Even we have hundreds of distributions, we have created a list of best Linux distro based on popularity, features, and ease of usage.

I felt its fair to categories top Linux distros based on Desktop (laptop), Security, Lightweight, Enterprise and for Developers because each distro have their unique features and you should select based on your requirement.

In this tutorial, we shall focus on the best Linux distributions for 2020 for your best experience.

Best Linux Distro 2020 for Desktop (Laptops)

1. Ubuntu

Ubuntu is arguably one of the best Linux distributions among enthusiasts and users looking to make a foray into the Linux world. By default, it ships with a feature-rich and easy-to-use GNOME desktop environment. Additionally, users can install a myriad of other environments such as MATE, KDE, and XFCE according to their tastes and preferences. It also boasts a vibrant community of open source developers that are constantly working to improve the operating system and help users online in numerous fora. Currently, the latest LTS version is Ubuntu 20.04 LTS nicknamed Focal Fossa, which was released on April 23, 2020.

Ubuntu 20.04 features such as

GNOME 3.36. with a new and enhanced Yaru theme

Linux kernel 5.5

New and stylish wallpapers

Gaming improvements

Better system performance

Support for ZFS file system

An ISO image with a small memory footprint

You can download Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and ensure that your system meets the following requirements

2 GB RAM

2Ghz Dual-core processor

25 GB of Free hard disk spaces

1024x768 screen resolution.

A DVD drive or USB port for connecting to the installer media

Based on Debian Desktop Environment GNOME (default),Unity Package Management dpkg, Synaptic General Purpose Desktop Download Link https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Read Also: How to Install Ubuntu 18.04 Dual Boot with Windows 10

2. Linux Mint

Linux mint is another excellent Linux distro that is based on Debian and Ubuntu. This distro has a host of impressive customization options. It has at least 30,000 packages and is suited for users who want to switch from other operating systems such as macOS or windows. The latest version of Linux mint at the time of writing is currently 20 codenamed Ulyana. Other options that make Linux Mint fantastic include crucial productivity tools such as

such as LibreOffice. By default, Mint ships with Cinnamon desktop which is intuitive and easy to use especially for users transitioning to Linux from other operating systems such as Windows and Mac.

Mint has excellent support for media formats such as DVDs and MP3. You can play videos and music right out of the box. Mint has three primary starter flavors; Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce. All these flavors use different desktop environments that allow you to change various elements on the system

Minimum Requirements for Installation

64-bit x86 Processors

2GB of RAM

10GB of free hard disk space

A graphics card that supports at least 1024 x 720 resolution

CD/DVD/USB facilities

Based on Debian and Ubuntu Desktop Environment Cinnamon (default), Mate and Xfce Package Management dpkg General Purpose Desktop Download Link https://linuxmint.com/download.php

3. Elementary

Elementary OS is another distribution that is based on Ubuntu. It comes with an intuitive, simple and stylish desktop environment. In fact, it’s one of the most widely-used distros and doesn’t have too many pre-installed apps.

Its environment is called Pantheon (based on Gnome) with a design similar to a macOS. It has a few essential apps e.g., the Epiphany browser and an email client.

The latest version of Elementary OS is called Loki. Since the OS doesn’t have many pre-installed apps, the Loki version has an AppCenter that makes it easy to install apps outside the terminal. The latest Elementary release is 5.1.6 codenamed Hera.

Built-in Night Light

The picture in Picture Mode

Image Resizing Made Easy

Easier App Funding

Simple App Launcher

Adaptive Panel

Easily Available Keyboard Shortcut

Bold Use of Color

Easy Web Integration

Transparent Readable Updates

Minimum Requirements for Installation

Intel Core i3 or compatible dual-core 64-bit processor

4GB RAM

At least 15GB of SSD free space

Internet access

1024 x 768

CD/ DVD/ USB drive for installation

Based on Ubuntu, Ubuntu in term based on Debian Desktop Environment Pantheon, Pantheon built on top of GNOME Package Management dpkg, Eddy Gui tool General Purpose Desktop Download Link https://elementary.io/

Read Also: How to Install Elementary OS 5.0 Juno with Windows 10

4. Fedora

Based on Redhat, Fedora is a Linux distribution developed by the community-supported Fedora Project. Fedora offers free and open-source software packages. The most recent Fedora distribution is Fedora 32

Fedora also has various flavors, as well as custom variations of Fedora called Fedora ‘spins’. The variations are used for security, gaming, design, and computing. The flavors include;

Fedora workstation – This focuses on desktop users and software developers.

Fedora server – Focuses on the open-source server software with easy to deploy solutions.

Fedora CoreOS – Focuses on being an operating system for containers.

Fedora IoT – For edge computing.

Fedora astronomy – For amateur and professional astronomers.

Fedora has a short version life cycle of 13 months, and this means that its package updates are frequent.

Gnome 3.36

Fedora silver blue

TLS 1.3

Python 3.7

Perl 5.28

ZRAM support for ARM images

New notification area

Minimum Requirements for Installation

6GB free hard disk space

2GB RAM

Intel 64-bit processor

AMD processor with AMD-V and AMD64 extensions

Based on Redhat Desktop Environment GNOME (default) Package Management RPM, Built 'dnf' on top of it General Purpose Vanilla Desktop Download Link https://getfedora.org/

5. Pop Linux from System 76

POP Linux is a new Linux distro designed to have minimal clutter on the desktop. The creators of Pop OS system 76 specialize in building custom Linux PCs, and they have managed to tweak the Pop with the necessary improvements on the graphical interface. Switching between integrated Intel graphics and a dedicated NVidia graphics with a single mouse click. However, you can install NVidia drivers when doing the first time installation instead of using the open-source Noveau drivers that are present in most distributions.

The Pop! _ OS does not support true hybrid graphics, as it is Windows. Switching between the Intel and NVidia graphics solutions is easy when you compare it with other Linux distributions. Pop! _OS works on any PC and with functionalities expected from a Linux distro. Forbes earlier suggested Pop OS is giving good Desktop experience and for games.

Pop OS is still emerging as a convenient tool for managing dual graphics options.

Prominent Features

Built from scratch

Customized GNOME 3 as the preferred Desktop Environment

Better Support

Runs well on System 76 Laptops

This is an AppCenter, otherwise known as the Pop! _Shop is a project developed by the ElementaryOS team. The main purpose of this center is to make app organization easy to enable easy search experience.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

2GB RAM though the recommended is 4GB

Minimum 16GB storage the recommended is 20GB

64-bit processors

Based on Ubuntu Desktop Environment GNOME (default), Budgie and more Package Management dpkg General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://system76.com/pop

Read Also: How to Install POP OS 20.04 LTS

6. Zorin

Zorin Os is a desktop environment that closely resembles a Windows desktop and is the most ideal for users making a shift from Windows or macOS. It's a powerful, yet easy-to-use Operating system that is based on Debian. It's quite fast and stable on both and new PCs and definitely gives you remarkable user experience. It comes with useful productivity apps out-of-the-box such as LibreOffice, media players, and games that are available from its software store. You can also use the Wine application to run Windows apps.

Zorin OS 15 enjoys 1.7 million downloads which come with important updates and hardware compatibility features.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

64-bit x86 Processors

2GB of RAM

10GB of free hard disk space

A graphics card that supports at least 1024 x 720 resolution

CD/DVD/USB facilities

Based on Ubuntu Desktop Environment Gnome or Xfce Package Management dpkg General Purpose Desktop Download Link https://zorinos.com/download/

7. Arch Linux

Many are averse to ArchLinux due to the complexity in its installation. However, ArchLinux has a wide fun base among Linux enthusiasts. It has plenty of customization options. It allows you to customize it by using the terminal to download, update, and install packages. However, despite plenty of available customization.

The main aim of Arch Linux is to keep things simple; this means ensuring the code is correct and making everything in the system minimalist. This also means a lesser appealing UI. The system may be a little complicated, but the lack of bloat makes it attractive to users who want a clean Linux experience with no clutter. Thus newcomers will especially find this OS a bit challenging.

Despite basic software, users are expected to download most software they need as well as customize the system to satisfy their needs fully. The Arch Linux version 2020.01.01 is the latest distribution. For package management, ArchLinux has 3 main package managers: pacman, yaourt and the most recent one yay.

You only need to use pacman-syu to update all packages and to install group packages that come with the software run the command pacman-S gnome

Every time there is a rolling release update a large number of binary updates for the repositories. The timely releases are to make sure you do not need to re-install or update your OS at any given time. Instead, you need regular system updates to get the latest Arch Software.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

An i686 or x86-64 based processors

2GB RAM (you can increase for better graphical performance)

10GB hard disk free space

Based on Independent distribution relies on its own build system and repositories Desktop Environment Cinnamon, GNOME, Budgie and more Package Management pacman , yay , yaourt General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://www.archlinux.org/download/

Read Also: Beginners Guide For Arch Linux Installation

8. Tails

For anyone looking for the best online privacy, then Tails should be able to provide that security. Tails is another Debian based OS with privacy in mind; tails does not store any data by default that is why most developers refer to it as the amnesiac distribution.

Tails works with Tor browsers for all network connectivity and the OS can operate from a flash disk and can disguise itself to look like windows in public. Everything on Tails is encrypted this includes messaging, emails, and files.

Tails is a privacy-oriented Linux distro that aims for privacy and anonymity. With Tails, you can use the internet privately without leaving a trace. Tails OS forces all connections to the internet to go through the Tor network using state of the art cryptographic tools to encrypt your information. Underneath the security measures, the OS is based on Debian Linux and uses the Gnome desktop making the UI clear and user-friendly.

While it isn’t for everyone, Tails certainly gives you the privacy you need to do your browsing.

Tails' recent version is Tails 4.8

CD/DVD/USB ports

64 bit x86-64 processor

2GB RAM

Based on Debian Desktop Environment GNOME3 (default) Package Management dkpg General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://tails.boum.org/install/index.en.html

9. Manjaro

Manjaro is an easy and user-friendly Operating System based on Arch Linux. Key features of this distro include the intuitive installation process, automatic hardware detection, stable updates with every release, uses special Bash scripts for managing graphics and more options available in supporting desktop configurations.

Manjaro comes with different desktop flavors such as GNOME, Xfce, KDE, MATE, Cinnamon, and Budgie.

The software comes packed with software such as Firefox, LibreOffice, and Cantata for all your music and library activities. Right-click on the desktop to access several widgets that you can use to add icons on the desktop panel.

Use the Manjaro settings manager to give you an option of selecting the kernel version that you want to use as well as installing language packs and third-party drivers for specific hardware. The Manjaro settings are accessible on the M icon on the system tray under the Settings menu.

Cantatta is the default music app among other versions like clementine

Octopi package manager organizes packages and is easy to use

Minimum Requirements for Installation

Intel-based i686 or i386 processor

1 GB RAM

8 GB free space on the hard disk

Based on ArchLinux Desktop Environment Cinnamon, GNOME, KDE Plasma 5, Xfce, Budgie, Deepin, Architect, and MATE Package Management pacman General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://manjaro.org/download/

10. Deepin

Deepin is a Linux distro that provides a beautiful, easy to use, and reliable operating system. It is out of the box distro which has a fashion UI design and better UX. Stylish DDE with colorful icons, a fresh graphics interface, and a nice graphic interface.

Prominent Features

User-friendly desktop environment

Deepin 20 support Dual-kernel system installation

Personalized notification management

A variety of fingerprint readers are supported.

Easy system installer

Minimum Requirements for Installation

More than 2G RAM, 4G or higher is recommended

Recommended to have more than 25GB free space

64-bit processors

Based on Debian Desktop Environment Deepin Desktop Environment (DDE) based on QT. Package Management dpkg General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://www.deepin.org/en/download/

11. Solus

Solus is one of the newcomers to the scene and is already making serious breakthroughs. The distribution will give you a clean and polished experience. The robust repositories include any software that you can imagine that are always get updates with every release.

The desktop environment is also known as 'Budgie' is attractive, simple and clean and offers a similar experience to Chrome OS without the need to purchase a Chromebook. You will get all the software that you need from the GNOME desktop environment, which is light and fast.

Budgie is clean and has a visually appealing user interface giving a wonderful and spectacular user experience. A single button opens the main menu as you have seen in a typical Windows 10 environment.

A dual-core of at least 2GH and above

4GB RAM

Direct X11 / GeForce 460 or higher

10GB available disk space

Based on A distribution built from scratch Desktop Environment Budgie, Uses GNOME technologies Package Management PiSi package manager maintained as eopkg General Purpose Desktop Download Link https://getsol.us/download/

Read Also: How to Install Latest Solus from USB

Best Linux Distro 2020 for Security

Online privacy is a big issue in this era of mass surveillance by both the state and online marketers. If you are keen on keeping these surveillance operations at bay, you need an operating system that has been created from the deep inside with one key thing in mind – security or privacy.

Therefore, with this in mind here are what we have in mind for the distros that will work for hackers, pen-testers, and the terminally paranoid.

1. Kali Linux

Kali is becoming more popular in the cyber community for being Hacker's number one priority. Kali has more than 300 tools that are applicable in different areas such as key-loggers, Wi-Fi scanners, scanning and exploiting targets, password crackers, probing and many other uses.

From the word go this is not a beginner-friendly Operating System. Most of its courses are taught online on how to use it effectively, it the preferred choice for ethical hackers black hats, and penetration testers. Kali is relatable for its realism and attention to detail. Kali Linux is Debian based OS that means all the software that you need can be installed the Debian commands.

From 2020.1 release , Kali Linux distribution has switched to non-root user login as default. This is as part of a new security model.

Kali has many penetration testing tools that can be GUI or CLI tools. Testing these applications means that you are aware that some commands may not work with your system or cause further problems to the network. When it comes to security applications ignorance is not an excuse.

If the software you want is not on the Debian packages within Kali, you can install but with the stern warning, that such additions only work to compromise system stability.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

128 MB RAM

2GB free disk space

CPU that supports AMD64, i386, armel, arm64, and armhf

With the Desktop environment

2GB RAM

20 GB disk space

CPU that supports AMD64, i386, armel, arm64, and armhf

Based on Debian Desktop Environment GNOME (default) Package Management dpkg General Purpose Penetration testing / Cyber security Download Link https://www.kali.org/downloads/

2. Parrot OS

Based on Debian, Parrot OS is a lighweight and secure system built for cyber security and forensics experts. It comes with an arsenal of hacking and forensics tools that help security experts in penetration testing. Just like Kali, it comes with a user-friendly and beautifully styled desktop environment wiith menus that help you easily navigate and search for what you are looking for. It remarkably fast even on PCs with low system requirements.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

2GB RAM

20 GB disk space

CPU that supports AMD64, i386, armel, arm64, and armhf

Based on Debian Desktop Environment GNOME (default) Package Management dpkg General Purpose Penetration testing / Cyber security Download Link https://parrotlinux.org/download.php

Best Lightweight distro 2020

Why should you risk running the old insecure Windows XP with no support yet there are tons of secure Linux applications that are lightweight and will work with machines of that era. The outdated machine hardware configurations should not box you into loading an unpredictable and insecure Operating System. The Linux distributions are more than light, and they are fast and secure.

1. Lubuntu

Lubuntu makes it to the list of the lightweight Linux distributions that can work well in netbooks and older PCs. Lubuntu is an official Ubuntu, therefore, giving its users an opportunity to share the same software on the official Ubuntu software store.

Starting from Lubuntu 18.10 all 32-bit images will no longer get support from its developers, and therefore anyone with old 32-bit hardware configurations will have to move to 64-bit processors.

Lubuntu is a fast Operating System for old desktops that use the LXQt desktop environment alongside a selection of light applications. Switching from the previous LXDE desktop to the current LXQt started with Lubuntu 18.10. Comparing the two LXQt is modern after the merging of LXDE and Razor-qt. Latest downloadable version of lubuntu is 19.04.

All the necessary software that you need ship with the OS. Lubuntu is even better for anyone who is familiar with Ubuntu and wants to upgrade the old laptop or PC.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

Pentium II or more

256MB RAM

5GB free disk space

Based on Ubuntu Desktop Environment LXQt, LXDE Package Management dkpg General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://lubuntu.net/downloads/

2. Linux Lite

The growth of Linux Lite has been quite rapid in the recent past because beginners find it easy to use, it is attractive, and of course lightweight. It is another Ubuntu-based Linux Operating System running on Long-term Software (LTS) and has powerful and popular applications.

Using Linux Lite means you have a functional Linux desktop experience because it uses a more or less similar menu interface on Windows XP. The Xfce desktop environment is making things comfortable for a Linux newbie.

Linux Lite will handle with ease what other distributions are struggling with even with its lightweight structure. Linux Lite offers all the tools that promise the best performance. The latest Linux Lite at the moment is Linux Lite 4.8 that has an auto screen adjustment feature, the Redshift that adjusts the screen temperature at night or day.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

700MHz Processor

512MB RAM

Screen Resolution of about 1024 x 768

Based on Ubuntu Desktop Environment Xfce (default) Package Management dpkg General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://www.linuxliteos.com/download.php

3. TinyCore

TinyCore is an incredibly compact distribution that is available in three different sizes. The barebone TinyCore is by far the tiniest of Linux distros that allow users to build their own variations.

The lightest TinyCore is about 11MB and has no graphical interface with the option of adding one after the installation. An alternative is the TinyCore Version 9.0, which is 16MB in size and has the option of FLTK or FLWM desktop environments. The third option is the install CorePlus that is more than 106MB and has a choice of Lightweight Window Managers such as IceWM and Fluxbox. The CorePlus has support for Wi-Fi and non-US keyboards.

TinyCore saves on storage space because you need a cabled network during initial installation; therefore, it does not have many applications other than the terminal, basic text editor, and network connection manager.

Use the TinyCore Control Panel for quick access to different system configurations. Use the graphical package manager to install more software such as multimedia codecs.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

128MB RAM

32-bit and 64-bit processors. The system also accepts other versions such as PiCore

5GB disk space

Based on Busy Box, flwm, Tiny X , Fltk Desktop Environment GNOME, i3, IceWM, HackedBox Package Management tce-load General Purpose Desktop Download Link http://tinycorelinux.net/downloads.html

4. Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux is a veteran when it comes to the world of lightweight Linux world, and it boasts of a vast range of applications in different versions. The Operating System uses the Xenial Pup edition that works with Ubuntu Repositories.

Being one of the oldest lightweight distributions in the market, project developers have been making efforts to make it slim and light for more than a decade now.

Puppy Linux is full of apps with the most unusual apps like the Homebank, which helps in financial management, or the Gwhere that manages disk catalogs. A graphical tool is also available for managing Samba shares and firewalls.

The XenialPulp uses the QuickPet utility that manages the installation of the most popular apps.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

128MB RAM

32-bit and 64-bit processors

5GB disk space

Based on Woof -CE Desktop Environment ROX desktop Package Management Puppy package Manager General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link http://puppylinux.org/main/Download%20Latest%20Release.htm

Best Enterprise Server Distros 2020

In the Operating Systems server arena, Linux enjoys a bigger share because of things like stability, freedom, security, hardware support, and freedom. Linux servers are suitable for expert users and System Administrators as well as special users like programmers, gamers, programming, or ethical hackers.

These Operating Systems have special tools and enjoy long-term support. They give the user the best uptime, security, efficiency, and optimum performance. Let us look at two of the most used Linux Server options.

1. RedHat

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), still reigns supremes as the best choice of server OS. 2019 wound up with the release of RHEL 8 codenamed Ootpa. RedHat has been in the industry for a very long time and continues to be a favorite among System Administrators due to its security and robustness.

The Red Hat Server edition has two desktop environments the KDE 3.0 and GNOME 1.4. The Nautilus file manager and Ximian evolution will help you manage the system. You can comfortably use the Office Outlook environment with the presence of similar applications that support emails, calendar, contacts, and Palm OS integration.

The professional (paid) version offers the Sun Microsystems Star Office 5.2.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

Any Pentium class processor (X86, POWER Architecture, z/Architecture, S/390)

14 GB hard disk space

32MB RAM – no graphics, 64MB RAM – with graphics

Network interface

Based on RedHat Desktop Environment GNOME3, KDE Package Management YUM,RPM General Purpose Desktop and Server Download Link https://access.redhat.com/downloads/

2. CentOS

CentOS is an operating system that comes from the Enterprise version of RedHat Linux. Its primary use is for servers and not so much for desktop use. However, that doesn't mean you can't use it on your desktop. Just be prepared to use plenty of commands.

It has fewer updates, with updates being pushed up to 10 years from the initial release of each version. One of the best things with this OS is that you can use compatible packages compiled for the commercial version of Red Hat Linux free of charge. The latest stable release is version Centos 8 (8.1.1911).

Best Linux distributions for developers in 2020

Most developers use Linux Based Operating Systems to get their work done or to create something new. Programmers more than anybody else are concerned with things like power, stability, compatibility, and flexibility found in any OS.

Ubuntu and Debian seem to be the leading contenders but there are several others, and today we will focus on Debian.

1. Debian



The Debian OS is one of the oldest Linux distros. It was initially released back in 1996 and has grown in leaps and bounds to become one of the main distributions that other Linux distributions have been based on. Due to its longevity, developers have used the system as the framework for Ubuntu and Mint. The distributions derived from Debian have further inspired other distros making Debian very popular.

By default, Debian ships with GNOME dekstop environment. This makes Debian an excellent choice for both workstations and servers. In workstation versions, Debian comes with pre-installed programs like GIMP – an image editing software, a browser, LibreOffice, and a media player.

When installing Debian, you can opt for "stable," "testing," and "unstable" versions. These options allow you to test your OS in more ways. The latest Debian version is Debian 10 codenamed Debian Buster.

2 GB RAM

8 GB free Hard disk space

Based on Debian Desktop Environment GNOME3, KDE 5.8 Cinnamon, MATE, Budgie 10.2 Package Management dpkg General Purpose Desktop and Multipurpose Download Link https://www.debian.org/distrib/

2. Suse Server

The openSUSE OS is built primarily for developers and system admins. For this reason, SUSE is especially keen on security. It comes with a very polished user interface with some nice available customizations. By default, SUSE ships with the KDE Plasma desktop, which is amazing but gobbles up alot of CPU and RAM resources.

The SUSE OS has two major distributions; openSUSE Leap and openSUSE Tumbleweed. The Leap distribution uses SUSE Linux Enterprise code. This makes it especially stable with new versions being released at least once a year and supported for at least three years. Leap is especially suitable for business applications. The most recent version is openSUSE Leap 15.2.

The Tumbleweed option uses openSUSE’s main development codebase. This means that once its packages have been tested, they are made available for download immediately.

Finally, the SUSE Studio Express website allows user to create their own version of openSUSE with pre-installed software packages, among other settings.

Minimum Requirements for Installation

4GB RAM

16GB disk space

Network interface

Based on RPM and RedHat Desktop Environment GNOME (default), GNOME classic, ICeWM, SLE classic Package Management Zypper General Purpose Desktop and Server Download Link https://www.suse.com/products/

Conclusion

We have done our best to cover the most popular Linux distributions in every major category. Please do not forget to tell us which ones you like or find to be a better distro.