Google has been developing Android and Chrome OS towards a convergence of operating systems in recent years. In short, Linux is the number one free alternative to Window for the simple reason that it is amazing. But this is a competitive field-perhaps you aspire to own a Mac? If your Cupertino lust is all about the visual design of macOS, then you might consider Elementary OS. If you're looking for a free alternative to Windows, you try Linux Mint, currently the most popular Linux operating system. MakeUseOf publishes its own Linux help guides, while we're also addicted to compact Linux-powered ARM hobbyist computer the Raspberry Pi.Īnd that is the beauty of Linux: it will literally run on anything. Linux is free, widely available, and has acres of online guidance, making it the obvious choice. However, there are many other free operating systems for laptops and desktop PCs.Ĭapable of performing standard computer tasks, these free operating systems are strong alternatives to Windows. Need a new operating system that doesn't cost a penny? You might have heard about Linux, the free and open source alternative to Windows.
