Puppy Linux vs. Linux Lite: Which distro is right for your old Windows 10 PC?

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• A lightweight Linux organisation tin revive aged hardware.
• Puppy Linux and Linux Lite execute this successful precise antithetic ways.
• Both of these distributions tin beryllium utilized for free.

Do you person an aged machine laying around, doing thing but collecting dust? Is that machine the 1 that utilized to run Windows 10 but doesn't suffice for Windows 11?

If that sounds similar your situation, I person bully news. There are plentifulness of lightweight Linux distributions disposable for you to instal connected that aged and crusty instrumentality that volition marque it execute similar it's a teen astir to thrust a car for the archetypal time. Vroom, vroom.

Also: Linux volition beryllium unstoppable successful 2026 - but 1 open-source fable whitethorn not survive

But which of the galore small-footprint Linux distributions should you try? I've narrowed it down to 2 that I judge are rather good: Puppy Linux and Linux Lite. Let's spot however they compare.

Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is 1 of the longest-running lightweight Linux distributions available. This tiny distro runs anyplace betwixt 500 MB to 1.5 GB successful size. You work that right, 5 100 megabytes. That's tiny for an operating system. Consider this: Most Linux distributions tally determination betwixt 1 and 5 gigabytes successful size.

One of the astir absorbing aspects of Puppy Linux is that it's disposable utilizing antithetic bases. You tin take a mentation based connected Debian, Ubuntu, Slackware, and Void.

Puppy Linux besides happens to beryllium usable, close retired of the box. However… You knew it was coming.

Also: Want to prevention your aged computer? Try 1 of these 8 Linux distros for free

Puppy Linux is champion tally arsenic a unrecorded distribution. What does that mean? Simple: A unrecorded Linux organisation is 1 that runs wholly successful RAM. You tin usage a unrecorded organisation without changing your drive. In different words, if you person a Windows machine and you privation to temporarily tally Linux, you tin footwear a unrecorded version, usage it, reboot, and you're backmost to Windows.

You tin besides instal Puppy Linux connected a USB thrust with persistent storage, truthful you tin transportation Linux astir wherever you go. Because Puppy Linux is truthful lightweight, it'll inactive tally similar a champ from USB.

Puppy Linux besides features:

• JWM model manager.
• Runs wholly successful RAM and uses minimal strategy resources.
• Session persistence: Saves your enactment and settings to a record connected shutdown.
• Installed apps see Pale Moon (web browser), AbiWord (word processor), media players, Rox Filer (file manager), and more.
• Function implicit signifier design.
• Does not automatically equine drives astatine footwear to forestall accidental information loss.
• Puppy Unleashed is simply a almighty instrumentality for gathering customized Puppy Linux ISOs.
• Uses its ain PET bundle manager but supports APT and RPM.
• Supports moving apps successful isolated containers and besides has a lockdown mode for added security.

Is Puppy Linux close for you?

If you don't caput moving your Linux organisation from RAM and you don't attraction astir modern aesthetics, past Puppy Linux is perfect for reviving older hardware. If you bash privation to instal Puppy Linux connected your drive, past beryllium prepared to work immoderate documentation.

Linux Lite

It's a elemental but effectual desktop.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Linux Lite is the lightweight organisation for those looking to migrate from Windows. Linux Lite is based connected the latest LTS (Long Term Support) merchandise of Ubuntu. Unlike Puppy Linux, Linux Lite is meant to beryllium installed (although it can beryllium tally arsenic a unrecorded distribution).

For Windows users, Linux Lite volition beryllium a no-brainer, acknowledgment to its acquainted desktop layout. You've got everything: panel, commencement menu, strategy tray, clickable icons, etc. There's besides the preinstalled apps, which see the Chrome web browser, LibreOffice bureau suite, VLC Media Player, GIMP representation editor, Thunderbird email, and utilities similar Timeshift, a PDF Viewer, and a USB Image Writer.

Unlike Puppy Linux, Linux Lite is reasonably customizable, acknowledgment to the Xfce desktop environment. You tin tweak the UI to look and consciousness precisely however you privation it.

Also: Ready for a Linux laptop? I recovered 1 that competes with my MacBook Pro

Linux Lite is besides perfectly astatine location connected modern hardware. I've experienced Linux Lite connected a newer desktop PC, and it's insanely fast.

To execute the blazing accelerated speed, Linux Lite employs the zRAM representation compression tool.

Although Linux Lite isn't rather arsenic lightweight arsenic immoderate different akin distributions, it is inactive considered 1 of the astir fashionable small-footprint distros connected the market.

Linux Lite besides features:

• Uses the lightweight Xfce with a familiar, intuitive layout.
• Optimized for velocity and efficiency.
• Designed to easiness the modulation from Windows.
• Ships with each the bundle you request to get going.
• Includes respective strategy tools, specified arsenic Lite Tweaks, Lite Software (app store), and a strategy monitor.

Is Linux Lite for you?

This 1 is beauteous casual to answer. If you're a Windows idiosyncratic looking to migrate that Windows 10 PC to Linux, and you don't privation to larn however to usage 1 of the much modern desktop environments, Linux Lite is the cleanable distribution. Because Linux Lite is based connected Ubuntu, you'll get entree to the modular repositories, which see tons of bundle to instal and enjoy.

Also: How overmuch RAM does your Linux PC really request successful 2025? An adept weighs in

Which is the amended enactment for you?

Another casual question to answer. If you privation a lightweight, portable Linux organisation to transportation astir with you, spell with Puppy Linux. If you privation a much accepted operating strategy to easiness your modulation from Windows to Linux connected an aging PC, you privation Linux Lite.