20 Best Windows Operating Systems Alternatives You need to Try

August 2, 2017

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Windows OS, computer operating system (OS) developed by Microsoft Corporation to run personal computers (PCs). Featuring the first graphical user interface (GUI) for IBM-compatible PCs, the Windows OS soon dominated the PC market. Approximately 90 percent of PCs run some version of Windows.

In this post, I will Show you 20 Best Windows Operating Systems Alternatives You Need to Try

20 Best Windows Operating Systems Alternatives

1. Mac OS X

Apple’s Mac OS X is preinstalled on Macs, but Macs are now just another type of PC with the same standard hardware inside. The only thing stopping you from installing Mac OS X on a typical PC is Apple’s license agreement and the way they limit their software.Mac OS X can run just fine on typical PCs if you can get around these restrictions.

There’s a thriving community of people building PCs that run Mac OS X — known as Hackintosh — out there.

2. Remix OS

Remix OS is the operating system you should be installing if you want the best Android experience on the desktop. Unlike Chrome OS, this is Android revamped to suit your desktop needs like a mouse & keyboard controls. There’s better Windows-like multitasking, a start menu, system tray, notification center, keyboard shortcuts and support for Google Play Store. We’ve already tried Remix OS in the past and once you’ve used it, we are sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its beautiful interface and sleek performance. Installing it shouldn’t be a problem, as it’s available for any Windows PC or Mac.

3. Debian

Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system. It is distributed with access to repositories containing thousands of software packages ready for installation and use. Debian is known for strict adherence to the Unix and free software philosophies as well as using collaborative software development and testing processes. Debian can be used as a desktop as well as server operating system.

4. Cub Linux

If you want the best of Chrome OS and Linux, Cub Linux is what you should be installing on your computer. The platform offers Chrome OS features like web apps, Google integration and speedy performance combined with Ubuntu Linux capabilities like mainstream apps and hardware compatibility. Moreover, it looks very similar to Chrome OS, so you should feel right at home. Technically, it’s not Chrome OS but the developers have made sure to use various Chromium OS open-source elements on top of Ubuntu open-source project to make things familiar for Chrome OS users. Cub Linux is available for all x86 systems, which means it should run fine on PCs, Macs and Chromebooks, so you can even replace Chrome OS.

5. ReactOS

ReactOS is a free, open-source reimplementation of the Windows NT architecture. In other words, it’s an attempt to reimplement Windows as an open-source operating system that’s compatible with all Windows applications and drivers. ReactOS shares some code with the Wine project, which allows you to run Windows applications on Linux or Mac OS X. It’s not based on Linux — it wants to be an open-source operating system built just like Windows NT. (Modern consumer versions of Windows have been built on Windows NT since Windows XP.)

This operating system is considered alpha. Its current goal is to become compatible with Windows Server 2003, so it has a long way to go.

6. Android

Android also uses the Linux kernel, but practically everything else on Android is very different from typical Linux distributions. Originally designed for smartphones, you can now get Android laptops and even desktops. It’s no surprise that a variety of projects exist to run Android on traditional PCs — Intel even develops their own port of Android to PC hardware. It’s not an ideal operating system for your PC — it still doesn’t allow you to use multiple apps at the same time — but you could install it if you really wanted to.

7. Fedora

The Fedora Project is an openly-developed project designed by Red Hat, open for general participation, led by a meritocracy, following a set of project objectives. The goal of The Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete, general purpose operating system exclusively from open source software. Development will be done in a public forum. The project will produce time-based releases of Fedora about 2-3 times a year, with a public release schedule. The Red Hat engineering team will continue to participate in building Fedora and will invite and encourage more outside participation than in past releases. By using this more open process, we hope to provide an operating system more in line with the ideals of free software and more appealing to the open source community.

8. Linux Mint

elementary OS is a free, fast and aesthetically pleasing operating system based on Ubuntu.

elementary OS ships with a carefully curated selection of apps that cater to every day need so you can spend more time using your computer and less time cleaning up bloatware.

A free, fast and aesthetically pleasing operating system based on Ubuntu Created by elementary project

9. Red Hat

Red Hat is the leader in development, deployment, and management of Linux and open source solutions for Internet infrastructure – ranging from embedded devices to secure Web servers. Red Hat was founded in 1994 by visionary entrepreneurs Bob Young and Marc Ewing. Open source is the foundation of our business model. It represents a fundamental shift in how software is created. The code that makes up the software is available to anyone. Developers who use the software are free to improve the software. The result: rapid innovation.

Red Hat solutions combine Red Hat Linux, developer, and embedded technologies, training, management services, technical support. We deliver this open source innovation to our customers via an Internet platform called Red Hat Network. Red Hat is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

10. Ubuntu Server

The leading platform for scale-out computing, Ubuntu Server helps you make the most of your infrastructure. Whether you want to deploy an OpenStack cloud, a Hadoop cluster or a 50,000-node render farm, Ubuntu Server delivers the best value scale-out performance available.

11. Andromium OS

Andromium OS is technically an Android app, unlike others on the list. Similar to Microsoft’s Continuum, the app lets you connect your Android smartphone to a monitor or TV to run Android like a full blown desktop platform. It brings its own interface and apps to make sure that your Android experience on the desktop feels apt for the larger display and mouse-keyboard usage. You can connect your smartphone to a monitor or TV through an adapter, dock, Chromecast or Miracast. The app is available for free as of now as part of its beta program, so you should grab it now.

12. Xubuntu

Xubuntu is an elegant and easy-to-use operating system. Xubuntu comes with Xfce, which is a stable, light and configurable desktop environment.

It is perfect for those who want to make the most of their desktops, laptops, and netbooks, featuring a modern look and enough features for efficient, daily usage. It works well on older hardware too.

Ideas behind Xubuntu
– Usability
Xubuntu should help the user to accomplish their task, not be in the way. Furthermore, the various aspects of Xubuntu should be configurable.

– Performance
Xubuntu should allow the user to get the most out of their hardware while being user-friendly. It should be lightweight enough to run on moderately old machines as well.

– Ready to use product
The Xubuntu experience should be smooth and unified from the boot to the shutdown. All aspects of the operating system should be integrated and polished.

– Community
The community infrastructure and communication should be robust enough to enable the contributors to direct their efforts into making Xubuntu better and not resolve irrelevant issues.

13. openSUSE

openSUSE is a free and Linux-based operating system for your PC, Laptop or Server.

The openSUSE distribution is stable, easy to use and complete multi-purpose distribution.

It is aimed towards users and developers working on the desktop or server. It is great for beginners, experienced users and ultra geeks alike, in short, it is perfect for everybody! The latest release, openSUSE 13.1, features new and massively improved versions of all useful server and desktop applications. It comes with more than 1,000 open source applications.

openSUSE is also the base for SUSE’s award-winning SUSE Linux Enterprise products.

The openSUSE project is a worldwide effort that promotes the use of Linux everywhere. openSUSE creates one of the world’s best Linux distributions, working together in an open, transparent and friendly manner as part of the worldwide Free and Open Source Software community.

14. Chromium OS

Google Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google to work exclusively with web applications. The only application on the operating system is a web browser, which includes a media player. The user interface takes a minimalist approach, resembling that of the Chrome web browser. Additionally, Chrome OS has a minimal boot time, of approximately 8 seconds on a Chromebook.

Chromium OS is now maintained by a man known as Hexxah.Hexxah has 2 versions the first is Vanilla And the second is Lime.The lime Version is the same as Vanilla but has more Hardware support Even though sometimes vanilla will work when lime doesn’t.Hexxah is currently working on Version 2.1

Google Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system designed by Google to work exclusively with web… Created by Hexxah

15. Gallium OS

At the same time as there are numerous Linux distributions for Chrome OS, in case you need the great acting Linux distro in your Chromebook, you must strive out Gallium OS. The Chrome OS alternative for Chromebooks, built on top of Xubuntu integrates Chrome OS drivers for a higher experience all around. Additionally, it fixes something insects Chrome OS gives, plus as we cited, it gives the fine Chromebook optimization. In conjunction with all that, you get all of the Linux capabilities.

16. NayuOS

NayuOS is simply a variant of Chrome OS with very little under the hood changes. It’s not really aimed at end consumers but if you are looking for better security & privacy and you want to be free of Google’s boundations in Chrome OS, you can give it a try. The NayuOS removes Google login, which should be great for people who don’t want to enter their Google account to use the Chromebook all the time. Along with that, there are various other improvements to improve developer environment, usability, security and privacy of users. Sadly, the OS is available only for a handful of Chromebooks but we do hope it arrives on more devices soon.

17. Manjaro Linux

Manjaro is a user-friendly Linux distribution based on the independently developed Arch operating system. Within the Linux community, Arch itself is renowned for being an exceptionally fast, powerful, and lightweight distribution that provides access to the very latest cutting edge – and bleeding edge – software. However, Arch is also aimed at more experienced or technically-minded users. As such, it is generally considered to be beyond the reach of those who lack the technical expertise (or persistence) required to use it.

Developed in Austria, France, and Germany, Manjaro provides all the benefits of the Arch operating system combined with a focus on user-friendliness and accessibility. Available in both 32 and 64-bit versions, Manjaro is suitable for newcomers as well as experienced Linux users. For newcomers, a user-friendly installer is provided, and the system itself is designed to work fully ‘straight out of the box’ with features including:
– Pre-installed desktop environments
– Pre-installed graphical applications to easily install software and update your system, and
– Pre-installed codecs to play multimedia files

For more experienced – and adventurous – users Manjaro also offers the configurability and versatility to be shaped and molded in every respect to suit personal taste and preference. Furthermore, a minimalist NET-Edition is also available in both 32 and 64-bit versions. Stripped of any pre-installed software, this provides a base installation on which to build your own system; starting from a command line, be completely free to choose your own greeters, desktops, hardware drivers, software applications, and so on!

18. Kubuntu

Kubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system using the KDE graphical environment instead of GNOME. It is part of the Ubuntu project and uses the same underlying system. It is possible to run both the KDE desktop (Kubuntu-desktop) as well as the Gnome desktop (Ubuntu-desktop) interchangeably on the same machine.

The Kubuntu desktop is supporting to full customization Originally designed to ease the transition for users from other operating systems (such as Microsoft Windows) by allowing a similar desktop layout, and the KDE 4 Plasma Desktop incorporates widget-centric modularity that allows the user to incorporate function similar to all other operating systems.

19. Jolicloud

Update: Jolicloud OS discontinued. Do you have a small memory low-speed netbook? Then Jolicloud is the best operating system for you. It is a Linux-based operating system that is currently in development and Pre-Final testing.

This Operating system is built upon Debian and Ubuntu 9.10, but is tweaked to be more suitable for computers that have weaker specifications in terms of disk storage, memory, and screen size, like netbook computers. Jolicloud relies heavily on Chromium-based packages for running web-based applications. For Windows-only products it uses Wine.

20. EasyPeasy

The Ubuntu Netbook Edition is great, but a lot of things don’t work out of the box. MP3s, for example, can’t be played until you install the codecs. EasyPeasy aims to be simple by offering proprietary applications and codecs out of the box. You’ll be pleased to find your favorites including Skype and Picasa included by default.

Installing EasyPeasy is pretty easy. Check out downloads and installation instructions over at easypeasy.com

Try out these different Windows OS alternatives

If you are looking for a Windows OS alternative that includes more features or you just want to run another platform on your Chromebook, we have you covered on all fronts. So, select the Windows OS alternative that fits your needs and try it out on your PC or Mac. Do let us know your choice in the comments section below.