Best Free Operating Systems of 2024

Trisquel is ready to use at home or in the office. New programs are easy-to-find and install. You can explore all options with our Documentation. Trisquel's standard edition includes accessibility features. Our manuals are accessible to screen-readers. We also offer a series audio guides. The Trisquel operating system can be downloaded 'gratis' (for no cost). You can support our work financially by making a donation, becoming a member, and purchasing hardware from ThinkPenguin and Technoetical.

It is perfect for people who want to get the most out their computers but still prefer a traditional desktop metaphor. It requires very little hardware and is compatible with modern workstations, single-board computers, and older hardware. Ubuntu MATE makes old computers and modern computers faster. We are happy to provide ready-to run images for the Raspberry Model B 2, 3+, and 4, as well as a range UMPCs like the GPD Pocket 2, GPD Pocket 2, GPD MicroPC, and Topjoy Falcon.

It includes all the software that you would expect to use for daily tasks, such as email, web browsing and word processing. MidnightBSD is a small group of dedicated developers who strive to make an operating system that everyone can use freely. Available for x86 and AMD64 as well as Virtual Machines. Although the FreeBSD project has created a reliable server operating system, it is often not usable or performant on the desktop. Desktop users should be able to customize scheduling, allocation of resources and security settings. Many of the BSD projects can be used on older hardware or servers. Some distributions of FreeBSD have a nice graphical user interface but suffer from a server-centric design underneath the hood. We didn't fork FreeBSD out of spite, but rather to provide a good starting point.

Open-source enterprise server OS that only has the features you need. ZFS, OmniOS' native File System, combines a volume manger and a file system with strong data integrity protection. You can easily share volumes using CIFS, iSCSI, and NFS. You can run lightweight OmniOS and Linux virtual machines in containers, without the overhead of traditional hypervisors. Also, you have full resource control. OmniOS supports full hardware virtualization via KVM and bhyve for guest OSes such as Microsoft Windows and FreeBSD. Crossbow virtual interfaces, switches and switches allow you to virtualize your network infrastructure and even allocate resources for specific services. DTrace is a comprehensive dynamic tracing tool that can be used to assist with troubleshooting across all software stacks. You can instrument anything you need, and it is always available. OmniOS is open-source and self-hosted. It is maintained on GitHub. Every step of development is open source, and anyone can grab the source code and build OmniOS.

DragonFly version 6.2.2 has been released. The 6.2 series includes hardware support for type-2 hypervisors, an amdgpu drivers, and the experimental ability to remotely mount HAMMER2 volumes. DragonFly is in the same category of operating systems as other BSD derived systems and Linux. It shares ancestor code and is based on the same UNIX principles and APIs as other BSD operating system. DragonFly offers a new opportunity for the BSD community to grow in a completely different direction than the one taken in the FreeBSD and NetBSD series. DragonFly has many unique features that make it stand out from other operating systems of the same type. HAMMER is our modern, high-performance filesystem that includes built-in mirroring and historical access. This is the most prominent. Virtual kernels allow you to run a full-blown kernel in a user process. This is useful for managing resources and for debugging and acceleration of kernel development.

Microservice OS provides transactional (Atomic), updates upon a read only btrfs root system. This OS is designed to host container workloads and provide automated administration and patching. OpenSUSE MicroOS provides a small, easy environment for deploying containers or any other workload that can benefit from transactional updates. The software is always current due to rolling release distribution. MicroOS also offers an offline image. The offline image is different from the self-install/raw image in that it has an installer. Raw and self-install allow for customization via combustion or manually in an image after it has been written to the disk. A real-time kernel is also available. MicroOS can be used in VMs that run on either Xen, or KVM. A Raspberry Pi or another system-on-chip hardware might use the preconfigured image along with the combustion functionality to boot.

macOS Ventura, the latest major release from Apple's Mac operating system, is available now. It was announced on June 6, 2022 at WWDC 2022 and released to the public on Oct 24, 2022. Stage Manager: A new method of organizing your windows to help you focus on the task. Continuity camera: Use your iPhone to act as a webcam on your Mac. Features include Center Stage and Portrait Mode. Live Text: Automatically recognizes text in images and video so that you can copy, paste and translate. Mail: New features to organize your inbox, schedule emails, and find information more easily. Safari: New features to browse the web including Tab Groups and Passkeys. Metal 3 and SharePlay are among the new features that macOS offers for gaming. macOS Ventura is an important update to macOS. It includes a number new features that will make your Mac experience more productive.

Connect, share and create like you never before. Say hello to exciting new FaceTime updates. Safari has been redesigned. Universal Control and Shortcuts allow you to discover and invent new powerful ways of working. Focus helps you stay in the moment. And so much, much more. Staying in touch has never been more important. SharePlay allows you to watch, listen, and share your screen in FaceTime. FaceTime calls sound and feel more natural. And Messages allows you to easily find and enjoy great content shared by friends and family. SharePlay lets you continue FaceTime conversations while you watch TV, movies, or listen to music. This is a new way to share experiences with your family and friends, no matter how far they are. Stream movies and television shows while you are on a FaceTime conversation with friends. You can see everyone reacting to the same moments with synchronized playback and controls.

MacOS Sonoma makes it easier to work and play on your Mac. Enhance your presence during video calls. Access information in new ways. Boost your gaming performance. Discover even more ways to customize your Mac. On your large Mac display, you can enjoy new slow-motion screen savings that feature breathtaking locations around the globe. They automatically become your desktop background when you log in. You can now add widgets to your desktop using the new widget gallery. You can now use widgets to play a podcast, switch off the lights and more. Continuity allows you to add iPhone widgets directly to your Mac desktop without installing the apps. When you use Stage Manager or open an app, widgets will fade into the background. This allows you to focus on the task. The widgets will instantly adapt to the new wallpaper.

Enterprise-Grade Linux for Edge-to-Cloud Deployments. Open-Source Collaborative Project is a Debian-based Linux-based distribution that is tailored for edge-to-cloud use cases. Ensure consistent performance, whether on devices, on-prem or in the cloud. eLxr is a stable and secure distribution with a foundation in opensource innovation. Its release and update cycle is predictable, making it suitable for long-term deployments and long-lifecycles. Preempt-rt kernel settings prioritize low-latency responses to meet the needs of applications with strict timing requirements. Tasks are executed within specified time limits. You can achieve better predictability and determinism compared to the standard Linux kernel. eLxr relies upon a smaller footprint to improve performance, optimize workloads, and reduce the attack surface in order to maximize resource usage efficiency. It has all the features and attributes required, while considering the best use of system resources.

Arm Mbed OS, an open-source IoT operating platform, is free and available for download. It includes all the features needed to create IoT products. The OS contains everything you need for smart, connected products that run on Arm Cortex M based hardware. This includes machine learning capabilities, security stacks, connectivity stacks, and drivers for sensors and other I/O devices. Arm Mbed OS was designed for the Internet of Things. It integrates with connectivity, machine-learning, networking, security stacks, and is supported by software libraries, tutorials, hardware, and examples. Mbed OS supports over 70 silicon, module and cloud partners. This allows you to optimize your developer choice. Mbed OS API allows you to keep your application code clean, portable, and easy while taking advantage security, communications, and machine learning. The integrated solution reduces development time, cost, and risk.

Open source, community-owned, and governed Linux distribution for enterprise. It is focused on long-term stability and provides a solid production-grade platform. AlmaLinux OS is 1:1 compatible with RHEL®, and pre-Stream CentOS. Our GitHub organization contains source codes and tools used in building AlmaLinux OS. Reddit is a vibrant community that allows you to interact with other AlmaLinux OS users and receive updates. You can also find and offer help. You can have a real-time conversation with other members of the AlmaLinux OS community, the governance team, and AlmaLinux OS OS developers. Ask questions, get answers, and provide community support to other members of the AlmaLinux OS community as well as developers. AlmaLinux OS is a completely free, standalone OS that receives $1M annually in sponsorship from CloudLinux Inc as well as support from other sponsors. The community members manage the ongoing development efforts.

EuroLinux Desktop is a revolutionary operating system. It combines the functionality and aesthetics of Windows®, macOS®, with the reliability, security, and stability of Enterprise Linux. EuroLinux Desktop makes it simple to use Linux software for those who are familiar with Microsoft®, Apple®, and other operating systems. It is built on Red Hat(r] Enterprise Linux®, 9, which is commonly used in demanding environments like banks, telecommunications, and the public sector. This makes it extremely secure and stable. EuroLinux Desktop was designed for individuals and businesses that use Windows®, macOS®, and other operating systems daily. It provides long-term technical support and maintains the Microsoft®, and Apple®, aesthetics. EuroLinux Desktop meets the needs of the public administration, financial sector, educational institutions, as well as normal users.

The Freespire Operating System (also known as the Linspire Operating System) is an open-source and free release of Linspire. It contains many of Linspire's software packages, with the exception of those that require a license for redistribution. Freespire can be redistributed as you like. Freespire requires a processor with x86_64 bits, 4 gb RAM and a minimum of 20 gb on the hard drive in order to run a basic environment. We recommend that users who wish to run emulation programs such as VMWare and VirtualBox have at least 6-8 gb of memory for optimal performance. We recommend 8 gb of RAM or more for users who want to run CAD programs, Video and Audio production software. You can install Freespire on Intel-based Apple Macintoshes as a dual boot or standalone.

PixelExperience ROM is based on AOSP and includes all Google apps, as well as all Pixel goodies, including launcher, wallpapers (including Google's own), icons, fonts and bootanimation. Our mission is to provide the maximum stability and security along with essential features and useful functions for the proper operation of the device.

A project based on AOSP was started with the aim of keeping things clean, simple, and organized. We added features to the project that will prove useful in the future, while also aiming to provide smooth performance and a longer battery life.

Havoc-OS, an after-market firmware that is based on Android Open Source Project and inspired by Google Pixel, has a refined Material Design user interface. We offer a stable and smooth experience for your device, with a selection of amazing features to provide an exceptional experience. Our ROM is compatible with over 150+ devices from 20+ OEMs. Generic System Images are available to try our ROMs even if the device you're using is not currently supported. Our device list is constantly growing, with more devices being added each month.

Vampire OS is an alternative to Windows and macOS that makes your computer more powerful, faster, safer, and more privacy-respecting. Privacy is a fundamental human rights. Vampire OS does not collect personal data so that advertisers and governments cannot spy on your activities. Vampire OS is Open Source. Anyone can inspect its source code to verify its privacy. You can use RAM or hard disk to experience amazing animations at lightspeed. Vampire OS comes with more than five advanced security tools. Users can also adjust their security level using vampire tools, from low secure mode to high secure. Vampire Connect integrates into Vampire OS desktop to combine the experience between your computer, Android device, and the Vampire OS desktop. It works over an encrypted connection on the local network so that your data remains private and never reaches cloud.