My favorite GNOME-based Linux distros – for minimalists who like options

ZDNET's key takeaways

• GNOME is a powerful, user-friendly desktop.

• No matter your skill or need, there's a GNOME desktop for you.

• Each of these entries is free to install and use.

I remember using the GNOME desktop environment during its beta period long ago. Even then, I assumed it would be something special, and that assumption proved spot on.

GNOME has evolved quite a bit to become a desktop environment for those who appreciate a minimalist UI that gets out of the way. I know that sounds like a marketing pitch, but it makes total sense once you've used GNOME.

But GNOME is flexible enough (thanks to extensions) that some distributions opt to customize it. Some distributions leave it as is, while others tweak it to look and feel like something completely different.

If you're interested in using GNOME but want to start on the right foot, I've compiled a list of five distributions that approach GNOME in different ways. Let's dive in.

1. Best stock GNOME

If you want GNOME the way the developers intended it, then Fedora is for you. Fedora makes very few changes to the stock GNOME. You'll find no customization in visuals (except wallpaper), no added themes, and no extra extensions.

Fedora respects the upstream experience, so GNOME is GNOME.

Also: Fedora 44 made me forget I was using Linux – in the best way

GNOME on Fedora performs exceptionally well. The combination of Fedora and vanilla GNOME makes for one of the fastest, smoothest GNOME experiences on the market.

Fedora also ships with the latest stable GNOME release, so you're getting the newest of the (stable) new. To get a more recent GNOME release, you'll need GNOME OS (which isn't really ready for general use) or a rolling-release distribution, such as Arch Linux or Fedora Rawhide .

2. Most user-friendly GNOME

If you want a user-friendly take on GNOME, jump into Ubuntu. That's right, Ubuntu's desktop is GNOME — just a slightly tweaked version. Ubuntu takes GNOME and adds certain extensions and configures the desktop to include a left-side panel, along with the usual top bar. This layout has been the Ubuntu standard for quite some time, so it will be instantly familiar to anyone who has used Canonical's OS since version 17.10 (Artful Aardvark).

For those who are used to a bottom panel (aka Windows), just think of Ubuntu's GNOME with that bottom panel moved to the left side, and you'll be just fine.

Also: I've used Ubuntu for 22 years – and 26.10 might be its best release yet

Although Fedora is typically considered a "bleeding edge distribution," you might be surprised to learn that the GNOME version shipped with Ubuntu is newer than the one shipped with Fedora. Currently, Ubuntu 26.10 includes GNOME 51, while Fedora 44 uses GNOME 50. The upcoming Fedora 45 release will ship with version 51 of GNOME.

3. Most easily customizable

If you want a GNOME desktop that's customizable but don't want to spend hours or days figuring out how to make it just right, use Zorin OS .

Zorin OS allows you to quickly change the desktop layout (using the Zorin Appearance tool) from a standard GNOME configuration to one that resembles Windows, MacOS, GNOME 2, and more. You can pay for the Pro version of Zorin OS and get 10 total layouts. Even better, you can switch layouts any time you like.

Also: How to make Zorin OS look like Windows 11 – for free

Zorin OS could easily fall under the category of most user-friendly, but its simplified customization places it in a category by itself.

When you first log in to Zorin OS, you might swear you weren't using GNOME. Trust me, you are (that's how flexible GNOME actually is).

4. Best for power users

You want power, use Debian. Debian is Linux for those who know Linux but also want the stability and usability of "The Mother of All Distributions." Debian carries that nickname because it is used as the base for so many Linux distros.

But why is Debian for GNOME power users? You would think power users would be better off with a desktop like Hyprland . Although Hyprland is a great DE for power users, for those who want the best mix of power and ease of use, GNOME on Debian is the perfect fit. You get the power and stability of Debian and the simplicity of GNOME. Starting with the Debian installation, you'll immediately understand that this distribution wasn't designed for those who want the simplicity of, say, Ubuntu or Linux Mint . The Debian installer is a bit old-school and can be a bit intimidating to those who've never installed Linux.

Also: I found my new favorite Linux tool for file sharing, clipboard sync, and remote access

If you're used GNOME on Fedora, you'll be right at home with GNOME on Debian because the layouts are the same. Debian does very little to change GNOME. One thing Debian does do (that Fedora doesn't) is include the Tweaks app, which allows you to customize more aspects of the desktop.

Debian also does not add standard users to the admin group (sudo), whereas Fedora does add users to the admin group (wheel). Because of that, you have to switch to the su user before you can take on an admin task.

5. Best for general usage

You may never have heard of AnduinOS , but it's a distribution you should know, because it goes out of its way to reconfigure GNOME to look very much like Windows. Some in the Linux community would argue that this is counter to the point of Linux. Others (such as myself) believe that having a Linux desktop distribution that resembles the OS most people use is a great way to lure those users toward the open-source side.

Also: Zorin OS vs. AnduinOS: How to pick the right Windows-like Linux distro for you

AnduinOS uses several GNOME extensions to create a desktop that's immediately familiar and great for general usage, especially given that all apps are installed via Flatpak, so they are sandboxed and separate from the base system.

AnduinOS also offers a very simple installation and makes it easy to run both Windows and Android apps.

Essentially, AnduinOS is for those who want GNOME to look as familiar as the OS they just left (probably Windows) and makes for an operating system that is good for just about any use case.

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