macOS Alternatives

macOS is described as 'Unix-based operating system for Macs, excels with an intuitive UI, robust built-in apps like Safari, and strong security via FileVault, Gatekeeper, and SIP' and is a leading operating system in the os & utilities category. There are more than 100 alternatives to macOS for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, BSD, Mac and Windows apps. The best macOS alternative is Ubuntu, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like macOS are Linux Mint, elementary OS, Debian and Fedora.

filter to find the best alternatives

macOS alternatives are mainly Operating Systems, but if you're looking for Linux Distros or Desktop Environments you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Operating System. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to macOS.
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Alternatives list

  1. Gnoppix icon
     Like

    Gnoppix is the world 1st. AI open source operating system based on Linux with focus on user security and privacy-respecting alternative to Windows and macOS.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  2. Zenned icon
     1 like

    A libre open source Linux operating system. Focused on ease of use, simplicy, and flexibility to adapt and change.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  3. Ubuntu Cloud icon
     10 likes

    Ubuntu Cloud is an open source Linux operating system designed to be used as a personal cloud server. It is based on the well known Ubuntu Linux distribution and recognized as an official Ubuntu flavor, distributed by Canonical.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  4. ExectOS icon
     1 like

    ExectOS aims to be a stable and flexible, general purpose operating system written from scratch. It is designed to be modular, maintainable and compatible with existing software. It implements a brand new XT architecture and features own native application interface.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
     
  5. eComStation icon
     1 like

    eComStation is an operating system based on IBM OS/2 that runs on current hardware.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
     
  6. PureDarwin icon
     3 likes

    Darwin is the Open Source operating system from Apple that forms the basis for Mac OS X, and PureDarwin is a community project to make Darwin more usable (some people think of it as the informal successor to OpenDarwin.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  7.  1 like

    ParticleOS is a fully customizable immutable distribution implementing the concepts described in Fitting Everything Together.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  8. RetroBSD icon
     4 likes

    RetroBSD is a port of 2.11BSD Unix intended for embedded systems with fixed memory mapping. The current target is Microchip PIC32 microcontroller with 128 kbytes of RAM and 512 kbytes of Flash.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • BSD
     
  9. Infinitive OS is an open-source project created to replace windows and macOS, it mounts the latest versions of the Linux kernel and contains open source components but also proprietary software. It has the KDE desktop environment pre-installed

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  10. Peropesis icon
     3 likes

    Peropesis is a small-scale, minimalist, command-line-based Linux operating system. It's an incomplete system, but it's constantly being improved. Also, it is a free operating system created from a free software.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  11. GNU-Darwin icon
     2 likes

    GNU-Darwin aims to be the most free software distribution. Our mission is two-fold: Focus on projects that leverage our unique combination of Darwin and GNU, and help users to enjoy the benefits of software freedom.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
     
  12. SemiCode OS icon
     8 likes

    Best Linux distro for programmers.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
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