Best Operating Systems for Mac of 2025

macOS Big Sur takes the world's most sophisticated desktop operating system to unprecedented heights of functionality and aesthetic appeal. Immerse yourself in a completely enhanced Mac experience with its sleek new design. Revel in the most significant update to Safari yet, while exploring exciting enhancements in Maps and Messages. Additionally, enjoy increased transparency regarding your privacy settings. This release exemplifies unmatched power, renowned ease of use, and endless opportunities for creativity. With macOS Big Sur, a sophisticated design overhaul showcases the beloved features of the Mac in a fresh light. The introduction of full-height sidebars and revamped toolbars ensures your content remains the focal point. This refined interface simplifies access to your favorite applications, and the uniform design of app icons fosters a cohesive look while allowing the unique character of the Mac to shine through. Moreover, a novel integration of notifications and widgets into a unified view provides a comprehensive overview of essential information at a glance, enhancing your overall user experience.

Enhanced security features, a wider array of packages, and cutting-edge tools are all part of your open-source ecosystem, spanning from cloud to edge. Safeguard your open-source applications by ensuring comprehensive patching from the kernel to libraries and applications for CVE compliance. Both governments and auditors have verified Ubuntu for compliance with FedRAMP, FISMA, and HITECH standards. It's time to reconsider the potential of Linux and open-source technology. Organizations partner with Canonical to reduce costs associated with open-source operating systems. Streamline your processes by automating everything, including multi-cloud operations, bare metal provisioning, edge clusters, and IoT devices. Ubuntu serves as the perfect platform for a wide range of professionals, including mobile app developers, engineering managers, video editors, and financial analysts working with complex models. This operating system is favored by countless development teams globally for its adaptability, stability, continuous updates, and robust libraries for developers. With its strong community support and commitment to innovation, Ubuntu remains a leading choice in the open-source landscape.

FydeOS is a streamlined operating system that combines a Linux kernel with a browser platform and container technology, mirroring the functionality of Google Chrome OS. It operates efficiently on a wide range of mainstream hardware. Devices equipped with FydeOS are fully capable of supporting modern web application standards, running Android applications, and integrating with Linux environments, all while functioning seamlessly in Chinese network settings, offering users an experience akin to that of a Google Chromebook. Built upon the second development of The Chromium Projects, FydeOS has undergone significant modifications and optimizations to its kernel, enhancing its browser platform and incorporating localization features tailored to Chinese users, thereby enriching the overall user experience. As a cloud technology operating system, it is designed to cater specifically to the demands of the Internet age. Through extensive technological advancements, FydeOS has expanded its compatibility across various hardware types, presenting a comprehensive solution centered around its capabilities. This adaptability ensures that users can leverage FydeOS for diverse applications, enhancing its utility in both personal and professional environments.

Revitalize your organization's computing systems to ensure they are secure, manageable, and maintain optimal performance at all times. CloudReady offers the advantages of web functionality without the burdens or vulnerabilities associated with conventional operating systems. It's a modern operating system tailored for current needs and future advancements. For this reason, various organizations—including businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, and government bodies globally—rely on CloudReady to enhance the security and efficiency of their devices when utilizing web applications and virtual desktop infrastructures. Built on Google’s Chromium OS, which shares the same open-source framework as Chrome OS, CloudReady is suitable for computers of any age, from the latest models to those over ten years old. By adopting CloudReady, users can experience exceptional speed, ease of use, and robust security, free from hardware constraints, making it a versatile choice for any organization. Furthermore, this adaptability allows users to maximize their existing technology investments while staying ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Parrot is a global collective of developers and security experts collaborating to create a unified set of tools that enhance their work by making it easier, more standardized, reliable, and secure. At the heart of this initiative is Parrot OS, a leading GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian, specifically designed to prioritize security and privacy. It offers an extensive portable laboratory suitable for various cybersecurity activities, including penetration testing, digital forensics, and reverse engineering. Additionally, it provides all the necessary resources for software development and data protection. Regular updates ensure that it remains robust, with frequent releases that incorporate numerous hardening and sandboxing features. Users have full control over the system, allowing them to download, share, examine the source code, and modify it as desired. This system is committed to honoring your freedom, and that commitment will always remain steadfast. Users are encouraged to engage with the community, contributing to its evolution while upholding the principles of security and privacy for all.

Fedora Workstation stands out as a dependable, robust, and user-friendly operating system tailored for both desktops and laptops. It serves a diverse group of developers, including hobbyists, students, and professionals operating within corporate settings. The GNOME 3 desktop environment allows you to concentrate on your coding tasks without unnecessary interruptions. Built with the developer's needs in mind, GNOME offers a streamlined experience that emphasizes productivity. You can eliminate the frustration of searching for or compiling the necessary tools, as Fedora provides an extensive array of open-source languages, tools, and utilities that are readily accessible with just a click or command. Additionally, Fedora supports collaborative efforts through platforms and repositories like COPR, enabling you to share your projects and provide builds for the broader community to utilize. This makes it an ideal choice for developers looking to enhance their workflow and contribute to open-source initiatives.

Explore the advantages of ChromeOS for PCs and Macs with its cloud-first, user-friendly, and secure approach. ChromeOS Flex offers a free and eco-friendly solution to upgrade your existing devices effortlessly. You can easily deploy it across multiple machines or simply test it out to discover the benefits of a cloud-centric operating system. By installing ChromeOS Flex on your computers, you ensure they are secure, boot up quickly, maintain peak performance over time, receive automatic background updates, and can be managed remotely through the cloud. Devices start swiftly, remain efficient, and update seamlessly, minimizing downtime for users. Enjoy rapid access to virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and web applications in a streamlined and dependable environment. You can roll out ChromeOS Flex to your entire fleet using USB or network installation, and user settings and policies are synchronized to devices almost immediately. The Google Admin console allows for easy remote management of updates and configuration of device policies. Furthermore, the use of blocked executables and sandboxing technology eliminates the necessity for traditional antivirus solutions, making it a smart choice for modern businesses. This innovative operating system not only enhances security but also improves the overall productivity of your workforce.

macOS Ventura represents the most recent significant update to Apple's operating system designed for Mac computers. Announced during WWDC 2022 on June 6, 2022, it became available to users on October 24, 2022. This iteration introduces a variety of enhancements and new functionalities, such as: Stage Manager: A feature that helps you arrange your windows for better focus on your current task. Continuity Camera: This allows you to utilize your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, incorporating functionalities like Center Stage and Portrait Mode. Live Text: This capability enables automatic text recognition in images and videos, allowing for easy copying, pasting, translating, and more. Mail: The updated Mail app comes with improved tools for organizing your inbox, scheduling emails, and simplifying information retrieval. Safari: Enhancements in Safari include features for a better browsing experience, such as Tab Groups, Passkeys, and Live Text. Gaming: New gaming functionalities are introduced in macOS, including Metal 3 and SharePlay, enhancing the gaming experience. With these updates, macOS Ventura not only improves productivity but also enriches the overall user experience on Mac devices, making it a noteworthy advancement in the system's evolution.

Engage, collaborate, and innovate like never before with the latest FaceTime enhancements. Welcome to a world of thrilling new features, including a revamped Safari experience. Unleash creative productivity with Universal Control and Shortcuts, all while staying focused on what matters most. And that’s just the beginning. Maintaining connections is increasingly vital, and with SharePlay, you can enjoy movies, music, and even share your screen during FaceTime calls. The experience of FaceTime has become more immersive and lifelike, while the Messages app simplifies discovering and relishing content shared by loved ones. Extend your FaceTime chats as you stream your favorite shows and music with friends. Thanks to synchronized playback and controls, you can witness everyone's reactions and laughter in real-time, creating unforgettable shared moments regardless of physical distance. This is a transformative approach to socializing, bringing people closer together.

macOS Sonoma enhances both productivity and leisure on your Mac, making it more dynamic than ever. Improve your video call experience and explore innovative ways to access information while also enhancing your gaming capabilities. Additionally, you'll find countless options to customize your Mac to fit your style. The new slow-motion screen savers showcase stunning locations from across the globe, creating a picturesque backdrop on your large Mac screen that transitions smoothly into your desktop wallpaper upon login. You can now place widgets directly on your desktop using the fresh widget gallery, allowing you to control podcast playback, manage lighting, and perform various tasks directly from these handy tools. With the Continuity feature, integrating your iPhone widgets onto your desktop becomes effortless, eliminating the need to install related apps on your Mac. As you interact with applications or utilize Stage Manager, widgets gently recede into the background, ensuring you stay focused on your current activities. Furthermore, any changes to your wallpaper will automatically adjust the colors of your widgets, providing a cohesive look. This seamless integration of features makes for a more tailored and immersive computing experience.

The latest iteration of Apple's desktop operating system, macOS Sequoia, brings a variety of features aimed at boosting productivity and enhancing the overall user experience. One standout feature is iPhone Mirroring, which allows users to directly access and control their iPhone from their Mac, creating a more integrated experience between the two devices. Furthermore, the update introduces window tiling capabilities that enable users to efficiently organize their workspaces by arranging windows side by side or in corners with ease. Another notable addition is the new Passwords app, which securely manages and stores user credentials across all devices, simplifying the process of password management. These improvements, along with other enhancements, position macOS Sequoia as a major upgrade for Mac users who are looking for better functionality and seamless integration. Overall, this update not only enhances individual tasks but also fosters a more interconnected ecosystem for Apple users.

Arm Mbed OS is an open-source operating system tailored for IoT applications, providing all the essential tools for creating IoT devices. This robust OS is equipped to support smart and connected products built on Arm Cortex-M architecture, offering features such as machine learning, secure connectivity stacks, an RTOS kernel, and drivers for various sensors and I/O devices. Specifically designed for the Internet of Things, Arm Mbed OS integrates capabilities in connectivity, machine learning, networking, and security, complemented by a wealth of software libraries, development boards, tutorials, and practical examples. It fosters collaboration across a vast ecosystem, supporting over 70 partners in silicon, modules, cloud services, and OEMs, thereby enhancing choices for developers. By leveraging the Mbed OS API, developers can maintain clean, portable, and straightforward application code while benefiting from advanced security, communication, and machine learning functionalities. This cohesive solution ultimately streamlines the development process, significantly lowering costs, minimizing time investment, and reducing associated risks. Furthermore, Mbed OS empowers innovation, enabling developers to rapidly prototype and deploy IoT solutions with confidence.

Quickly locate that crucial document, image, or video with ease. With features like Split View, Editable Location, a built-in Terminal, and many more handy tools, Dolphin simplifies the process of connecting USB flash drives, SD cards, and mobile devices. In today’s digital age, images play a vital role, and Kubuntu offers applications designed for effortless browsing, sharing, and enhancing your photographs. You can open various file types such as PDF, Dejavu, PS, and DVI with Okular, the versatile document viewer, which also allows you to annotate documents, fill out forms, and even read eBooks. Kubuntu includes straightforward music and movie players that make entertainment a breeze; just choose a song or film, and the system will handle the rest. Most audio and video formats are supported right from the start, and if you need to install restricted formats like MP3, it only takes two clicks, typically during the installation process. This seamless integration of multimedia capabilities makes Kubuntu an ideal choice for users who value both ease of use and functionality.

Raspberry Pi Imager offers a fast and straightforward method for installing Raspberry Pi OS along with various other operating systems onto a microSD card, making it ready for your Raspberry Pi. To understand the installation process, check out our brief 45-second video tutorial. Begin by downloading and installing Raspberry Pi Imager on a computer equipped with an SD card reader. Insert the microSD card intended for your Raspberry Pi into the reader and launch Raspberry Pi Imager. You can explore a variety of operating systems available from both Raspberry Pi and external providers, allowing you to download and install them manually as needed. This tool streamlines the setup process and enhances your Raspberry Pi experience.

Handoff and Instant Hotspot features necessitate an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch equipped with a Lightning connector, with Handoff needing iOS 8 or newer, while Instant Hotspot requires an iPhone or iPad with cellular capabilities and iOS 8.1 or higher, in addition to a Personal Hotspot service from your mobile carrier. For AirDrop functionality to work seamlessly with iOS gadgets, you must have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that has a Lightning connector and runs on iOS 7 or above. Furthermore, to utilize FaceTime for video calls, you will need a device that has a built-in FaceTime camera, an iSight camera (whether built-in or external), a USB video class (UVC) camera, or a FireWire DV camcorder, alongside a reliable broadband Internet connection for optimal performance. These requirements ensure that users can take full advantage of the connectivity options available on their devices.

macOS High Sierra marks the fourteenth iteration of Apple's operating system designed for its Macintosh computers, including desktops, laptops, and servers. This version is the second release following the transition from OS X to the macOS branding. For utilizing Siri, users must have a broadband Internet connection, as well as a microphone, which can be either built-in or external. Additionally, to use Photo Booth, a FaceTime or iSight camera is necessary, whether it's integrated into the device or connected via USB video class (UVC). Similarly, making FaceTime video calls demands a built-in FaceTime camera or an external iSight camera, along with a USB video class (UVC) camera, and a reliable broadband Internet connection is essential for all these functionalities. Overall, these requirements ensure that users can effectively engage with the multimedia capabilities of High Sierra.

OS X Yosemite represents the eleventh iteration of Apple's OS X operating system designed for Macintosh computers. It was officially unveiled to developers during WWDC 2014 on June 2 and saw the release of its public beta on July 24, 2014. To utilize Time Machine, users need to have an additional hard drive or an AirPort Time Capsule, which are sold separately. For the Photo Booth application, a FaceTime or iSight camera is necessary, whether it is built into the device or connected externally, along with a USB video class (UVC) camera or a FireWire DV camcorder. When using a DV camcorder, specific backdrop effects will only work if the device has fixed focus, exposure, and white balance settings. Video calls can be made using a built-in FaceTime camera, an external iSight camera, a USB video class (UVC) camera, or a FireWire DV camcorder, with a minimum requirement of a 128-Kbps Internet connection for both upstream and downstream. For high-definition video calls, a built-in FaceTime HD camera is essential, and a 1-Mbps Internet connection is required for optimal performance. Additionally, users need to have a supported Intel-based Mac to receive HD video calls effectively.

macOS Sierra marks the thirteenth iteration of Apple's macOS, designed for its range of Macintosh computers, including desktops, laptops, and servers. This version signifies the first release under the new macOS branding, moving away from the previous OS X title. To utilize Siri, users must have a broadband Internet connection and a microphone, whether integrated or external. Additionally, making phone calls through the operating system necessitates an iPhone running iOS 8 or a newer version, along with an active carrier plan. For FaceTime video calls, users need a built-in FaceTime camera, an iSight camera (either built-in or external), a USB video class (UVC) camera, or a FireWire DV camcorder, in addition to a stable broadband Internet connection for optimal performance. This shift in branding and functionality reflects Apple's ongoing commitment to enhancing user experience across its devices.

Urbit is designed to be accessible for all users, yet navigating its expansive ecosystem can sometimes feel overwhelming. By utilizing the provided links, you can engage with the network through various avenues such as development, operation, and exploration. It addresses the complex challenges associated with creating a peer-to-peer network, including identity verification, NAT traversal, and ensuring messages are delivered exactly once, all handled within the kernel, allowing app developers to concentrate on their core business logic. The operating system itself functions as a single pure function, offering developers robust assurances such as automated persistence, efficient memory management, reproducible builds, and the ability for hot code reloading. The vision of a connected world presented by Urbit resembles the early days of the Internet, fostering an environment of collaborative discussion and mutual support. Issues that seem insurmountable today due to the need for centralized control—such as data breaches, spam, fraudulent reviews, malware distribution, and harassment—become manageable when individuals regain control over their computing environments. In this system, you can use just one login to access everything, simplifying the user experience significantly. This streamlined approach not only enhances security but also encourages more personalized interactions online.

The standard edition comes equipped with a comprehensive array of pre-installed applications suitable for daily tasks and is built on Debian. In contrast, the Core version offers a more streamlined experience, also based on Debian Stable, enabling users to customize their systems or operate effectively on lower-spec devices such as ARM boards. Netrunner incorporates KDE Plasma, optimizing it for maximum speed and responsiveness. To facilitate immediate personalization, Netrunner includes multiple window and desktop themes that users can choose from. Most of the window themes utilize the Aurorae-3 engine of KWin, which provides effects like blur and transparency, even on machines with limited resources, ensuring a visually appealing experience without sacrificing performance. Additionally, this flexibility in design options allows users to tailor their interface according to their preferences and needs.