Best MATE distros in 2026
MATE continues the classic GNOME 2 desktop: simple, stable, and light. Below: our top pick for each need, the full ranking of distributions that ship MATE as a default or official edition, and a guide to choosing one.
Top picks at a glance
| Best for | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Linux Mint | #1 MATE distro in the live ranking |
| Beginners | Linux Mint | Highest-ranked MATE distro on our list of Linux distros for beginners |
| Gaming | CachyOS | Highest-ranked MATE distro on our list of Linux distros for gaming |
| Rolling release | CachyOS | Highest-ranked MATE distro on our list of rolling release Linux distros |
Full ranking
- 1
Linux Mint22.3
A familiar desktop. A comfortable place to start.
Ubuntu LTSCinnamon, MATE, XfceStableBeginner4 GB+ RAM
Familiar desktop layout with useful defaults
#2 overallProfile - 2
Debian13.7
A dependable foundation that takes its time.
IndependentGNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, moreStableIntermediate2 GB+ RAM
Conservative and predictable updates
#3 overallProfile - 3
CachyOS
An Arch-based system tuned for speed.
Arch LinuxKDE Plasma, GNOME, COSMIC, Hyprland, niri, moreRollingIntermediate4 GB+ RAM
Optimized package builds for newer CPUs
#4 overallProfile - 4
Artix Linux
Arch Linux without systemd.
Arch LinuxKDE Plasma, Xfce, moreRollingAdvanced2 GB+ RAM
Choice of four init systems
#29 overallProfile - 5
Devuan
Debian without systemd, with a choice of init.
DebianXfce, KDE Plasma, moreStableIntermediate2 GB+ RAM
Choice of init system
#37 overallProfile - 6
PCLinuxOS
A long-running independent rolling desktop.
Independent (Mandriva heritage)KDE Plasma, MATE, XfceRollingBeginner4 GB+ RAM
Rolling without reinstalling
#44 overallProfile - 7
SparkyLinux
Debian stable or testing, with many desktop choices.
Debian Stable / TestingLXQt, KDE Plasma, Xfce, MATEStableIntermediate2 GB+ RAM
Stable and semi-rolling lines
#50 overallProfile
Order follows the live popularity ranking, which measures attention, not suitability. Test your own hardware with a live USB before installing.
How to choose a MATE distro
Why MATE
MATE continues the classic GNOME 2 desktop, forked in 2011 when GNOME 3 changed direction. It is simple, stable, and light, with traditional panels and menus.
How to choose
Linux Mint offers a MATE edition that is easy to start with. Debian, Parrot OS, PCLinuxOS, and SparkyLinux also ship it.
MATE distros: common questions
Is MATE lightweight?
Yes. MATE uses less memory than GNOME, KDE Plasma, or Cinnamon and suits older PCs.