10 beginner-friendly Linux distros that aren’t Mint (and why you might prefer them)

10 beginner-friendly Linux distros that aren’t Mint (and why you might prefer them)

10 beginner-friendly Linux distros that aren’t Mint (and why you might prefer them)

https://www.howtogeek.com/user-friendly-linux-distros-that-arent-mint/

Publish Date: 2026-03-24 08:30:00

Source Domain: www.howtogeek.com

Linux Mint has earned a reputation as a Linux distro that’s easy to get started with, thanks to its “batteries-included” setup, including popular media codecs. If you don’t want Linux Mint, there are plenty of other distros geared toward people new to Linux.

Pop!_OS

You don’t need a System76 PC to run it

Like Mint, Pop!_OS is a variant of Ubuntu. It’s developed by System76, a company that sells desktop and laptop computers with the system pre-installed. You don’t have to buy a System76 PC to use it. You can just download it and install it like any other Linux distro.

The desktop is a customized version of GNOME called COSMIC. Pop!_OS is geared toward creative people and developers, but you can use it as an ordinary desktop system. You have a choice of APT or Flatpak packages.

Zorin OS

For those who appreciate clean design

Zorin OS system resource consumption after a fresh boot.

Zorin OS…

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