Monthly archive

Most Popular Linux Distributions – February 2026

In February 2026, Starbuntu was the most-viewed operating system on OpenSourceFeed, ahead of Clover OS or CloverOS and CachyOS. KDE Plasma led the desktop environments. The biggest climber in the top 50 was CRUX, up from #101 to #8.

Feb 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2026 · compared with January 2026

See the live ranking →

Operating Systems

#1 Starbuntu

Ubuntu-based

– 100/100

#2 Clover OS or CloverOS

Gentoo-based

▲ 8 82/100

#3 CachyOS

Arch-based

Latest: CachyOS August 2026

▼ 1 61/100

Biggest risers

CRUX #101 → #8 ▲ 93 places up from rank 101
Sparky Linux #106 → #28 ▲ 78 places up from rank 106
Damn Small Linux (DSL) #91 → #14 ▲ 77 places up from rank 91

Biggest fallers

feren OS #8 → #46 ▼ 38 places down from rank 8
KITE GNU/Linux #4 → #33 ▼ 29 places down from rank 4
EndeavourOS #3 → #26 ▼ 23 places down from rank 3

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

Desktop Environments

#1 KDE Plasma

Latest: Plasma 5.14.4

▲ 7 100/100

#2 helloSystem

Simplicity, elegance & usability.

▲ 13 91/100

#3 MATE Desktop

Latest: MATE Desktop 1.20

▲ 3 91/100

Biggest risers

helloSystem #15 → #2 ▲ 13 places up from rank 15
KDE Plasma #8 → #1 ▲ 7 places up from rank 8
LXDE #16 → #11 ▲ 5 places up from rank 16

Biggest fallers

LXQt Desktop Environment #2 → #16 ▼ 14 places down from rank 2
Regolith Desktop #12 → #17 ▼ 5 places down from rank 12
GNOME Desktop Environment #1 → #5 ▼ 4 places down from rank 1

1 KDE Plasma Plasma 5.14.4 ▲ 7 places up from rank 8 100 out of 100
2 helloSystem ▲ 13 places up from rank 15 91 out of 100
3 MATE Desktop MATE Desktop 1.20 ▲ 3 places up from rank 6 91 out of 100
4 Xfce Xfce 4.20 ▲ 1 places up from rank 5 91 out of 100
5 GNOME Desktop Environment GNOME 51 ▼ 4 places down from rank 1 85 out of 100
6 Lumina Desktop Lumina Desktop 1.4.0 ▲ 4 places up from rank 10 85 out of 100
7 Budgie Desktop Budgie Desktop 10.7 ▼ 4 places down from rank 3 82 out of 100
8 Cinnamon Desktop Cinnamon 3.4 (Dead Link) ▼ 4 places down from rank 4 82 out of 100
9 Deepin Desktop –No change 79 out of 100
10 Cutefish Desktop ▼ 3 places down from rank 7 73 out of 100
11 LXDE ▲ 5 places up from rank 16 73 out of 100
12 Enlightenment ▲ 2 places up from rank 14 70 out of 100
13 Moksha Desktop ▲ 4 places up from rank 17 70 out of 100
14 Pantheon Desktop ▼ 3 places down from rank 11 70 out of 100
15 Trinity Desktop ▼ 2 places down from rank 13 70 out of 100
16 LXQt Desktop Environment LXQt 2.4.0 ▼ 14 places down from rank 2 64 out of 100
17 Regolith Desktop ▼ 5 places down from rank 12 64 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 January 2026. “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.