There’s no doubt that Debian is one of the most popular distributions, especially among desktop enthusiasts and professionals alike. This guide features some of the most popular and widely used Debian-based Linux distributions.
1. MX Linux
Currently sitting at the first position in distrowatch is MX Linux, a simple yet stable desktop OS that combines elegance with solid performance. MX Linux initially came with XFCE desktop but has spread its wings to include KDE (MX 19.2 KDE) Linux and MX Linux Fluxbox (MX-Fluxbox 19.2) environments that were made available in August and September 2020 respectively.
MX-Linux 19.2 KDE is available in 64-bit and features an assortment of MX Linux tools, snap technology from AntiX as well as the AntiX live USB the system. Additionally, the KDE version also provides the Advanced Hardware Support (AHS) whose primary focus is to support the latest hardware such as the AMD GPU and the very latest Intel graphic drivers.
Also, you will get the latest out-of-the-box applications for daily use such as LibreOffice 6.1.5, Firefox 79, Thunderbird 68.11, and VLC 3.0.11, to mention a few.
Being a midweight distribution, MX Linux comes highly recommended as a distribution for ageing PCs thanks to its low-resource consumption while at the same time giving users a sleek UI and user-friendly experience. You can get started with just 1GB RAM, 10 GB hard drive, and either Intel or AMD processor.
2. Linux Mint
Linux Mint has for a long time been a favorite among many users – experts and beginners alike – thanks to its user-friendliness and neat and simple UI which make it easy to navigate around. It shares the same package repositories with Ubuntu and the latest release – Linux Mint 20 Ulyana, is based off Ubuntu 20.04 ( Focal Fossa). Mint 20 is available in MATE, Xfce and Cinnamon editions, which are by far lightweight compared to the heavy GNOME desktop environment that ships by default with Ubuntu 20.04.
Like Ubuntu, you get the usual everyday-to-use applications such as Firefox browser, LibreOffice suite, multimedia apps, image editing tools and so much more. Built on Ubuntu 20.04, Mint 20 is a fresh breath of air with its new features, and tons of enhancements and bug fixes. You get a refreshing wallpaper with multiple high-resolution and stunning wallpapers & background images to choose from.
In addition, you can apply different themes and tweak most UI components such as applets, widgets, and icons to your preference. Like Ubuntu 20.04, Mint 20 has introduced fractional scaling for high-resolution display monitors and users also get to leverage the flatpak utility for installing applications.
My only gripe with Mint is its lack of support for a snap by default, which I honestly feel is a disappointment. Nevertheless, you can still enable it by installing snapd and get along with installing your snaps. Overall, I find Mint 20 a rock-solid distro which is fast and stable with bolstered features that go a long way in improving performance and user experience. If you are still holding on to an earlier version of Mint, upgrading to Mint 20 will definitely be a delight.
3. Ubuntu
Arguably one of the most widely used free and opensource Linux distro especially by desktop enthusiasts, Ubuntu requires no introduction. Since its initial release by Canonical in 2004, Ubuntu has made huge leaps to extend its support to servers, IoT devices, and cloud technologies.
The latest version, Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, dubbed Focal Fossa, is its latest Long Term Release (LTS) and will receive support until April 2025. Ubuntu 20.04 ships with a brand new Yaru theme which has 3 variants (Dark, light, and standard), GNOME 3.36 with new-look polished icons, improved ZFS support, fractional scaling for enhanced displays, and multiple default Apps such as Firefox, Thunderbird, and LibreOffice suite.
Most notable is Ubuntu’s push for snaps over the traditional APT package manager. A snap is a software package that ships with all the libraries and dependencies required to function as expected. Though not intended to entirely replace debs, snaps have managed to resolve the issue with software availability.
As opposed to a Debian package that requires dependencies from external sources, a snap package comes pre-packaged with all the dependencies and can be readily installed on every Ubuntu release that supports snap (Ubuntu 16.04 and later versions).
4. Deepin
Deepin is an innovative distro based on Debian that features its own beautifully crafted desktop environment known as DDE (Deepin desktop environment) that gives users a macOS feel. Deepin is focussed on giving its users an unforgettable user experience with its rich and elegant UI. You get an attractive set of icons together with cool light and dark themes whose transparency can be modified.
Like Ubuntu, Deepin ships its own Software Center – Deepin App store – which features a wide array of useful and verified applications which can be installed with a single mouse-click.
The latest version in Deepin 20 which comes with a ton of features, bug fixes, improvements, and default applications such as WPS Office, Skype, Spotify, and VLC to mention a few. The latest version also gives you a squeaky grub menu, better-looking page layouts, and an improved dock tray.
5. AntiX
AntiX is a comparatively lightweight distro ideal of low spec or old PCs. Whether you are a beginner in Linux or an experienced user, AntiX aims at providing a light, flexible, and fully functional OS.
You can get started with an old PC with a 512 BM RAM and a minimum of 5GB hard disk space. Additionally, you can run it as a ‘Live’ system on a flash drive as a rescue CD.
6. PureOS
PureOS is a modern and fully-features distro that takes pride in being a privacy-respecting, secure, and user-friendly operating system. By default, it ships with a GNOME environment with a FireFox based focussed on privacy known as PureBrowser. The default search engine is DuckduckGo, and it allows users to take hold of their online privacy.
7. Kali Linux
Maintained & funded by Offensive Security, Kali Linux is a Debian derivative that is designed to penetration testing and digital forensics. It comes prebuilt with multiple tools used in penetration testing such as Metasploit Framework, Nmap, Wireshark, Maltego, Ettercap, Burp Suite, and so many others.
Due to its popularity in penetration testing, Kali has its own renowned certification – the Kali Linux Certified Professional course. Additionally, developers have provided an ARM image for Raspberry Pi thereby enabling penetration testing enthusiasts to carry out pen tests more conveniently.
8. Parrot OS
Parrot OS is yet another security-oriented Debian variant that packs a collection of tools used for carrying out penetration tests, digital forensics, reverse engineering, and cryptography to mention just a few use cases. It’s available in both MATE & KDE desktop editions as well as an ova file – virtual machine file. The current release is Parrot 4.10.
9. Devuan
If you are still a fan of the old sysvinit, then Devuan might just do the trick for you. Devuan is a Debian fork that is designed to be as close to Debian as conceivably possible. Its latest version is Beowulf 3.0.0 that is based on Debian 10. In addition, Devuan provides support for the ARM community with bootable ARM images.
10. Knoppix
Knoppix is a Debian variant primarily designed to be run from a Live CD or USB drive. With your bootable medium, you can simply plug it in on any machine and conveniently run it.
It comes with a default LXDE environment and like other distros, it comes with day-to-day use software applications such as the IceWeasel web browser, Icedove email client, Mplayer, and GIMP image editing tool just to highlight a few. Knoppix is quite lightweight and is ideal for low spec and old machines. You can get off the ground with a 1GB RAM Intel or AMD system.
11. AV Linux
AV Linux is a Debian-based distro that targets multimedia content creators and is available for download in both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. IT ships with preinstalled audio and video editing software and is a suitable alternative to Ubuntu studio for content creators.
Special Mention
This is by no means the entire list, however, we would like to acknowledge other flavors such as Dog Linux which is a good alternative to Puppy OS, SolydXK, SparkyLinux, and BunsenLabs Linux which is a lightweight distribution.
KDE’s own Neon distro? Stable Ubuntu LTS base c/w latest rolling release of KDE’s beautiful Plasma desktop. Best of both worlds IMO. https://neon.kde.org
:-)
From a site with tech in the name, I expect technical analysis. If you say some group of distributions or applications is the best, I want to know best by what measures, and using what methods.
I want enough information so that I can replicate the technique in additional cases and verify your results. Both in the article and comments, I see only personal opinions without a technical basis. We can do better. We SHOULD do better. We SHOULD do better!
Linux Mint Debian Edition I feel is the best.
A quick shout out here for LUBUNTU, omitted from the list above.
An excellent lightweight Ubuntu – though just a little chubbier since the 20.04 release.
For anyone who wants a REALLY lean OS does give Antix 19 a try. Lovely lightweight icewm desktop/window manager you can tune to taste with simple plaintext configs.
Crunchbang Plus is a lightweight Debian-based distribution that uses the Openbox desktop environment.
Linux Mint Debian Edition – the stability of Debian with the clarity of Cinnamon, a mature combo.
Canonical – just say no [snaps].
Hey brother, please just explain to me why so many people hate snaps. I’m here to know what’s the problem with snaps…
One of the biggest drawbacks of snaps is their huge size. They take up a lot of disk space as compared to when you install an application using the APT package manager,
Why on earth are you griping about Mint not using snap by default. The whole point of Linux is to have an open system that can be tweaked and edited. Snap is not an open system and installs things secretly. It’s a good move by Mint to keep it away from systems unless specifically requested.
If I am using another Linux flavor that does have snap installed, it’s the first thing I remove. This is a Canonical creation that has future implications that only they know. They are probably the least trustworthy Linux branch there is now.
I think this article should have been made with the intention of showing Linux distributions based on Debian only. Ubuntu is already a derivative.
Curiously enough it doesn’t mention Linux Mint LMDE Debbie.
You had me until you mentioned Kali Linux. Most of us Linux users wouldn’t touch Kali with a 10-foot pole. Mentioning it as one of the “best” makes me suspect of your entire puff piece on Debian based Linux distributions.
Everyone knows Kali is a hacker’s Linux and only embraced by the mindsets that run it; those who want to hack, why else would you use it? No self-respecting Linux user would use much less hock a hacker’s wet dream.
You must believe hacking is wonderful and legal so you plug a known Linux that embraces and french kisses hackers. Your so-called professional opinion misses the point of what Linux is and believes. I believe your piece is nothing more than eye candy for your Kali friends.
Have you ever in your life used Kali?! Or did you only read its description and the phrase “penetration testing” bothers you?
“Most of us Linux users wouldn’t touch Kali with a 10-foot pole.”
Please speak only for yourself. You may not be willing to “touch Kali with a 10-foot pole” but there are tens of thousands of Linux system administrators that use Kali (and other pen-testing distros) on a daily basis to repair their systems.
“Everyone knows Kali is a hacker’s Linux”
When people generalize by saying “everybody knows”, it’s a definite sign that they are unsure of their position.
FYI, ANY Linux distro can be used for hacking. Hacking tools can be installed on ANY distro. More often than not, it is the Build-It-Yourself distros like Arch, Linux From Scratch, Gentoo, or Sorcerer that are used for hacking because they can be easily tailored to do anything the users wants. They are much more configurable than Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, or SUSE.
And NO, I do not use any pen-testing distro.
Never used Kali either, but the original commenter sounds very ignorant
“dragonmouth”
Hacking can be done using any Linux distro but Kali is specialized in hacking.
No one would like to install Linux with huge bloat of programs that you are not even gonna use.
“No one would like to install Linux with huge bloat of programs that you are not even gonna use.”
Oh, really?!
Most of the distros are full of bloat and programs that one is never going to use. I have removed anywhere from 300 Mb to 1.2 Gb worth of programs I did not want or was not going to use from various distros I have tried. And yet, users are blithely installing them. There are distros whose developers made it very hard to uninstall ANY programs.
When I started using Linux, most distros would fit on a CD with plenty of room left over. Now an average distro is over 2.5 Gb in size, with many barely fitting on a DVD (4.6 Gb). Interestingly, I find that today I use pretty much the same number as I did 15 years ago,
Yes, programs have gotten bigger as features were added to them. But the bloat does not come from increased program size, it comes from developers including everything, including the kitchen sink, in their distros.
@Sickandtired. Your whole comment is totally wrong. It’s like everything you said is the opposite of reality. Lmao. Please educate yourself on what Kali is really intended for.
The best Debian-based distro is, not so surprisingly, Debian. But why not have some harmless fun with tinkering around if you have time on your hands :)