Monthly archive

Most Popular Linux Distributions – April 2026

In April 2026, NixOS was the most-viewed operating system on OpenSourceFeed, ahead of Puppy Linux and Starbuntu. Budgie Desktop led the desktop environments. The biggest climber in the top 50 was GhostBSD, up from #103 to #15.

Apr 1, 2026 – Apr 30, 2026 · compared with March 2026

See the live ranking →

Operating Systems

#1 NixOS

Independent

Latest: NixOS 25.11

NEW 100/100

#2 Puppy Linux

Independent

Latest: Puppy Linux 7.5 Xenialpup

▲ 1 85/100

#3 Starbuntu

Ubuntu-based

▼ 2 77/100

Biggest risers

GhostBSD #103 → #15 ▲ 88 places up from rank 103
Chakra Linux #89 → #13 ▲ 76 places up from rank 89
Kodachi Linux #90 → #21 ▲ 69 places up from rank 90

Biggest fallers

Arch Linux #6 → #39 ▼ 33 places down from rank 6
deepin #9 → #32 ▼ 23 places down from rank 9
Debian #26 → #49 ▼ 23 places down from rank 26

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

Desktop Environments

#1 Budgie Desktop

Latest: Budgie Desktop 10.7

– 100/100

#2 LXQt Desktop Environment

Latest: LXQt 2.4.0

▲ 6 86/100

#3 GNOME Desktop Environment

Latest: GNOME 51

– 69/100

Biggest risers

Enlightenment #17 → #6 ▲ 11 places up from rank 17
Pantheon Desktop #14 → #5 ▲ 9 places up from rank 14
MATE Desktop #10 → #4 ▲ 6 places up from rank 10

Biggest fallers

Lumina Desktop #5 → #12 ▼ 7 places down from rank 5
Cinnamon Desktop #2 → #8 ▼ 6 places down from rank 2
LXDE #11 → #17 ▼ 6 places down from rank 11

1 Budgie Desktop Budgie Desktop 10.7 –No change 100 out of 100
2 LXQt Desktop Environment LXQt 2.4.0 ▲ 6 places up from rank 8 86 out of 100
3 GNOME Desktop Environment GNOME 51 –No change 69 out of 100
4 MATE Desktop MATE Desktop 1.20 ▲ 6 places up from rank 10 61 out of 100
5 Pantheon Desktop ▲ 9 places up from rank 14 42 out of 100
6 Enlightenment ▲ 11 places up from rank 17 36 out of 100
7 helloSystem ▼ 3 places down from rank 4 36 out of 100
8 Cinnamon Desktop Cinnamon 3.4 (Dead Link) ▼ 6 places down from rank 2 33 out of 100
9 Xfce Xfce 4.20 –No change 33 out of 100
10 Cutefish Desktop ▼ 3 places down from rank 7 28 out of 100
11 KDE Plasma Plasma 5.14.4 ▼ 5 places down from rank 6 28 out of 100
12 Lumina Desktop Lumina Desktop 1.4.0 ▼ 7 places down from rank 5 22 out of 100
13 Deepin Desktop ▲ 3 places up from rank 16 17 out of 100
14 Moksha Desktop ▼ 1 places down from rank 13 14 out of 100
15 Regolith Desktop –No change 14 out of 100
16 Trinity Desktop ▼ 4 places down from rank 12 14 out of 100
17 LXDE ▼ 6 places down from rank 11 3 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 March 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.