Linux Mint Alternatives

Linux Mint is described as 'Desktop-focused Linux system offering custom menus, multimedia codecs, browser plugins, native DVD playback, and integrated software manager with user-friendly tools' and is a leading Linux Distro in the os & utilities category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Linux Mint for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Windows, BSD and Mac apps. The best Linux Mint alternative is Debian, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Linux Mint are Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch Linux and Manjaro Linux.

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Linux Mint alternatives are mainly Operating Systems, but if you're looking for Linux Distros or Package Managers you can filter on that. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Linux Mint.
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Alternatives list

  1. Xubuntu icon
     292 likes

    Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Xubuntu comes with Xfce, which is a stable, light and configurable desktop environment. It is based on Ubuntu Debian Linux.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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    12
  2. EndeavourOS icon
     59 likes

    EndeavourOS is an Arch-based distro that provides an Arch experience without the hassle of installing it manually for both x86_64 and ARM systems. After installation, you’re provided with a lightweight and almost barebones environment ready to be explored with your terminal...

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  3. NixOS icon
     65 likes

    NixOS is a GNU/Linux distribution that aims to improve the state of the art in system configuration management. In existing distributions, actions such as upgrades are dangerous: upgrading a package can cause other packages to break, upgrading an entire system is much less...

    188 NixOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
     
  4. FreeBSD icon
     266 likes

    FreeBSD is an operating system used to power modern servers, desktops, and embedded platforms. A large community has continually developed it for more than thirty years. Its advanced networking, security, and storage features have made FreeBSD the platform of choice for many of...

    193 FreeBSD alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD
    • Self-Hosted
     
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    1
    Comments about FreeBSD as an Alternative to Linux Mint
    John Fastman
    Negative
    3

    FreeBSD is unlikely to be a good replacement for Linux Mint because, 1) it's not a type of Linux but of BSD, which is a very distant relative; 2) it is not as user-friendly or beginner-friendly; 3) is likely to have a much narrower range of software and drivers available for the average user to keep happy. However, FreeBSD is likely to be more secure than Mint and other Ubuntu-derived Linux OSes.

    Linux Mint Icon
    FreeBSD icon
    • This alternative is disputed. FreeBSD is a legitimate Linux Mint alternative, but it might have issues that some users think are important.

    • FreeBSD is Free and Open SourceLinux Mint is also Free and Open Source
  5. Qubes OS icon
     118 likes

    Qubes is an open source operating system designed to provide strong security for desktop computing.

    191 Qubes OS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Fedora
    • Xen
     
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    2
    Comments about Qubes OS as an Alternative to Linux Mint
    John Fastman
    Negative
    2

    Qubes is fantastic for security freaks. It runs programs in disposable VMs so that things can't cross contaminate/infect each other. But this is a hassle and far from what the average Ubuntu user will want from their system. Huge thumbs up for Qubes, but just not as an Ubuntu replacement.

    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Qubes OS does not come with any applications and I can't even put anything in a virtual machine because the virtualization engine is broken.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Linux Mint Icon
    Qubes OS icon
    • Some users think Qubes OS is a great Linux Mint alternative, some don't.

    • Qubes OS is Free and Open SourceLinux Mint is also Free and Open Source
    • Qubes OS is Security-focusedLinux Mint is not according to our users
  6. ReactOS icon
     290 likes

    ReactOS™ is a FOSS effort to develop a quality operating system based on the architecture of Microsoft® Windows™ NT family of operating systems, that is compatible with applications and drivers written for it (NT4, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 7).

    195 ReactOS alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • ReactOS
     
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    3
    6
    Comments about ReactOS as an Alternative to Linux Mint
    beat_truck
    Negative
    3

    ReactOS is not Linux and is made to run Windows programs. It is also not very well developed or stable yet.

    valerie
    Positive
    -1

    reactos is a reverse-engineering of windows, designed to use windows programs, drivers etc. it's outdated, and it's still in alpha, despite having decades of work done on it. most of it isn't stable, and you get constant blue-screens.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Some people chose Linux Mint because they had a bunch of Windows 98/XP games on CDs that they cannot run on newer versions of Windows because it is very easy to install and configure Wine and PlayOnLinux. ReactOS can run those older games and that makes it a good alternative to Linux Mint for some.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Linux Mint Icon
    ReactOS icon
    • Some users think ReactOS is a great Linux Mint alternative, some don't.

    • ReactOS is Free and Open SourceLinux Mint is also Free and Open Source
  7. Lubuntu icon
     244 likes

    Lubuntu is a fast and lightweight operating system with a clean and easy-to-use user interface. It is a Linux system, that uses the minimal desktop LXDE/LXQT.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  8. Gentoo icon
     163 likes

    Gentoo Linux is a versatile, fast, highly configurable and completely free Linux and FreeBSD distribution geared towards developers and network professionals.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Gentoo as an Alternative to Linux Mint
    valerie
    Negative
    1

    gentoo is an unstable distro that makes you compile everything from scratch. it's advanced, and it expects you to know a lot about linux. it's also very, very unstable. any update could force you to recompile your kernel, at any point.

    Linux Mint Icon
    Gentoo icon
    • Gentoo is Free and Open SourceLinux Mint is also Free and Open Source
  9. Whonix icon
     59 likes

    Whonix is a desktop operating system designed for advanced security and privacy. Whonix mitigates the threat of common attack vectors while maintaining usability. Online anonymity is realized via fail-safe, automatic, and desktop-wide use of the Tor network.

    43 Whonix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  10. Windows 11 icon
     43 likes

    Experience the latest Windows OS with a new Start menu, integrated Teams, and gaming technologies like Auto HDR. Improved security with stricter requirements enhances protection, and seamless Microsoft Account integration makes it ideal for modern devices.

    167 Windows 11 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Windows 11 as an Alternative to Linux Mint
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Made my system whole more slower.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Linux Mint Icon
    Windows 11 icon
    • Windows 11 is the most popular commercial alternative to Linux Mint.

    • Windows 11 is Paid and ProprietaryLinux Mint is Free and Open Source
  11. Nobara Linux icon
     27 likes

    The Nobara Project, to put it simply, is a modified version of Fedora Linux with user-friendly fixes added to it. Fedora is a very good workstation OS, however, anything involving any kind of 3rd party or proprietary packages is usually...

    102 Nobara Linux alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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