Nobara vs Pop!_OS: how they differ
Nobara and Pop!_OS are often considered side by side. This page compares what each one is built on, how it looks, how software is installed, how updates arrive and what hardware it needs.
Key differences
- Foundation: Nobara is built on Fedora, while Pop!_OS is built on Ubuntu.
- Desktop: Nobara uses GNOME or KDE Plasma; Pop!_OS uses COSMIC.
- Software tools: Nobara uses dnf; Pop!_OS uses apt and Flatpak, so the commands you learn for one do not carry over.
- Releases: Nobara uses numbered releases on a fixed schedule; Pop!_OS uses long-term releases that stay supported for years.
- Memory: about 4 GB for Nobara against about 4 GB for Pop!_OS is a comfortable minimum for a desktop session.
Choose Nobara if
You are among the people who want a Fedora-based system with gaming fixes and media codecs ready to go.
Choose Pop!_OS if
You are among the people who want a developer- and gamer-friendly system from hardware maker System76.
Quick answers
- Which is easier for a beginner? Pop!_OS is generally the easier first step.
- Which suits older hardware? They ask for a similar amount of memory.
- Can I try both? Yes. Start each from a live USB drive without installing, or put both on one drive with Ventoy.
Browse the Nobara USB drive or the Pop!_OS USB drive. Learn more: what is Nobara and what is Pop!_OS.
Software commands compared
- Nobara:
sudo dnf install name - Pop!_OS:
sudo apt install name
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Nobara or Pop!_OS?
Neither is better for everyone. Choose by what you need: Nobara suits people who want a Fedora-based system with gaming fixes and media codecs ready to go, while Pop!_OS suits people who want a developer- and gamer-friendly system from hardware maker System76.
Can I install both Nobara and Pop!_OS?
Yes. Install each one on its own partition, or try both from a live USB drive first. See dual booting for the idea, which also works between two Linux systems.
Which gets updates faster, Nobara or Pop!_OS?
Nobara uses numbered releases on a fixed schedule; Pop!_OS uses long-term releases that stay supported for years.