Best Operating Systems of 2024

Arm Mbed OS, an open-source IoT operating platform, is free and available for download. It includes all the features needed to create IoT products. The OS contains everything you need for smart, connected products that run on Arm Cortex M based hardware. This includes machine learning capabilities, security stacks, connectivity stacks, and drivers for sensors and other I/O devices. Arm Mbed OS was designed for the Internet of Things. It integrates with connectivity, machine-learning, networking, security stacks, and is supported by software libraries, tutorials, hardware, and examples. Mbed OS supports over 70 silicon, module and cloud partners. This allows you to optimize your developer choice. Mbed OS API allows you to keep your application code clean, portable, and easy while taking advantage security, communications, and machine learning. The integrated solution reduces development time, cost, and risk.

Entsecure OS is an easy-to-use, secure operating system that powers all laptops. You can centrally monitor inventory, usage, vulnerable system status, and many other things from anywhere. Automated security updates, patches management, and software updates. This tool is designed with end-users and provides self-service tools to reduce the service desk workload. Automated, integrated tools that dramatically reduce workload and empower IT departments. Our ML engine provides insight, policy support, tools for reporting, and patterns of usage. It is easy to use and secure by design. You can achieve your compliance goals with built-in features. Policy management, central device management, full-disk encryption, configuration management, automatic patch management, configurations and configuration management. Simplify IT management, empower end-users.

Our commercial RTOS, tools and services make it easier to launch critical embedded systems. BlackBerry QNX is a time-tested realtime operating system (RTOS), hypervisor and other embedded software that will make you successful. Our embedded OS is the best choice for medical robots, ventilators, train controls and factory automation systems. Our software, tools, and services can help build safer products, regardless of whether you are focusing on safety, security, or performance. We can help you improve safety and security, or streamline cross-platform development. With an RTOS and hypervisor specifically designed for embedded systems, we can help you bring your ideas to life. Our modular microkernel architecture provides greater reliability and reduces the need to duplicate OS development effort across multiple products.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time, a real-time operating system, is designed to reduce latency, increase predictability, and reliability of time-sensitive and business-critical applications. Banks, manufacturers, government agencies, and others depend on time-dependent applications that must run accurately and predictably every time. Distributed systems must be able to act as one unit. This is true for both within the server and across all servers. The Precision Time Protocol (PTP), which synchronizes servers over a high-speed network, achieves sub-microsecond accuracy. Support for device interrupt threads allows tuning at the device level and hardware latency detectors ensure predictable application behavior. SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time gives users the time advantage they need to win over the competition.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an enterprise Linux operating system is certified on hundreds of clouds with thousands of vendors. Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides a consistent platform across environments and the tools to deliver services and workloads quicker for any application. Red Hat Enterprise Linux reduces deployment friction, costs, and speeds up time to value for critical workloads. This allows development and operations teams to collaborate in any environment. Red Hat Enterprise Linux extends hybrid cloud infrastructure to the edge, across hundreds of thousands of nodes around the globe. You can create optimized OS images for edge use, minimize workload interruptions due to OS updates, transfer system upgrades more efficiently, and feel confident in automatic health checks, rollbacks, and rollbacks. Use purpose-built command line utilities for automating many inventory and remediation steps related to upgrading your subscription or migrating to another Linux distro.

Wind River Linux allows you to create and deploy secure Linux-based devices without the risks and development effort associated with in-house roll-yourself (RYO). Wind River will keep your code base current, track and fix bugs, apply security patches and customize your runtime to meet strict market specifications and certifications. This will allow you to reduce your IP and export compliance as well as your costs. You can speed up time-to-market by getting to work today and building your Linux distribution using Yocto Project source code. With the assurance that you can easily switch to one of our flexible subscriptions later, it will be easy. You can rely on fully verified, maintained, and supported code, as well as access to a team Linux experts to assist you with all aspects of your development lifecycle. Calculate your TCO. Wind River Linux lets you build your own Linux operating systems with a variety service options to assist you.

Open source, community-owned, and governed Linux distribution for enterprise. It is focused on long-term stability and provides a solid production-grade platform. AlmaLinux OS is 1:1 compatible with RHEL®, and pre-Stream CentOS. Our GitHub organization contains source codes and tools used in building AlmaLinux OS. Reddit is a vibrant community that allows you to interact with other AlmaLinux OS users and receive updates. You can also find and offer help. You can have a real-time conversation with other members of the AlmaLinux OS community, the governance team, and AlmaLinux OS OS developers. Ask questions, get answers, and provide community support to other members of the AlmaLinux OS community as well as developers. AlmaLinux OS is a completely free, standalone OS that receives $1M annually in sponsorship from CloudLinux Inc as well as support from other sponsors. The community members manage the ongoing development efforts.

CIQ empowers people to do amazing things by providing innovative and stable software infrastructure solutions for all computing needs. From the base operating system, through containers, orchestration, provisioning, computing, and cloud applications, CIQ works with every part of the technology stack to drive solutions for customers and communities with stable, scalable, secure production environments. CIQ is the founding support and services partner of Rocky Linux, and the creator of the next generation federated computing stack.

Clear Linux OS is an open-source, rolling release Linux distribution that optimizes performance and security from the Cloud to Edge. It is easy to customize and manage. You can use a generic host without any custom configuration. Stateless systems are able to separate the OS configuration, per-system configuration and VT user-data. It is designed to allow the user to quickly and easily manage their customized configuration vs. the system configuration. Clear Linux OS optimizes across all aspects of the stack, including the kernel, kernel, math libraries and middleware layers. Frameworks and runtime are also optimized. Clear Linux OS includes an automated tool that scans for CVEs and patches them accordingly. This separation of System and User files allows for simpler management and simplifies customization.

EuroLinux Desktop is a revolutionary operating system. It combines the functionality and aesthetics of Windows®, macOS®, with the reliability, security, and stability of Enterprise Linux. EuroLinux Desktop makes it simple to use Linux software for those who are familiar with Microsoft®, Apple®, and other operating systems. It is built on Red Hat(r] Enterprise Linux®, 9, which is commonly used in demanding environments like banks, telecommunications, and the public sector. This makes it extremely secure and stable. EuroLinux Desktop was designed for individuals and businesses that use Windows®, macOS®, and other operating systems daily. It provides long-term technical support and maintains the Microsoft®, and Apple®, aesthetics. EuroLinux Desktop meets the needs of the public administration, financial sector, educational institutions, as well as normal users.

Pure SONiC is a community-developed, Linux-based, open-source network operating system. It has been tested in the data centers at some of the biggest cloud service providers. Pure SONiC via NVIDIA eliminates distribution restrictions and allows enterprises to take full advantage the benefits of open networking. NVIDIA also offers the expertise, experience, documentation, and professional services that will best guarantee success. NVIDIA supports Free Range Routing (FRR), SONiC Switch Abstraction Interface(SAI), systems and application-specific integrated Circuits (ASIC), all in one place. SONiC is not a distribution. It doesn't depend on one vendor for roadmap updates, bug fixes, security patches, etc. SONiC allows you to integrate existing management tools across your data center into unified management.

Linspire is a Linux-based 64-bit OS that is designed for business, education, and government workers. It includes all the applications that business users need for work, deployment and research. Linspire can host all legacy applications still in use within your environment, as well as providing facilities for web app deployment. Linspire is certified by many states to run intranets and web-based applications for government. Linspire is the ONLY Debian or Ubuntu-based system that has been certified by Oracle and IBM for hosting and deploying their respective cloud technologies. Linspire is used by four out of five US military branches, as well as the National Weather Service and NOAA.

The Freespire Operating System (also known as the Linspire Operating System) is an open-source and free release of Linspire. It contains many of Linspire's software packages, with the exception of those that require a license for redistribution. Freespire can be redistributed as you like. Freespire requires a processor with x86_64 bits, 4 gb RAM and a minimum of 20 gb on the hard drive in order to run a basic environment. We recommend that users who wish to run emulation programs such as VMWare and VirtualBox have at least 6-8 gb of memory for optimal performance. We recommend 8 gb of RAM or more for users who want to run CAD programs, Video and Audio production software. You can install Freespire on Intel-based Apple Macintoshes as a dual boot or standalone.

PixelOS is a ROM based on AOSP, with all the Pixel goodies and Google apps. We aim to provide a similar experience to Google Pixel phones, with numerous performance improvements and a small number of useful extra features.

PixelExperience ROM is based on AOSP and includes all Google apps, as well as all Pixel goodies, including launcher, wallpapers (including Google's own), icons, fonts and bootanimation. Our mission is to provide the maximum stability and security along with essential features and useful functions for the proper operation of the device.

A project based on AOSP was started with the aim of keeping things clean, simple, and organized. We added features to the project that will prove useful in the future, while also aiming to provide smooth performance and a longer battery life.

Havoc-OS, an after-market firmware that is based on Android Open Source Project and inspired by Google Pixel, has a refined Material Design user interface. We offer a stable and smooth experience for your device, with a selection of amazing features to provide an exceptional experience. Our ROM is compatible with over 150+ devices from 20+ OEMs. Generic System Images are available to try our ROMs even if the device you're using is not currently supported. Our device list is constantly growing, with more devices being added each month.

OpenSUSE is now possible in a completely new way. Leap uses source code from SUSE Linux Enterprise, which gives Leap an unmatched level of stability and combines it with community developments to give users and developers the best stable Linux experience. OpenSUSE users can upgrade by either booting from the DVD/USB or performing an 'Online Update'. Leap is a stable distribution method that releases one version each year, in between security updates and bugfixes. This makes Leap attractive as a server operating system as well as for Desktops as it requires minimal maintenance. OpenSUSE Leap can be used with SUSE Linux Enterprise, which gives Leap an unmatched level of stability and allows users to migrate to an enterprise offering.

High-integrated UNIX operating system with tools that provide the highest availability, reliability and security for mission-critical HPE Integrity server. Streamline your operations with a highly integrated UNIX system that includes tools that deliver the highest reliability, availability and security on mission critical HPE Integrity servers. The HP-UX operating system provides a dynamic, secure, and unified environment that is pre-integrated with mission-critical HPE Integrity server. Your specific UNIX mission-critical requirements will be met. Four operating environments are available for HP-UX to meet your specific needs. Holistic server security and management that includes HPE Systems Insight manager functionality with power management, health checks, and deployment tools. It also offers full performance analysis tools for applications and kernel processes. Protect your business's most important applications and services to ensure your business stays on track.

Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment that runs UNIX-like operating system. It is designed to be quick and efficient, but also visually appealing and user-friendly. To make Xfce stand out, we created new icons for each of our core applications. We also based them on a common palette to ensure consistency. We also created some additional (implicit) design restrictions, loosely following Adwaita’s principles. The Settings Manager received a visual overhaul of its filter box. It can now be hidden permanently. The search capabilities of the filterbox were also improved by searching the 'Comments" part of each dialog's launcher file (aka.desktop). This dialog combines the previously available Mime Settings' with the 'Preferred Applications’ dialogs. Users will find it easier to set default applications to handle files if they are combined in one place.

Lubuntu is an easy-to-use, lightweight operating system that is fast and lightweight. It is a Linux-based system that uses the minimal desktop LXDE/LXQT and a variety of light applications. Lubuntu requires very little hardware. Lubuntu was created by Mario Behling, and has been cultivated for many years by Julien Lavergne. Join us to install Lubuntu onto your computer. The lubuntu project aims to make Ubuntu faster, lighter, and more energy-efficient by using LXDE (The Lightweight X11 Desktop environment) as its default GUI. The lubuntu team takes care of LXDE as well as other packages that are part the lubuntu install. Contribute to a lighter, more resource-efficient and energy-efficient Linux Desktop. Our goal is to make Linux more affordable and use MIDs, ARM and Mips-based CPUs.

Gentoo, a Linux-based operating system that is free and can be customized to suit any application or need, is available. Gentoo's experience is characterized by extreme configurability, high performance, and a highly-respected user and developer community. Gentoo can be used as a secure server, development workstation or embedded solution. Gentoo is a metadistribution because of its flexibility. Gentoo is much more than software. Gentoo is also a community that revolves around the distribution. Gentoo is supported by around 250 developers and thousands, many of whom are experts in their respective fields. Gentoo users can enjoy the following: documentation, infrastructure and release engineering, software porting quality assurance, security monitoring, hardening, and other features.

Fedora CoreOS is an automatically-updating, minimal operating system for running containerized workloads securely and at scale. It is currently available for multiple platforms and more will be added soon. There are three Fedora CoreOS update streams (FCOS), stable, testing, or next. You will generally want to use stable. However, it is recommended that you run machines on testing and next to provide feedback. It is expected that stream metadata will be used to automate Fedora CoreOS installation. Fedora CoreOS provides automatic in-place updates. However, it is a good idea to start provisioning new machines using the most recent images. Fedora CoreOS doesn't have an install disk. Every instance starts with a generic disk image that is customized at first boot via Ignition. All of the software is free and open-source. You can also share, remix, or modify it.

CentOS Linux is a community-supported distribution that was derived from freely available sources on Red Hat or CentOS Git for Red Hat Enterprise Linux. CentOS Linux is functionally compatible with RHEL. The CentOS Project changes packages primarily to remove artwork and branding from upstream vendors. CentOS Linux is free and available at no cost. Each CentOS version will be maintained until the RHEL version that is equivalent goes out of support. Once a new RHEL version has been rebuilt, a new CentOS version will be made available. This happens approximately every 6-12months for minor version bumps and several years for major versions. The rebuild can take anywhere from weeks for point releases to several months for major version bumps. This creates a stable, reliable, predictable, reproducible Linux environment that is easy to maintain.

BlackArch Linux, an Arch Linux-based penetration test distribution for security researchers and penetration testers, is available. Tools can be installed individually or in groups. BlackArch Linux can be used with Arch installations. Multiple window managers are available in the BlackArch Full ISO. The BlackArch Slim ISO includes XFCE Desktop Environment. The full ISO contains a fully functional BlackArch Linux system that includes all tools available in the repo at build-time. The slim ISO contains a functional BlackArch-Linux system with a selection of well-known tools and system utilities that can be used for pentesting. The netinstall ISO image is lightweight and suitable for bootstrapping. It contains a small number of packages. BlackArch Linux can be used with normal Arch installations. It serves as an unofficial repository for users. BlackArch Linux can be installed using the Slim medium, which includes a GUI installer.