How to try out over 85 Linux distros, no installation required – with DistroSea
How to try out over 85 Linux distros, no installation required – with DistroSea
https://www.zdnet.com/article/try-dozens-of-linux-distros-no-installation-distrosea/
Publish Date: 2026-06-03 13:04:00
Source Domain: www.zdnet.com
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- DistroSea allows you to test several Linux distributions.
- There are currently 85 distros to test.
- DistroSea is free and works on any web browser.
I recently wrote about the Virtual OS Museum, which let me reunite with the very first Linux distribution I’d ever tried. It was a fabulous walk down memory lane, and even allowed me to test other, now-defunct, Linux distributions, all from the convenience of my web browser.
The only caveat to the Virtual OS Museum is that it’s truly a museum — you won’t find current distributions available to test.
That’s where DistroSea comes into play.
Also: This is my favorite Linux distro of all time – and I’ve tried them all
Unlike the Virtual OS Museum, DistroSea allows you to actually test several new distros. Currently, there are 85 distributions available, including AerynOS, Alpine Linux, AnduinOS, Arch Linux, Arco Linux, Bazzite, Big Linux, BlendOS, Bodhi Linux, BunsenLabs Linux, CachyOS, Chimera Linux… the list goes on.
The distributions range from the all-too-familiar to the obscure. In fact, I scrolled through the entire list looking for distributions that I’d never heard of. I found just one — Primtux. So I decided to give it a whirl.
The NoVNC toolbox is always at your service.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
To fire up Primtux — or any of the distros — you click its associated icon, select a desktop (if that option is available), and wait in line. Depending on how busy DistroSea is, the wait can be anywhere from nearly instantaneous to a few minutes. Once the wait is over, click Continue and wait for the distribution to boot.
If you’re not satisfied with the display’s quality, make adjustments here.
Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNET
You’ll also notice a small handle on the left edge of the display. Click that handle to reveal the VNC toolbox, which clearly indicates that the distributions are viewed via VNC (noVNC to be…
