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Zorin OS alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Zorin OS: several layouts and bundled apps are reserved for the paid Pro edition, and major releases lag behind the Ubuntu LTS they are based on. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Zorin OS, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Linux Mint currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Linux Mint logoLinux MintOpen sourceYesLinux4 of 466.5
2Ubuntu logoUbuntuOpen sourceYesLinux4 of 462.6
3Fedora Linux logoFedora LinuxOpen sourceYesLinux5 of 559.6
4Windows logoWindowsPaidNoWindows4 of 457.2
  1. Linux Mint logo

    1. Linux MintTop pick

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

    Open sourceLinux

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Zorin OS

    Also Ubuntu-based and aimed at newcomers, with every feature free and a traditional Cinnamon desktop instead of paid layouts.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Linux Mint a good Zorin OS 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)
  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 Zorin OS

    The base Zorin is built on, with newer releases first and the largest community for help and guides.

    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 Zorin OS 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. Fedora Linux logo

    3. Fedora Linux

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

    Open sourceLinux

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Zorin OS

    Ships newer GNOME and kernel versions quickly, for users who want a more current Linux desktop than Zorin's Ubuntu base.

    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 ×0.377
    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 Fedora Linux a good Zorin OS 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)
  4. Windows logo

    4. Windows

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

    PaidWindows

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Zorin OS

    The system most Zorin users came from, still the safest choice for Windows-only apps and anti-cheat games.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Windows a good Zorin OS 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)

The best Zorin OS alternative for…

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

Linux Mint logo

Best Zorin OS alternative for most people

Linux Mint

Also Ubuntu-based and aimed at newcomers, with every feature free and a traditional Cinnamon desktop instead of paid layouts.

Ubuntu logo

Best Zorin OS alternative for a free option

Ubuntu

The base Zorin is built on, with newer releases first and the largest community for help and guides.

Fedora Linux logo

Best Zorin OS alternative for open source

Fedora Linux

Ships newer GNOME and kernel versions quickly, for users who want a more current Linux desktop than Zorin's Ubuntu base.

Windows logo

Best Zorin OS alternative for Windows

Windows

The system most Zorin users came from, still the safest choice for Windows-only apps and anti-cheat games.

Linux Mint logo

Best Zorin OS alternative for Linux

Linux Mint

Also Ubuntu-based and aimed at newcomers, with every feature free and a traditional Cinnamon desktop instead of paid layouts.

Zorin OS alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Zorin OS?

Linux Mint ranks first right now. Also Ubuntu-based and aimed at newcomers, with every feature free and a traditional Cinnamon desktop instead of paid layouts. Ubuntu and Fedora Linux follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Zorin OS?

Yes. Linux Mint (open source), Ubuntu (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 Zorin OS?

Yes: Linux Mint, Ubuntu and Fedora Linux.

Which Zorin OS alternatives work on Linux?

Linux Mint, Ubuntu and Fedora Linux run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Zorin OS?

The complaints we hear most: several layouts and bundled apps are reserved for the paid Pro edition; major releases lag behind the Ubuntu LTS they are based on; smaller community than Ubuntu or Linux Mint for troubleshooting.

How is this list ranked?

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