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ZDNET key takeaways
- Linux is ready for an enormous 12 months in 2026.
- There shall be a number of distributions that may shock individuals.
- These six distros shall be on everybody’s checklist by 12 months’s finish.
It appears I went to mattress, and it was simply turning 2025. Then, I get up, and it is 2026. The place did time go?
I can let you know one factor: time went to serving to Linux rise in recognition. Okay, the demise of Home windows 10 additionally had one thing to do with that, however everybody within the enterprise of protecting Linux knew this might at some point occur: the plenty would lastly understand that there’s an alternate OS that is extra dependable, safer, and simpler to make use of.
We might not be declaring 2026 the 12 months of Linux simply but, however a number of Linux distros are prone to have an excellent 12 months. These are my picks for that checklist.
1. AerynOS
When you get previous the installer (which shall be a little bit of a problem for these new to Linux), you may discover AerynOS to be an excellent, rock-solid working system that’s absolutely atomic and gives a gorgeous KDE Plasma desktop. It’s these two final bits that may elevate AerynOS’s standing among the many Linux distributions.
You see, atomic and immutable (these are usually not the identical issues, by the way in which) are the way forward for working programs as a result of they supply an expertise that may at all times work. Atomic distributions principally be sure that no improve will end in system failure, a damaged desktop, or unusable functions. That’s vital as a result of individuals rely closely on a reliable working system.
AerynOS does atomicity however not immutability. That is vital as a result of immutability requires a read-only core file system, and that may confuse customers after they try and configure one thing exterior of their residence listing.
AerynOS does all of this fantastically and even has a really vanilla tackle KDE Plasma, which I believe is the precise method to go. KDE Plasma is gorgeous out of the field, and it is extremely user-friendly.
As nicely, AerynOS routinely manages boot entries, kernel synchronization, and rollbacks. This eliminates the necessity for the guide writing of configuration recordsdata. Even when the EFI system partition is wiped, it may be routinely rebuilt.
All of this comes collectively to make one thing fairly particular.
2. AnduinOS
AnduinOS is a Linux distribution that, on the floor, seems very very like Home windows 10. AnduinOS relies on Ubuntu, which supplies it a head begin on user-friendliness. Couple that with a UI that’s instantly acquainted to the common person, and you may see why AnduinOS might turn into a darling for the approaching 12 months.
As for the UI, it is primarily based on GNOME, so it is quick. And with the assistance of GNOME Extensions, you may lengthen the options of the desktop. Who would not need that? Talking of which, the builders have included such extensions as ArcMenu, Blur My Shell, Sprint to Panel, Mild/Darkish Theme Switcher, OpenWeather Refined, Detachable Drive menu, and extra. With the assistance of a helpful extension supervisor, you may allow/disable and configure these extensions to satisfy your wants.
AnduinOS additionally doesn’t accumulate any data from customers, which shall be a breath of recent air in a world the place person data is gold to so many organizations and firms.
I believe the large cause why AnduinOS will turn into a darling in 2026 is that an increasing number of customers will lastly stroll away from Home windows and can need an working system that does not problem them to be taught a brand new interface. AnduinOS does that higher than most.
3. Besgnulinux
What on this planet is that identify? Each time I say it, I believe, “Finest GNU Linux.”
Besgnulinux is the brainchild of a single developer who appears to be on a mission to maintain previous computer systems out of landfills, and I discover that to be a really noble pursuit. The developer has taken Debian secure and created a user-friendly desktop with the assistance of the JWM window supervisor. What this does is create a really quick working system that is additionally extremely secure and works brilliantly on older {hardware}.
I examined Besgnulinux as a digital machine with solely 2GB of RAM and a single CPU core. Guess what? The OS ran prefer it was on a robust, fashionable desktop laptop.
This distribution will attraction to anybody with an getting older Home windows 10 laptop who would not care about having essentially the most fashionable, eye-candy-laden UI and needs an OS they’ll belief will run reliably and nicely.
Besgnulinux makes use of the Calamares system installer, defaults to the Courageous internet browser, and contains over 40 custom-built instruments to regulate the system’s settings in addition to the appear and feel of the desktop.
4. BigLinux
Merely put, BigLinux makes Linux straightforward for anybody.
In the event you’ve by no means used Linux, this distribution is perhaps the right touchdown spot for you. BigLinux is gorgeous and gives a ton of useful options.
This is the kicker: BigLinux relies on Manjaro Linux and makes use of the KDE Plasma for its desktop.
Okay, Manjaro relies on Arch Linux, which I would not advocate to a brand new person. Manjaro Linux is a distinct story as a result of it makes good on the promise of reworking Arch Linux into one thing that’s user-friendly.
BigLinux takes this one step additional by together with issues like internet functions for companies/platforms like Amazon Music, Deezer Music, Discord, Fb, Instagram, Jitsi Meet, Messenger, Netflix, Outlook, the entire Google apps, and extra. In actual fact, BigLinux contains dozens of functions that take up little or no house in your drive and assist make the distribution as user-friendly as attainable.
As nicely, you get to decide on which internet browser you need through the OS set up. You’ll be able to choose from Courageous, Firefox, Google Chrome, Chromium, Vivaldi, LibreWolf, Opera, or Falkon. One other very helpful addition is the Large Driver Supervisor, which vastly simplifies the set up of drivers.
I imagine there are large issues to return for BigLinux.
5. Pop!_OS
It nearly appears unfair to incorporate Pop!_OS on this checklist as a result of it has been round for thus lengthy. The factor is, System76 took an enormous likelihood on creating its personal desktop atmosphere, COSMIC.
I have been utilizing COSMIC desktop for the reason that early alpha levels, and even then, it critically impressed me. I’d go as far as to say that COSMIC goes to turn into the most well-liked Linux DE by the tip of 2026. That alone helps to make Pop!_OS a shoo-in for Linux darling of the 12 months.
COSMIC is blazingly quick and extremely configurable. That does not imply you have to trouble with desktop configurations, as a result of the out-of-the-box expertise is wonderful.
Given how secure and quick COSMIC 1.0 is, I can solely think about what model 2.0 shall be like. I’d guess that, by the point the following iteration arrives, COSMIC could have elevated Pop!_OS past something it might have in any other case turn into with GNOME.
6. ZorinOS
Zorin OS has already confirmed itself to be a favourite contender for OS of the 12 months. This happened when help for Home windows 10 ended and Zorin OS had been downloaded over one million occasions in two months (with 78% of these downloads coming from Home windows machines).
There is a good cause for this: Zorin OS is strictly what a desktop working system needs to be. Zorin OS serves the person, not the opposite approach round.
Zorin OS relies on Ubuntu and provides the person a selection of desktop layouts. If you’d like a Home windows-like structure, Zorin OS has your again. MacOS? Positive, no drawback. When a person discovers Zorin OS, they lastly perceive that an working system would not must be difficult or overbearing.
Zorin OS strikes an ideal stability of user-friendliness, energy, flexibility, and reliability. If there have been a single OS I’d advocate to these migrating from Home windows 10, it might be Zorin OS.
