Desktop OS

Free operating systems for your computer, from volunteer-run Linux distributions to a desktop built around security. For an ethical operating system, we look for free software, community governance and regular releases.

Our top picks: Debian, run by its volunteer members with no owner company, with over 70,000 packages and a public Social Contract. And Trisquel, a fully free GNU/Linux for homes, schools and small offices, based on Ubuntu and listed by GNU as a free distribution. The trade-off: this list leans technical, and we’re still looking for a pick made for first-time switchers.

How we choose: each system is checked against the 6 principles in our manifesto: who owns it and how it makes money, what it collects, how it treats people, honesty, openness and staying power. We last checked them on 13 October 2026.