--- title: "39 popular Linux distributions" description: "In the following list, we have gathered some of the most popular Linux distributions and some growing distros too. GNU/Linux operating systems are Unix-like and open source, and based on the Linux ker..." url: https://www.stackscale.com/blog/popular-linux-distributions/ date: 2024-10-22 modified: 2026-09-07 author: "Marketing Stackscale" image: https://www.stackscale.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Popular-Linux-distributions-Stackscale.jpg categories: ["Systems"] tags: ["Linux"] type: post lang: en --- # 39 popular Linux distributions In the following list, we have gathered **some of the most popular Linux distributions** and some growing distros too. GNU/Linux operating systems are Unix-like and open source, and based on the Linux kernel. **Among the long list of Linux distributions, there are a number of distros that clearly stand out among the others** — in terms of number of users, community, features, etc. Discover some details about some of the top Linux distributions. ## Ubuntu [**Ubuntu**](https://www.stackscale.com/blog/ubuntu/) is a Linux distribution based on Debian. It is developed by Canonical and a community of developers. It has 3 official editions: *Desktop*, *Server* and *Core*, which can either run on a computer or on a VM. More than 34% of the websites using Linux use Ubuntu,[ according to W3Techs data](https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/os-linux). Its growth since 2010 has been amazing. It is also a popular distribution among cloud computing projects. **Ubuntu License**: GPL and other licenses. **Latest LTS release (September 2026)**: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS “Resolute Raccoon”, released on 23 April 2026. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS remains supported until May 2029. ## Debian [**Debian**](https://www.stackscale.com/blog/debian/) is an open source operating system. This distribution was first announced by Ian Murdock in 1993 as the “Debian Linux Release”. The Debian Project is a community of developers and users that maintain the GNU OS based on open source software. Currently, Debian systems use the Linux kernel or the FreeBSD kernel. However, they are also working on providing Debian for other kernels. Primarily, GNU Hurd. **Debian License**: BSD, GPL and other open licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Debian 13 “Trixie”, released on 9 August 2025; current point release 13.6. ## CentOS Linux [**CentOS Linux**](https://www.stackscale.com/blog/centos-linux/) is a distribution based on the source code of the commercial distribution Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It was launched in 2004 and is backed up by a growing community. It is a safe bet for those looking for high-quality code. But CentOS 8 will be its last version. In 2019, Red Hat announced that CentOS Linux would be replaced by CentOS Stream — an upstream development platform for RHEL. New open source alternatives have appeared due to this change of strategy. For instance, Rocky Linux, founded by Gregory Kurtzer, founder of the CentOS project. **CentOS Linux License**: GNU GPL. **Discontinued project**: CentOS Linux 8 reached end of life on 31 December 2021 and CentOS Linux 7 on 30 June 2024. There is no successor under that name — the alternatives are AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux or CentOS Stream. ## CentOS Stream [**CentOS Stream**](https://www.centos.org/centos-stream/) is an upstream development platform for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It is a midstream between Fedora Linux and RHEL. This platform aims to take advantage of open-source innovation for shaping upcoming stable RHEL releases. **CentOS Stream License**: GNU GPL. **Latest release (September 2026)**: CentOS Stream 10, released on 12 December 2024 and supported until May 2030. CentOS Stream 9 is supported until May 2027. ## Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) **Red Hat Enterprise Linux** ([RHEL](https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux)) is a commercial Linux distribution developed by Red Hat. It has a server version and a desktop version. As it uses open source software, published under a General Public License, they make their code available to the public via CentOS. Red Hat has sponsored the CentOS project since 2014. **RHEL License**: GPL. **Latest release (September 2026)**: RHEL 10, released on 20 May 2025; current minor releases are 10.2 and 9.8. ## Gentoo [**Gentoo**](https://www.gentoo.org/) is a Linux distribution that features a rolling release model. Gentoo Linux was originally created by Daniel Robbins. It was named after the fast-swimming “gentoo penguin”, to reflect its potential. It is an attractive choice for Linux users looking for full control of the software. Gentoo users have great control over the services installed and running on their computer. They can immensely customize and optimize their system. **Gentoo License**: Free software. **Gentoo Releases**: rolling release. ## Fedora [**Fedora**](https://fedoraproject.org/en/) is a Linux distribution developed by the Fedora Project — sponsored mainly by Red Hat, with support from other companies. It is developed and maintained by the community and it is an upstream source of the commercial RHEL distribution. Fedora usually has more modern software versions, considered as “non stable”, that are later included in RHEL. There are different Fedora editions available: *Workstation*, *Server*, *CoreOS*, *Silverblue* and *IoT*. Fedora Linux was launched in 2003. **Fedora License**: GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Fedora Linux 44, released on 28 April 2026. ## OpenSUSE [**OpenSUSE**](https://www.opensuse.org) is a Linux distribution sponsored by SUSE Software Solutions Germany GmbH and other companies. It was formerly known as SUSE Linux. OpenSUSE has a rolling release version, Tumbleweed, and a regular release version, Leap. **OpenSUSE License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: openSUSE Leap 16.0, released on 1 October 2025. ## Scientific Linux [**Scientific Linux**](https://scientificlinux.org/) is another Linux distribution based on RHEL’s free and open source software. It is produced by Fermilab, CERN, DESY and ETH Zurich. In April 2019, they announced its discontinuation. Nevertheless, its last version, Scientific Linux 7, will have maintenance updates until June 2024. **Scientific Linux License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Discontinued project**: Scientific Linux 7 reached end of life on 30 June 2024. Fermilab recommends migrating to AlmaLinux or CentOS Stream. ## CloudLinux [**CloudLinux**](https://www.cloudlinux.com/) is a Linux distribution developed by CloudLinux, Inc. It is based on CentOS and uses the OpenVZ kernel and the RPM Package Manager. It is targeted to shared hosting providers and data centers. It stands out for improving server stability, density and security. The first version of CloudLinux OS was released in 2010. **Latest release (September 2026)**: CloudLinux OS 10.2, released on 26 May 2026. From the 10 series onwards it is installed on top of AlmaLinux using *cldeploy*, with no installation image of its own. ## Elementary OS [**Elementary OS**](https://elementary.io/) is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. The OS is developed and maintained by Elementary, Inc. It aims to be a fast, open and privacy-respecting alternative to Windows and MacOS. It features a pay-what-you-want (PWYW) model. **Elementary OS License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: elementary OS 8.1.1 “Circe”, released on 27 February 2026. ## Linux Mint [**Linux Mint**](https://linuxmint.com/) is a community-driven Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. This distribution started in 2006. The Linux Mint project was initially created by Clément Lefèbvre. Linux Mint OS’ source code is available on GitHub. Most of the OS development is done in Python.  **Linux Mint License**: GPL. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena”, released on 11 January 2026 and supported until April 2029. ## Arch Linux [**Arch Linux**](https://archlinux.org/) is a Linux distribution based on 5 principles: simplicity, modernity, pragmatism, user centrality and versatility. It features a rolling release model. **Arch Linux License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Arch Linux Release**: rolling release. ## Manjaro [**Manjaro**](https://manjaro.org/)is a free Linux distribution based on Arch Linux. It is specially focused on accessibility and user-friendliness. It features a rolling release model. Its simplicity, stability and performance makes it a suitable alternative OS to MacOS and Windows. It offers multiple desktop environments. **Manjaro License**: GPL and other open licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Manjaro 26.1, released in August 2026. ## Oracle Linux [**Oracle Linux**](https://www.oracle.com/linux/) (OL) is a Linux distribution packaged and distributed by Oracle; under GNU GPL since late 2006. It was formerly known as Oracle Enterprise Linux (OEL). It is based on RHEL’s source code. Oracle Linux is available with two Linux kernels: the Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK) and the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK). **Oracle Linux License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Oracle Linux 10, released in June 2025; current update 10.2. ## Slackware [**Slackware**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slackware) is one of the oldest Linux distributions, created by Patrick Volkerding in 1993. Many Linux distributions have been based on Slackware; for instance, the first versions of the SUSE Linux distribution. It was originally based on the Softlanding Linux System (SLS), one of the most popular original Linux distributions. **Slackware License**: GNU GPL. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Slackware 15.0, released on 3 February 2022 and still the current stable version. ## Mageia [**Mageia**](https://www.mageia.org/en/) is an open source, Unix-like operating system that started as a fork of Mandriva Linux back in 2010. It was created by former employees of Mandriva S.A. and some members of the Mandriva community. It stands out for being a secure, stable and sustainable OS. Besides, it provides a really large software repository. Its first version, Mageia 1, was released in June 2011. **Mageia License**: GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Mageia 10, released on 29 June 2026. ## Clear Linux [**Clear Linux**](https://www.clearlinux.org/) is an open source Linux distribution created by Intel. It is updated following a rolling release model. The OS is optimized for performance and security from the cloud to the Edge; as well as for Intel products. Clear Linux’s main targets are IT,[ DevOps](https://www.stackscale.com/blog/devops-devsecops/), Cloud and AI professionals; it is not designed as a general-purpose distribution. Its source code is available on GitHub. **Clear Linux License**: GPL and other licenses. **Discontinued project**: on 18 July 2025 Intel announced the end of Clear Linux OS. It has received no security patches or maintenance since that date, and its repository was archived in read-only mode. ## Rocky Linux [**Rocky Linux**](https://www.stackscale.com/blog/rocky-linux/) is an open source Linux distribution, based on the source code of the commercial distribution RHEL. This Linux distribution is led by Gregory Kurtzer — founder of CentOS, together with Rocky McGaugh. Rocky Linux aims to fill the gap CentOS will leave as a community-supported, downstream of RHEL, after CentOS 8’s discontinuation by December 2021. As explained on Rocky Linux’s Wiki, this distribution aims to be “**a solid, stable and transparent alternative for production environments, developed by the community for the community**”. Stackscale provides two of its [public mirrors in Madrid and Amsterdam](https://www.stackscale.com/blog/rocky-linux-mirrors-stackscale/). **Rocky Linux License**: BSD and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Rocky Linux 10.2, released on 28 May 2026. ## AlmaLinux [**AlmaLinux**](https://www.stackscale.com/blog/almalinux/)is a free, open source Linux distribution; compatible with RHEL. It is focused on long-term stability and governed by the community; with regular releases. AlmaLinux OS is sponsored by CloudLinux Inc. and supported by other sponsors. It is also a good alternative for those who are currently using CentOS, after its discontinuation by the end of 2021. **AlmaLinux License**: GPLv2 and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: AlmaLinux OS 10.2, released on 26 May 2026. AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux are today the two usual choices for RHEL-compatible enterprise workloads without a subscription cost. Both deploy without friction on dedicated [bare-metal servers](https://www.stackscale.com/products/bare-metal/), which is where this kind of system performs most predictably. ## Asahi Linux [**Asahi Linux**](https://asahilinux.org) is a Linux distribution that intends to port Linux to Apple Silicon Mac computers. The goal is to make Linux run on Apple Silicon Mac computers so as to be used as a daily OS. This distro is developed by a community of free and open source software developers. Asahi Linux’s first Alpha version was released in March, 2022. **Asahi Linux License**: General Public License v2 or MIT. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Fedora Asahi Remix 44, generally available since 28 April 2026. The project is no longer in alpha. ## Lubuntu [**Lubuntu**](https://lubuntu.me/) is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu and developed by the Lubuntu community. It stands out for being lightweight, fast and offering great compatibility with many formats and applications. Besides, it offers a Software Center with a large number of free apps that can be safely downloaded. **Lubuntu License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Lubuntu 26.04 LTS, released on 23 April 2026. ## SUSE Linux [**SUSE Linux**](https://www.suse.com/products/server/), also known as SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, is a Linux distribution, adaptable to any environment and optimized for security, reliability and performance. Originally based on Slackware, its first version was released in 1994. As Slackware, SUSE Linux is one of the oldest Linux distributions. **Latest release (September 2026)**: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16, generally available since 4 November 2025. The last service pack in the 15 series is SP7. ## Knoppix [**Knoppix**](https://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html) is a free, open source Linux distribution based on Debian, developed by Klaus Knopper. It was mainly designed to be used as a Live CD, but it can also be installed on a hard disk like any other OS. **Knoppix License**: free software licenses. **Latest release**: Knoppix 9.2, from 2021. The project has published no further releases since then. ## VzLinux [**VzLinux**](https://vzlinux.org/) is a free and open source Linux distribution. It is a 1:1 clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and offers an easy conversion from CentOS. It can also be used as a guest OS in different hypervisors. **Inactive project**: there is no record of any release or announcement after 2021. ## Peppermint OS [**Peppermint OS**](https://peppermintos.com/) is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Debian Stable. It changed from Ubuntu to Debian in 2022. This OS is a beginner-friendly distribution, intuitive and easy to use. **Peppermint License**: free software licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: the project no longer numbers its releases and publishes dated images instead. It maintains two branches: one based on Debian 13 and one without *systemd*, built on Devuan 6, from June 2026. ## Zorin OS [**Zorin OS**](https://zorin.com/os/) is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, designed as a powerful and secure alternative to Windows and MacOS. Zorin OS is easy to use and its Appearance app allows users to change the desktop layout to the OS environment appearance they are familiar with — Windows, MacOS or Linux. **Zorin OS License**: free software. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Zorin OS 18.1, released on 15 April 2026. ## BlackArch Linux [**BlackArch Linux**](https://blackarch.org/) is an open source Linux distribution based on Arch Linux. It is especially designed for penetration testers and security researchers and it provides a lot of cybersecurity tools. The last version was released in September, 2021. **BlackArch Linux License**: several licenses. ## SUSE Liberty Linux [**SUSE Liberty Linux**](https://www.suse.com/products/suse-liberty-linux/) is an enterprise-grade Linux distribution born to be an alternative to CentOS Linux, which has been replaced by a rolling release. It is focused on providing a secure distribution for mixed Linux environments. This new distro is developed by SUSE, using its Open Build Service tool. Besides, it is based on the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server kernel (SLES kernel). **The brand no longer exists**: SUSE folded Liberty Linux into its *SUSE Multi-Linux Support* offering, which continues to support RHEL and CentOS installations. ## Navy Linux [**Navy Linux**](https://navylinux.org/) is a minimalistic installation of the Linux OS, based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. This open source distribution was founded in January 2021 by UnixLab, as a replacement for CentOS Linux. It is focused on minimizing hardware resources requirements to build a stable and secure Linux distro. **Navy Linux License**: GNU GPL. **Inactive project**: the latest release, Navy Linux 8.6, dates from May 2022. ## Tizen [**Tizen**](https://www.tizen.org/) is an open-source, mobile operating system based on Linux. It was released in 2012 and it is developed by Samsung and backed by the Linux Foundation. The Tizen OS is primarily used in Samsung’s smart devices — TVs, smartwatches, etc. It is intended to provide seamless connectivity and user experience between connected devices. **Tizen License**: GPLv2, LGPL, Apache License 2.0, BSD, Flora License and Freeware. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Tizen 10.0, shipping on Samsung’s 2026 television range. ## Immutable and container-oriented distributions The distributions above are general-purpose systems. Since 2020 a second family has grown around a different premise: **immutable-root** systems, with no traditional package manager, updated atomically and configured declaratively. They are not administered so much as deployed, they underpin much of today’s container infrastructure, and they deserve a section of their own. ## Alpine Linux [**Alpine Linux**](https://www.alpinelinux.org/) is a minimal distribution built on musl libc and BusyBox rather than glibc and the GNU coreutils. That decision brings a base image down to a few megabytes, which has made it the de facto starting point for container images: a large share of what runs on Docker and Kubernetes today boots from an Alpine layer. It uses its own package manager, *apk*, and OpenRC as its init system. Its size and reduced attack surface explain its adoption, but musl is not fully glibc-compatible and some applications shipping precompiled binaries need adjustments. **Alpine Linux License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Alpine Linux 3.24, released on 9 June 2026. ## NixOS [**NixOS**](https://nixos.org/) takes infrastructure as code all the way down to the operating system: the machine’s entire configuration — packages, services, users and networking — is declared in files and the system is built from them. Two machines with the same configuration are identical, and every change produces a new bootable generation, so rolling back a failed update means picking the previous generation from the boot menu. It has the steepest learning curve on this list, because it requires learning the Nix language, but it solves configuration drift at the root. **NixOS License**: MIT. **Latest release (September 2026)**: NixOS 26.05 “Yarara”, released on 30 May 2026. ## Fedora CoreOS [**Fedora CoreOS**](https://fedoraproject.org/coreos/) is a minimal, immutable, automatically updating operating system built exclusively to run containers. The root filesystem is read-only, updates are applied atomically through rpm-ostree, and initial configuration is declared with Ignition on first boot rather than by hand. It is the successor to Container Linux within the Fedora ecosystem, and the proving ground where Red Hat matured the image-based model it later brought to RHEL. **Fedora CoreOS License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: a rolling stream built on Fedora Linux 44. It publishes no long-term support releases. ## Flatcar Container Linux [**Flatcar Container Linux**](https://www.flatcar.org/) is the open continuation of Container Linux after its discontinuation, maintained as a CNCF project. It shares Fedora CoreOS’s approach — immutable, no package manager, container-dedicated — but updates atomically through A/B partitions: the new version is written to the inactive partition and activated on reboot, so a failure reverts to the previous boot. **Flatcar Container Linux License**: Apache License 2.0. **Latest stable release (September 2026)**: Flatcar 4593.2.5, from 13 August 2026. ## Talos Linux [**Talos Linux**](https://www.talos.dev/) is an operating system designed for one job: being a Kubernetes node. It has no shell, no SSH and no package manager; it is administered entirely through an authenticated gRPC API. That removes a large part of a conventional node’s attack surface and makes cluster configuration reproducible by definition. The trade-off is rigidity: you do not log into a Talos node to debug something by hand. It suits hardened, homogeneous clusters rather than general-purpose servers. **Talos Linux License**: Mozilla Public License 2.0. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Talos Linux 1.14.0, from 3 September 2026. ## SUSE Linux Micro [**SUSE Linux Micro**](https://www.suse.com/products/micro/) is SUSE’s immutable offering for edge deployments and as a container host. It uses transactional updates on Btrfs: each change is applied in a separate snapshot that only becomes the running system after a successful reboot, with automatic rollback if anything fails. It completes SUSE’s portfolio alongside SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16, and has a community counterpart in openSUSE Leap Micro. **SUSE Linux Micro License**: GNU GPL and other licenses. **Latest release (September 2026)**: SUSE Linux Micro 6.2. ## Amazon Linux [**Amazon Linux**](https://aws.amazon.com/linux/amazon-linux-2023/) is the distribution AWS maintains and tunes for its own instances, with direct integration into the provider’s services and tooling. Amazon Linux 2023 is the current generation, with major releases every two years and five years of support. It is worth keeping in mind for a practical reason: **Amazon Linux 2 reached end of life on 30 June 2026**, so any workload still running on that version is now unsupported and pending migration. **Amazon Linux License**: Amazon licence based on open source software. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Amazon Linux 2023, supported until 30 June 2029. ## Proxmox VE [**Proxmox Virtual Environment**](https://www.proxmox.com/en/proxmox-virtual-environment/overview) is not a general-purpose distribution but a virtualisation platform built on Debian, combining KVM for virtual machines and LXC for system containers, with Ceph distributed storage and high availability built in and managed from its own web interface. It has become a European reference point in the conversation about open alternatives to proprietary virtualisation platforms, and its Debian base keeps the underlying administration familiar. At Stackscale we deploy and operate Proxmox VE on dedicated [private cloud infrastructure](https://www.stackscale.com/products/private-cloud/). **Proxmox VE License**: GNU AGPLv3. **Latest release (September 2026)**: Proxmox VE 9.2, from 21 May 2026. ## List of popular Linux distributions Here is the list of popular Linux distributions organized alphabetically: | **Linux distribution** | **License** | **Latest release (as of September 2026)** | | --- | --- | --- | | AlmaLinux | GPLv2 and other licenses | AlmaLinux OS 10.2 (May 2026) | | Alpine Linux | GNU GPL and other licenses | Alpine Linux 3.24 (June 2026) | | Amazon Linux | Amazon licence based on open source software | Amazon Linux 2023 | | Arch Linux | GNU GPL and other licenses | Rolling release | | Asahi Linux | General Public License v2 or MIT | Fedora Asahi Remix 44 (April 2026) | | BlackArch Linux | Several licenses | Rolling release | | CentOS Linux | GNU GPL | Discontinued — EOL 31/12/2021 | | CentOS Stream | GNU GPL | CentOS Stream 10 (December 2024) | | Clear Linux | GPL and other licenses | Discontinued — Intel, 18/07/2025 | | CloudLinux | – | CloudLinux OS 10.2 (May 2026) | | Debian | BSD, GPL and other open licenses | Debian 13 “Trixie” (August 2025) | | Elementary OS | GNU GPL and other licenses | elementary OS 8.1.1 “Circe” (February 2026) | | Fedora | GPL and other licenses | Fedora Linux 44 (April 2026) | | Fedora CoreOS | GNU GPL and other licenses | Fedora CoreOS 44 (rolling stream) | | Flatcar Container Linux | Apache License 2.0 | Flatcar 4593.2.5 (August 2026) | | Gentoo | Free software | Rolling release | | Knoppix | Free software licenses | Knoppix 9.2 (2021) — inactive | | Linux Mint | GPL | Linux Mint 22.3 “Zena” (January 2026) | | Lubuntu | GNU GPL and other licenses | Lubuntu 26.04 LTS (April 2026) | | Mageia | GPL and other licenses | Mageia 10 (June 2026) | | Manjaro | GPL and other open licenses | Manjaro 26.1 (August 2026) | | Navy Linux | GNU GPL | Inactive — last release 8.6 (2022) | | NixOS | MIT | NixOS 26.05 “Yarara” (May 2026) | | OpenSUSE | GNU GPL and other licenses | openSUSE Leap 16.0 (October 2025) | | Oracle Linux | GNU GPL and other licenses | Oracle Linux 10 (June 2025) | | Peppermint OS | Free software licenses | Dated images (Debian 13 / Devuan 6) | | Proxmox VE | GNU AGPLv3 | Proxmox VE 9.2 (May 2026) | | Red Hat Enterprise Linux | GPL | RHEL 10 (May 2025) | | Rocky Linux | BSD and other licenses | Rocky Linux 10.2 (May 2026) | | Scientific Linux | GNU GPL and other licenses | Discontinued — EOL 30/06/2024 | | Slackware | GNU GPL | Slackware 15.0 (February 2022) | | SUSE Liberty Linux | – | Folded into SUSE Multi-Linux Support | | SUSE Linux | – | SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16 (November 2025) | | SUSE Linux Micro | GNU GPL and other licenses | SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | | Talos Linux | Mozilla Public License 2.0 | Talos Linux 1.14 (September 2026) | | Tizen | GPLv2, LGPL, Apache License 2.0, BSD, Flora License and Freeware | Tizen 10.0 (2026) | | Ubuntu | GPL and other licenses | Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (April 2026) | | VzLinux | – | Inactive — last release 8.5 (2021) | | Zorin OS | Free software | Zorin OS 18.1 (April 2026) | ![linux distributions en 2026 stackscale](https://www.stackscale.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/linux-distributions-en-2026-stackscale.jpg) On the following webpage, you can find the [statistics of the most used Linux distributions over the last decade](https://w3techs.com/technologies/history_details/os-linux/all/y). And to check up-to-date versions, release dates and end-of-life dates for each system, the [Linux Gratis directory](https://linuxgratis.com/en) keeps a continuously updated entry for each of more than two hundred operating systems. Dutch version: [19 populaire Linux-distributies](https://www.stackscale.nl/blog/populaire-linux-distributies/).