30 Major Linux Distributions to Know About in 2021

30 Major Linux Distributions to Know About in 2021

If you are looking for the best Linux distributions this article is for you. Let’s find the major Linux distributions to know about in 2021.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu has been developed by Canonical Ltd and is mostly free and open-source. It is one of the most popular Linux distro and is based on Debian. The latest version is 21.04 “Hirsute Hippo”. Ubuntu’s first release was 4.10 “Warty Warthog” on October 20, 2004.

Latest Version: Ubuntu 21.04 Hirsuite Hippo

Fedora Linux

Fedora Linux has been developed under a community-supported Fedora Project and is free and open-source. It’s primarily sponsored by Red Hat with added support from others. Fedora’s latest release is Fedora 34. After Fedora 30, there are 5 different editions of Fedora, such as

  • Workstation — Works on PCs
  • Server — Dedicated to servers
  • CoreOS — Built for cloud computing
  • Silverblue — Enables container-based works
  • IoT — Runs on IoT devices

Latest Version: Fedora 34

Debian

Debian was developed by the community-supported The Debian Project and is free and open-source. It’s one of the oldest Linux distros developed by The Debian Project. Debian 11.0 “Bullseye” is the latest release of Debian. Debian is the base of many other distributions including Ubuntu. The Debian Stable branch is used majorly by PCs and servers.

Latest Version: Debian 11.0 “Bullseye”

GNOME

GNOME actually was an acronym for GNU Network Object Model Environment. It’s developed by The GNOME Project and is free and open-source. Red Hat is the largest contributor of GNOME. GNOME project offers software frameworks to develop software, end-user applications, and coordination for internationalization and localization and accessibility of the software. GNOME 41 is the latest GNOME release.

Latest Version: GNOME 41

Linux Mint

Linux Mint is a community-driven Linux distribution and comes with a good variety of free and open-source apps. Mint was developed by Clément Lefèbvre. Linux Mint is suitable for developers, professionals, and students. The latest version is Linux Mint 20.2 “Uma”.

Latest Version: Linux Mint 20.2 “Uma”

Pop!_OS

Pop!_OS is created by American computer manufacturer System76. It’s free and open-source and based upon Ubuntu and features a custom GNOME desktop. This distro was built primarily for the System76 computers, but it can be downloaded on other computers as well. Pop!_OS is considered to be most suitable for gaming due to its AMD and Nvidia GPU support. 21.04 is the latest release of Pop!_OS.

Latest Version: Pop!_OS 21.04

RHEL

RHEL or Red Hat Enterprise Linux, was developed by Red Hat for commercial purposes. It is released in server versions for Power ISA, x86–64, IBM Z, and ARM64. A desktop version for x86–64 is also made available. Red Hat 8.4 is the latest release of RHEL. Red Hat has strict rules to restrict free redistribution of RHEL.

Latest Version: RHEL 8.4

Manjaro Linux

Manjaro Linux is based on Arch Linux OS. It’s free and open-source and was developed by Manjaro mbH & Co.KG. Manjaro aims to be user-friendly, easily accessible, and “straight out of the box”. Manjaro 21.1.4 “Pahvo” is the latest version. Manjaro uses Pacman as the package manager and features a rolling release update model.

Latest Version: Manjaro 21.1.4 “Pahvo”

Arch Linux

Arch Linux has been created mainly for computers having x86–64 processors. The strategy of Arch Linux is KISS that means “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. The project goes through very little distribution-specific changes. Therefore, it faces minimal breakage with updates. Also, it prefers to focus on being customizable over user-friendly. Pacman is used to install, update, and remove software packages. Arch uses a rolling release model which means it has no “major releases” of entirely new versions. Just a regular system update is done.

elementary OS

elementary OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution developed and maintained by Elementary, Inc. It’s an open-source distribution and claims to be a “thoughtful, capable, and ethical” alternative to Windows and macOS. The desktop environment of this distro is known as Pantheon. 6.0 “Odin” is the latest release of the elementary OS.

Latest Version: elementary OS 6.0 “Odin”

Alma Linux

AlmaLinux was originally developed by the CloudLinux. It’s free and open-source. Alma Linux aims to provide production-grade enterprise OS supported by the community. This OS is binary-compatible with RHEL. 8.4 is the latest version of Alma Linux operating system.

Latest Version: Alma Linux 8.4

OpenSUSE

OpenSUSE is one of the popular Linux distributions. It promotes the free and open-source software. OpenSUSE is mainly popular for its releases — Tumbleweed, a tested rolling release, and their latest release with long-term support, Leap. OpenSUSE offers a good range of tools, such as Open Build Service, YaST, Snapper, openQA, KIWI, Portus, Machinery, and OSEM.

Latest Version: openSUSE Leap 15.3

Oracle Linux

Oracle Linux, formerly Oracle Enterprise Linux, is freely distributed by Oracle and it’s partially available under the GNU GPL license. It’s compiled from RHEL source code and is used by Oracle Cloud along with Oracle Engineered Systems like Oracle Exadata among others.

Latest Version: Oracle Linux 8.4

MX Linux

MX Linux is open-source and is developed by MX community. It’s a Debian-based distro that uses core aniX components. MX community aims to create “a family of operating systems that are designed to combine elegant and efficient desktops with high stability and solid performance”. MX Linux was created as a joint venture between MEPIS and antiX.

Latest Version: MX-19.4

Slackware

Slackware is created by Patrick Volkerding in 1993 based on Softlanding Linux System. It follows a open-source model. Quite notably, Slackware is the oldest Linux distro that’s still active. Slackware is well known for its simplicity and design stability. It makes as less modifications as possible to its software packages.

Latest Version: Slackware 14.2

Kali Linux

Kali Linux is based on Debian and is open-source. It has been built and maintained by Offensive Security. Kali was designed for the purpose of digital forensics. Kali Linux offers a variety of IT security testing tools, such as Armitage, Nmap, John the Ripper, sqlmap, Burp Suite, and others.

Latest Version: Kali Linux 2021.3

Tails

Tails, also known as The Amnesic Incognito Live System, is another security-focused Linux distribution, also based on Debian. Each of the connections, whether it’s incoming or outgoing, go through a Tor network. It blocks any connection that’s non-anonymous. Tails is developed by The Tails Project and can be run as a virtual device (VM).

Latest Version: Tails 4.23

Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Linux is created by the Gentoo Foundation. It was named after a fast-swimming penguin called gentoo. It’s built with Portage Package Management System and is open-source. The source code is compiled keeping user’s preferences in mind. It’s often optimized for a particular type of computer.

Raspberry Pi OS

Raspberry Pi OS, earlier known as Raspbian, is Debian-based system primarily built for Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi Foundation is the creator of this Linux distribution. However, the very first OS was developed as an independent project by Peter Green and Mike Thompson. Raspberry is highly optimized for the single-board computers and comes with ARM CPUs.

Latest Version: Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit)

OpenMandriva Lx

OpenMandriva Lx is the direct descendant of Mandriva Linux. OpenMandriva is developed by the OpenMandriva Association and Cooker Group an independent and unique Linux distribution. It’s open source. In 2012 OpenMandriva was created to avoid bankruptcy caused by abandoning it consumer product development to the Mandriva community.

Latest Version: OpenMandriva Lx 4.2

Nitrux

Nitrux distribution is based on Debian. Mexico-based multidisciplinary designer Uri Herrera created Nitrux that uses Calamares installer. Nitrux claims to be #YourNextOS. It includes NX Firewall and NX Desktop based on KDE Plasma 5 desktop and open-source MauiKit Applications. Other features are AppImages, OpenRC, itch.io, Kup, and NX Software Center. Nitrux OS looks beautiful, yet it’s underrated.

Latest Version: Nitrux 1.6.1

Zorin OS

Zorin OS is a beginner-friendly OS designed for PCs by the Zorin Group. Zorin is open-source and has developed using C, C++, Python, Java, and D programming language. It uses it own repositories along with Ubuntu repositories. If you are a game lover, Zorin OS is a must-try! PlayOnLinux and Wine can be installed in Zorin. You can avail their three free-of-charge editions and can purchase a “Pro” edition.

Latest Version: Zorin OS 16

SparkyLinux

SparkyLinux is developed by the SparkyLinux Team based on Debian. SparkyLinux provides an operating system with various customized lightweight desktop environments. SparkyLinux implements only testing based rolling-release-cycle. The default desktops are LXQT, Xfce, and MATE. Using the Sparky APTus, you can freely install other desktops.

Latest Version: SparkyLinux 6.0

Parrot OS

Parrot OS created by Lorenzo “Palinuro” Faletra is a Debian-based Linux distribution. It provides a great solution towards online privacy, security, and development. Debian’s “testing” branch and Linux kernel 5.10 are used to develop Parrot OS. This distro is suitable for your system if you have at least 256MB RAM and 32-bit (i386) or 64-bit (amd64) processor.

Latest Version: Parrot OS 4.11.2

OMV Linux

OpenMediaVault, in short OMV, is a Linux distro based on Debian. It was designed by Volker Theile for network-attached storage (NAS). OMV is free and open-source. The features included are web-based GUI, multi-language, statistic reports via email, Quota, plug-in system, access controls via ACL, and several others.

Latest Version: OpenMediaVault 5.6.12 “Usul”

Solus

Solus, earlier Evolve OS, is a Linux kernel-based independently built operating system. It runs on x86–64 architecture. Solus lets you to choose from Budgie, GNOME, KDE Plasma, and MATE desktop environments. Its eopkg package manager is derived from PiSi package management system of Pardus Linux. Solus is open-source and follows a semi-rolling release model.

Latest Version: Solus 4.3 “Fortitude”

Garuda Linux

Garuda Linux is an Arch Linux-based open-source distribution. Garuda offers a variety of colored UI desktop environments. It features a rolling release model with its package manager Pacman. Garuda’s logo is a blue eagle. The term Garuda has been originated from Hindu holy eagle-like sun bird known as Garuda. Garuda has a great range of gaming desktops.

Latest Version: Rolling release

KaOS

KaOS is a desktop distribution that features KDE’s latest desktop version, Calligra office suite, and some popular software apps built with Qt toolkit. KaOS was Arch Linux-inspired. But in their repositories, you’ll find separately-built by their own developers.

Latest Version: KaOS 2021.08

NethServer

NethServer is created for server requirements based on CentOS. It offers a comprehensive web-based UI. This simplifies admin jobs and allows single-click installation of various pre-configured modules. NethServer is primarily developed for small and mid size businesses.

Latest Version: Neth Server 7.9

Mageia

Mageia is a free and open-source Linux distribution. The Greek term mageia means fascination, enchantment, glamour, wizardry. Mageia was forked from Mandriva Linux. As a matter of fact, Mageia provides a large repository of software, like a variety of games and productivity applications. It’s the first distro where Oracle’s MySQL was replaced by MariaDB.

Latest Version: Mageia 8