Finding the right Linux distribution can be overwhelming. With hundreds of options, each with different philosophies, package managers, and target audiences, how do you choose?

A New Way to Compare

The Linux Distros dataset lets you filter and compare 38+ distributions across the dimensions that matter:

  • Foundation: Based on Debian? Arch? Independent?
  • Philosophy: Rolling release? Immutable? Systemd-free?
  • Desktop: GNOME, KDE, XFCE, or something else?
  • Audience: Beginners, developers, gamers, privacy-focused?

Quick Filters

Not sure where to start? Try these presets:

  • 🌱 Beginner Friendly - Easy installers, good documentation
  • 🎮 Gaming Ready - Excellent out-of-box gaming support
  • 🔄 Rolling Release - Always up-to-date, no version upgrades
  • ⚙️ Systemd-Free - OpenRC, runit, or sysvinit alternatives
  • 🧊 Immutable - Atomic updates, containerized apps

Multi-Value Filtering

Many distributions support multiple desktop environments or target multiple audiences. Our new multi-value filtering lets you find distros that match any of your selected options - perfect for questions like "which distros support both KDE and GNOME?"

Try It

Explore the full dataset or start with a preset that matches your needs.

Technical note: This release adds support for multi-value columns - fields with comma-separated values in the source data that filter as individual options. This pattern is now documented for future datasets.