Monthly archive

Most Popular Linux Distributions – January 2026

In January 2026, Starbuntu was the most-viewed operating system on OpenSourceFeed, ahead of CachyOS and EndeavourOS. GNOME Desktop Environment led the desktop environments. The biggest climber in the top 50 was Arya Linux, up from #96 to #16.

Jan 1, 2026 – Jan 31, 2026 · compared with December 2025

See the live ranking →

Operating Systems

#1 Starbuntu

Ubuntu-based

▲ 1 100/100

#2 CachyOS

Arch-based

Latest: CachyOS August 2026

▲ 4 87/100

#3 EndeavourOS

Arch-based

Latest: EndeavourOS Titan Nova

▲ 2 86/100

Biggest risers

Arya Linux #96 → #16 ▲ 80 places up from rank 96
Devuan GNU+Linux #90 → #23 ▲ 67 places up from rank 90
Gnoppix AI Linux #79 → #12 ▲ 67 places up from rank 79

Biggest fallers

Enso OS #12 → #50 ▼ 38 places down from rank 12
Nitrux Linux #7 → #42 ▼ 35 places down from rank 7
FreeBSD #13 → #47 ▼ 34 places down from rank 13

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

Desktop Environments

#1 GNOME Desktop Environment

Latest: GNOME 51

▲ 14 100/100

#2 LXQt Desktop Environment

Latest: LXQt 2.4.0

▲ 6 77/100

#3 Budgie Desktop

Latest: Budgie Desktop 10.7

▲ 7 76/100

Biggest risers

GNOME Desktop Environment #15 → #1 ▲ 14 places up from rank 15
Budgie Desktop #10 → #3 ▲ 7 places up from rank 10
LXQt Desktop Environment #8 → #2 ▲ 6 places up from rank 8

Biggest fallers

helloSystem #3 → #15 ▼ 12 places down from rank 3
Enlightenment #7 → #14 ▼ 7 places down from rank 7
Lumina Desktop #4 → #10 ▼ 6 places down from rank 4

1 GNOME Desktop Environment GNOME 51 ▲ 14 places up from rank 15 100 out of 100
2 LXQt Desktop Environment LXQt 2.4.0 ▲ 6 places up from rank 8 77 out of 100
3 Budgie Desktop Budgie Desktop 10.7 ▲ 7 places up from rank 10 76 out of 100
4 Cinnamon Desktop Cinnamon 3.4 (Dead Link) ▲ 2 places up from rank 6 68 out of 100
5 Xfce Xfce 4.20 ▼ 4 places down from rank 1 63 out of 100
6 MATE Desktop MATE Desktop 1.20 ▼ 1 places down from rank 5 61 out of 100
7 Cutefish Desktop ▼ 5 places down from rank 2 59 out of 100
8 KDE Plasma Plasma 5.14.4 ▲ 1 places up from rank 9 57 out of 100
9 Deepin Desktop ▲ 5 places up from rank 14 51 out of 100
10 Lumina Desktop Lumina Desktop 1.4.0 ▼ 6 places down from rank 4 49 out of 100
11 Pantheon Desktop ▲ 5 places up from rank 16 46 out of 100
12 Regolith Desktop –No change 44 out of 100
13 Trinity Desktop –No change 44 out of 100
14 Enlightenment ▼ 7 places down from rank 7 40 out of 100
15 helloSystem ▼ 12 places down from rank 3 40 out of 100
16 LXDE ▲ 1 places up from rank 17 40 out of 100
17 Moksha Desktop ▼ 6 places down from rank 11 32 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 month, 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 December 2025. “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.