Best Linux for beginners
The best Linux for a beginner is one with a friendly installer, a familiar desktop and plenty of online help. These are the usual recommendations.
Good starting points
- {lk('800016421272','Linux Mint')}: a traditional desktop with a start menu, popular with people coming from Windows.
- {lk('800016537860','Ubuntu')}: the most widely used desktop Linux, with a huge amount of guides and forum answers.
- {lk('800034663198','Zorin OS')}: designed to look and feel familiar to Windows users.
What helps a beginner
- Live mode so you can try it before installing.
- Long-term support (LTS) releases that stay stable for years. See LTS vs regular releases.
- A graphical software store so you never need the command line for everyday apps.
Next steps
Read how to boot from USB, try live mode, then install when you are comfortable. Compare two favourites in Ubuntu vs Linux Mint.