Monthly archive

Most Popular Linux Distributions – September 2026

In September 2026, SteamOS was the most-viewed operating system on OpenSourceFeed, ahead of Starbuntu and Clover OS or CloverOS. GNOME Desktop Environment led the desktop environments. The biggest climber in the top 50 was Puppy Linux, up from #108 to #34.

Sep 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026 · compared with August 2026

See the live ranking →

Operating Systems

#1 SteamOS

Arch-based

Latest: SteamOS 3.8.10

▲ 31 100/100

#2 Starbuntu

Ubuntu-based

▼ 1 94/100

#3 Clover OS or CloverOS

Gentoo-based

▲ 6 67/100

Biggest risers

Puppy Linux #108 → #34 ▲ 74 places up from rank 108
Ubuntu GNOME #93 → #20 ▲ 73 places up from rank 93
Manjaro Linux #82 → #30 ▲ 52 places up from rank 82

Biggest fallers

Arch Linux #8 → #45 ▼ 37 places down from rank 8
Gentoo Linux #14 → #40 ▼ 26 places down from rank 14
GhostBSD #16 → #41 ▼ 25 places down from rank 16

1 SteamOS Arch-based KDE Plasma ▲ 31 places up from rank 32 100 out of 100
2 Starbuntu Ubuntu-based Openbox ▼ 1 places down from rank 1 94 out of 100
3 Clover OS or CloverOS Gentoo-based Fvwm ▲ 6 places up from rank 9 67 out of 100
4 ROSA Linux Independent GNOMEXfceKDE Plasma ▲ 8 places up from rank 12 64 out of 100
5 Ubuntu Debian-based UnityGNOMECutefish ▲ 13 places up from rank 18 61 out of 100
6 deepin Debian-based Deepindesktop ▲ 37 places up from rank 43 55 out of 100
7 Pentoo Gentoo-based Xfce ▲ 31 places up from rank 38 55 out of 100
8 Fedora Linux Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaMATE ▲ 7 places up from rank 15 52 out of 100
9 KITE GNU/Linux Ubuntu-based GNOMELXDE ▲ 26 places up from rank 35 52 out of 100
10 antiX Debian-based IcewmFluxboxJwm ▲ 49 places up from rank 59 48 out of 100
11 Linux Mint Ubuntu-based MATECinnamonXfce ▲ 9 places up from rank 20 48 out of 100
12 CachyOS Arch-based KDE PlasmaXfceMATE ▼ 10 places down from rank 2 45 out of 100
13 Debian Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaXfce –No change 45 out of 100
14 EndeavourOS Arch-based XfceMATECinnamon ▼ 11 places down from rank 3 45 out of 100
15 Raspberry Pi OS Debian-based Labwc (wayland)Pixel (legacy) ▲ 32 places up from rank 47 45 out of 100
16 Zorin OS Ubuntu-based GNOMEXfce ▲ 7 places up from rank 23 42 out of 100
17 4MLinux Independent Jwm ▼ 10 places down from rank 7 39 out of 100
18 MX Linux Debian-based XfceKDE PlasmaFluxbox ▼ 13 places down from rank 5 39 out of 100
19 NixOS Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaXfce ▼ 2 places down from rank 17 39 out of 100
20 Ubuntu GNOME Ubuntu-based GNOME ▲ 73 places up from rank 93 39 out of 100
21 Pop!_OS Ubuntu-based GNOME ▲ 19 places up from rank 40 36 out of 100
22 ReactOS Independent Windows 9x inspired desktop ▲ 26 places up from rank 48 36 out of 100
23 AerynOS (formerly Serpent OS) Independent GNOMECOSMIC ▼ 19 places down from rank 4 33 out of 100
24 DragonFly FreeBSD-based AwesomeCinnamonFluxbox ▲ 52 places up from rank 76 33 out of 100
25 Lubuntu Ubuntu-based LXDELXQt ▼ 4 places down from rank 21 33 out of 100
26 Q4OS Debian-based TrinityKDE Plasma ▲ 30 places up from rank 56 33 out of 100
27 RedCore Linux Gentoo-based KDE Plasma ▲ 22 places up from rank 49 33 out of 100
28 Tails Debian-based GNOME ▼ 22 places down from rank 6 33 out of 100
29 Damn Small Linux (DSL) Antix-based FluxboxJwm ▼ 4 places down from rank 25 30 out of 100
30 Manjaro Linux Arch-based KDE PlasmaXfceMATE ▲ 52 places up from rank 82 30 out of 100
31 Nitrux Linux Debian-based Hyprland ▼ 20 places down from rank 11 30 out of 100
32 Linux Lite Ubuntu-based Xfce ▲ 23 places up from rank 55 27 out of 100
33 Mageia Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaXfce ▲ 12 places up from rank 45 27 out of 100
34 Puppy Linux Independent JwmRoxfiler ▲ 74 places up from rank 108 27 out of 100
35 Red Hat Enterprise Linux Independent GNOME ▲ 36 places up from rank 71 27 out of 100
36 Tiny Core Linux Independent ▲ 49 places up from rank 85 27 out of 100
37 UbuntuDDE Remix Ubuntu-based Deepindesktop ▼ 11 places down from rank 26 27 out of 100
38 ArchLabs Arch-based Openbox ▲ 36 places up from rank 74 24 out of 100
39 FreeBSD Independent ▼ 5 places down from rank 34 24 out of 100
40 Gentoo Linux Independent BudgieCinnamonFvwm-crystal ▼ 26 places down from rank 14 24 out of 100
41 GhostBSD FreeBSD-based MATE ▼ 25 places down from rank 16 24 out of 100
42 Kali Linux Debian-based XfceGNOMEKDE Plasma ▼ 14 places down from rank 28 24 out of 100
43 Kodachi Linux Debian-based Xfce ▼ 7 places down from rank 36 24 out of 100
44 PureOS Debian-based GNOME ▼ 5 places down from rank 39 24 out of 100
45 Arch Linux Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaMATE ▼ 37 places down from rank 8 21 out of 100
46 MakuluLinux Debian-based XfceCinnamon ▲ 43 places up from rank 89 21 out of 100
47 Netrunner Debian-based KDE Plasma ▼ 17 places down from rank 30 21 out of 100
48 Raspbian Debian-based ▲ 22 places up from rank 70 21 out of 100
49 Redox OS Independent Optional gui orbital ▲ 1 places up from rank 50 21 out of 100
50 TrueOS FreeBSD-based Lumina ▲ 1 places up from rank 51 21 out of 100
51 Antergos NeXT Arch-based KDE PlasmaCinnamonXfce ▼ 27 places down from rank 24 18 out of 100
52 Archman Arch-based XfceMATEKDE Plasma ▲ 35 places up from rank 87 18 out of 100
53 ArcoLinux Arch-based XfceOpenboxi3 ▲ 12 places up from rank 65 18 out of 100
54 Enso OS Ubuntu-based Xfce ▼ 1 places down from rank 53 18 out of 100
55 Kubuntu Ubuntu-based KDE Plasma ▼ 26 places down from rank 29 18 out of 100
56 OpenMandriva Independent KDE Plasma ▲ 27 places up from rank 83 18 out of 100
57 Rhino Linux Ubuntu-based Unicorn ▲ 5 places up from rank 62 18 out of 100
58 Sabayon Linux Gentoo-based KDE PlasmaGNOMEXfce ▼ 1 places down from rank 57 18 out of 100
59 Shark Linux Debian-based MATE ▲ 32 places up from rank 91 18 out of 100
60 Arya Linux LFS-based MATEXfceGNOME ▲ 6 places up from rank 66 15 out of 100
61 Elive Linux Debian-based Enlightenment ▲ 27 places up from rank 88 15 out of 100
62 Endless OS Debian-based GNOME ▲ 15 places up from rank 77 15 out of 100
63 Gnoppix AI Linux Debian-based XfceGNOMEKDE Plasma ▲ 15 places up from rank 78 15 out of 100
64 Pardus Debian-based XfceGNOME ▼ 3 places down from rank 61 15 out of 100
65 Parsix GNU/Linux Debian-based GNOME ▼ 28 places down from rank 37 15 out of 100
66 Porteus Slackware-based CinnamonMATEKDE Plasma ▼ 20 places down from rank 46 15 out of 100
67 PorteuX Linux Slackware-based CinnamonGNOMEKDE Plasma ▼ 45 places down from rank 22 15 out of 100
68 RefreshOS Debian-based KDE Plasma ▲ 22 places up from rank 90 15 out of 100
69 Slackel Slackware-based OpenboxMATE ▼ 6 places down from rank 63 15 out of 100
70 Ubuntu Unity Ubuntu-based Unity ▲ 41 places up from rank 111 15 out of 100
71 Voyager Live Debian-based GNOMEXfce ▲ 34 places up from rank 105 15 out of 100
72 ArchBang Arch-based Openboxi3 ▼ 30 places down from rank 42 12 out of 100
73 Calculate Linux Gentoo-based KDE PlasmaMATEXfce ▲ 2 places up from rank 75 12 out of 100
74 feren OS Linuxmint-based Cinnamon ▼ 20 places down from rank 54 12 out of 100
75 KDE neon Ubuntu-based KDE Plasma ▲ 5 places up from rank 80 12 out of 100
76 Mauna Linux Debian-based XfceGNOMEMATE ▼ 9 places down from rank 67 12 out of 100
77 Neptune Debian-based KDE Plasma ▼ 9 places down from rank 68 12 out of 100
78 Oracle Linux Red Hat-based GNOME ▼ 9 places down from rank 69 12 out of 100
79 Slax Linux Debian-based Fluxbox ▲ 31 places up from rank 110 12 out of 100
80 Solus Linux Independent BudgieXfceGNOME ▼ 39 places down from rank 41 12 out of 100
81 SolydXK Debian-based XfceKDE Plasma ▲ 11 places up from rank 92 12 out of 100
82 Trisquel GNU/Linux Ubuntu-based MATE ▼ 9 places down from rank 73 12 out of 100
83 Ubuntu Cinnamon Ubuntu-based Cinnamon ▼ 25 places down from rank 58 12 out of 100
84 Ultimate Edition Ubuntu-based BudgieGNOMEKDE Plasma ▲ 11 places up from rank 95 12 out of 100
85 Vanilla OS Debian-based GNOME ▼ 21 places down from rank 64 12 out of 100
86 Antergos Arch-based CinnamonGNOMEKDE Plasma –No change 9 out of 100
87 BackBox Linux Ubuntu-based Xfce ▲ 9 places up from rank 96 9 out of 100
88 Chakra Linux Independent KDE Plasma ▼ 55 places down from rank 33 9 out of 100
89 CutefishOS Debian-based Cutefish ▼ 79 places down from rank 10 9 out of 100
90 Devuan GNU+Linux Debian-based Xfce ▲ 16 places up from rank 106 9 out of 100
91 KaOS Independent KDE Plasma ▼ 12 places down from rank 79 9 out of 100
92 Linux From Scratch Independent ▼ 48 places down from rank 44 9 out of 100
93 Peppermint OS Debian-based LXDE ▲ 14 places up from rank 107 9 out of 100
94 Salix Slackware-based Xfce ▲ 8 places up from rank 102 9 out of 100
95 Sparky Linux Debian-based LXQtMATELXDE ▼ 64 places down from rank 31 9 out of 100
96 SpiralLinux Debian-based CinnamonXfceGNOME ▼ 24 places down from rank 72 9 out of 100
97 Ubuntu MATE Ubuntu-based MATE ▼ 3 places down from rank 94 9 out of 100
98 Apricity OS Arch-based CinnamonGNOME ▼ 46 places down from rank 52 6 out of 100
99 Bodhi Linux Ubuntu-based Moksha ▼ 2 places down from rank 97 6 out of 100
100 CRUX Independent Openbox ▼ 73 places down from rank 27 6 out of 100
101 elementary OS Ubuntu-based Pantheon ▼ 82 places down from rank 19 6 out of 100
102 Korora Fedora-based GNOMEKDE PlasmaMATE ▼ 21 places down from rank 81 6 out of 100
103 MidnightBSD FreeBSD-based LuminaGNOME ▼ 4 places down from rank 99 6 out of 100
104 NomadBSD FreeBSD-based Openbox ▼ 4 places down from rank 100 6 out of 100
105 PCLinuxOS Independent XfceKDE PlasmaMATE ▼ 4 places down from rank 101 6 out of 100
106 Ubuntu Budgie Ubuntu-based Budgie ▼ 2 places down from rank 104 6 out of 100
107 Uruk GNU/Linux Pureos-based MATE ▲ 5 places up from rank 112 6 out of 100
108 NetBSD Independent ▼ 48 places down from rank 60 3 out of 100
109 openSUSE Independent GNOMEKDE PlasmaXfce ▼ 25 places down from rank 84 3 out of 100
110 Siduction Debian-based KDE PlasmaXfceLXQt ▼ 1 places down from rank 109 3 out of 100
111 Trident Trueos-based Lumina ▼ 8 places down from rank 103 3 out of 100

Desktop Environments

#1 GNOME Desktop Environment

Latest: GNOME 51

– 100/100

#2 Xfce

Stay productive without sacrificing a lot of ...

Latest: Xfce 4.20

▲ 3 81/100

#3 Cutefish Desktop

Desktop like macOS

▼ 1 51/100

Biggest risers

Enlightenment #16 → #10 ▲ 6 places up from rank 16
Trinity Desktop #15 → #11 ▲ 4 places up from rank 15
KDE Plasma #10 → #7 ▲ 3 places up from rank 10

Biggest fallers

Cinnamon Desktop #3 → #9 ▼ 6 places down from rank 3
LXDE #11 → #16 ▼ 5 places down from rank 11
Budgie Desktop #4 → #8 ▼ 4 places down from rank 4

1 GNOME Desktop Environment GNOME 51 –No change 100 out of 100
2 Xfce Xfce 4.20 ▲ 3 places up from rank 5 81 out of 100
3 Cutefish Desktop ▼ 1 places down from rank 2 51 out of 100
4 LXQt Desktop Environment LXQt 2.4.0 ▲ 3 places up from rank 7 41 out of 100
5 MATE Desktop MATE Desktop 1.20 ▲ 3 places up from rank 8 38 out of 100
6 Lumina Desktop Lumina Desktop 1.4.0 –No change 35 out of 100
7 KDE Plasma Plasma 5.14.4 ▲ 3 places up from rank 10 32 out of 100
8 Budgie Desktop Budgie Desktop 10.7 ▼ 4 places down from rank 4 30 out of 100
9 Cinnamon Desktop Cinnamon 3.4 (Dead Link) ▼ 6 places down from rank 3 30 out of 100
10 Enlightenment ▲ 6 places up from rank 16 24 out of 100
11 Trinity Desktop ▲ 4 places up from rank 15 24 out of 100
12 Pantheon Desktop ▼ 3 places down from rank 9 19 out of 100
13 Regolith Desktop ▲ 1 places up from rank 14 19 out of 100
14 helloSystem ▼ 1 places down from rank 13 16 out of 100
15 Deepin Desktop ▼ 3 places down from rank 12 14 out of 100
16 LXDE ▼ 5 places down from rank 11 11 out of 100
17 Moksha Desktop –No change 11 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 August 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.