I examined the 9 hottest Linux desktop environments, right here’s how I’d rank them

One of the very best issues about Linux is that you simply’re not caught with a single desktop expertise. You can choose one thing that appears like macOS, Windows, or one thing that’s fully completely different and distinctive. That mentioned, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming, and testing each single one to search out the right match isn’t sensible for everybody. Fortunately, I’ve carried out the legwork for you. I’ve been utilizing Linux for the previous 10 years, and over that point, I’ve examined all the key desktop environments (DEs). Here’s how I’d rank them primarily based on options, efficiency, and value.

9

COSMIC

A piece in progress

COSMIC is a comparatively new and bold desktop atmosphere from System76, the laptop computer producer and developer behind Pop!_OS. It provides a singular and highly effective desktop expertise that bridges the hole between conventional desktop environments and tiling window managers.

You get a clear, fashionable design paired with wonderful customization choices, a Spotlight-like software launcher, a GNOME-like digital desktop switcher, and a toggle that permits you to change between floating home windows and computerized tiling. You also can customise its format to resemble macOS or Windows.

Unfortunately, COSMIC continues to be tough across the edges and feels like beta software. I encountered bugs and glitches that made it troublesome to make use of, not to mention advocate. However, its underlying concepts are promising, and I can see it changing into a compelling possibility for energy customers as soon as it matures.

Best distros for experiencing COSMIC: Pop!_OS, Fedora, Garuda.

8

Pantheon

Minimal to a fault

Pantheon is among the few Linux desktop environments that goals to copy the macOS format. You get a dock on the backside, a panel on the prime, and window buttons to the left of the app’s title bar. Its design is approachable, clear, fashionable, and cohesive.

However, I discover Pantheon a little bit too minimal for its personal good. It’s pretty restrictive by way of what you are able to do with it. Sure, it covers all of the fundamentals you’d anticipate from a Linux desktop, however I need greater than that. I need additional options that assist me be extra productive and get extra work carried out, and Pantheon is not constructed for that use case.

It’s higher suited to individuals who need a easy desktop with out too many choices. They can open an app and get stuff carried out with out worrying in regards to the OS. If that is what you are in search of, you will most likely discover Pantheon interesting and even considerably calming.

Best distro for experiencing Pantheon: elementary OS.

7

Budgie

Good however nothing particular

Budgie is the primary desktop atmosphere on this record that I’d comfortably advocate to most individuals. It’s clear, approachable, and provides a good number of options that will help you personalize your system. You may even customise its panels and rearrange interface components to make the desktop resemble Windows or macOS.

Its standout function is Raven, a sidebar just like Windows 11’s notification middle, however significantly extra highly effective. It brings notifications, calendar data, media controls, and different widgets collectively in a single panel. Unfortunately, the default number of widgets is considerably restricted, and the customization choices aren’t fairly as in depth as these in among the higher-ranked DEs.

I additionally discover Budgie’s design a little bit dated, with an early-2010s aesthetic that does not notably enchantment to me. It’s nonetheless a succesful desktop, but it surely would not stand out sufficient to rank increased.

Best distros for experiencing Budgie: Solus and Ubuntu Budgie.

6

MATE

A blast from the previous

Back in 2011, GNOME decided to abandon the beloved GNOME 2 desktop paradigm in favor of its new imaginative and prescient for GNOME 3, and lots of people had been pissed. That’s when MATE was born as a undertaking to protect and proceed the standard GNOME 2 desktop expertise.

In reality, it is a full fork of the GNOME 2 codebase. You get the identical panels, software menus, and window-management controls. From an on a regular basis person’s perspective, the general expertise feels equivalent to basic GNOME 2.

The primary distinction is that MATE has continued to evolve and modernize the codebase, with updates and enhancements for contemporary Linux methods. It helps HiDPI shows and fashionable filesystem and community protocols, whereas Wayland assist stays a piece in progress on the time of writing.

Overall, MATE is a superbly practical desktop atmosphere, notably for those who prefer traditional workflows. Unfortunately, I’m not notably fascinated about recreating the desktop expertise of the 2000s, so MATE is not for me. That’s why it ranks low on my record.

Best distros for experiencing MATE: Ubuntu MATE and Linux Mint.

5

GNOME

Too opinionated for my liking

I’ve a little bit of a love-hate relationship with GNOME. I like that it is one among, if not essentially the most, polished and distinctive desktop environments out there on Linux. Rather than copying Windows or macOS, it embraces its personal workflow constructed round digital desktops.

In reality, when you get used to it, this method might be remarkably productive. I notably prefer using GNOME-based distros on laptops, the place its workspace administration makes engaged on a smaller display really feel simply as productive as engaged on a desktop.

However, I hate how cussed GNOME is about locking you into its imaginative and prescient of how a Linux desktop ought to work. The interface may be very minimal, and also you get barely any customization choices by default.

Sure, you possibly can set up third-party extensions, and a whole bunch of them add additional capabilities to GNOME. However, the builders appear considerably hostile to this extension tradition. Every main GNOME replace appears to tweak one thing beneath the hood, usually breaking extensions within the course of. You then have to attend for his or her builders to replace them, which might take a couple of weeks.

That mentioned, for those who like GNOME as its builders meant, it is a superb desktop atmosphere.

Best distros for experiencing GNOME: Fedora Workstation and Ubuntu.

4

LXQt

As mild because it will get

LXQt is among the first desktop environments I’d think about for older {hardware}. In reality, I’ve personally used LXQt-based distributions to breathe life into a few of my previous, lower-end methods. It makes use of round 500MB of RAM after a recent boot, leaving extra of your system’s restricted assets out there on your apps.

What’s extra, regardless of its small footprint, LXQt nonetheless provides all the fundamental options you’d anticipate from a desktop atmosphere, after which some. The compromises principally present up within the seems to be division. LXQt ships with a dated, utilitarian design that appears like one thing straight out of the ’90s.

That mentioned, I believe that is an affordable trade-off when efficiency is the precedence. If you have got an previous laptop computer that struggles with heavier desktop environments, LXQt is one among your finest bets for getting extra use out of that {hardware}.

Best distro for experiencing LXQt: Lubuntu.

3

Xfce

An excellent, balanced possibility

Xfce is a light-weight desktop atmosphere similar to LXQt, prioritizing efficiency and reliability whereas providing a standard but practical desktop expertise. That mentioned, Xfce is marginally heavier than LXQt, sometimes utilizing 100–200MB extra RAM after a recent boot. However, it makes up for that by providing a extra interesting and cohesive interface.

Sure, it would not look as fashionable as GNOME, but it surely additionally would not look as dated as Windows 95, both. Its design language is paying homage to the Windows XP period, and the general expertise feels rather more polished and cohesive.

Xfce can be remarkably customizable. You can alter panels, menus, themes, shortcuts, and window decorations with out basically altering how the desktop works. Thanks to this wonderful steadiness of design, performance, and a light-weight footprint, Xfce has earned an enormous, loyal following.

Best distros for experiencing Xfce: Xubuntu, Linux Mint Xfce, and MX Linux.

2

Cinnamon

The dream Linux desktop for Windows customers

Cinnamon is a fan favourite amongst Linux newcomers, notably these switching from Windows. It’s secure, dependable, feature-rich, and has all of the attraction and enchantment of a contemporary Linux desktop atmosphere. In reality, it seems to be like a modernized Windows 7 desktop — arguably probably the most beloved variations of Windows.

What I personally love about Cinnamon is that it strikes a powerful steadiness between performance and accessibility. When you first begin utilizing it, every part feels extremely acquainted. You can launch purposes, handle home windows, and entry system settings simply as you’ll on Windows. There’s no have to adapt to a completely completely different desktop philosophy earlier than you will get work carried out.

However, when you get comfy and begin digging round, you will discover plenty of impressive features. These embody the flexibility so as to add customized actions to the right-click context menu, customise panels and applets, and use desktop extensions known as Spices so as to add additional functionalities.

Best distro to expertise Cinnamon: Linux Mint.

1

KDE Plasma

The strongest and customizable desktop atmosphere

Last however not least, taking the highest spot is KDE Plasma, arguably essentially the most highly effective and feature-packed desktop atmosphere within the Linux ecosystem. Plasma combines a contemporary, polished interface with an unimaginable vary of customization choices. You can rearrange panels, change themes, modify window habits, add widgets, and tweak nearly each side of the desktop.

And it is not nearly appearances, both. You additionally get highly effective options like native window tiling, a variety of built-in and community-developed widgets, and deep integration between KDE’s purposes. However, the function that basically bought me on Plasma is KDE Activities. Think of them as digital desktops on steroids, letting you manage separate working environments round completely different duties.

Of course, all these options include a draw back. Plasma might be overwhelming at first, particularly once you open its settings and encounter the sheer number of available options. That’s one motive newcomers may choose Cinnamon’s extra approachable interface. But for energy customers and anybody who needs full management over their desktop, KDE Plasma is a godsend.

Best distros for experiencing KDE Plasma: Kubuntu, Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop, openSUSE, CachyOS, and Garuda Linux.

Do you agree with the rankings?

At the top of the day, there is not any single finest Linux desktop atmosphere for everybody — which is precisely why there are such a lot of of them. KDE Plasma is my favourite as a result of I worth customization and superior options, however somebody who prioritizes simplicity may choose GNOME, Cinnamon, and even Pantheon. If you are utilizing older {hardware}, LXQt or Xfce would most likely prime your record.

I’d like to know which desktop atmosphere is your favourite and whether or not you’d rank them in another way.