As people who have asked that question before, you'll probably get the same answer: There is no such thing as "best Linux".

I'll try to spare you the details (which I don't really know myself anyways) and sum it up as simple as possible so you can decide yourself.

Linux does NOT spy on you. Unless you are using a special build, the Linux is open source so it is not a doubt.

Different versions of Linux are called "Distros". There are hundreds of Linux distros that are actively used by people. But, as far as I know, there are 2 Major Linux: Debian and Arch Linux. Many other distros are based on those two. For example, Ubuntu is based on Debian, and Mint is based on Ubuntu. There are other distros with rather original names like Kubuntu and Lubuntu :)

So Debian >> Ubuntu >> Mint...
or Arch >> Manjaro...


Distro Watch shows general view popularity of the distros (not necessarily correct) and you can get a brief info about them.

Mint probably has the most regular users worldwide probably because of 2 reasons. It is based on Ubuntu so anything that works on Ubuntu will work on Mint and it has a much easier and elegant experience than Ubuntu.

That also answers your last question. Not everything works on all Linux.


I triple boot Mint alongside Manjaro and Windows 10. On Mint and Manjaro, you can install 2 ways.

1. Mint and Manjaro have software centers. You can directly go there and install a program you like simply by clicking install. Just like you would do on android mobile phones. Btw, Android and Linux are relatives and they use very similar kernels.

And Just like android, everything is updated via the Update Manager.

2. You will, of course, won't find all the programs you need in the software center, or in some cases you find it but it is outdated. There are again ways to install a program outside of software center.

2a. For Mint, you can download the ".deb" file of the program. That's like the ".exe" files on windows. You simple double click and the program installs.

2b. You can add the program's source into your software center. Then you can easily install it just by updating it. You can do all these via the terminal ( the CMD equivalent of Linux where you type commands but much MUUCHH more powerful.

2c. You can download the source code and build it yourself. I do not recommend that to new people especially if you are not tech-sevy. Things can go south really fast. The Internet is full of such cases.

Ubuntu (and distros based on Ubuntu) are especially popular now since STEAM and as far as I know, GOG officially supports it.

Finally, find adamhm's linux guide in this forum.

If you want a Linux variant that is Privacy oriented, check out OpenBSD. OpenBSD isn't that user-friendly though and requires lots of post-configuration work.

Otherwise check out The Amnesic Incognito Live System (Tails), which describes itself as "a Debian-based live DVD/USB with the goal of providing complete Internet anonymity for the user. The product ships with several Internet applications, including web browser, IRC client, mail client and instant messenger, all pre-configured with security in mind and with all traffic anonymised. To achieve this, Incognito uses the Tor network to make Internet traffic very hard to trace."

My favorite was SLAX. However they have changed in the lst few years and the packages/modular configuration isn't as appealing.

I've used Redhat (Now Fedora Core) and it was okay.

Slackware and mega compilations of ISO's with 20 gigs of programs tend to have too much you never know about.

Debian is good

I've been using Linux Mint.

I'd say get used to how the distro likes to install software (like apt-get) and once you are familiar with it, 95% of your needs will be met. The other 5%, not sure.

Best is NixOS. Heard good things about Guix, its even more private.

You write configuration file for it and it assembles itself.

If this is your first try using Linux then just go with mint. Really. It's user friendly, looks good, don't spy on you, run decently fast on moderate hardware. For people who just use their pc for everyday use like browsing and playing some games, Linux mint should fulfill all their need. Firefox Chrome and vlc are all available on Linux.

Not everything runs on Linux. Microsoft office is a big one. It runs with help of compatibility application but feels out of place. You have to use alternative such as Libre office. Try to figure out if there's a software you're need that can't run on Linux and see if there's an alternative you're OK with. Same with your games. Not all game runs on Linux so try finding out if the one you want to play runs on Linux

Aside from a few quirks and a few formats not being supported (being new new or proprietary) Libre/Open/Star Office is just as competent in everything you likely need.

The real problem comes when you have to send someone who uses windows your Microsoft office files. More than often the format gets messed up. Not sure how good it is right now but recently I opened a docx file sent by my kid's teacher and it's a mess

Wasn't odt created and accepted to fix this problem in first place? MS stuff isn't an interchangeable standard.

Yes. And I wish it's adoption is better. But right now it's undeniable fact that Ms office is everywhere and people especially those who just use computer for work and nothing else have zero reason to care about file format if the one they currently use is working well and accepted everywhere.

As has been stated, there is no "best". Different distributions serve different purposes, but you can make most of them work for you, because Linux distros are by and large heavily modifiable. Personally, these days I stick to Fedora and Debian, for different purposes. I prefer Fedora for general desktop use because it's generally up to date, even cutting edge. Debian is reliable and stable as all heck (the internation space station runs Debian) and I use it on my underpowered laptop that doesn't really need the latest and greatest software. I also have a Raspberry Pi server running Raspbian.
If you're new, I think pretty much any popular desktop oriented distro will be fine.
And if anyone tells you to install Gentoo, please don't. It's a fantastic distro with the best package manager I've personally used, but it's not exactly the simplest to use and set up.

Edit: As a side note, Ubuntu kinda sorta has a bit of a history with tracking, so make of that what you will.

There is not one. If you are connected to the internet you will be spied on regardless of what you choose. How do you make it through the day, you know there are satellites roaming the skies taking images, google cars roaming the streets etc. I mean I am a bit paranoid, but you really do take it to a whole new concrete bunker in the wilderness.
Simple fact of life now, everything you do in real life and internet is constantly being monitored. Heck in some places they know what you will do before you do it. Changing operating system isn’t going to change that, and unless you are starting your own specter organisation or working for the military it shouldn’t matter that much. Use windows shut up, turn off automatic updates, set firewall to not allow outgoing without acceptance, or better still unplug the internet cable. It’s all you can do really.

With Windows 10 Pro, as far as I know it is possible to disable automatic updates altogether. I don't recall the exact procedure but I've done it once for my work laptop running Pro and I never get updates except when I specifically run Windows Update (it doesn't even check or load updates otherwise). However, IIRC I did have to do some extra tricks to disable automatic updates for good, Google is your friend.

I think in Windows 10 Home disabling automatic updates altogether is not possible. I think Linux Mint is a good choice overall. Since it is based on Ubuntu, all the information and instructions you can find online for Ubuntu work by default on Mint. Also they seem to take privacy and security more strictly than Ubuntu (Canonical), like I think they disabled the Snap Store and Chromium browser in the newest Mint version because:

https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3906 (see the chapter "Snap")

I don't think it matters much which "flavor" of Linux Mint you choose, like Cinnamon, MATE or XFCE. I use XFCE as it is supposed to use less resources than the other two, and the user-interface seems clear and good. Maybe it is not as colorful and as many animations and shit like the other two, but who cares.

For starters I would suggest going with Mint, it was my "Linux training wheels" distro for a couple of years before I moved to pure Debian.

As for software compatibility, it mostly works regardless of distro. In 6 years of Linux I've yet to run in such an issue.

I use and recommend OpenSUSE, other distros are good but one I dislike is Ubuntu.
Linux Mint is also a good choice but I never tested it myself.