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4 Linux Distros You Should Use Instead Of Upgrading To Windows 11

Leo Migdal
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4 linux distros you should use instead of upgrading to windows 11

You're finally ready to leave Microsoft's ecosystem and try the dreaded Linux, but which distribution (distro) should you use? Like many things in the open source community, you have an almost abundance of choice, with heavy hitters like Ubuntu and newcomers including Pop!_OS. Although there's no wrong answer for which distro you should use as your first Linux installation, I've rounded up some of my personal favorites that should make the switch easy for Windows users. If there's one distro you should pick for the best Linux gaming experience, it would have to be Pop!_OS from System76. This distro was built from the ground up for gaming, rocking the latest drivers from GPU vendors and the community, a custom desktop environment to replace GNOME and better control over how the OS... Pop!_OS may have a strange name, but it's among the most streamlined distros.

The Pop!_OS team focuses on performance, ensuring the team gets as many in-game frames as possible from vast hardware configurations. Advanced features such as automatic tiling and swap file management are included with the Linux-based OS to ensure your PC is running as fast as it can with the latest and most demanding PC... Gaming on Linux used to have undesired results, but it has come a long way with Valve and Proton. You'll have no trouble playing all your favorite games. Fedora is very similar to Ubuntu in that its primary version uses the GNOME desktop environment, so most of the OS looks almost identical, aside from the brown color scheme. Where things differ is how the Fedora team behind the distro develops new versions.

Fedora has a quicker release schedule, so you won't have to wait six months for major upgrades. It also has fairly lax system requirements and you could easily breathe new life into an old system with this OS. Whether you like it or not, Windows 10 is going away, and it's time to pick a new OS. When Windows 10 support ends, I'm leaving Windows for good. But the only viable option is Linux, and there are dozens of distros to choose from. Plenty of these Linux distros are easy to use, even if you've never used Linux before.

However, Linux as an OS does give you a lot more control over every aspect of your computer. So if you're jumping ship to Linux, don't switch to any of these distros until you know what you're doing. Linux From Scratch (LFS) is by far one of the most difficult Linux distributions you'll ever use. In fact, it's technically not even a finished distro—it's more like a tutorial that walks you through building your own Linux system entirely from source code. It's called Linux From Scratch for a reason. Since you'll be compiling your own OS and pretty much all the software you'll be using, LFS also demands some hefty resource requirements.

The LFS FAQ suggests using at least a quad-core CPU and 8 GB of RAM, but in reality, you should be using a much more powerful CPU and more RAM if you don't want... You'll need experience with Linux and an understanding of Unix system administration just to get the OS running. The prerequisite page of the LFS documentation starts with the sentence "Building an LFS system is not a simple task." That should give you a hint at what a challenge running LFS can be. 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites.

And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader.

Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and... Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. With Windows 10 support officially ending on October 14, 2025, many PC users are facing an important choice: upgrade to Windows 11—if their machine allows it—or look elsewhere.

And for those with aging but still perfectly functional computers, Linux might just be the alternative you’ve been overlooking. As someone who’s refurbished a few “obsolete” laptops over the years, I can say this confidently: Linux has come a long way, and it’s more user-friendly than ever. Microsoft’s message is clear: if your hardware doesn’t meet the requirements for Windows 11—including TPM 2.0, 4GB RAM, and a compatible processor—your options are limited. You can pay for extended support or, as Microsoft suggests, buy a new PC. In an era of sustainability and digital sobriety, that’s a tough pill to swallow. According to Canalys, nearly 240 million devices could be deemed incompatible, pushing countless users toward unnecessary upgrades.

Thankfully, you don’t need to send your computer to the recycling bin just yet. Linux offers a wide array of distributions that work on virtually any machine, no matter how old. Plus, it’s open-source, secure, and free. There’s a myth floating around that Linux is only for developers or hobbyists glued to their terminals. That might’ve been true 15 years ago, but today, Linux distributions come with polished user interfaces, easy installation wizards, and even built-in app stores. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Here’s how it works. We list the best Linux distros for Windows users, to make it simple and easy to make the leap from Windows machines to Linux. It can be an inundating experience, especially for people coming from proprietary operating systems like Windows. Linux distributions - aka, distros - are open source, which has the advantage of allowing for degrees of customization unheard of in Windows, but it also means there can seem to be a bewildering... This is where these specialized distros, designed for Windows users, come into the picture. If you’re anything like me, dear BetaNews readers, you are tired of Windows 11’s constant updates and telemetry concerns.

If you have the urge to escape the grasp of Microsoft, switching to Linux might be exactly what you need. Linux has matured over the years into a versatile and user-friendly alternative to Windows. Whether you’re a casual user, gamer, or developer, there’s a Linux distribution (distro) out there for you. Here are 5 Linux distros for those ready to break free from Windows 11. SEE ALSO: The best Windows tweaking and customization tools on GitHub [Part 1] Ubuntu has long been the face of Linux for beginners.

It’s polished, widely supported, and offers a friendly user interface for those transitioning from Windows. Plus, its massive community means if you run into any issues, there’s likely already a solution online. What makes Ubuntu a great Windows alternative? It’s easy to install and comes with most of the software you’d need for everyday use pre-installed. The Ubuntu Software Center is similar to the Microsoft Store, making it a breeze to install new apps. There are plenty of reasons to quit using Windows 10 and switch over to Linux, but it's easy to become overwhelmed with the many different Linux distributions out there.

To help you transition, I put together a short list of Linux distros that are similar to Windows 10. In case you haven't heard, Windows 10's support cycle is ending soon and you will have to switch to Windows 11. However, with Windows 11 regularly breaking computers (and that’s not the only story out there, sadly) and impacting performance on even relatively modern laptops, switching to the less resource-intensive Linux may be a good... Moreover, you may find your PC isn't supported by Windows 11 at all. My personal favorite Linux distro for people coming from Windows 10 is Linux Mint. As I explain in my overview of what Linux Mint is and why I like it, this is mainly because, as a former Windows user, I could more or less intuit where all the...

At first glance, the desktop even looks a bit like the Windows of yesteryear. It’s not just on the surface, either: once you start working more and more with Mint, you’ll quickly realize all of it is pretty easy to use, and it’s rare that you’ll have to... You can even install software via the software manager, using a massive repository of suitable programs, and it’s all free. My next pick is Linux Lite, which is perfect for anybody who is running an older PC or laptop and wants to make sure they can keep doing so without performance issues. As the name suggests, it’s a lightweight distro that’s geared toward less powerful devices, making the most out of what it’s offered rather than demand systems live up to its requirements. As Windows 10 nears its end-of-life in 2025, many users are faced with a decision: upgrade to Windows 11 if their current hardware meets the requirements, purchase a new computer, or explore other operating...

One such option is Linux, which offers a viable, cost-free, and feature-rich alternative. Linux is not just a backup plan. It is a fully capable operating system comparable to Windows and macOS.It boasts reliability, security, user-friendliness and complete freedom from licensing fees. If you have grown accustomed to the Windows 10 interface, transitioning to Linux might seem intimidating, but several Linux distributions have been designed specifically to make that process as smooth as possible. Below are four excellent options for Windows users who want to move to Linux without sacrificing comfort or functionality. Read More: How to Use SCP Command on Linux

The customizable powerhouse that feels familiar yet offers limitless flexibility. KDE Neon showcases the KDE Plasma desktop environment, renowned for its highly configurable nature. Out of the box, KDE Plasma bears a slight resemblance to Windows 7, offering a sense of familiarity. However, it doesn’t stop there users can easily adjust the interface to closely resemble Windows 10 or 11.

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