Top 10 Most Popular Linux Distributions in 2025

Entering 2025, we are excited to share with Linux enthusiasts the most popular distribution this year so far.

DistroWatch has always been the most reliable source of information about open source operating systems, with particular attention to Linux distributions and BSD versions. It continuously collects and presents a lot of information about Linux distributions, making them easier to access.

While it doesn't measure the popularity or usage of a distribution very well, DistroWatch remains the most accepted measure of popularity within the Linux community. It uses page click ranking ( PHR ) statistics to measure the popularity of Linux distributions among website visitors.

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To find out the most widely used distribution this year, let's go to Distrowatch and view the page click rankings ( PHR for short). There, you can choose from a variety of time spans that allow you to check the rankings of Linux and BSD distributions during that period.

In this post, we will review the top 10 most popular Linux distributions based on Distrowatch statistics and market share, as of January 6, 2025 .

10. openSUSE

openSUSE remains one of the most respected Linux distributions, known for its flexibility and powerful tools. It offers two versions - openSUSE Leap and openSUSE Tumbleweed - to meet the needs of users of stable and rolling releases.

OpenSUSE is particularly popular among developers and system administrators thanks to its powerful YaST configuration tools and its ability to scale from personal desktops to enterprise-level servers.

9. Fedora

Built and maintained by volunteers and developers around the world (and sponsored by Red Hat ), Fedora has been one of the most commonly used distributions for years, thanks to its three major versions (Workstation Edition (for desktop), server Edition and cloud mirroring), as well as the ARM version for ARM-based (usually headless) servers.

However, perhaps the most prominent feature of Fedora is that it always stands at the forefront of integrating new package versions and technologies into distributions. Additionally, the new version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux is based on Fedora .

8. Ubuntu

Maybe this release doesn't require any introduction. Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) has put in such a huge effort to make it a popular and widely circulated distribution that you can now find it in smartphones, tablets, PCs, servers and cloud VPS.

In addition, Ubuntu has another advantage, it is based on Debian and is very popular among newbies – which is perhaps the reason for its continued growth. Although not considered in this ranking, Ubuntu is the cornerstone of other distributions in the Canonical family, such as Kubuntu , Xubuntu and Lubuntu .

Most importantly, the installation image includes a trial Ubuntu feature that allows you to try Ubuntu before actually installing it to your hard drive. Many major distributions today don't offer such features.

7. Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS is developed by System76 and is a distribution that has received significant attention in recent years. It is based on Ubuntu and focuses on serving developers, gamers and professionals who need a simplified and efficient environment.

Pop!_OS has excellent hardware support, especially for System76 machines, but it works well on a variety of other hardware. Its user-friendly interface and deep integration with GNOME make it a favorite for many people.

6. Manjaro

Manjaro is based on Arch Linux and aims to take advantage of the power and features that make Arch a great distribution while providing a more enjoyable installation and operation experience for beginners and experienced Linux users out of the box.

Manjaro comes pre-installed with a desktop environment, graphics applications (including software centers) and multimedia codecs for playing audio and video.

5. CachyOS

CachyOS is a relatively new release that has quickly become popular. It is based on Arch Linux and focuses on providing a fast and efficient experience while maintaining a high level of customization.

CachyOS uses a unique kernel, prioritizing performance, making it an ideal choice for users who want high-speed, minimalist settings.

4. Debian

As a rock-solid Linux distribution, Debian Linux is very committed to free software (so it will always remain 100% free), but it also allows users to install and use non-free software on their machines for productivity. It is used both for desktop and server computers, as well as for infrastructure running clouds.

As one of the two oldest and most famous Linux distributions (the other is RedHat Enterprise Linux), it is the cornerstone of many popular Linux distributions, especially Ubuntu and Kali Linux .

At the time of writing, the current stable version of the Debian repository (codenamed Bookworm ) contains a total of 96,000 packages, making it one of the most complete Linux distributions.

Although its advantages are mainly reflected in the server, the desktop version has made significant improvements in both functionality and appearance.

3. EndeavourOS

EndeavourOS is a relatively new distribution that has quickly become a favorite among Arch Linux users, providing Arch with a user-friendly installation process while retaining the flexibility and power of the Arch base.

EndeavourOS aims to be a lightweight and minimalist distribution that allows users to build their systems from scratch while providing a helpful and active community.

2. MX Linux

MX Linux continues to be the top contender in the Linux world, thanks to its high stability, elegant and efficient desktop, and simple learning curve. It is a medium-heavyweight desktop Linux operating system based on Debian . It has simple configuration, stable performance and a medium footprint. It is suitable for all types of users and applications.

Furthermore, it is user-oriented in nature, and to ensure the system is available out of the box, it contains a certain amount of non-free software.

One unique thing about MX Linux is that it includes systemd (system and service manager) by default, but is disabled due to the controversy surrounding it, instead it uses systemd-shim, which simulates the systemd functionality required for most, if not all, to run helper programs without using init services.

1. Linux Mint

Linux Mint's famous motto (" Free Birth Elegance ") once again topped the list in 2024, based on Ubuntu , is a stable, powerful, complete and easy to use Linux distribution – we can continue to list many positive adjectives to describe Mint.

Among Mint's most prominent features, we can mention that during the installation process you can choose from the list of desktop environments, and you can rest assured that once the installation is complete, you will be able to play your music and video files without any additional configuration steps, as the standard installation provides a multimedia codec out of the box.

Summarize

In this article, we briefly introduce the top 10 Linux distributions so far in 2024. If you are a newbie user and are trying to decide which distribution to start your journey, or if you are an experienced user who wants to explore new options, we hope this guide will help you make an informed decision.

As always, feel free to tell us what you think of these top 10 distributions? Which Linux distribution would you recommend to newbies and why?

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