The latest stats from Distrowatch reveal the most popular Linux distributions of the past six months, ranked by page hits per day (HPD). Some of these names will be familiar, but there are also a couple of them making waves.
MX Linux continues its streak at the top, showcasing its strong user base and appeal among lightweight distro enthusiasts.
Linux Mint is a consistent favorite, especially among users seeking a familiar, Windows-like experience.
EndeavourOS, an Arch-based distro, is gaining popularity rapidly, catering to those who want a streamlined, minimal Arch experience without the hassle of manual installation.
CachyOS, a new entry, is shaking things up. It’s clear that users are interested in trying something fresh that prioritizes performance.
Which of these distros have you tried?
Are there any distros on this top 10 list that you haven’t heard of or curious to try?
I have tried all of these except CachyOS. Looking forward to giving this Arch Linux-based spin a try!!
Fedora, Mint and Ubuntu I have tried. Used mostly Ubuntu till now till few months ago and then shifted to the Fedora and will stick to the Ubuntu, Mint and Fedora as that suffices. If my workplace offers a Mac then will also take.
Good to know that, havent heard about it as I have never used Arch Linux but why not. The main problem with the Arch linux is the command line based installation and this seems to overcome that so why not. With this, it might be that i have all system worked on from Ubuntu, Fedora to Arch Linux based CachyOS. Thank you for giving me this information and i am not yet sure that i will use right now but surely i will give a try as and when i find it suitable to work.
I look at the command line installer for Arch Linux as an opportunity, not a problem.
The Arch Linux manual installation process provides an in-depth understanding of Linux, especially in areas like disk partitioning, configuring bootloaders, managing services, and understanding package management with pacman. This foundational knowledge can be invaluable for troubleshooting and system customization in the future.
I believe long term Linux users should try to experience at least one of these 3 distros for a good amount of time, at least once: Arch, Slackware or Gentoo.
These distros emphasize control, transparency, and minimalism. By working with them, users gain a deeper appreciation for the underlying system processes and are forced to learn more about Linux internals. This experience builds confidence and can make users more proficient in using any Linux distribution, not just those more generic/ popular ones.
Also remember that Arch also now has Archinstaller, which much faster for those who maybe have done it manually many times.
Thats very true @hydn and i have no problem in using that unless it offers something intitutive and out of the box. Trying many distros just for the sake of trying a distros, graphical layout and others is not my specific aim and goal.
Yes, learning them along the way is what i am intrigued about. However, i appreciate this information as this tells me that when i have suitable time then which distros i should looked upon as a part of trying them out. Apart from that i find that Fedora, Mint and Ubunutu does all the work, which all others distros do and according to the slackware, these are the dominant ones at any workplace in addition to Arch Linux.
First, let me specify that I don’t consider having tried a distro unless I have actually installed it and used it for real work or play for at least a couple of weeks. In other words, just booting to a live flash drive and checking it out for a few minutes dosn’t count, although I have done that many, many times. Having said that, I have used Zorin OS 16 and 17, Linux Mint 22, and, as a main driver, Ubuntu 24.04. Of those, I really enjoyed Zorin for its good looks and well thought out desktop customizations. Mint is fine, if you were a big fan of Windows XP. Ubuntu is stable, businesslike, and offers a pleasing combination of everything-done-for-you and do-it-yourself. I like the Ubuntu community and the support thrown behind it by Canonical.
Agreed. Yes, and with Ubuntu, Canonical is a step above the rest with Ubuntu Pro, which allows a personal subscription for 5 machines for you or any business you own!
