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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- If you're migrating from Windows, effort 1 of these distributions.
- Each of these is user-friendly and free.
- Most of these are either Ubuntu-based oregon independent.
Windows 10's extremity of beingness is coming successful 2025, and that means you person to anticipation your instrumentality tin tally Windows 11, buy a caller computer, oregon effort thing antithetic -- like Linux.
Linux shouldn't beryllium considered a last-choice alternative, either, due to the fact that it's each spot adjacent to Windows oregon MacOS. It's reliable, secure, user-friendly, and free. What much bash you want?
Also: You tin effort Linux without ditching Windows archetypal - here's how
I know: You privation an operating strategy that looks and feels similar Windows 10. That makes cleanable consciousness due to the fact that you've been utilizing Microsoft's OS for a agelong time, and alteration is often hard.
Which organisation is close for those seeking a seamless modulation from Windows to Linux? There are rather a fewer choices retired there, and I'll amusement you what I see your 7 champion options.
1. KDE Neon
Slight resemblance to Windows 7 and afloat configurable
It's classy, it's casual to use, it's KDE Neon.
KDE Neon is the flagship organisation for highlighting the KDE Plasma desktop environment. The large happening astir KDE Plasma is that it tin beryllium configured to look and consciousness conscionable astir immoderate mode you like. Out of the box, KDE Plasma does carnivore a flimsy resemblance to Windows 7, but you tin tweak it to look much similar Windows 10 oregon Windows 11 if you like.
Also: 7 things each Linux beginner should cognize earlier downloading their archetypal distro
KDE Neon benefits from an Ubuntu base, truthful it's precise user-friendly and handles hardware designation similar a champ. And anyone coming from conscionable astir immoderate mentation of Windows volition consciousness close astatine location connected the KDE Plasma desktop environment. For those who'd similar to yet enactment with a desktop that looks thing similar Windows, KDE Plasma tin easy marque that happen. Turn the bottommost sheet into a dock and adhd a apical bar, and you person a desktop akin to MacOS. KDE Plasma is that flexible.
Like astir each Linux distributions, KDE Neon tin beryllium downloaded and installed for free.
2. Linux Mint
A precise user-friendly operating strategy
Linux Mint mightiness not beryllium themed similar Windows 10 oregon Windows 11, but it is surely wrong the realm of Windows-ish desktops. For example, you'll find a panel, a Start menu, a strategy tray, and clickable icons, each connected apical of a precise user-friendly operating system.
Also: Want to prevention your aged computer? Try 1 of these 8 Linux distros for free
Another crushed to spell the Linux Mint way is that it benefits from the aforesaid level of hardware designation arsenic Ubuntu. That makes cleanable sense, fixed that Linux Mint is based connected Ubuntu. Linux Mint uses the Cinnamon desktop situation by default, but you tin download editions that usage MATE oregon Xfce. For those migrating from Windows, I urge sticking with the default Cinnamon desktop, arsenic it volition beryllium the astir acquainted and reliable.
Linux Mint is simply a escaped distribution and has a precise robust community. The developers listen, and the merchandise docket is precise reliable.
You tin download Linux Mint for escaped connected arsenic galore machines arsenic you need.
3. Zorin OS
Pro variation looks and feels similar Windows 11
This is conscionable 1 of the galore desktop layouts disposable successful Zorin OS.
Although the extremity of Zorin OS isn't to replicate Windows 10, it does connection respective desktop layouts, including a precise Windows-like UI. If you wage for the Pro variation ($47.99), you get further layouts, specified arsenic 1 that looks and feels similar Windows 11.
Also: I enactment Linux connected this 8-inch mini laptop, and it's filled a niche relation for me
Here is 1 of the superior reasons I americium including Zorin OS: You tin commencement retired utilizing the Windows 11-like layout and, arsenic you turn accustomed to the open-source OS, power to a desktop that resembles MacOS oregon 1 of the straight-up Linux environments (such arsenic GNOME oregon KDE Plasma). The Zorin OS desktop is based connected GNOME, but the developers person made it acold much flexible than your mean GNOME desktop.
The escaped mentation of Zorin OS comes with 4 desktop layouts, and the Pro mentation adds six more. Of those 19 layouts, 4 are Windows-like (Windows Classic, Windows, Windows List, and Windows 11).
Zorin OS Core tin beryllium downloaded and installed for free, and the Pro licence tin beryllium purchased from the authoritative Zorin OS site.
4. blendOS
Slightly Windows 11-like but besides immutable
The Deepin desktop situation makes blendOS a happening of beauty.
blendOS mightiness not beryllium connected your radar, but it should be. Not lone does this Linux organisation carnivore a flimsy resemblance to Windows 11, but it's besides immutable (meaning it's precise secure), and includes respective options for installing apps. You volition find pacman, apt, Flatpak, Podman, and adjacent blendOS's ain unsocial "blend" tool.
Because of this, you volition find tons of applications to install. You tin besides alteration Android app enactment arsenic good arsenic dnf (the Fedora bundle manager) enactment from wrong the System app. Because blendOS is immutable, the chances of you wrecking the OS are slim. Additionally, you tin prime a mentation with GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, Cinnamon, Deepin, MATE, oregon LXQt.
Also: 5 reasons to power to an immutable Linux distro contiguous - and which to effort first
For those coming from Windows, I'd urge either KDE Plasma oregon the Deepin desktop. The 1 caveat to utilizing blendOS is that I wouldn't urge it for users with precise small machine skills. If you cognize your mode astir Windows good capable (as successful you've utilized it for a agelong clip and are comfy with astir aspects of the OS), you shouldn't person overmuch occupation with blendOS. The lone happening you won't find retired of the container is Wine (for Windows apps) oregon Steam (for games), but you tin instal some with ease.
5. AnduinOS
New kid connected the artifact
AnduinOS is the caller kid connected the block, but it besides happens to beryllium 1 of my favorites connected the list. This Windows-like desktop is based connected Ubuntu and uses the latest mentation of GNOME to make a alternatively Windows 11-like desktop.
Also: 8 ways each Linux distro could marque things a batch easier for newbies
One happening to support successful caput with this organisation is that it's not filled with tricks, bells, and whistles to fool you into believing you're utilizing Windows. AnduinOS is much astir creating a desktop and workflow that Windows users tin easy accommodate to. By utilizing the operation of Ubuntu (currently mentation 25.04) and GNOME (currently mentation 48), AnduinOS creates a desktop that performs brilliantly and reliably. If you privation to usage Windows apps connected AnduinOS, you'll request to instal Wine, but different than that, it's acceptable to spell retired of the container and is simply a dainty to use.
Although AnduinOS is marketed arsenic a desktop Linux organisation aimed astatine developers, it truly tin beryllium utilized by mean users arsenic well. I find the desktop to beryllium akin capable to Windows 11 that anyone who's utilized that OS volition consciousness close astatine location here.
6. RefreshOS
Outstanding enactment
RefreshOS came retired of obscurity precocious and amazed maine with however good it could service anyone migrating from Windows. This organisation uses a minimal KDE Plasma desktop, configured successful the aforesaid mode arsenic the accepted Windows desktop. It has a panel, a Start menu, and a strategy tray with a elemental and elegant taxable that is definite to delight anyone. RefreshOS offers the rock-solid stableness of Debian and the user-friendliness of Ubuntu, which makes it the cleanable operation for users coming implicit from the satellite of Microsoft operating systems.
Also: Ready to ditch Windows 10? I debunked 7 Linux myths truthful you tin power with confidence
As acold arsenic preinstalled apps, you get LibreOffice, GIMP, a calendar, a interaction manager, KMail, VLC media player, and overmuch more. RefreshOS is simply a Linux organisation that allows you to deed the crushed moving instantly aft installation, truthful there's nary tweaking oregon post-install enactment required. Just log successful and bash your thing. The only gotcha with RefreshOS is that the developers opted not to see either the Snap oregon Flatpak cosmopolitan bundle managers, which means that if you privation proprietary apps similar Slack oregon Spotify, you'll person to instal either Snap oregon Flatpak first.
Other than that, RefreshOS is an outstanding enactment for Windows users making the power to Linux oregon for anyone who's funny astir the open-source operating system.
7. Bazzite
Good for games and truthful overmuch much
Bazzite is a SteamOS clone, which should instantly archer you the superior absorption of this Linux distribution. If you're inactive not definite what I'm talking about... games. Bazzite is specifically designed for Linux newcomers, arsenic good arsenic enthusiasts and gamers.
You get Steam pre-installed, HDR and VRR support, improved CPU schedulers for much responsive gameplay, and plentifulness of different tweaks to marque this Linux organisation almighty capable for immoderate crippled you privation to play. But don't beryllium fooled: Bazzite isn't conscionable for gaming. This organisation works perfectly good arsenic a productivity tool.
Also: The 6 Linux distros I urge astir for gaming successful 2025 - including my favorite
According to the authoritative website, Bazzite ships with "Steam pre-installed, HDR and VRR support, improved CPU schedulers for responsive gameplay, and galore community-developed tools and tweaks to streamline your gaming and streaming experience."
Bazzite uses the KDE Plasma desktop, truthful close retired of the box, it looks similar it could beryllium related to the Windows household of OSes. Bazzite is arsenic arsenic beauteous arsenic it is powerful, truthful you won't consciousness arsenic if you're utilizing an OS from the precocious 90s oregon aboriginal 2000s. Bazzite uses Fedora arsenic a base, truthful it inherits the aforesaid speed, reliability, and security.
If you're looking astatine the extremity of Windows 10, Bazzite would beryllium a large option, particularly if you're a gamer.
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