Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

elementary OS VS Zorin OS

Compare elementary OS VS Zorin OS and see what are their differences

elementary OS logo elementary OS

A fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS. Pay what you want or download for free.

Zorin OS logo Zorin OS

A powerful operating system designed to make your computer faster, more secure and easier to use. DownloadDownload Lite - Install Zorin OS - Education - .
  • elementary OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • Zorin OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-18

elementary OS features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    elementary OS boasts a sleek, modern design that is easy to navigate, making it ideal for users transitioning from other operating systems like Windows or macOS.
  • Security and Privacy
    elementary OS is built on Ubuntu LTS, providing a secure foundation with regular updates and support for security patches. The OS also emphasizes user privacy by minimizing data collection.
  • Minimalism and Efficiency
    The system is designed to be lightweight, avoiding bloatware and unnecessary applications, which helps in optimizing performance and reducing system resource usage.
  • Custom AppCenter
    elementary OS features its own curated app store called AppCenter, where users can find high-quality, open-source applications that follow design guidelines and are safe to install.
  • Active Community and Support
    The distribution has an active community, providing forums, documentation, and third-party resources that can help new users with troubleshooting and customization.

Possible disadvantages of elementary OS

  • Limited Software Availability
    The AppCenter may not have as many applications as other more established app stores, requiring users to sometimes manually install software using the command line or third-party repositories.
  • Customization Limitations
    While elementary OS focuses on providing a consistent and polished user experience, it limits customization options compared to other Linux distributions, which may not appeal to power users.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Although it works with most mainstream hardware, users with very new or very old hardware might face compatibility issues, requiring extra configurations or workarounds.
  • Performance Overhead
    Despite being lightweight, elementary OS might run slower on very old systems due to its modern graphical interface and animations, which can consume system resources.
  • Learning Curve for New Linux Users
    While designed to be user-friendly, those new to Linux might still face a learning curve when dealing with system settings or troubleshooting without extensive resources compared to other mainstream OS options.

Zorin OS features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Zorin OS offers a highly intuitive and Windows-like interface, making it an excellent choice for users transitioning from Windows.
  • Pre-installed Software
    Includes a wide variety of pre-installed software, covering most basic needs such as web browsing, document editing, and media playback.
  • Performance
    Optimized to run smoothly even on older hardware, providing a fast and responsive experience without requiring the latest technologies.
  • Customization
    Features a highly customizable environment with Zorin Appearance, allowing users to tailor the desktop to their preferences.
  • Security
    Based on Ubuntu, it benefits from a large repository of secure and stable software, along with regular updates and community support.
  • Compatibility
    Supports a wide range of software applications and hardware devices out of the box, reducing the need for additional configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Zorin OS

  • Limited Edition Features
    Some advanced features are only available in the paid editions (Pro), which may be a limitation for users wanting a completely free experience.
  • Gaming
    While it supports Steam and other gaming platforms, it may not run all the latest games as efficiently as Windows due to limited driver support.
  • Smaller Community
    Compared to larger distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, Zorin OS has a smaller user community, which may result in fewer online resources and support options.
  • Limited Deep Customization
    While Zorin OS is customizable, deeply technical users may find it less flexible than other distributions that cater specifically to power users, such as Arch Linux.

elementary OS videos

elementary OS 5.1 Hera Updates - Linux Distro Reviews

More videos:

  • Review - elementary OS 5.1 Hera | Review and Final Thoughts
  • Review - Distro Review : Elementary OS 5.1 "Hera" : GLAM UP YOUR DESKTOP!

Zorin OS videos

Zorin OS 17 : Download and Install on VirtualBox Complete Guide Step by Step And Review

More videos:

  • Review - Zorin OS 15 Review - the desktop shell to beat?
  • Review - Zorin OS 15 for Windows Users

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to elementary OS and Zorin OS)
Linux
47 47%
53% 53
Operating Systems
48 48%
52% 52
Linux Distribution
47 47%
53% 53
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare elementary OS and Zorin OS

elementary OS Reviews

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Elementary OS has a few great homemade apps that look great and work well. In fact, distros such as Pop!_OS use Elementary’s store, and that’s a testament to the effort the Elementary team puts into developing one of these best Linux distros. Overall, Elementary OS is a user-friendly and good-looking distribution that gets most things right.
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Elementary OS is the ideal operating system for former Mac users. Usage and interfaces are reminiscent of the well-known Apple products. Elementary OS also prides itself on simple operation. It comes with pre-installed programs and an app store to add software to. Besides the desktop environment Pantheon, the team behind Elementary OS provides numerous other programs and...
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Elementary OS is based on Ubuntu LTS and it calls itself as a thoughtful, capable, and ethical alternative to macOS and Windows and the added benefit that it is free. Elementary, Inc. develops and maintains the operating system, desktop environment and it’s applications.
6 Best Linux Distributions That are Not Based on Ubuntu or Debian
I have been asked this question a number of times by our readers. I often answer to this question with Ubuntu, Linux Mint, elementary OS or something similar from the list of our best Linux distributions.
Source: itsfoss.com

Zorin OS Reviews

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Besides, Zorin OS also has a Pro version that costs $40, and for that price, you get more desktop layout customizations, preloaded apps such as GIMP and Blender, and the ability to share your mouse and keyboard across computers. Now, we wouldn’t recommend going all out on the Pro version, since most of the paid features can be added by using extensions. However, for what it...
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Zorin OS is an Ubuntu derivative that is primarily aimed at Windows users, making it easy for them to switch to Linux. For companies relying on Microsoft’s office programs, Zorin OS is worth taking into consideration.
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Zorin OS is based on Ubuntu and it comes with a GNOME 3 or XFCE 4 desktop environment, but it’s highly tailored to enable Windows and macOS users to switch to Linux. It is designed to make your computer faster, more powerful and secure.
Best Linux distros of 2021 for beginners, mainstream and advanced users
The Zorin OS project began in 2008 with the sole intention of making Linux user-friendly. Its developers wanted to make Linux accessible to regular users and they did this by introducing familiarity in the user interface.

Social recommendations and mentions

Zorin OS might be a bit more popular than elementary OS. We know about 151 links to it since March 2021 and only 145 links to elementary OS. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

elementary OS mentions (145)

  • Eazel, ex-Apple led Linux startup
    > if a new Eazel emerged tomorrow (another Linux-focused startup led by ex-Apple "rock stars"), how would they best contribute to the Linux desktop? Probably by joining elementary OS: https://elementary.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Ask HN: Where are the paid Linux desktop distributions?
    There's Zorin OS Pro: https://zorin.com/os/pro/ And elementaryOS is kinda-sorta paid (you can pay $0 too): https://elementary.io/ Finally, while this is not a proper distro as such, ParterdMagic makes for an excellent rescue option: https://partedmagic.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Microsoft Edge ignores user wishes, slurps tabs from Chrome without permission
    I hear you, but they've all moved along in leaps and bounds. Some options if you ever look again - * ElementaryOS(https://elementary.io/). - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Linux distributions for beginners in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed
    I’ve seen Raycast adjacent apps for Linux, but I don’t know what the current go-to all the kids are using these days. I used Quicksilver on OS X back in the day, which kind of defined the category I think. But these days I try to keep it simple. Elementary OS seems to be trying to solve for the design issue, but it’s not as polished as macOS and there are still all the 3rd party apps to contend with. I’ve tried... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Linux Lite: Easy to Use Free Linux Operating System
    I thought ElementaryOS was dead due to infighting between the two cofounders, but it still seems to be going: https://elementary.io/ (I installed it on one box a few years ago and liked it, but moved back to Ubuntu once I learned about its conflict in the team.). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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Zorin OS mentions (151)

  • Microsoft starts testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu
    I tried several over the years, specifically looking for a good out of the box experience, GUI-first usage, and one that's stable over time, and after upgrades. Zorin OS fit the bill the most. I think the landing page is good as well. https://zorin.com/os/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Introduction
    My first Linux distro was PopOS and It was a refreshing experience. It was really easy to install, use, and game on. I distro hopped a few times to see what other linux flavors are like. These are the ones that I remember trying Zorin OS and Linux Mint. These ones looked mostly like windows and it was easy to use. At work, I gained most of my linux knowledge from docker and configuring / administrating RHEL... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • I'm planning to go full on linux without previous experience
    Zorin and Linux Mint are two popular Linux distros that are very friendly to those coming from Windows OS. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Edge sends images you view online to Microsoft
    > and never felt Linux was a worthwhile alternative on desktop ZorinOS (https://zorin.com/os) can hopefully change your perspective. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Manjaro is a free and open source Linux operating system that emphasizes privacy
    ZorinOS[0] is fantastic! I switched from Ubuntu too and it was surprising how polished ZorinOS was. Everything was super stable and in the last 2 years, it didn't break by itself, which I can't say the same for Ubuntu sadly. Linux Mint too is cool but the outdated UI is the only deal breaker for me. [0] - https://zorin.com/os. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing elementary OS and Zorin OS, you can also consider the following products

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Manjaro - Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.

Debian - Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.