Linux distros that feel like Windows or macOS
6 distros in our directory are built to feel familiar to Windows users and 3 to macOS users; Zorin OS does both. The highest-ranked for Windows users is Linux Mint, and for macOS users Zorin OS.
Feels like Windows
6 distros · 67%
Feels like macOS
3 distros · 33%
What the data shows
- Familiar to Windows users: Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Kubuntu, Q4OS, Linux Lite and Linux Mint Debian Edition.
- Familiar to macOS users: Zorin OS, elementary OS and deepin.
- Zorin OS appears on both lists.
How this infographic is made
A distro is tagged when its distro.watch profile says its design deliberately follows Windows or macOS conventions. This is an editorial tag, so a distro can still look and behave differently once you customise it, and a distro can carry both tags. The small label is its default desktop. Order follows the current distro.watch ranking.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Which Linux distro looks most like Windows?
In our directory, Linux Mint, Zorin OS and Kubuntu lead the distros tagged as Windows-like, in ranking order.
Is there a Linux distro that looks like macOS?
Yes: Zorin OS, elementary OS and deepin are tagged as macOS-like in our directory.
Will my Windows programs run on Linux?
Some will, many have Linux versions or alternatives, and some need a compatibility layer. Our Will it run on Linux? checker covers the common ones.