Best Linux distros of 2023
The best Linux distros offer stability and security in a Linux environment, but there are many different types and flavors according to different needs. Here we’ll help you find the one you for you, regardless as to whether you’re a beginner or advanced user.
Many of the most popular Linux distros are designed to appeal to a wide user base and can be tailored as per individual requirements, but there are a whole lot of specialized distros that are built for a particular purpose.
Migrating from Windows? There’s a distro that’ll ease the transition. A Windows update messed up your boot loader? There’s a distro that’ll help you fix it in a jiffy. Want to resurrect an old computer? Need to tie disks into a NAS? Want to run a firewall that’ll shield your entire network? Are you setting up a small home office?
No matter what your requirement, the diverse open source community has a distro for you.
In this guide, we’ll look at some of the best Linux distros available in 2023. We explore the best distros for a variety of use cases, looking at ease of use, size on disk, compatibility with the best Linux apps, and lots more.
Here then are what we think are the best Linux distros in 2023.
The best Linux distros of 2023 in full:
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1. Nitrux
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you are just taking your first steps in Linux, you should begin your journey with Nitrux. The distro leverages on some of the most stable and well-respected open source projects and builds on them to create a distro that suits the sensibilities of new Linux users.
For instance, instead of building a custom desktop environment from scratch, Nitrux relies on KDE Plasma’s famed malleability along with some redesigned components to simplify the workflow for new users. It offers a couple of layouts for the desktop to allow users to make best use of the available screen real estate. The latest version Nitrux 2.7.1 «sh» uses version 5.27.3 of the Plasma Desktop.
Nitrux has even customized some administration apps to make tasks such as firewall and backup approachable for inexperienced users. It ships with a healthy dose of apps for all kinds of desktop tasks.
The distro also supports and encourages the use of AppImages, which makes it straightforward to install additional apps. In fact, Nitrux plans to switch all its graphical apps to AppImages eventually. All the AppImages are launched in a firejail sandbox, which makes Nitrux more secure out of the box than your typical desktop Linux.
The distro has an active community that you can interact with on all the popular social networks. Just click the corresponding icon at the top of Nitrux’s main page.
There’s a dedicated ‘Documentation’ section on the main website for tasks like running apps that won’t work with firejail in a Distrobox container but it isn’t very extensive. You can find some help with basic installation by reading the release notes for the latest version.
Nitrux is available for 64-bit computers only, but can also boot on older machines with the Legacy BIOS in addition to the newer EFI machines.
Looking for something to start with? Here’s our list of the best Linux distros for beginners.