11 Reasons Why Linux Is Better Than Windows

Last updated September 21, 2020 By Ankush Das 586 Comments

Brief: Are you wondering if Linux is better than Windows? Don’t wonder. Linux is better than Windows and in this article, we’ll see the advantages of Linux over Windows.

If you are not a power user, it might seem that “Windows” OS is a better (or easier) choice when compared to Linux. In either case, if you are not enjoying using a Linux distro then Windows would be your obvious choice.

However, in reality, we tend to experience something different, which lets us jump to the conclusion where Linux gets the edge over Windows OS.

Advantages of Linux over Windows

In this article, we will take a look at 11 of the compelling reasons why Linux is better than Windows. Some of the points mentioned here are already discussed in our earlier article on why switch to Linux.

1. Open Source Nature

What is it like when you buy a car, but you cannot see what’s under the hood? Similar is the case with when you use a Windows-powered system.

However, in contrast, Linux is completely an open source project. You can have a look at the source code of a Linux OS, which is a plus.

I know, most people don’t care about this openness of Linux, but to me, this is the most important feature of using GNU/Linux.

2. Secure

Let’s face it; Windows OS is vulnerable to different types of attacks (or hacks). However, Linux is not as vulnerable as Windows. It sure isn’t invulnerable, but it is a lot more secure. Although, there’s no rocket science in it.

It is just the way Linux works that makes it a secure operating system. Overall, the process of package management, the concept of repositories, and a couple more features makes it possible for Linux to be more secure than Windows.

When you have Windows installed, you need to download/purchase an Antivirus program to keep your computer safe from hackers and malware. However, Linux does not require the use of such Anti-Virus programs. Of course, a couple of software tools still exist to help you keep your system free from threats, but it is often unnecessary when you have a Linux system.

Being secure by nature would make things easier for you and save money as well because you will not have to get a premium Antivirus software!

3. Can revive older computers

As the operating systems evolve, so do their hardware requirements increase exponentially. For instance, if you purchase a genuine copy of Windows 10, you will have to meet the minimum hardware requirements to run it successfully, and you cannot run it on just about any low-end system.

Nevertheless, with Linux, you could even utilize one of your oldest computer systems to achieve a task. However, that does not mean that every Linux distribution would work with 256 MB of RAM coupled with an outdated processor. However, there are options which you can install on such low-end systems as well (such as Puppy Linux).

So, being an efficient OS, Linux distributions could be fitted to a range of systems (low-end or high-end). In contrast, Windows operating system has a higher hardware requirement.

Overall, even if you compare a high-end Linux system and a high-end Windows-powered system, the Linux distribution would take the edge. Well, that is the reason most of the servers across the world prefer to run on Linux than on a Windows hosting environment.

4. Perfect For Programmers

Linux supports almost all of the major programming languages (Python, C/C++, Java, Perl, Ruby, etc.). Moreover, it offers a vast range of applications useful for programming purposes.

The Linux terminal is superior to use over Window’s command line for developers. You would find many libraries developed natively for Linux. Also, a lot of programmers point out that the package manager on Linux helps them get things done easily.

Interestingly, the ability of bash scripting is also one of the most compelling reasons why programmers prefer using Linux OS.

Linux also brings in native support for SSH, which would help you manage your servers quickly. You could include things like apt commands which further makes Linux one of the most popular choices of the programmers.

5. Software Updates

Microsoft pushes a software update when it receives a set of problems or if something major needs to be fixed. And, for this reason — your system potentially breaks with an update or you end up waiting for an update to fix your issue for a significant amount of time.

I’m sure if you have a Windows-powered system for a long time, you may have encountered issues with every update.

However, with Linux, you would observe software updates to address every little bug and most of which isn’t system-breaking if you’re using an LTS version of a distribution.

So, with Linux, you will notice more effective and faster updates to fix the problems you might be facing. That’s not the case with Windows.

6. Customization

One major advantage of using Linux instead of Windows is customization. If you like tweaking your system’s looks, Linux is just perfect for you.

Apart from installing themes, you have tons of beautiful icon themes. In addition to that, you can use Conky to display system information on the desktop in the coolest way possible. Needless to say that you can do a lot around Wallpapers in Linux.

7. Variety Of Distributions

There are no flavors of Windows. Yes, you may have different plans & packages which differ in licensing terms, the period of activation, packaged features, and price.

In contrast, you will find tons of Linux distributions catered for a different set of needs. So, you can choose to install any of the available Linux distros according to your requirements.

For example, there are Linux distributions for hackers, there are Linux distributions for programmers, there are Linux distributions for extremely old computers, and the list goes on. There is a Linux for everyone.

If you’re curious, you might want to learn what is Linux to know why there are 100s of Linux distributions.

8. Free to Use

Linux is accessible to the public for free! However, that is not the case with Windows!

You will not have to pay 100-250 USD to get your hands on a genuine copy of a Linux distro (such as Ubuntu, Fedora). So, it is entirely free.

If something is free but useful, it is always the best thing one could expect. With the money you just saved, you can consider enhancing your system (just saying, you can go to Starbucks as well!)

9. Better Community Support

You do not need to hire an expert to solve a problem you are facing on your Linux system. You just need to search for a similar thread on the web for a solution or post a thread to let others solve the problem.

Within minutes of posting a thread on any of the Linux forums, you may expect a reply along with a detailed solution which would finally help resolve your problem at no cost! Not to forget, you should find solutions to most of the common problems in the forums properly explained without needing to do a lot of research.

There are a lot of active Linux users who are always ready to respond to a relevant thread one might have created. The number of community users active on such forums is more than the number of active members on any Windows-focused forum.

However, the community response might vary depending on the Linux distribution being used. You can also reach out for help through our community forum.

10. Reliability

Windows, as we know it, becomes sluggish day after day. You will want to re-install Windows after a while when you encounter crashes or slowdowns on your system.

If you are using Linux, you will not have to worry about re-installing it just to experience a faster and a smoother system. Linux helps your system run smooth for a longer period (in fact, much longer!).

Also, with Windows, you will have to adapt to a habit where you keep on rebooting the system for just about everything.

• If you just installed software, reboot!
• If you recently uninstalled software, reboot!
• If you just installed a Windows update, reboot!
• If the system seems to slow down, reboot!

However, in the case of Linux, you will not have to reboot for the situations mentioned above. You can comfortably continue with your work, and Linux will not bother you.

Another fact that proves Linux to be reliable are the web servers. You could observe that most of the Internet giants like Google and Facebook run on Linux. Even almost all of the supercomputers run on Linux.

So, Why isn’t Windows preferred over Linux for mission-critical tasks? It is because Linux is far more reliable than Windows OS. Period.

Of course, it doesn’t mean Linux does not have issues. But, if we look at the bigger picture, Linux is reliable by design. If you consider trying any of the Linux distribution for your computer, you might want to try Pop OS (my personal favorite) or any of the best Linux distributions we have listed.

11. Privacy

Microsoft certainly tries to anonymize the data collected from every user. However, it does not look convincing with Microsoft’s latest Windows 10. It has already received an enormous amount of criticism of how it collects data, what it should collect and what it should not.

If you have ever used Windows 10, you could only head into the privacy settings to know that everything is enabled by default. Even if you opt out to send Microsoft information about your data, it is still being collected. Of course, Microsoft will not bother revealing it officially with a press statement, but it surely does. So, you would need a set of tools to disable the spying modules of Windows.

In contrast, Linux would be the perfect solution for a privacy buff. First of all, Linux distributions do not collect much data (or none). Moreover, you will not be needing additional tools to protect your privacy.

Do you also think Linux is better than Windows?

Now that you know the advantages of using Linux instead of Windows, what do you think?

If you’re still going to keep using Windows as your primary OS, what reason could you think of choosing it over Linux? If you’ve already made the switch, and using Linux, what more benefits do you observe?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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5 Reasons Why Windows is Better Than Linux

I’m all for Linux and I use Ubuntu almost every day to get work done and I just enjoy using it in general. I have tried several Linux distributions, desktop environments, and things have settled down to Ubuntu with KDE/GNOME setup and it has been a while. I’ve even mentioned the reasons that make Linux better than Windows and I could probably give 20. Yet, I cannot live without Windows. Whatever my main machine is, it always has both Windows and Ubuntu is a dual boot setup. Obviously, Windows has nailed a few things too. So here are 5 reasons why Windows is better than Linux.

In case you have never tried Ubuntu yet, you can install Ubuntu on a Windows 10 PC ver easily by following our tutorial.

1. Familiarity

Many people call Windows very user-friendly and I just don’t agree. I think Windows is a mess in that respect at least in certain areas. What no one can deny though is that Windows is familiar. You may be an Apple fanboy or fangirl today but we all grew up on Windows. You may be pleased with your Linux distro, may have become a hardcore Windows hater, but we’ve all used it. The Start button is perhaps the most recognizable software button in mankind’s history.

This familiarity brings some sense of user-friendliness. You hand over a Linux system to someone and they wouldn’t know what to click. It’s uncharted territory and it takes time to learn the nuances that are very different. Hand them over a Windows machine and they’ll go for that start button. Microsoft has already faced the wrath of the users when it tried to take away their beloved button and we all remember that too. Familiarity doesn’t objectively make Windows better than Linux, but it does subjectively make it better for certain people, and that’s most people.

2. Popularity

Windows is familiar for a reason and that reason is that Windows is popular. And not just popular, it owns the desktop market. According to Statcounter, and as you can see in the graph above, Windows owns 82.45% of the desktop OS market. And that’s despite the fact that Linux distros are absolutely free while Windows has a significant cost. People are paying for Windows and paying so much and they’re definitely not fools. Just look at the difference between the popularity of Windows and OSX. Everything else including Linux is like dust on the floor. Popularity makes Windows better than Linux.

3. Software

You’re probably wondering since when did popularity become a reason for something is better? Sure it’s popular but that doesn’t make it better than Linux? Well, it does bring in a few perks such as Adobe Photoshop. So what Linux has GIMP and Krita etc. right? Well, Windows has them too and it also has Adobe Photoshop. Not just Photoshop, Linux lacks any of the Adobe Creative Cloud applications. It also doesn’t run several serious production applications such as Sony Vegas. Most big names in the software space shy away from Linux. There’s a really simple explanation for that. Companies want money and money is with market share and market share is with Windows. That is what makes Windows better than Linux.

At this point, the most passionate Linux users are probably screaming about Wine and PlayOnLinux and how you can run Windows software on Linux. Here’s the thing with that though. I’ve been using Ubuntu continuously for more than a couple of years. I’ve been using it on and off for much longer than that. Yet, I have never managed to run a single Windows app barring Adobe Photoshop, once, with a few errors. And I consider myself quite a technical person. Photoshop looked so horrible by the way and it felt like I was using Windows 97 which I have never used.

4. Games

You had to see this coming. This is the most obvious I think, or at least it is to me. Games are why I just can’t ditch Windows. Sure I can live with GIMP for photoshop or I can at least try but Windows has no competition in gaming. All the other advantages it has are replaceable. I love my Ubuntu but I also love my Dragon Age Inquisition or my PUBG and the plethora of other AAA titles available for the platform. Linux may have Steam and its huge library but it doesn’t even have all of it or half of it. Most games you can get on Linux look like they’re straight from 2007 and that’s because they are. That makes Windows better than Linux.

5. Support

Another perk of the popularity of Windows is the support behind it. I honestly believe Windows is the crappiest looking OS I have used. But, even though Microsoft doesn’t allow a lot of modifications, there are third-party themes and tools that will let you modify your Windows system and even change system fonts easily. Sure the customizability is nowhere close to Linux but it is something. Any error you face on Windows, any issues, any bugs, there are a ton of articles online trying to help you out with that specific bug/error/issue. Linux users love to point out the lively helpful community behind the platform too but it isn’t half as lively or huge as what Windows has.

Besides, most of it is divided into factions for different distros such as Ubuntu or Mint or Arch Linux, Fedora, etc. Even if we do give a point each to Windows and Linux for community support, Linux can’t even hope to match the commercial support Windows has. Once again, due to its unchallenged popularity, most hardware manufacturers will directly support Windows. With Linux, you don’t get driver support for a lot of hardware and that sometimes also includes graphics cards.

If you buy a Windows machine you can call customer care. Buy the same machine from the same manufacturer running Ubuntu and you may not get that facility.

This is what really makes Windows better than Linux

Let’s be honest, most people have lives outside of their screens. They don’t and can’t afford to spend hours trying to fix every little thing. They don’t want to invest hours trying to make their computer look or feel familiar or work the way they would like. They want it to work right out of the box and want it fixed as soon as something isn’t right. The easiest way is to call customer care because that’s what you’ve paid for. For all the love I have for Linux and its open nature, there are plenty of reasons why something free and genuinely amazing isn’t getting the adoption that it should.