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macOS alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave macOS: only runs on Apple hardware; current release needs Apple silicon, and smaller game library than Windows. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces macOS, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Windows currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Windows logoWindowsPaidNoWindows4 of 466.5
2Ubuntu logoUbuntuOpen sourceYesLinux4 of 462.6
3Linux Mint logoLinux MintOpen sourceYesLinux4 of 459.6
4Fedora Linux logoFedora LinuxOpen sourceYesLinux5 of 557.2
  1. Windows logo

    1. WindowsTop pick

    Best for: PC gamers and anyone needing the widest choice of hardware and desktop software

    PaidWindows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from macOS

    Runs on far more hardware at every price and has the biggest game and business app library.

    Pros

    • Largest library of desktop apps and PC games
    • Runs on hardware from many manufacturers at every price
    • Pro edition adds BitLocker, Hyper-V and business management

    Cons

    • Strict hardware requirements leave many older PCs out
    • Microsoft account and internet required during Home setup
    • Built-in ads and upsells in the interface
    Visit Windows Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Windows a good macOS alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Minimum RAM
    4 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum storage
    64 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Microsoft account
    Required during setup (Home)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Virtualization
    Hyper-V support
    Checked Oct 25, 2026microsoft.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Ubuntu logo

    2. Ubuntu

    Best for: People moving to Linux who want the widest software support and long-term security updates

    Open sourceLinux

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from macOS

    Free Linux desktop that runs on almost any PC, with a large community and long-term support releases.

    Pros

    • Widest software and hardware vendor support of any desktop Linux
    • LTS releases get five years of standard security updates
    • Huge community, so answers to most problems are easy to find
    • Free, including Ubuntu Pro on a few personal machines

    Cons

    • Snap packages are pushed by default and can be slow to start
    • GNOME with Canonical's tweaks feels less familiar to Windows users than Mint
    • Interim releases are supported for only nine months
    Visit Ubuntu Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ubuntu a good macOS alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ubuntu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    LTS support
    5 years, new LTS every 2 years
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ubuntu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Ubuntu Pro
    Free on up to 5 machines
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ubuntu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Extended coverage
    Up to 15 years with Ubuntu Pro
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ubuntu.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Linux Mint logo

    3. Linux Mint

    Best for: Windows users switching to Linux who want a familiar desktop that works out of the box

    Open sourceLinux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from macOS

    Beginner-friendly Linux with a familiar desktop layout, a good free option on older or cheaper PCs.

    Pros

    • Familiar Windows-like desktop with little to relearn
    • Multimedia support and common drivers work out of the box
    • Long support per release and conservative updates
    • Free, with no Snap packages pushed on you

    Cons

    • Older kernels and apps can struggle with brand-new hardware
    • Cinnamon trails GNOME and KDE on Wayland support
    • Small core team compared with Ubuntu or Fedora
    Visit Linux Mint Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Linux Mint a good macOS alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026linuxmint.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Based on
    Debian and Ubuntu
    Checked Oct 25, 2026linuxmint.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Editions
    Cinnamon, MATE, Xfce
    Checked Oct 25, 2026linuxmint.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Release base
    Long-term support releases only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026linuxmint.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Fedora Linux logo

    4. Fedora Linux

    Best for: Developers and enthusiasts who want current software and an unmodified GNOME or KDE desktop

    Open sourceLinux

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from macOS

    Up-to-date, polished GNOME desktop that suits developers used to a Unix environment on Mac.

    Pros

    • Recent kernels, GNOME and KDE soon after they ship
    • Stock desktops without heavy vendor changes
    • Atomic editions like Silverblue offer a read-only, rollback-friendly system
    • Free and community-run with strong Red Hat backing

    Cons

    • Short support window means upgrading about once a year
    • Proprietary codecs and NVIDIA drivers need extra setup
    • Less third-party software targets Fedora than Ubuntu
    Visit Fedora Linux Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Fedora Linux a good macOS alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026fedoraproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Sponsor
    Red Hat
    Checked Oct 25, 2026fedoraproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Workstation desktop
    GNOME
    Checked Oct 25, 2026fedoraproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
    KDE edition
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026fedoraproject.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Atomic desktop
    Silverblue
    Checked Oct 25, 2026fedoraproject.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best macOS alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Windows logo

Best macOS alternative for most people

Windows

Runs on far more hardware at every price and has the biggest game and business app library.

Ubuntu logo

Best macOS alternative for a free option

Ubuntu

Free Linux desktop that runs on almost any PC, with a large community and long-term support releases.

Linux Mint logo

Best macOS alternative for open source

Linux Mint

Beginner-friendly Linux with a familiar desktop layout, a good free option on older or cheaper PCs.

Windows logo

Best macOS alternative for Windows

Windows

Runs on far more hardware at every price and has the biggest game and business app library.

Fedora Linux logo

Best macOS alternative for Linux

Fedora Linux

Up-to-date, polished GNOME desktop that suits developers used to a Unix environment on Mac.

macOS alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to macOS?

Windows ranks first right now. Runs on far more hardware at every price and has the biggest game and business app library. Ubuntu and Linux Mint follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to macOS?

Yes. Ubuntu (open source), Linux Mint (open source) and Fedora Linux (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to macOS?

Yes: Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Fedora Linux.

Which macOS alternatives work on Linux?

Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Fedora Linux run on Linux.

Why do people switch from macOS?

The complaints we hear most: only runs on Apple hardware; current release needs Apple silicon; smaller game library than Windows; limited control over hardware upgrades and repairs.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces macOS, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.