interface (like Ubuntu), Linux Mint should be the perfect choice.

The most popular suggestion would be to go with Linux Mint Cinnamon edition. But, you can explore whatever you want. Also, you might want to look at our tutorial to install Linux Mint 20 from USB.

3. Zorin OS

• Windows-like user interface
• Intuitive user experience
• Easy to use
• Ultimate edition available with a lot of pre-installed goodies and Lite edition for older computers

Zorin OS is yet another impressive Linux distribution that offers a similar user interface to Windows. It may not be the most popular choice but being an Ubuntu-based distribution, it is perfectly suitable for beginners while offering many cool features as well.

Zorin OS is an Ubuntu-based distribution but feels highly polished. In my opinion, it is perfectly tailored for former Windows users who want a similar look and feel but something beautiful.

No wonder why Zorin OS is one of the most beautiful Linux distros out there.

The ultimate edition of Zorin OS is worth spending if you need all the pre-installed goodies (fun games, office suite, and some additional features). But, the free edition works like a charm as well.

You will also find a “Lite” edition which is suitable for old hardware that needs to be revived.

4. Elementary OS

Now that I mentioned a beautiful Linux distribution above, elementary OS is actually the most popular good-looking Linux distribution that takes inspiration from macOS.

Even though it is not a “macOS clone” in any aspect, it tries to focus on the user experience similar to how macOS does (or should). If you are coming from the Apple ecosystem, you would love to try elementary OS for sure.

Again, it is based on Ubuntu, so you get all the benefits of it along with a rich user experience.

Elementary OS features the Pantheon desktop environment. You can immediately notice the resemblance to macOS desktop.

The operating system is zero intrusive so you can really focus on your work. It comes with a very small number of pre-installed software. So, any new user will not be repulsed by huge bloat. But it’s got everything you need out of the box. The App Center is also unique when compared to other Linux distributions.

You will find some elementary OS tailored applications and can choose to pay the developer through the software store as well.

Experience wise, Elementary OS is really a great piece of software.

5. Linux Lite

Linux Lite is yet another Ubuntu-based distribution that is easy to use. It is specifically tailored as a lightweight distribution with some pre-installed applications that are not resource-heavy.

Linux Lite is perfectly suitable for Windows users with a similar user interface featuring the Xfce desktop environment. Compared to its previous iterations, Linux Lite has improved the user experience. Even though it isn’t meant to provide you the most modern experience, it still looks great as a desktop OS.

6. Manjaro Linux

• Not an Ubuntu-based distribution
• Arch-based Linux distribution
• Presents a learning curve

If you want to take up a challenge with a learning curve and want to try something else other than a distribution based on Ubuntu, Manjaro Linux is the best bet.

It is based on Arch Linux but tailored as a beginner-friendly distribution. Of course, considering that it follows a rolling release update cycle, you might end up with a broken system (even though that does not happen all the time). But, you have to compromise on the reliability when compared to any Ubuntu based Linux distribution mentioned in this list.

You also get a wide range of choice to install a variety of software tools. There’s also AUR, which is a community-maintained repository for software that may not be available for Manjaro officially.

If you want to know more about it, you may want to check out our detailed review of Manjaro Linux.

Manjaro Linux offers different desktop environments like XFCE, KDE, Gnome, Cinnamon and a host of more desktop environments. So, you get a lot of choices.

7. Pop!_OS

• Improved user experience when compared to Ubuntu
• Extra out-of-the-box features like Auto window tiling to help with fast multi-tasking

Pop OS is probably the best Ubuntu-based Linux distribution if you’re not looking for a lightweight Linux distribution.

It provides a polished and snappy experience when compared to Ubuntu GNOME edition. You also get some interesting features like automatic window tiling, window stacking, and a few more with Pop OS.

You also get a vanilla GNOME experience on Pop OS when compared to Ubuntu. However, unlike some other options, it does not officially support other desktop environments out of the box. So, if you do not like GNOME, you may have to manually try other desktop environments as an experiment. You might find the review of Pop OS 20.04 useful to explore more about it.

8. Peppermint OS

Peppermint Linux is an interesting choice for beginners who prefer to use web applications as local applications using the out-of-the-box integration with Ice.

It is based on Ubuntu, so along with all the goodies of Ubuntu it features a few extra options to give you a head start. It isn’t pitched as a lightweight distro, but it works quite well with older hardware as well.

9. Deepin

If performance or hardware requirement does not bother you, Deepin OS will be an interesting pick. It is known for its eye-candy user interface that is one of the most gorgeous Linux distributions out there.

Of course, it suffers from performance issues if you do not have a decent modern hardware configuration. But, if it works well on your system, it is easy to use and offers plenty of software tools to get started.

Some might mention that just because it is a project with based out of Mainland China, you need to avoid it. So, if you have an issue with that, you might take a look at UbuntuDDE (which is basically Ubuntu + eye-candy visuals of Deepin)

Your choice for the best Linux distro for beginners?

Linux might come with a tiny learning curve, but that’s not something anybody ever regretted. Go ahead, you will love it like I do!

To give you a head start, I would recommend you to follow Ubuntu 20.04 installation guide and refer how to install a distro from USB.

If you are already a Linux user, do share this article and help someone fall in love with Linux. What do you think about the distributions tailored for beginners mentioned above? Do you have a suggestion? Let me know in the comments below!

Like what you read? Please share it with others.

Источник

10 Best Linux Distros For A Beginner User In 2021

It’s time to switch from Windows 10.

These days, Linux Mint is giving a tough competition to Ubuntu as it’s very beginner-friendly. But what about other options for new Linux users?

The beauty of Linux lies in the plethora of options available to the users. While some call it Linux distro fragmentation, I love to call it Linux’s strength. It allows the users to choose a Linux distro suitable for their needs and learn new things. The same choice allows one to find a beginner-friendly Linux distro, lightweight distro, gaming distro, etc.

Best Linux Distros For Beginners Or New Users

1. Linux Mint

Linux Mint is one of the most popular Linux distributions around. Over the years, it has grown to become one of the chief competitors of Ubuntu Linux, its parent operating system. It’s known to provide one of the most polished and complete desktop experiences to a beginner. If someone asks me to recommend the best Linux distro for beginners, I’d promptly recommend Linux Mint.

So, what makes Linux Mint a great distro for beginners? How can a typical Windows user adapt to Mint? The answer lies in the fact that Linux Mint was created to provide an out-of-the-box experience to the newbies. Mint’s large set of pre-bundled tools ensure that Windows users transition to Linux Mint without regrets. It turns out to be equally good on laptops and powerful desktops.

There are three major editions of Linux Mint: Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce

Why Choose Linux Mint?

• Near-perfect desktop experience
• Cinnamon desktop is a great option
• Full access to Ubuntu software repo
• Great community

2. Ubuntu

We’re pretty sure that Ubuntu needs no introduction if you’re a regular reader of Fossbytes. But why is Ubuntu such a tempting distro for beginners while other “Easy-to-use” distros are struggling to get user’s attention? That’s because Ubuntu has been in the Linux market for a long time and has become a lot popular. This Debian-based Linux distribution also enjoys the status of the most popular open-source operating system in the world.

Every new release is more polished and comes loaded with new features and improvements—many PC makers like Dell and Lenovo design specific machines with preinstalled Ubuntu Linux. After conquering the desktop world, Ubuntu has also managed to gain big in the cloud. Another major reason to use Ubuntu for a new Linux user is its vast community of users and online forums.

On top of the already popular vanilla Ubuntu, it comes in various flavors like Ubuntu Kylin, Edubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio, Ubuntu Budgie, and Kubuntu.

Why Choose Ubuntu?

• Tons of free software in the Software Center
• Vast Ubuntu community
• Lots of flavors to suit your needs
• Compatible with most hardware
• Some more reasons

3. Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS needs no introduction. In the past few years, it has managed to gain an incredible amount of traction thanks to some of its unique features like Pop Shell and a separate version of the distro that comes with pre-installed NVIDIA drivers, which makes it one of the best distros for gaming.

And that’s not it. Being an Ubuntu-based distro means it is pretty stable. Pop!_OS’s default desktop was GNOME until recently, System76 decided to make its own environment called COSMIC, which is based on GNOME. Overall, it is definitely one of the best Linux distros for beginners.

If you’re confused between Pop!_OS and Ubuntu, make sure to read our Ubuntu Vs. Pop!OS comparison. Want to know what else Pop!OS can do? Here’s our Pop!_OS 20.04 review.

Why Choose Pop!_OS?

• Flatpack support
• Stable Ubuntu-base
• A great number of nifty features like Window tiling, etc
• Separate ISO for laptops/PCs with NVIDIA GPUs

4. Zorin OS

While one can argue that Canonical has worked hard to develop Ubuntu and make it popular, many other operating system developers have dedicated themselves to creating one of the finest Linux distros for beginners. Apart from Linux Mint, Zorin OS is another major player focusing on user-friendliness and usability.

Zorin OS calls itself a replacement for Windows and macOS. It comes loaded with everything that one needs to complete daily tasks. With a Windows-like interface built with beginners in mind, Zorin OS is easily the best Linux distro for Windows users. Its Windows 10-styled desktop is great at making things easier for a Windows lover. It also ships with a skinned version of Ubuntu Software that answers a beginner’s most software needs.

Why Choose Zorin OS?

• Focus on user-friendliness
• Windows-like interface
• Great out-of-the-box experience
• Appealing desktop effects
• Feature-packed media software

5. elementary OS

This visually stunning desktop is often listed as one of the most beautiful Linux distributions around, but it’s a lot more than that. The creators of elementary OS call their OS a fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS. Well, is their claim credible? Is elementary OS the best Linux distro for new users? Here’s what we think.

Unlike other distros, there are many interesting things about elementary. It’s intuitive, clean, and endearing. The makers of elementary are experts in design, and their operating system makes sure that the user doesn’t get confused.

The OS looks are very pleasing, with a simple dock at the bottom and a panel at the top. The applications that come loaded with this beginner-friendly Linux distribution follow the same clean theme and are fairly basic in nature. Overall, it’s a very nice Linux distribution for a new user who doesn’t want to indulge in terminal sorcery. Elementary OS comes with the Pantheon desktop environment.

Why Choose elementary OS?

• Visually appealing
• Stable and lightweight
• Clean looking desktop
• A lot of useful, pre-installed software

6. MX Linux

MX Linux, a joint venture of antiX Linux distro and MEPIC community, places itself a bit differently when it comes to its highlights. Unlike other distros that either call them lightweight or performance-focused, MX Linux labels itself as a midweight operating system.

Thanks to its easy installation process and familiar looks, the new users find themselves at home while using MX Linux. With a pretty good hardware recognition and automatic configuration for an out-of-the-box experience, this Debian GNU/Linux-based is also stable for dependable performance. The default desktop environment used by this beginner-friendly distro is Xfce.

Why Choose MX Linux?

• A unique midweight approach
• Familiar Xfce desktop environment
• Easy installation and configuration

7. Solus

Solus is an independent Linux distribution that is built from scratch. It follows the “Install Today. Updates Forever” model that promises to deliver updates regularly with a rolling release model. Apart from offering installation media with various desktop environments, the Solus team has also created its own Budgie desktop environment.

Linux beginners will surely like the look and feel of the Solus as it’s elegant and clean. Even though the dedicated software selection of Solus is smaller as compared to other distros, the applications are really refined to make the default software actually useful. The distro is also known for a smooth and hiccup-free experience when it comes to hardware issues. Also, as expected, the installation is smooth, and you can get a working system up and running in no time.

It also comes with pre-bundled development tools, which makes it one of the best distros for programming. It is also one of the best non-Ubuntu-based distros out there.

Why Choose Solus?

• Beautiful user interface
• Easy installation
• Regular updates and excellent hardware support

8. Deepin Linux

Just Like elementary OS, Deepin Linux is another visually appealing Linux distro for beginners. Developed by the Chinese Linux community, Deeping is created to provide a functional Linux desktop experience. One thing that sets Deepin apart is its installation process, which is one of the simplest.

Deepin Linux offers a newbie a clean and simple user interface. The icons and color theme look modern and are eye candy. To access the system settings, you need to access a right panel that lets you manage all settings, users, themes, wallpapers, etc.

On the applications front, Deeping Linux manages to woo first-time Linux users. It comes loaded with many useful pre-installed programs like Chrome, Nautilus file manager, Deepin media player, USB Creator, PDF viewer, LibreOffice, etc. Even for experienced users, Deepin feels like a breath of fresh air. So, go ahead and give it a try. Deepin Linux uses the Deepin Desktop Environment (DDE).

Why Choose Deepin Linux?

• Deepin’s own desktop environment is visually pleasing
• Beautiful and pleasant experience
• Custom installer and system settings

9. Manjaro Linux

After Linux Mint and elementary OS, Manjaro is my third personal favorite Linux distro on this list of best Linux distros for beginners. Manjaro is one of the best non-Ubuntu Linux distributions for users tired of Ubuntu or Ubuntu-based distros. It’s often called Arch Linux for human beings, and there are plenty of great reasons to support this argument. However, it’s worth noting that its learning curve is steeper as compared to other solutions.

Manjaro is based on Arch Linux, and it’s one of the fastest-growing Linux distributions around. It’s an attractive and simple-to-use Linux distro that seems like a perfect Windows replacement. Manjaro maintains its own package repositories and aims to add its user-friendliness to the power of Arch Linux.

It comes with its own installer for easy installation. It should be noted that Manjaro is a Rolling Linux distribution, which means that it is continuously updated. Another great feature of Manjaro is that a beginner would love its ability to switch between different Linux kernels without a hassle. Major editions of Manjaro Linux are Xfce and KDE. There are other community editions as well.

Why Choose Manjaro Linux OS?

• Power of Arch Linux without hassle
• Easy to use
• Rolling Linux distro
• Great distro for Gaming
• Fast growing community

10. Linux Lite

Wishing to use a Linux distro that’s suitable for new users and loves your old PC? Well, in that case, you should try out Linux Lite. As the name suggests, it doesn’t demand much from you. Based on the Ubuntu LTS releases, it’s fully functional out of the box. What does that mean? It means that a new Linux user doesn’t need to install extra software for performing daily chores. It includes Firefox, GIMP, LibreOffice, Thunderbird, VLC media player, etc.

Linux Lite has a menu similar to Windows, making things easier for Windows users who are planning to dive into the world of Linux. It also provides automatic upgrades for smooth operating. So, if you wish to try out Linux on your outdated laptop/PC, Linux Lite is the right choice. Linux Lite runs the Xfce desktop environment by default

Why Choose Linux Lite?

• Very lightweight Linux distro
• A great choice for Windows users
• Easy to use
• Optimized for old hardware
• Pre-installed software

Editor’s recommendation:

If you’re looking for a Linux distro that’s overall best, you can go ahead with Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition or Pop!_OS. Apart from being beginner-friendly Linux distros, they’re also powerful. If you have an old PC, we’d recommend settling with Linux Lite. Users who want to switch from Windows, Zorin OS, Deepin, and Linux Lite are popular choices.

Источник