What are Lightweight Linux Distros?
In 2022, we’ll be looking for the Best Lightweight popular Linux Distros . Do we have a good understanding of Distros? Before we go any further, let’s define the term “distros” or “distribution.” In short, i+t stands for distribution, and a Linux operating system (OS) is a phrase used to define a specific distribution/distribution of Linux constructed from the basic Linux operating systems in the IT language.
Both operating systems are in active development, and many developers are working to create tools that are compatible with them. Windows, on the other hand, has a significantly larger quantity of available tools and software than any other operating system. For Windows, you may quickly discover a specific piece of software, but for Linux, this is not always the case.
One advantage of arch Linux Distros over Windows is the number of options available when choosing an operating system. There are hundreds of Linux distributions much better than they to choose from. Although the majority of them are based on a small number of Linux distributions, their user interfaces, and some functionalities may differ significantly.
Another striking advantage of Top Linux Distros 2022 over Windows is its security. Because Linux is an open-source operating system, all developers from around the world work tirelessly to patch its flaws. Windows users are also concerned about privacy, whereas Linux users have no or just minor concerns.
There are numerous Linux distributions available. I can’t imagine coming up with a precise number because there are so many Linux distributions that differ in some way.
Some of them turn out to be clones of one another, while others are one-of-a-kind. So it’s a jumble—but that’s the beauty of Linux.
Don’t worry, despite the fact that there are thousands of Linux distributions accessible, I’ve produced a list of the top Linux distributions available right now in this article. Of course, this is a subjective list. However, we’ve attempted to categorize the distributions such that there’s something for everyone.
Which OS is most lightweight?
Amazing Lightweight Linux Operating Systems:
- Linux Distros Under 1GB. Xubuntu. Lubuntu. Zorin OS Lite. Arch Linux. BunsenLabs Linux Lithium. Bodhi Linux.
- Linux OS Under 500MB. Porteus.
- Linux Distros Under 100MB. Puppy Linux. SliTaz. Tiny Core Linux
List of Top 12 Best Lightweight Linux Distros:
There are numerous Linux distributions available for various purposes, and no single distribution can be used universally. As a result, several Linux distributions may exist, however, the greatest lightweight Linux Distros of 2022 are listed below:
1. Linux Lite:
It is created with Linux distro newbies in mind, as well as those who are running Windows XP on outdated machines or other Windows operating systems such as Windows 7 or Windows 10, to entice them into the Linux world. It’s an Ubuntu-based Linux OS for beginners, based on the Long Term Support Version 18.04 Ubuntu LTS releases.
Despite its moniker as a light Linux distribution, it requires roughly 8 GB of storage space, which might be fairly demanding for some machines. A PC with a 1GHz CPU, 768MB of RAM, and 8GB of storage space is required to run this distribution, but a PC with higher requirements of 1.5GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, and 20GB of storage space are required for increased system performance.
Given the above system requirements, it can be considered the least demanding distro, yet it comes with a slew of popular features and programs. This distribution makes it simple to use tools like Mozilla Firefox, which includes Netflix support, and the VLC media player, which allows you to listen to and watch music and videos offline. If you are dissatisfied with Firefox, you can install Chrome as an alternative.
Linux lite also includes Thunderbird for email issues, Dropbox for cloud storage, VLC Media Player for music, LibreOffice suite for office, GIMP for color replacement and image editing, tweaks to customize your desktop, a password manager, and a slew of other applications such as Skype, Kodi, Spotify, TeamViewer, and a slew of others. It also gives you access to Steam, which has a tonne of video games. It can also be installed on your hard drive or booted from a USB stick or CD.
2. Zorin OS Lite:
Zorin OS is a popular Linux distribution based on Ubuntu with a sophisticated look. You can try it out before installing it by booting it from a USB device, just like most other Linux distributions.
The Software shop on Zorin OS contains a large number of apps. .deb or.AppImage executables can also be downloaded and launched. Installing WineHQ on Zorin OS allows you to install and execute a wide range of Windows apps (.exe and.msi). Zorin OS Lite can be installed on any computer that has at least one of the following components:
Single-core 1 GHz Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
Storage: 10 GB RAM: 1 GB
Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels
Zorin OS Lite is based on the XFCE desktop environment and is developed in C, C++, Python, D, and Java. If you wish to dual boot and install Zorin OS Lite with Windows or Mac OS, it is easy and simple to do. Zorin OS-Pro has more layouts than Windows or Mac OS, making it more like Windows or Mac OS. It is based on the GNOME desktop environment, however, installing and running it requires higher hardware resources.
3. MX Linux:
MX Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution that is highly popular. It’s noted for its speed, simplicity, and excellent out-of-the-box performance because of the integrated MX tools.
MX Linux, unlike Ubuntu, uses the Xfce desktop environment. It also comes with a number of GUI tools (MX Tools) that make it easy for any user who is familiar with Windows/Mac.
Furthermore, the package manager is designed to make one-click installations a breeze. You can also search for Flatpak packages and quickly install them (Flathub is available by default in the package manager as one of the sources).
4. Ubuntu MATE:
If I had to pick a “heavyweight” from this list of lightest Linux distros for older devices, I’d go with Ubuntu MATE. Ubuntu MATE’s most recent release, based on Ubuntu 20.04, has proven to be a critical release of the distro, bringing two years of improvements to MATE Desktop and Ubuntu MATE itself.
Along with GNOME, KDE, and Cinnamon, MATE is one of the best desktop environments. This is one of the reasons why this Ubuntu official form has a more streamlined appearance and can even run on your low-end hardware. Also, take a look at our list of the top Linux gaming systems here!
Furthermore, Ubuntu MATE provides a refined Linux experience that will undoubtedly make any Windows user’s switch to Linux a comfortable one. We frequently disparage small Linux distributions that don’t consume a lot of resources, but that isn’t the case here. It’s even compatible with a credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi.
5. Bodhi Linux is a lightweight Linux distribution:
You’re likely to come across Bodhi Linux if you’re seeking a lightweight Linux distribution to run on an old laptop. It’s a low-resource Linux distro meant to run on older computers. Bodhi Linux is a lightweight operating system that comes with Moksha Desktop. Although Moksha does not come with an internal window compositor, Compiz effects can be used.
Bodhi Linux is appealing to the eye and runs admirably. Thanks to Ubuntu repositories, you can acquire a lot of items for free. Standard, AppPack, Legacy, and HWE are the four flavors of Bodhi Linux 5.1 now available.
Each edition is unique and serves a certain purpose. If you want a 64-bit operating system with kernel upgrades that allow you to use new hardware support and features, go with the HWE version. The standard release is the best option if you don’t care about the kernel. Furthermore, Bodhi Linux Legacy is a 32-bit operating system that can be used to resurrect computers that are over fifteen years old. There’s also the AppPack edition, which is a live system-based OS that connects to your PC and runs standard applications.
6. Absolute Linux:
Absolute Linux (opens in new tab) is a lightweight desktop distribution that has the Firefox browser and the LibreOffice suite preinstalled. It’s built on Slackware, but unlike its parent OS, it focuses on making configuration and maintenance as straightforward as possible.
Although the installer is text-based and does not include a Live mode, it is remarkably simple to use. Absolute’s structure also allows you to add and delete packages from the install media to create a distro that’s tailored to your needs, though you’ll need some time and Linux familiarity to make the most of this feature.
Absolute Linux is really responsive once installed. The lightweight IceWM window manager, as well as popular software like LibreOffice, ensure this, making this OS ideal for older PCs.
Many useful custom scripts and utilities are included in the distribution to make installation settings and maintenance easier. There’s also a lot of material available right inside the desktop to help new users.
7. antiX:
antiX(opens in a new tab) is one of the greatest solutions for running on a computer with limited resources. Antix’s full edition, which uses IceWM and the Rox file manager, is one of the lightest distros available, although it comes with a large number of software, both mainstream and lightweight, for practically any desktop task.
The distribution uses both its own and Debian’s repositories. While the Synaptic package manager is included, one of the more intriguing features of the distribution is the metapackage installer, which makes the distribution more accessible to novice users.
AntiX starts with the IceWM window manager, which has icons on the desktop. The distro’s home-grown antiX control panel, which you can use to adjust practically every element of your installation, is an intriguing feature. Using the custom modules in the control panel, you may change the appearance of the desktop, such as themes, menus, and wallpaper, as well as adjust the antiX ad blocker, image a disc, and tweak the automount behavior.
8. TinyCore Linux:
Robert Shingledecker’s TinyCore distribution comes in three flavors, each with its own set of features and system requirements. The smallest of the distros, with a file size of 11.0 MB, contains only the kernel and the root file system, the fundamental foundation of an operating system.
The TinyCore version 9.0, with slightly more functionality than the basic desktop operating system, came up with a 16 MB-sized OS offering a choice of FLTK or FLWM graphical desktop interface.
The third iteration, known as the CorePlus version, with a download size of 106 MB, had a broader range of useful utilities, such as network window connection managers that provide access to a central file storage place and promote a variety of useful apps that may be manually installed.
Many extra features were included in the CorePlus edition, including Terminal, a remastering tool, a text editor, wireless Wi-Fi capability, and non-US keyboard support, among others. With three options, this lightweight Linux distribution can be a handy tool for both beginners and experts that utilize desktop and laptop PCs.
Anyone who does not require good hardware support but only requires a simple system to boot up and a wired Internet connection can use it, but professionals who know how to create the essential tools for a satisfactory desktop experience can also use it and give it a try. In a nutshell, it’s a Flexi-tool for anyone who works with the internet.
9. Lubuntu:
Lubuntu, an official Ubuntu flavor, is an essential part of any list of lightweight Linux distros for netbooks and older PCs. As a result, it shares Ubuntu’s software and repositories.
Even though the Lubuntu team has shifted its focus from providing a distribution for old hardware to a functional yet modular distribution, Lubuntu is another Ubuntu variant that is fast, lightweight, and highly suitable for old computers, even though the Lubuntu team has shifted their focus from providing a distribution for old hardware to a functional yet modular distribution.
It’s also worth mentioning that the project has stopped delivering support for 32-bit images as of Lubuntu 18.10. For individuals who use older PCs with 32-bit technology, this may be a major no.
Nonetheless, the current Lubuntu 20.04 LTS, which has a minimal LXQt desktop, provides good performance and speed. From Lubuntu 18.10, this switch from LXDE to LXQt was made to provide a modern and lightweight desktop.
10. BunsenLabs:
Crunchbang (or #!) was a popular Debian-based distro that was created with the goal of using as few system resources as possible. While it was retired in 2013, the Crunchbang community remembered it fondly and responded with two Crunchbang-based distros to carry on the heritage.
Crunchbang++, one of those successors, has now been discontinued. BunsenLabs(opens in new tab) is still alive, and its current release (Lithium) is based on the most recent stable version of Debian, with a beautifully designed Openbox window manager and its own core package repository.
The distro comes with a variety of backgrounds and wallpapers, as well as a number of common desktop software, making it quite useable right out of the box.
BunsenLabs is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors, and the developers recommend installing it on a system with at least 2 GB of RAM.
11. Puppy Linux:
The Puppy Linux distro, created by Barry Kauler, is one of the oldest Linux distributions. This Linux is not based on any other distribution and is totally self-contained. It differs from other distros in that it may be constructed from packages from Ubuntu, Arch Linux, and Slackware.
Because of its small weight, the software is also known as “Grandpa Friendly Certified.” It is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions and may be installed on PCs with UEFI and BIOS. Puppy Linux’s small size is one of its greatest advantages, as it can be booted from any CD/DVD or USB stick.
You can easily install this distribution on your hard drive or any other medium you like using the universal installers JWM and Openbox window managers, which are by default present on the desktop. It takes up extremely little storage space and does not deplete your system’s resources.
It does not come with any well-known programs preinstalled. Installing application packages is simple, and you can quickly install popular packages using the built-in Quickpup, Puppy Package Manager Format, or QuickPet utilities.
Being very customizable, you can have a range of various applications or “puplets” that offer additional features or support, such as non-English puppets and special-purpose puplets, to match your needs and expectations.
Puppy Linux’s Bionic Pup edition is compatible with Ubuntu’s Caches and Puppy Linux 8.0. The Bionic Pup edition is based on Ubuntu Bionic Beaver 18.04, giving users access to the parent distro’s extensive software library.
A few developers have taken use of this functionality and produced their own customized versions to satisfy certain demands. The sheer number of programs available is impressive; for example, the Home bank app lets you manage your accounts, the Gwhere tool keeps track of your drives, and there are graphical apps for managing Samba shares and configuring a firewall.
Despite being a lightweight distro, Puppy Linux is quite popular and many users prefer it to other distros because it works, runs swiftly, and has fantastic visuals, allowing you to get more work done faster. A 256 MB RAM and a CPU with a 600 Hz Processor are the minimum hardware requirements for Puppy Linux.
12. LXLE:
LXLE (opens in new tab) is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Ubuntu’s LTS (long-term support) release. LXLE, like Lubuntu, employs the barebones LXDE desktop environment, but it stresses reliability and long-term hardware support because LTS releases are supported for five years. At the time of writing, the most recent version is a remaster of the current edition of Ubuntu LTS.
The distribution is designed to serve as a ready-to-use desktop out of the box, specifically built to appeal to existing Windows users, and is largely aimed at reviving outdated devices.
The devs put in a lot of effort to make all of the necessary mods and tweaks to increase performance, but they don’t skimp on the finer points. The quantity of wallpapers available, as well as clones of Windows, functions like Aero Snap and Expose, show that aesthetics are a priority.
Full-featured apps are available in categories like internet, music & video, graphics, workplace, games, and more. It also comes with a number of handy add-ons, like terminal-based Weather software and Penguin Pills, a graphical frontend for a number of virus scanners.
LXLE is available as a Live image for 32-bit and 64-bit PCs, just like Lubuntu. A minimum of 512MB of system RAM is required, with 1GB being recommended.
Conclusion:
In this post, we’ve listed the top twelve Linux distributions to try in 2022. There are many more Linux distributions to choose from, but each on this list is reliable and capable of satisfying the demands of any user. As a result, the top Linux distributions are easily found in this article.
