Linux Mint vs. Zorin OS: How to pick between these Windows alternatives

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Both Linux Mint and Zorin OS are large operating systems.
• You'll find easiness of usage and a wide scope of supported hardware.
• Find retired which of these is champion suited for your needs.

Zorin OS saw a melodramatic uptick successful downloads aft the extremity of Windows 10. Within a two-day stretch, Zorin OS had implicit 100,000 downloads, which was a grounds for the distribution.

Meanwhile, Linux Mint has been 1 of the astir fashionable distributions for immoderate time. 

Given that some of these distributions are enjoying a continued emergence successful popularity, on with the extremity of Windows 10 support, you mightiness beryllium looking astatine 1 oregon the different to service arsenic either your archetypal oregon your adjacent Linux distribution. Do a speedy hunt and you'll find countless articles claiming wherefore 1 is amended than the different (or wherefore 1 is amended than them all). 

That astir apt doesn't assistance you determine which Linux organisation to try.

Let maine spot if I tin assistance you with that decision.

Linux Mint: Who is it for?

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Since it's truthful popular, let's commencement with Linux Mint.

Linux Mint is based connected Ubuntu, truthful it enjoys a rock-solid and user-friendly base. On apical of that, Ubuntu has outstanding hardware recognition, acknowledgment to the HWE (Hardware Enablement) kernel, which is recovered successful Ubuntu Long-Term Support (LTS) releases. The HWE kernel offers amended enactment for newer hardware portion maintaining strategy stability. 

Also: Linux Mint 22 is official! Here's what's caller and however to effort it for yourself

On apical of that, Linux Mint defaults to the Cinnamon desktop environment. Cinnamon volition beryllium instantly acquainted to caller users due to the fact that it's laid retired similar immoderate modular PC desktop, with a panel, commencement menu, strategy tray, and clickable icons. Cinnamon is incredibly casual to use, but not terribly flexible.

That deficiency of flexibility is simply a choice, arsenic it ensures a unchangeable situation that is much challenging to interruption than, say, Xfce.

So, close retired of the gate, you person a coagulated basal and a user-friendly desktop environment. Those 2 elements unsocial marque for an operating strategy that anyone tin reliably (and enjoyably) use. Linux Mint has a near-zero learning curve for Windows users. 

And then, there's the deficiency of telemetry. Linux Mint does not spy connected you, propulsion ads connected you, oregon see immoderate unwanted features (such arsenic AI).

Also: The champion Linux distributions for beginners: Expert tested and reviewed

Additionally, Linux Mint:

• Uses a minimal magnitude of RAM (especially compared to Windows)
• Performs brilliantly connected older hardware
• Is optimized for SSDs with due TRIM support
• Offers respective powerfulness modes for amended powerfulness management
• Allows for theming, applets, desklets, and precocious workspace management

So, who is Linux Mint perfect for?

• Windows 10 users who privation to permission Microsoft OSes and don't privation to woody with immoderate benignant of learning curve.
• Those with older oregon newer PCs.
• Users who privation a rock-solid OS.
• Users who worth their privacy.
• Users who privation semipermanent support.

Zorin OS: Who is it for?

We present sojourn yet different organisation that's based connected Ubuntu.

As I said earlier, Zorin OS has seen an awesome uptick successful popularity since October 2025. Those who've been utilizing oregon investigating Zorin OS for years already cognize wherefore this Linux organisation is 1 of the champion options for caller and aged users alike.

Zorin OS is arsenic casual to usage arsenic immoderate operating strategy connected the market.

Also: Why Zorin OS 18 mightiness beryllium the caller champion Linux distro - and I've tried them all

Sure, I tin marque that assertion astir respective Linux distributions, but Zorin OS takes that ease-of-use to caller levels.

First, there's the desktop environment. Zorin OS allows you to prime from 4 antithetic layouts. You tin besides acquisition the Pro mentation for a one-time interest of $47. The Pro mentation gives you six further layouts (including a MacOS-like option), truthful you tin person the nonstop desktop interface you want.

Thanks to the Zorin Appearance app, you tin power the desktop layout immoderate clip you like.

Let's spot different operating strategy bash that with specified ease.

To marque this adjacent much appealing, each of the desktop layouts is highly polished and refined. The developers person gone to large lengths to marque definite the UI is stunning, nary substance which layout you select.

Zorin OS has different chill instrumentality up its sleeve.

Let's accidental you hide that you're not utilizing Windows and you download a Windows app to install. You double-click connected that .exe oregon .msi record to motorboat the installer, and Zorin OS volition alternatively pass you of Linux-compatible alternatives you tin install. 

For example, if you were to download an installer for MS Office, Zorin OS would astir apt urge you instal LibreOffice.

How useful is that?

Also: Zorin simplifies the task of installing Windows apps connected Linux. Here's how   

Like astir Linux distributions, Zorin OS besides includes a GUI app store that makes installing applications incredibly easy. With the Zorin OS app store, you get categorized app browsing, a almighty hunt tool, one-click installation, Flatpak and Snap integration, and tons of apps from which to take (both open-source and proprietary).

Because Zorin OS uses an Ubuntu base, you get the aforesaid level of hardware compatibility arsenic recovered successful Linux Mint. You besides get a bully postulation of preinstalled software, including:

• LibreOffice
• Firefox
• Thunderbird
• GIMP
• VLC Media Player

From the start, Zorin OS is acceptable to go. And with Flatpak/Snap integration, you tin easy instal the proprietary apps you need, specified arsenic Spotify and Slack.

On apical of those features, Zorin OS besides includes:

• Zorin Connect - to make a seamless transportation betwixt Linux and Android
• Painless upgrades
• Pre-installed gaming tools (such arsenic Steam and Lutris)
• Outstanding accessibility tools
• Does not cod immoderate information and doesn't see AI
• Built-in model snapping

Which 1 is for you?

I'm going to marque this casual for those who mightiness inactive beryllium wondering which 1 to choose. The breakdown is simple. 

• Use Linux Mint if you privation a modern, stable, and privacy-respecting operating strategy that offers superior hardware support, easiness of use, and a Windows-like UI.
• Use Zorin OS if you privation a modern, stable, and privacy-respecting operating strategy that offers superior hardware support, aggregate desktop layouts to take from, simplifies syncing with your Android phone, and supports some Flatpak and Snap applications.

Also: How to take the close Linux desktop organisation for you

In each honesty, you cannot spell incorrect with either choice. In the end, if you privation a much modern-looking desktop environment, spell with Zorin OS. If you similar to instrumentality with the old-school, Windows-like layout, Linux Mint is your champion choice.