Choosing the right Linux distribution can significantly impact your computing experience. Whether you prioritize stability, software availability, hardware support, or ease of use, understanding the differences between popular distributions can help you make an informed choice. This post compares several widely-used Linux distros, grouped by their base, to guide your decision.
Summary
| Distro | Immutable | Secure Boot | Nvidia Driver | TPM FDE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debian | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Ubuntu | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Linux Mint | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| AnduinOS | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| elementary OS | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Zorin OS | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| MX Linux | ❌ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| Vanilla OS | ✔️ | ✔️ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| Endless OS | ✔️ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| Fedora | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Fedora Atomic | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ | ❌ |
| AlmaLinux | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Universal Blue 👍 | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Nobara | ❌ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| openSUSE Leap | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed 👍 | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Arch Linux | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| CachyOS | ❌ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| EndeavourOS | ❌ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| Manjaro | ❌ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| blendOS | ✔️ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| NixOS | ❌ | ❌ | Unsigned | ❌ |
| Solus | ❌ | ✔️ | Unsigned | ❌ |
Debian-based Distributions
Debian
Pros:
- Extremely stable and reliable
- Vast software repository with extensive package availability
Cons:
- Software versions are often older
Ubuntu
Pros:
- Polished user interface and aesthetics
- Sensible modifications to the GNOME desktop environment
- Large community and extensive documentation
- Regular release cycle with Long-Term Support (LTS) options
Cons:
- Snap packages can be slow and may have sandboxing issues
- Browser integration (e.g., Firefox with password managers) is broken due to Snap
- Canonical restricts installation of the traditional .deb version of Firefox
Linux Mint
Pros:
- Very beginner-friendly
- Avoids Snap packages by default
Cons:
- Does not offer GNOME or KDE Plasma editions
- Installer has several known bugs
- Ignores user-selected EFI System Partition and installs bootloader to the first ESP found
Vanilla OS
Pros:
- Atomic and immutable design for increased stability
- Innovative Apx package manager for containerized applications
Cons:
- Relatively new project with a smaller community
Fedora-based Distributions
Fedora
Pros:
- Newer versions of software packages
- Good balance between stability and cutting-edge features
Fedora Atomic
Pros:
- Atomic and immutable design for reliability
- Newer package versions
AlmaLinux
Pros:
- RHEL-based with excellent stability and long-term support
- Binary compatible with RHEL
- Strong focus on enterprise and server use cases
- 10-year support lifecycle
Cons:
- Conservative package versions with older software
- Smaller selection of desktop software
Universal Blue (Bazzite, Bluefin, Aurora)
Pros:
- Atomic and immutable design
- “Batteries included” approach with pre-configured tools
- Different flavors for various use cases (gaming, development, general use)
- Regular automatic updates with easy rollback
Cons:
- Relatively new project with evolving stability
openSUSE-based Distributions
openSUSE Leap
Pros:
- YaST configuration tool simplifies system administration
- Btrfs with snapshots enabled by default
openSUSE Tumbleweed
Pros:
- Rolling release model with automated testing
- Snapshot functionality with easy rollback
- Latest software versions available quickly
- Includes the same YaST tools as Leap
Cons:
- Rolling release requires more frequent updates
Final Thoughts
Each Linux distribution offers unique advantages and trade-offs. Your ideal choice will depend on your specific needs—whether that’s hardware compatibility, software freshness, stability, or ease of use. From beginners to advanced users, there’s a Linux distro tailored to fit almost any workflow.