Year in review

Most Popular Linux Distros of 2025

In 2025, Starbuntu was the most-viewed operating system on OpenSourceFeed, ahead of ROSA Linux and EndeavourOS. KDE Plasma led the desktop environments. The biggest climber in the top 50 was Pentoo, up from #81 to #9.

Jan 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025 · compared with 2024

See the live ranking →

Operating Systems

#1 Starbuntu

Ubuntu-based

– 100/100

#2 ROSA Linux

Independent

Latest: ROSA Desktop Fresh R10

▲ 1 92/100

#3 EndeavourOS

Arch-based

Latest: EndeavourOS Titan Nova

▼ 1 68/100

Biggest risers

Pentoo #81 → #9 ▲ 72 places up from rank 81
Tails #78 → #20 ▲ 58 places up from rank 78
Nitrux Linux #84 → #28 ▲ 56 places up from rank 84

Biggest fallers

ArchBang #21 → #41 ▼ 20 places down from rank 21
Solus Linux #19 → #36 ▼ 17 places down from rank 19
Elive Linux #28 → #45 ▼ 17 places down from rank 28

1 Starbuntu Ubuntu-based Openbox –No change 100 out of 100
2 ROSA Linux Independent GNOMEXfceKDE Plasma ▲ 1 places up from rank 3 92 out of 100
3 EndeavourOS Arch-based XfceMATECinnamon ▼ 1 places down from rank 2 68 out of 100
4 Clover OS or CloverOS Gentoo-based Fvwm –No change 63 out of 100
5 KITE GNU/Linux Ubuntu-based GNOMELXDE NEW 29 out of 100
6 CachyOS Arch-based KDE PlasmaXfceMATE ▲ 7 places up from rank 13 28 out of 100
7 4MLinux Independent Jwm ▲ 8 places up from rank 15 20 out of 100
8 Mauna Linux Debian-based XfceGNOMEMATE ▼ 3 places down from rank 5 20 out of 100
9 Pentoo Gentoo-based Xfce ▲ 72 places up from rank 81 16 out of 100
10 Redox OS Independent Optional gui orbital ▲ 23 places up from rank 33 15 out of 100
11 Debian Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaXfce ▲ 27 places up from rank 38 14 out of 100
12 Arch Linux Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaMATE ▲ 10 places up from rank 22 14 out of 100
13 Linux Mint Ubuntu-based MATECinnamonXfce ▲ 19 places up from rank 32 13 out of 100
14 Ubuntu Debian-based UnityGNOMECutefish ▼ 3 places down from rank 11 13 out of 100
15 Linux Lite Ubuntu-based Xfce ▲ 5 places up from rank 20 13 out of 100
16 Kali Linux Debian-based XfceGNOMEKDE Plasma ▼ 9 places down from rank 7 12 out of 100
17 antiX Debian-based IcewmFluxboxJwm ▲ 24 places up from rank 41 12 out of 100
18 Lubuntu Ubuntu-based LXDELXQt ▼ 9 places down from rank 9 12 out of 100
19 CutefishOS Debian-based Cutefish ▼ 13 places down from rank 6 11 out of 100
20 Tails Debian-based GNOME ▲ 58 places up from rank 78 11 out of 100
21 ArchLabs Arch-based Openbox ▲ 8 places up from rank 29 11 out of 100
22 Ultimate Edition Ubuntu-based BudgieGNOMEKDE Plasma ▲ 29 places up from rank 51 11 out of 100
23 Kodachi Linux Debian-based Xfce ▲ 16 places up from rank 39 11 out of 100
24 Apricity OS Arch-based CinnamonGNOME ▼ 10 places down from rank 14 10 out of 100
25 SpiralLinux Debian-based CinnamonXfceGNOME ▲ 5 places up from rank 30 10 out of 100
26 Shark Linux Debian-based MATE ▼ 14 places down from rank 12 10 out of 100
27 Enso OS Ubuntu-based Xfce ▼ 11 places down from rank 16 10 out of 100
28 Nitrux Linux Debian-based Hyprland ▲ 56 places up from rank 84 9 out of 100
29 Fedora Linux Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaMATE ▲ 21 places up from rank 50 9 out of 100
30 Sabayon Linux Gentoo-based KDE PlasmaGNOMEXfce ▲ 5 places up from rank 35 9 out of 100
31 OpenMandriva Independent KDE Plasma ▼ 4 places down from rank 27 9 out of 100
32 elementary OS Ubuntu-based Pantheon ▲ 45 places up from rank 77 9 out of 100
33 Endless OS Debian-based GNOME ▲ 27 places up from rank 60 9 out of 100
34 Archman Arch-based XfceMATEKDE Plasma ▲ 2 places up from rank 36 9 out of 100
35 Q4OS Debian-based TrinityKDE Plasma ▲ 29 places up from rank 64 9 out of 100
36 Solus Linux Independent BudgieXfceGNOME ▼ 17 places down from rank 19 9 out of 100
37 PorteuX Linux Slackware-based CinnamonGNOMEKDE Plasma NEW 9 out of 100
38 Siduction Debian-based KDE PlasmaXfceLXQt ▲ 47 places up from rank 85 9 out of 100
39 Tiny Core Linux Independent ▼ 5 places down from rank 34 9 out of 100
40 Zorin OS Ubuntu-based GNOMEXfce ▲ 31 places up from rank 71 9 out of 100
41 ArchBang Arch-based Openboxi3 ▼ 20 places down from rank 21 8 out of 100
42 Maui Linux Kdeneon-based KDE Plasma ▲ 31 places up from rank 73 8 out of 100
43 SolydXK Debian-based XfceKDE Plasma ▲ 3 places up from rank 46 8 out of 100
44 DragonFly FreeBSD-based AwesomeCinnamonFluxbox ▲ 14 places up from rank 58 8 out of 100
45 Elive Linux Debian-based Enlightenment ▼ 17 places down from rank 28 8 out of 100
46 Netrunner Debian-based KDE Plasma ▲ 13 places up from rank 59 8 out of 100
47 Pardus Debian-based XfceGNOME ▲ 16 places up from rank 63 8 out of 100
48 Vanilla OS Debian-based GNOME ▼ 4 places down from rank 44 8 out of 100
49 MX Linux Debian-based XfceKDE PlasmaFluxbox ▼ 7 places down from rank 42 8 out of 100
50 Neptune Debian-based KDE Plasma ▲ 24 places up from rank 74 8 out of 100
51 ReactOS Independent Windows 9x inspired desktop ▼ 28 places down from rank 23 8 out of 100
52 Voyager Live Debian-based GNOMEXfce ▲ 34 places up from rank 86 8 out of 100
53 TrueOS FreeBSD-based Lumina ▼ 10 places down from rank 43 8 out of 100
54 BackBox Linux Ubuntu-based Xfce ▼ 6 places down from rank 48 7 out of 100
55 deepin Debian-based Deepindesktop ▲ 28 places up from rank 83 7 out of 100
56 FreeBSD Independent ▼ 11 places down from rank 45 7 out of 100
57 RedCore Linux Gentoo-based KDE Plasma ▼ 40 places down from rank 17 7 out of 100
58 feren OS Linuxmint-based Cinnamon ▼ 1 places down from rank 57 7 out of 100
59 openSUSE Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaXfce ▲ 3 places up from rank 62 7 out of 100
60 AerynOS (formerly Serpent OS) Independent GNOMECOSMIC NEW 7 out of 100
61 Korora Fedora-based GNOMEKDE PlasmaMATE –No change 7 out of 100
62 Slax Linux Debian-based Fluxbox ▼ 9 places down from rank 53 7 out of 100
63 Arya Linux LFS-based MATEXfceGNOME ▼ 53 places down from rank 10 7 out of 100
64 MidnightBSD FreeBSD-based LuminaGNOME ▼ 9 places down from rank 55 6 out of 100
65 NetBSD Independent ▲ 36 places up from rank 101 6 out of 100
66 PCLinuxOS Independent XfceKDE PlasmaMATE ▲ 3 places up from rank 69 6 out of 100
67 RefreshOS Debian-based KDE Plasma NEW 6 out of 100
68 Antergos Arch-based CinnamonGNOMEKDE Plasma ▼ 28 places down from rank 40 6 out of 100
69 CRUX Independent Openbox ▼ 15 places down from rank 54 6 out of 100
70 KDE neon Ubuntu-based KDE Plasma ▲ 9 places up from rank 79 6 out of 100
71 Chakra Linux Independent KDE Plasma ▼ 19 places down from rank 52 6 out of 100
72 Trident Trueos-based Lumina ▼ 16 places down from rank 56 6 out of 100
73 Calculate Linux Gentoo-based KDE PlasmaMATEXfce ▼ 36 places down from rank 37 6 out of 100
74 Puppy Linux Independent JwmRoxfiler ▲ 1 places up from rank 75 6 out of 100
75 Sparky Linux Debian-based LXQtMATELXDE ▼ 67 places down from rank 8 6 out of 100
76 GhostBSD FreeBSD-based MATE ▼ 10 places down from rank 66 5 out of 100
77 KaOS Independent KDE Plasma ▼ 5 places down from rank 72 5 out of 100
78 Manjaro Linux Arch-based KDE PlasmaXfceMATE ▼ 54 places down from rank 24 5 out of 100
79 Peppermint OS Debian-based LXDE ▲ 12 places up from rank 91 5 out of 100
80 Salix Slackware-based Xfce ▲ 14 places up from rank 94 5 out of 100
81 Damn Small Linux (DSL) Antix-based FluxboxJwm ▼ 50 places down from rank 31 5 out of 100
82 Pop!_OS Ubuntu-based GNOME ▲ 15 places up from rank 97 5 out of 100
83 Porteus Slackware-based CinnamonMATEKDE Plasma ▼ 65 places down from rank 18 5 out of 100
84 Uruk GNU/Linux Pureos-based MATE ▼ 19 places down from rank 65 5 out of 100
85 Devuan GNU+Linux Debian-based Xfce ▼ 36 places down from rank 49 5 out of 100
86 Parsix GNU/Linux Debian-based GNOME ▼ 18 places down from rank 68 5 out of 100
87 Gentoo Linux Independent BudgieCinnamonFvwm-crystal ▼ 61 places down from rank 26 5 out of 100
88 Gnoppix AI Linux Debian-based XfceGNOMEKDE Plasma NEW 5 out of 100
89 MakuluLinux Debian-based XfceCinnamon ▼ 22 places down from rank 67 5 out of 100
90 Slackel Slackware-based OpenboxMATE ▼ 65 places down from rank 25 5 out of 100
91 Ubuntu Cinnamon Ubuntu-based Cinnamon ▼ 21 places down from rank 70 5 out of 100
92 Kubuntu Ubuntu-based KDE Plasma ▲ 4 places up from rank 96 4 out of 100
93 Linux From Scratch Independent –No change 4 out of 100
94 Mageia Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaXfce ▼ 6 places down from rank 88 4 out of 100
95 UbuntuDDE Remix Ubuntu-based Deepindesktop ▼ 13 places down from rank 82 4 out of 100
96 ArcoLinux Arch-based XfceOpenboxi3 ▼ 49 places down from rank 47 4 out of 100
97 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Independent GNOME ▲ 1 places up from rank 98 4 out of 100
98 Trisquel GNU/Linux Ubuntu-based MATE ▼ 22 places down from rank 76 4 out of 100
99 Xubuntu Ubuntu-based Xfce ▼ 12 places down from rank 87 4 out of 100
100 Bodhi Linux Ubuntu-based Moksha ▼ 11 places down from rank 89 4 out of 100
101 Oracle Linux Red Hat-based GNOME ▼ 11 places down from rank 90 4 out of 100
102 Raspbian Debian-based –No change 4 out of 100
103 Ubuntu MATE Ubuntu-based MATE ▼ 11 places down from rank 92 4 out of 100
104 Ubuntu Unity Ubuntu-based Unity ▼ 9 places down from rank 95 3 out of 100
105 NomadBSD FreeBSD-based Openbox ▼ 25 places down from rank 80 3 out of 100
106 Ubuntu GNOME Ubuntu-based GNOME ▼ 6 places down from rank 100 2 out of 100
107 Raspberry Pi OS Debian-based Labwc (wayland)Pixel (legacy) NEW 2 out of 100
108 Ubuntu Budgie Ubuntu-based Budgie ▼ 9 places down from rank 99 2 out of 100

Desktop Environments

#1 KDE Plasma

Latest: Plasma 5.14.4

▲ 2 100/100

#2 Budgie Desktop

Latest: Budgie Desktop 10.7

▼ 1 97/100

#3 GNOME Desktop Environment

Latest: GNOME 51

▲ 4 75/100

Biggest risers

helloSystem #13 → #7 ▲ 6 places up from rank 13
Trinity Desktop #16 → #12 ▲ 4 places up from rank 16
GNOME Desktop Environment #7 → #3 ▲ 4 places up from rank 7

Biggest fallers

LXQt Desktop Environment #9 → #16 ▼ 7 places down from rank 9
LXDE #14 → #17 ▼ 3 places down from rank 14
Cinnamon Desktop #2 → #4 ▼ 2 places down from rank 2

1 KDE Plasma Plasma 5.14.4 ▲ 2 places up from rank 3 100 out of 100
2 Budgie Desktop Budgie Desktop 10.7 ▼ 1 places down from rank 1 97 out of 100
3 GNOME Desktop Environment GNOME 51 ▲ 4 places up from rank 7 75 out of 100
4 Cinnamon Desktop Cinnamon 3.4 (Dead Link) ▼ 2 places down from rank 2 65 out of 100
5 Cutefish Desktop ▼ 1 places down from rank 4 63 out of 100
6 Xfce Xfce 4.20 ▼ 1 places down from rank 5 58 out of 100
7 helloSystem ▲ 6 places up from rank 13 49 out of 100
8 Moksha Desktop ▼ 2 places down from rank 6 46 out of 100
9 MATE Desktop MATE Desktop 1.20 ▼ 1 places down from rank 8 44 out of 100
10 Lumina Desktop Lumina Desktop 1.4.0 ▲ 2 places up from rank 12 42 out of 100
11 Pantheon Desktop ▼ 1 places down from rank 10 41 out of 100
12 Trinity Desktop ▲ 4 places up from rank 16 41 out of 100
13 Regolith Desktop ▼ 2 places down from rank 11 38 out of 100
14 Enlightenment ▲ 3 places up from rank 17 36 out of 100
15 Deepin Desktop –No change 32 out of 100
16 LXQt Desktop Environment LXQt 2.4.0 ▼ 7 places down from rank 9 30 out of 100
17 LXDE ▼ 3 places down from rank 14 29 out of 100

Rankings archive

Year in review 2025 2024 2023

2026 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

2025 Nov Dec

Methodology

Data source: Page views of each distribution and desktop page on OpenSourceFeed during this calendar year, from the Google Analytics Data API. Hits on old or alias URLs are merged into the main page.
Popularity score: Each entry's page views divided by those of the #1 entry in the same list, scaled to 100.
Rank change: Compared with the rank in 2024. “NEW” means the entry was not ranked then.
Frozen data: This page is a snapshot. It is not updated after the period ends; see the live ranking for current numbers.