Linux, an open-source and widely used operating system, has more than 1000 distributions. Among these, more than 600 are being maintained actively.
Linux, as a whole, is a resource-friendly operating system. Unlike Windows, Linux has very few background processes, services, and programs, which makes it lightweight and thus favorable for users looking to manage system resources to do their work.
If someone is switching to Linux as a regular user or for a specific purpose, which distribution should the user opt for?
In today’s guide, I am listing the top Linux distributions for the year 2025. At the end of the guide, I have provided a table listing which linux distribution suits which category of user.
Top Linux Distros in 2025
Choosing the Linux distro depends on your requirements, i.e., looking for gaming, development, cybersecurity tasks, general usage, etc. Keep your requirements in mind and go through this guide to choose which distro suits you. Moreover, I have provided a table at the end that lists the distribution suitable for a specific user’s category. So, let’s start, and Ubuntu is the first Distro in our list.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is one of the most used Debian-based Linux distributions as it offers support for professional and personal work. Ubuntu is backed by a volunteer community and a company named “Canonical”. Ubuntu was first introduced in 2004, Ubuntu 4.10 codenamed “Warty Warthog”. Ubuntu has two primary variants, i.e., Desktop and Server. Ubuntu Desktop is equipped with GUI support and is suitable for general usage. Ubuntu server, on the other hand, manages the servers, i.e., the services and applications. By default, Ubuntu Server does not have the GUI support, however, you can install the GUI support externally.
Package Management:
Ubuntu uses “apt” and “snap” as the two primary package management tools. The “apt” package relies on the shared libraries and dependencies to install a package successfully. However, the “snap” handles the package and its dependencies itself. Moreover, the “snap” packages can be installed through the CLI and GUI, making it a state-of-the-art tool.
There are other third-party tools and package managers available, but those are not recommended.
Note: The “snap” is not only specific to Ubuntu; it is an open-source tool used by most of the Linux distributions.
Ubuntu Derivatives:
Ubuntu has 8 distributions, i.e., kubuntu, lubuntu, Edubuntu, Ubuntu Studio, etc. Each is meant to serve the specific community/purpose. Kubuntu comes with KDE, Lubuntu is a lightweight variant, and Edubuntu offers education software, which makes it suitable for the academic community.
Release Cycle:
After every two years, Ubuntu releases the LTS (Long Term Support) and the rolling release after every 6 months. Currently, the Ubuntu 24.04 codenamed “Noble Numbat” is the LTS release, and Ubuntu 25.04 codenamed “Plucky Puffin” is the latest rolling release.
The rolling release is supported for 9 months, and LTS for 5 years (with extended support for updates – legacy support). Moreover, you can get the extended support of up to 12 years with Ubuntu Pro.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
Ubuntu provides customization support through the Desktop Environments. Ubuntu Desktop by default is equipped with GNOME, however, you can install KDE, Cinnamon, Xfce, MATE, LXDE, or LXQt to enhance the overall visual experience. Similarly, you can also switch between display managers to experience a different display category (specifically at the lock screen).
System Requirements:
Desktop:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2GHz Dual Core | 2GHz Quad-Core |
| RAM | 2GB | 8GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 20GB | 50GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 1024 x 768 | A graphics card or GPU is required for high-end graphics support. |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64, armhf, ppc64el, riscv64, s390x | |
Server:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz | 2GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 1GB | 4GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 5GB | 20GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | Not required specifically for the Server. | |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64, armhf, ppc64el, riscv64, s390x | |
Debian
Debian is supported by a large community, however, it does not have any commercial support like Ubuntu. Debian is the parent of a large number of Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Kali, and Deepin. Debian was first introduced in 1993. It comes with its Server and Desktop variants.
Package Management:
The “apt” and “snap” are the primary tools to get the packages from the repositories or the snap store. Debian and its derivatives also support the flatpak package manager to get packages from flathub repositories (not recommended, but can be used).
Debian Derivatives:
Debian has a very large family within Linux. The Debian family spawns over 400 Linux distributions, and each serves a specific community. Like, Kali offers built-in tools for Cyber Security professionals, i.e., nmap for pentesting, wireshark for network sniffing, and more.
Release Cycle:
Debian is released in 3 different variants (Stable, Testing, Unstable). The stable is released every two years. The Unstable refers to the development being processed, and Testing continuously tests the developments being processed in the Unstable.
Currently, Debian 12, codenamed “Bookworm,” is the latest version released in 2023. The next release of Debian 13, codenamed “Trixie,” is expected to be released in 2025.
Note: The Debian codenames are based on the characters of the movie series named “Toy Story”.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
Like Ubuntu, Debian also comes with GNOME by default. However, Debian also supports Desktop Environments (LXDE, XFCE, LXQt, MATE, KDE Plasma) and their respective Display Managers to enhance the visual experience.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz | 2GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 1GB | 4GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 5GB | 20GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 1024 x 768 | |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64, armhf, s390x, ppc64el | |
Linux Mint
Linux Mint is a Ubuntu-derived Linux distribution, first released in 2006, codenamed “Ada”. Linux Mint is lightweight compared to Ubuntu and Debian. However, it is fully loaded with applications and offers a modern user experience with multimedia codec support at the time of installation.
Package Management:
Like all Debian derivatives, Linux Mint also has to rely on “apt” and “snap” to manage packages.
Linux Mint Derviates:
The Linux Mint project focuses on the development of three variants, which are “Xfce”, “Cinnamon”, and “LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition)”. LMDE is a Debian derivative instead of Ubuntu.
Release Cycle:
Linux Mint releases the LTS every 2 years, right after the LTS release of Ubuntu. Currently, Linux Mint 22 is the latest LTS released in 2024 and is based on Ubuntu 24.04. Linux Mint’s LTS has further 3-point releases until the new LTS arrives.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
Linux Mint comes with 3 Desktop Environments supported, i.e., Cinnamon, XFCE, and MATE, at the time of installation. You can also install other Desktop Environments like GNOME, LXQt, and LXDE.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz | 2GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 1GB | 4GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 20GB | 50GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 1024 x 768 | A graphics card or GPU is required for high-resolution support or high-end graphics support. |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64, armhf, s390x, ppc64el | |
Arch Linux
Like Debian, Arch Linux is an independent Linux Distro, first released in 2002. Arch is minimalist and consumes very few resources to get started. Irrespective of the simplicity, Arch offers more control over the system than other distros, and has a set of the latest tools/applications because of its rolling release cycle.
Package Management:
Arch Linux and its derivatives rely on “pacman” and “snap”. Apart from these, you can also get the packages from “Arch User Repository” with the help of “AUR Helper”, which is another package manager to deal with the “AUR”.
Arch Linux Derivatives:
There are more than 25 distributions based on Arch, which are either completely or partially derived from Arch. However, the Arch Linux community does not support the Arch derivatives, as the derivatives were made partially from Arch and have used different package managers and repositories.
Release Cycle:
Unlike other Linux distributions, Arch has a rolling release cycle and does not have any Stable or LTS releases. The updates are continuously being incorporated and are set to live in the rolling release. Thus, Arch is said to be more updated but less stable.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
Arch Linux supports the Desktop Environments (LXDE, Cinnamon, XFCE) and respective Display Managers to enhance the visual appearance.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz | 2GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 512MB | 2GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 2GB | 20GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 1024 x 768 | |
| Architecture | amd64 | |
Kali Linux
Kali is a Debian-based distribution designed specifically to assist cybersecurity enthusiasts for offensive purposes. It has a series of built-in tools for each cybersecurity operation. Kali was first released in 2013 with the codename “Moto”.
Package Management:
Kali has “apt” and “snap”, which are the two package managers to manage packages. Some third-party package managers are available, but they are not safe or effective to use.
Kali Linux Derivatives:
Kali has only one potential derivative (Kali Purple), which offers tools designed and meant for defensive cybersecurity practices.
Release Cycle:
Kali offers a rolling release with 4-point releases each year. Each release offers bug fixes (if any reported in the previous release) and security updates.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
Kali standard and Kali purple both offer support for the Desktop Environments. However, most professionals choose to stick to the default visual appearance, as Kali is more for an expert.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz | 2GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 2GB | 4GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 20GB | 50GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 800 x 600 | 1024 x 768 |
| Architecture | amd64 | |
Fedora
Fedora is a community-driven Linux distribution backed by the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) project. Fedora is also considered a cost-effective alternative to Red Hat Linux, as it was first introduced in 2003 when Red Hat discontinued Red Hat Linux.
Package Management:
Fedora has “dnf” as the primary package manager to install packages. Flatpak and Snap support is also available in Fedora.
Release Cycle:
Fedora also has a rolling release cycle. Each release is rolled out in a 6-month gap, i.e., April and October each year. This year, Fedora has rolled out Fedora 42, which will stay alive until 4 weeks after Fedora 44.
Fedora Derivatives:
Fedora has contributed to the development of various Linux distributions, either partially or fully. Some Fedora derivatives include Oracle Linux, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, etc, and the overall number is around 100.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
Fedora comes by default with the GNOME Desktop Environment, and it supports KDE, XFCE, LXQt, LXDE, etc as externally installed Desktop Environments.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2GHz Dual-Core | 2GHz Quad-Core |
| RAM | 2GB | 4GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 20GB | 50GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 800 x 600 | 1024 x 768 |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64, armhf, s390x, ppc64el | |
Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS is a Ubuntu-based distribution, first introduced in 2017. Pop is developed and maintained by System76, which is a software company in the US. System76 developed Pop!_OS as an OS for their hardware. It is as user-friendly as Ubuntu is.
Package Management:
Pop!_OS has “apt” as the primary package management tool. Moreover, it has access to Ubuntu and System76 repositories to manage packages. From Pop!_OS 20.04, it has started supporting the flatpak package manager to install packages from flathub.
Release Cycle:
Pop!_OS release is based on the Ubuntu releases. Currently, Pop!OS 22.04 is the latest release based on Ubuntu 22.04. Likewise, Ubuntu, Pop!_OS also release the development releases. The upcoming release of Pop!_OS is 24.04, which includes the COSMIC Desktop Environment. COSMIC is taking time, and it needs exhaustive testing before its launch, and that’s the reason the Pop!_OS 24.04 has not yet launched.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
Until Pop!_OS 22.04, GNOME is the default and primary desktop environment. However, it won’t be the default anymore in the upcoming release, i.e., Pop!_OS 24.04. You will still be able to install GNOME or other Desktop Environments that are supported by Ubuntu or the older releases of Pop.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2GHz Dual-Core | 2GHz Quad-Core |
| RAM | 4GB | 8GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 20GB | 60GB or higher |
| Graphics and Resolution | 800 x 600 | 1024 x 768 or higher |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64, armhf, s390x, ppc64el | |
Raspberry Pi OS
Raspberry Pi OS is another Debian-based OS designed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation for single-board / Raspberry Pi computers. It was first developed in 2012 (32-bit only) for the Raspberry Pi 1 module, and after that Raspberry Pi Foundation declared it an official OS for the Raspberry Pi modules. Later in 2022, the 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS was introduced.
Package Management:
As derived from Debian, the Raspberry Pi OS strongly relies on “apt” to manage packages.
Release Cycle:
Raspberry Pi OS is based on Debian, and the stable version is released with each Debian stable release. Raspberry Pi OS comes with three different variants: one with no desktop, a second with a light desktop version, and a third with a desktop and applications support.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
The desktop variant of Raspberry Pi OS comes with PIXEL by default, which is a lightweight Desktop Environment. However, you can install GNOME, XFCE, LXDE, LXQt, etc, to enhance the visual appearance.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz Dual | 2GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 1GB | 2GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 2GB | 5GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 640 x 480 | 1024 x 768 or higher |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64 | |
openSUSE
Developed and maintained by the SUSE company from Germany. The SUSE started in the 90s, however, it initiated the openSUSE project in 2005, and since then, it has been maintained as a project. Like most Linux distributions, it is also maintained by a community (developers, writers, testers, managers).
Package Management:
openSUSE has “zypper” as the primary command line tool to manage and support the packages in openSUSE. Moreover, it has the “YaST,” which is a GUI and TUI-based tool to manage packages.
openSUSE Derivatives:
The openSUSE project manages three distributions, i.e., openSUSE Tumbleweed,openSUSE Leap, and openSUSE MicroOS.
Release Cycle:
The openSUSE has the openSUSE Leap and openSUSE Tumbleweed in its release cycle. Leap is the point release with each variant coming after 12 months. Currently, the Leap “15.6” is the latest point release. Each Leap release is supported for 18 months. Tumbleweed, on the other hand, has no specific release schedule.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
At the time of installation, openSUSE allows you to choose between KDE, XFCE, GNOME, and Plasma. Other than that, GNOME, LXDE, MATE, and LXQt can also be installed.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2GHz Dual | 2GHz Quad-Core |
| RAM | 1GB | 4GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 10GB | 40GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 1024 x 768 | A graphics card or a GPU is required for high-resolution support or high-end graphics work. |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64. | |
Rocky Linux
Rocky came into development when the CentOS project was discontinued. In 2021, Rocky 8.0 was released, which was developed based on the RHEL source code. Later on, the Rocky Project is developed after each CentOS stream, and thus it is said to be the replacement of CentOS.
Package Management:
Rocky, by default, has “dnf” as its default package manager to manage packages. However, it has flatpak and Snap to manage packages that are not available on the default repositories of Rocky.
Release Cycle:
Rocky has two major releases until now, Rocky 8.0 and Rocky 9.0. The rolling releases keep coming after an interval of 6 months, whereas the major releases have no specific cycle. Rocky 10 is supposed to be released this year 2025.
Desktop Environments and Display Managers:
By default, Rocky has GNOME as its Desktop Environment. However, you can install other such as XFCE, LXDE, LXQt, MATE, etc, depending upon your requirements and the hardware/software resources available.
System Requirements:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1GHz Dual-Core | 2GHz Dual Core |
| RAM | 2GB | 4GB |
| Hard Disk Space | 4GB | 10GB |
| Graphics and Resolution | 1024 x 768 | A graphics card or a GPU is required for high-resolution support or high-end graphics work. |
| Architecture | amd64, arm64. | |
That’s all about the Top Linux distributions of 2025.
Which Linux Distro to Use in 2025?
If you are a developer, student, enterprise user, gamer, or whatever profession you have, if you have decided to switch to Linux, I’ll assist you in categorizing the best-suited Linux distro as per your profession/user category.
| Gamers | Developers | Cyber Security Professionals | System and Network Admins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu | Fedora / Linux Mint / Ubuntu | Kali (Offensive) Kali Purple (Defensive) |
openSUSE / Rocky |
| Students and Researchers | Enterprise Users | Multimedia-Oriented Users | Safety and Security Oriented |
| Ubuntu | openSUSE | Linux Mint | Arch Linux |
Once you have decided, just look at the system requirements in the respective Linux distro section and install it.
Conclusion
Linux, being one of the most used operating systems, is divided into hundreds of distributions. If a user has decided to switch to Linux, it would be difficult for the user to choose where to start. I have compiled this guide to assist users in choosing the best Linux distribution. For instance, Ubuntu is the best for most users, but not as resource-friendly as Debian or other distros. Similarly, Kali is the best for offensive and defensive cybersecurity professionals. Just go through the guide and choose which suits you.
