Best Free Alternatives to Windows Operating Systems – Not everyone likes Windows. And one or the other might want to try something new. If so, then today we’re going to take you on a journey. You can install some Windows alternatives for the desktop on the computer you already trust, others are tied to the hardware of a manufacturer. And for others, a little creativity is required to see a setup with them as a notebook alternative at all. Are you ready? Let’s go!
Best Free Alternatives to Windows Operating Systems
Apple macOS: Elegant and reliable
The most obvious of the Windows alternatives is the number 2 on the market, Apple macOS . Praised by proponents for ease of use, high reliability and great apps. Critics complain about the confusing Mac AppStore and the look that has hardly changed in ten years. Apple is working on better networking its own worlds and simplifying data exchange between an iPhone/iPad and a Mac, for example.
With macOS, you’re locked into Apple’s Mac hardware, which still doesn’t support touchscreens or an integrated cellular chip. You cannot (legally) install the system on a computer of your choice.
Apple iPadOS: Also a desktop system somewhere
Ever since Apple added a mouse pointer to the relatively young iOS adaptation iPadOS, it has also become conceivable to use an iPad as a notebook . This is supported by a very rich selection of strong apps and games from Apple’s App Store and the thoroughly successful operating concept. The still very limited access to the file system and the limited window management and multitasking concept compared to known desktop systems speak against a genuine Windows alternative.
And just like with macOS, with iPadOS you are locked into Apple’s hardware, more precisely: a more modern iPad.
Linux: Makes Windows partially forget
Linux is an open-source alternative to proprietary operating systems like Windows and macOS. End users can fall back on a large number of variants that are intended to meet a wide variety of requirements. There are currently well over a hundred Linux distributions, some of which differ significantly in scope and appearance. That’s why we could actually speak of more than a hundred Windows alternatives . You can install Linux on any computer and try it out with a live medium before installing it.
Unfortunately, not every single device is compatible with Linux. For example, after installation, the speakers or the touchscreen of a notebook may only work to a limited extent. You have to type in individual commands by hand. If you come from Windows or Mac, you will miss many of the programs known from there (although there are usually alternatives). Playing your favorite games on Linux is possible in principle, but it is a complex setup.
Ubuntu/Kubuntu: Easy-to-use Linux
One of the most widespread Windows alternatives after macOS is Ubuntu , which is developed by the British software house Canonical. A lively developer community supports the Linux distribution; Users receive help on common problems in an active forum. Ubuntu is available in several “flavours”, which means: different desktop surfaces and program combinations. The Ubuntu main version uses the Gnome desktop, which offers a very user-friendly user interface.
Also from Canonical is Kubuntu , which uses the modern desktop KDE/Plasma, which differs significantly from Gnome. Ubuntu is also available in other variants with other desktop interfaces such as Xfce, Budgie or Mate.
Linux Mint: The Best of Windows Alternatives for Switchers?
A similarly large developer community takes care of Linux Mint as behind Ubuntu. The driving forces also focus on simplicity and usability. Mint has the reputation of being particularly suitable for those who are switching to Windows. The most classic of the Windows alternatives uses the Cinnamon desktop by default, which is somewhat reminiscent of the structure of Windows 10. Other available skins are Xfce and Mate.
Other popular Linux distributions
There are currently well over 100 Linux distributions. Some of them have things in common, such as being descended from the great Debian Linux or sharing the same desktop (e.g. Gnome, Mate or Xfce). They differ in individual program elements.
Fedora , Zorin and OpenSuse or Arch Linux are just as popular as Ubuntu and Linux Mint . For those who come from the Apple universe, there are Linux distributions that are very similar to macOS , such as Deepin, Elementary or the Manjaro Modern layout. Raspbian, on the other hand, is a Linux that uses very few resources and is therefore designed to meet the requirements of the Raspberry Pi “craft computer”.
Distro-Watch offers a good overview of Linux variants . Some of the following Windows alternatives that we present to you also work with a Linux kernel. However, their interfaces and their approaches differ greatly from the other, open-source Linux distributions.
Google Chrome OS
Google’s cloud operating system Chrome OS uses a Linux kernel, but otherwise it has little in common with well-known Linux variants. Chrome OS uses its own Chrome browser at its core, with access to Google Play and its Android apps on newer devices. The system is characterized by its “lightness” and very simple operation. In the early days of the system, most programs only ran online, and there was no file system. The system still has that reputation today, although that is no longer the case .
The biggest disadvantage of Chrome OS, however, remains the customization of the apps. There are thousands of good Android apps available to you. However, they are usually only optimized for smartphones and largely lack the convenience of a desktop system. Similar to Apple’s systems, Chrome OS is also limited to the hardware offered for it (Chromebooks, Chrome tablets, Chrome boxes).
Android and Android x86
If you have an Android tablet, you can connect suitable accessories (e.g. from Logitech) to it via Bluetooth and use it with a mouse and keyboard. The scenario is not ideal, but it can definitely serve as a laptop replacement in an emergency.
The Android-x86 project is geared even more towards Android for the desktop . The idea here is to install open source Android (similar to “normal” Linux) on a PC and then enjoy the benefits of Android. The whole thing becomes more interesting with a self-developed window manager that makes the project more desktop-like. The disadvantages: Android-x86 is currently only tested on a few computers, incompatibilities are likely to arise. And: It’s Android – a surface actually optimized for touch handhelds.
Experimental Windows alternatives
The systems mentioned above are the most well-known, simplest and also the most compatible Windows alternatives. From here it gets experimental. This means that the following systems are not always compatible with modern hardware and do not always offer what users expect from modern operating systems. Give them a try, but don’t throw your well-running Windows installation to the wind for now!
FreeDos, Haiku, ArcaOS and ReactOS: Heirs to famous systems
FreeDOS continues the legacy of MS DOS. A graphical user interface is missing, you can enter learned DOS commands. The free system is particularly suitable if you want to run your old games again or save data from ancient software that is still in use.
The FreeDOS initiative keeps DOS alive
Under the name Haiku , a small community of developers continues the legacy of the former operating system alternative BeOS. In order to be able to offer a modern browser and an e-mail client, Haiku uses current hardware drivers that come from the FreeBSD initiative (see below). Similar to Linux, there is also a package manager.
Haiku is a BeOS-style operating system
ReactOS is an open source initiative not based on Linux or Unix. Instead, the developers are oriented towards Windows NT, also visually. The developers write that Windows drivers and programs run on it. The idea of the active scene is a reliable Windows without Microsoft. After many years and several alpha versions, the beta, which is still current today, was released in 2018.
ReactOS: Like (an older) Windows without Microsoft
And then there’s even an open-source successor to IBM’s earlier attempt to counter Microsoft with OS/2. ArcaOS continues OS/2. 16-bit Windows programs should run on it, as well as old DOS applications.
Other Unix derivatives: BSD and Illumos
BSD (Berkely Software Distribution) is not Linux, but a side arm that also descends from Unix and comes in several variants. FreeBSD , for example, formed the basis for Apple’s OS X, it is also used on Sony Playstations or the Nintendo Switch. Nevertheless, users can also use desktop interfaces such as Gnome for the most common, still maintained BSD projects OpenBSD, FreeBSD and NetBSD.
The Nintendo Switch (Lite) uses FreeBSD as the operating system.
Not enough Windows alternatives yet? Another Unix derivative is Solaris , which is used for servers . For the last time in 2009, operator Oracle released an open-source version for desktop computers. Former developers of the project then continued to operate OpenSolaris without the help of Oracle and call the fork Illumos .
The concept is similar to Linux, but there is not such a large community behind it for a long time. The Illumos counterpart to Ubuntu Linux is said to be OpenIndiana , an easy-to-use 64-bit desktop operating system. The current version of the so-called “Hipster” interface, which by no means looks outdated, is from 2019.
OpenIndiana with the Mate-based “Hipster” desktop
Tip: Virtualize Windows alternatives
Finally, a tip: If you are not sure whether the respective Windows alternative is something for you, then simply try it out in a virtual machine like VirtualBox . The Windows alternatives presented here (apart from macOS, iPadOS and Chrome OS) can be downloaded free of charge and virtualized on your computer.
Conclusion
Even Windows alternatives are not without disadvantages, you know that now, at the latest after reading this article. But if Windows is not for you at all, then you can also find a nice home somewhere else. MacOS and Linux are particularly suitable for this.