Solus
An independent desktop with a curated rolling model.
What is Solus?
Solus is built from scratch for home desktops rather than servers. It uses a curated rolling model: updates arrive weekly after testing instead of in large version jumps. Its eopkg package manager and Budgie, KDE Plasma, GNOME, and Xfce editions keep the focus on a polished everyday experience.
Who is Solus for?
Solus fits best for everyday use and gaming. Where it ranks in our lists:
- #11 of 13: best Linux distros for gaming
- #12 of 14: best rolling release Linux distros
- #16 of 22: best Linux distros for beginners
- #24 of 37: best Linux distros for 4 GB of RAM
Pros
- Weekly, curated rolling updates
- Desktop-focused package selection
- Independent base with its own tooling
Cons
- Smaller repository than major distributions
- Fewer third-party guides
Solus system requirements
For a comfortable desktop with a modern web browser, plan for about 4 GB of RAM. Solus is available for x86_64. Leave at least 25 GB of storage for the system and applications. These figures are editorial guidance; check the official documentation for minimums.
Try Solus before you install
Write the image to a USB stick and boot it as a live session to test Wi-Fi, graphics, sound, and suspend on your own computer. A browser trial on DistroSea shows the desktop, but cannot verify your hardware.
Compare Solus with…
Best Solus alternatives
Solus: common questions
What is Solus based on?
Solus is an independent distribution; it is not derived from another Linux distribution. It uses eopkg · Flatpak for software and systemd as its init system.
Is Solus good for beginners?
Yes. Solus is one of the more approachable distributions: weekly, curated rolling updates.
How much RAM does Solus need?
We suggest about 4 GB of RAM for a comfortable desktop experience with a modern browser. This is editorial guidance, not the project’s official minimum, which can be lower. It runs on x86_64.
What desktop does Solus use?
Solus offers Budgie, KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce.
Is Solus a rolling release?
Yes. Solus updates continuously, so there are no version upgrades to perform.
Is Solus free?
Yes, Solus is free to download and use.