These are the 5 most popular Linux distributions in 2026

A common mistake people make when switching to Linux is not doing enough research to determine which distro is best for them. Some people may also confuse “popular” with “the best”, and this is not always the case. Microsoft Word and Google Docs have many drawbacks, but they are both more popular than LibreOffice (clearly the superior suite of programs and arguably the reason Microsoft Office is no longer needed). That’s not to say they’re not good, of course.

And when it comes to a Linux distribution, everyone chooses one (especially the first one) for various reasons. Maybe they want a very stable distribution like Debian, or they want one that makes the transition from Windows to Linux easy, like Mint. Whatever the reason for choosing a distro, it’s always worth researching what’s popular, if only to see what makes it so popular. DistroWatch has a ranking based on the number of people who click on each distro’s page, which is how we rated the popularity of each of them listed here. If you decide to use this method to search for Linux distributions, take advantage of it and look beyond the top five.

Pop!_OS is an Ubuntu-based distribution developed by System76, and it ranks fifth in DistroWatch’s page views ranking over the past year. Linus’ tech tips on YouTube might have some influence on this, as Linus has chosen to upgrade to Pop!_OS on all of his computers (this isn’t his first time with the distro either). The distribution focuses on productivity with its smooth windows, easy search navigation, and simple ways to keep the desktop clutter-free. There is a lot of discussion about Pop!_OS on Reddit. Most are full of praise, saying that once they switched systems, they never looked back. Others added that “it’s clean and fast”, as well as ultra customizable, which is generally one of the appeals of Linux.

However, some users warn newbies that the distro doesn’t work well with older hardware, especially GPUs. Some have also had issues with it not being one of the most stable distributions out there. Chris Titus Tech (not to be confused with the comedian) on YouTube explicitly warned new users to avoid Pop!_OS for several reasons, including memory leaks and the fact that the Cosmic desktop is the heaviest desktop environment of any Linux distribution.

That said, it would probably be good if you’re a seasoned Linux user and can handle any instability or hardware malfunctions you encounter. So if you’re one of the half million Windows users switching to Linux, it’s probably best to start with another distribution, like Mint, to begin your Linux journey.

Debian has been around since 1993, when its creators released Debian 0.01. The project has come a long way since the days of its primitive package system, now being the most stable distribution you can install. Part of what makes it so stable is its slower release cycle – something impatient users might see as a drawback, but it’s a better distro for it. It’s specifically aimed at more experienced Linux users, but it has plenty of programs available for just about anything you need and a huge community that’s very supportive.

Debian’s biggest downside is the slow update schedule, because it means you won’t be able to use all the cutting-edge features that other distributions roll out, but it also means that when you finally get an update, it will be solid. If you want cutting-edge features quickly and want to stick with Debian, you can always use the Debian Test distribution. It is not considered stable, but it is not known to have many problems.

Debian is so stable that MX Linux is based on the stable branch of Debian. This may be true for most Linux distributions, but one Reddit user discovered that MX Linux made an outdated Lenovo laptop with only 2GB of RAM and a Celeron processor useful. Another user agreed after installing it on a “Vista-era machine” with only 1GB of RAM. MX Linux comes with a small selection of desktop environments to choose from, including Xfce (its first desktop), KDE, and Fluxbox, giving users some variety and customization. It’s hailed by many Linux enthusiasts as (on Reddit, at least) one of the best distributions out of the box, so it’s ideal for those just jumping from Windows.

Since it’s based on Debian, it’s slow with updates, but again, that’s also a huge strength. Having to use Systemd and Wayland has been unpopular with one or two DistroWatch users due to a few small issues, but they still praise the distribution as a whole. The majority of reviewers still give it an average rating of 8.1, making it easy to see why it is one of the most popular distros.

If you’ve considered switching to Linux and have done as little research as possible, you’ve probably heard of Mint. It is the second most popular distro, according to DistroWatch, averaging 2,250 page views daily over the past 12 months and, in this author’s experience, the most recommended distro. What makes Mint so appealing is its huge community, ease of use, and incredible responsiveness, and it easily handles almost all common tasks (email, spreadsheets, web browsing, etc.).

One of the features many users are looking for is a distribution that can handle games, and Mint supports over 7,800 Steam games, making it attractive to a large number of PC users. You can access more games if you install Heroic Game Launcher or Lutris. Unfortunately, unlike Windows, you have to seek out hardware support, especially for something like an Nvidia or AMD GPU. You may even struggle with something as simple as a printer’s drivers.

One Linux Mint user was not a fan of Mint’s Nemo file manager, stating: “It’s sluggish, slow, has trouble loading icons, and is generally mediocre compared to already faster managers like Thunar or PCmanfm.” » They go on to say that it’s worse than Windows 10’s file manager. They decided to move to another distribution and, as other users have pointed out, Linux is about choosing what works for you, enjoying the freedom of Linux. So if Mint doesn’t work for you, you can try any number of distros.

In the same LTT video where Linus chose to use Pop!_OS, Luke opted for CachyOS, despite being familiar with Arch, which may or may not have anything to do with Cachy’s position on DistroWatch at #1 with an average of 3,751 page views per day. Cachy is based on Arch Linux, as well as many others, and lets you choose from two installers. One guides you along the way while the other is under your complete control. It’s not a distro for beginners, but it can be tempting to install because it offers some variety in terms of desktop environment, letting you choose from over 17, including KDE Plasma, Gnome, and Cosmic.

Unfortunately, Cachy doesn’t come with some of the more familiar Linux apps installed, like LibreOffice, GIMP, or even Thunderbird. Rest assured, you can easily find and install them yourself, or any other app of your choice, and it will install them incredibly quickly. However, Cachy operates on a rolling release schedule for updates, which can cause feature outages, requiring you to work to discover the problem. Each distribution has its advantages and disadvantages.

While Cachy might not be the distro to use if you’re just getting used to Linux, it might be the one you can jump into after getting your hands on some of the more beginner-friendly distros, like Mint, Zorin OS, or Ubuntu.