Best Free Operating Systems of 2025 - Page 2

OmniOS is an open-source server operating system designed to include only essential features. Its native file system, ZFS, integrates a volume manager with robust data integrity protections. You can effortlessly share volumes using protocols like iSCSI, CIFS, and NFS. Additionally, OmniOS allows the execution of lightweight virtual machines running either OmniOS or Linux in containers, eliminating the traditional hypervisor's overhead while ensuring complete resource management. For those needing full hardware virtualization, it supports bhyve and KVM, allowing the operation of various guest systems including Microsoft Windows and FreeBSD. Network infrastructure can be virtualized through Crossbow, which offers virtual interfaces and switches, plus the option to allocate dedicated resources for specific applications. DTrace serves as a powerful dynamic tracing framework to facilitate troubleshooting across the software stack, enabling real-time instrumentation whenever needed. As an open-source project, OmniOS is self-hosting and its development is actively managed on GitHub, where contributors can submit pull requests, and anyone interested can access the source code to compile their own version of OmniOS. This environment fosters community involvement and transparency in the development process.

The latest release of DragonFly, version 6.2.2, introduces several enhancements, including hardware compatibility for type-2 hypervisors utilizing NVMM, an upgraded amdgpu driver, and the experimental feature of remote-mounting HAMMER2 volumes, alongside a variety of other updates. As a member of the BSD family of operating systems, DragonFly shares its roots with Linux and other BSD variants, adhering to the foundational principles and APIs of UNIX while also diverging in terms of development direction from FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD. This divergence allows DragonFly to pursue unique innovations, such as its sophisticated HAMMER filesystem, which offers high performance, built-in mirroring, and historical access capabilities. Additionally, one of the standout features is the implementation of virtual kernels, enabling the execution of a complete kernel as a user process, which facilitates resource management, kernel development, and debugging in an accelerated environment. These features collectively position DragonFly as a distinctive option within its operating system category, appealing to users seeking alternatives beyond conventional solutions.

Microservice operating system that delivers atomic updates while utilizing a read-only btrfs root filesystem, MicroOS is specifically crafted to support containerized workloads with features for automated maintenance and patch management. By installing openSUSE MicroOS, users can quickly create a compact environment ideal for running containers or other tasks that require transactional updates. As a rolling release distribution, it ensures that all software remains current and up-to-date. Additionally, MicroOS provides an offline image option for easier installation. The key distinction between the offline image and the self-install/raw images lies in the inclusion of an installer in the offline version, while the raw and self-install images allow for greater customization through combustion or manual adjustments after the image has been deployed. Furthermore, MicroOS includes the possibility of utilizing a real-time kernel for enhanced performance. Users can explore MicroOS in virtual machines on platforms such as Xen or KVM, while those with Raspberry Pi or similar system-on-chip devices can take advantage of the preconfigured image combined with combustion for seamless boot integration. This versatility makes MicroOS an appealing choice for a variety of deployment scenarios.

macOS Ventura represents the most recent significant update to Apple's operating system designed for Mac computers. Announced during WWDC 2022 on June 6, 2022, it became available to users on October 24, 2022. This iteration introduces a variety of enhancements and new functionalities, such as: Stage Manager: A feature that helps you arrange your windows for better focus on your current task. Continuity Camera: This allows you to utilize your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, incorporating functionalities like Center Stage and Portrait Mode. Live Text: This capability enables automatic text recognition in images and videos, allowing for easy copying, pasting, translating, and more. Mail: The updated Mail app comes with improved tools for organizing your inbox, scheduling emails, and simplifying information retrieval. Safari: Enhancements in Safari include features for a better browsing experience, such as Tab Groups, Passkeys, and Live Text. Gaming: New gaming functionalities are introduced in macOS, including Metal 3 and SharePlay, enhancing the gaming experience. With these updates, macOS Ventura not only improves productivity but also enriches the overall user experience on Mac devices, making it a noteworthy advancement in the system's evolution.

Engage, collaborate, and innovate like never before with the latest FaceTime enhancements. Welcome to a world of thrilling new features, including a revamped Safari experience. Unleash creative productivity with Universal Control and Shortcuts, all while staying focused on what matters most. And that’s just the beginning. Maintaining connections is increasingly vital, and with SharePlay, you can enjoy movies, music, and even share your screen during FaceTime calls. The experience of FaceTime has become more immersive and lifelike, while the Messages app simplifies discovering and relishing content shared by loved ones. Extend your FaceTime chats as you stream your favorite shows and music with friends. Thanks to synchronized playback and controls, you can witness everyone's reactions and laughter in real-time, creating unforgettable shared moments regardless of physical distance. This is a transformative approach to socializing, bringing people closer together.

macOS Sonoma enhances both productivity and leisure on your Mac, making it more dynamic than ever. Improve your video call experience and explore innovative ways to access information while also enhancing your gaming capabilities. Additionally, you'll find countless options to customize your Mac to fit your style. The new slow-motion screen savers showcase stunning locations from across the globe, creating a picturesque backdrop on your large Mac screen that transitions smoothly into your desktop wallpaper upon login. You can now place widgets directly on your desktop using the fresh widget gallery, allowing you to control podcast playback, manage lighting, and perform various tasks directly from these handy tools. With the Continuity feature, integrating your iPhone widgets onto your desktop becomes effortless, eliminating the need to install related apps on your Mac. As you interact with applications or utilize Stage Manager, widgets gently recede into the background, ensuring you stay focused on your current activities. Furthermore, any changes to your wallpaper will automatically adjust the colors of your widgets, providing a cohesive look. This seamless integration of features makes for a more tailored and immersive computing experience.

Enterprise-Grade Linux for Edge-to-Cloud Implementations. This collaborative open-source initiative is a Debian-based Linux distribution specifically designed for applications spanning from edge to cloud scenarios. It guarantees reliable performance and stability across devices, on-premises environments, and cloud infrastructures. eLxr offers a robust and secure distribution, built upon the innovations of the open-source community, featuring a reliable release and update schedule that supports extended lifecycles and long-term deployments. It is especially suited for applications with strict timing demands, utilizing preempt-rt kernel configurations to enhance low-latency responses and ensure tasks are performed within exact timeframes. This approach leads to improved determinism and predictability when compared to conventional Linux kernels. eLxr is designed with a reduced footprint, promoting optimal performance and resource efficiency while minimizing potential vulnerabilities. It encompasses all essential features and capabilities, ensuring the most effective use of system resources while supporting diverse deployment needs. As a result, users can expect a highly adaptable and efficient platform for various application requirements.

Security Onion serves as a robust open-source platform dedicated to intrusion detection, network security monitoring, and log management. Equipped with a suite of effective tools, it empowers security experts to identify and address potential threats within an organization's network. By integrating various technologies such as Suricata, Zeek, and the Elastic Stack, Security Onion enables the collection, analysis, and real-time visualization of security data. Its user-friendly interface simplifies the management and examination of network traffic, security alerts, and system logs. Additionally, it features integrated tools for threat hunting, alert triage, and forensic analysis, which aid users in swiftly recognizing possible security incidents. Tailored for scalability, Security Onion is effective for a diverse range of environments, accommodating both small businesses and large enterprises alike. With its ongoing updates and community support, users can continuously enhance their security posture and adapt to evolving threats.

Famoco OS is a robust and secure operating system specifically developed for critical business applications, ensuring a reliable environment that is free from unnecessary software and third-party dependencies. By forgoing Google Mobile Services, it maintains complete data sovereignty and privacy. The operating system incorporates features such as built-in encryption, stringent app isolation, Verified Boot, and a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) to safeguard business assets against unauthorized access. Famoco OS also provides comprehensive hardware management, allowing users to control components including NFC antennas, biometric modules, and secure elements. Its user interface is highly customizable, enabling businesses to implement policies, secure settings, and streamline navigation according to their needs. Additionally, the OS integrates Safeguard, a solution that serves as an alternative to Google Play Integrity, designed to evaluate the integrity of devices and guarantee that applications operate under secure conditions. Enhanced APIs are also available, facilitating communication with secure elements, biometric devices, printers, and features for reading Machine Readable Zones (MRZ). This combination of features makes Famoco OS an ideal choice for organizations seeking a secure and tailored operating environment.

Arm Mbed OS is an open-source operating system tailored for IoT applications, providing all the essential tools for creating IoT devices. This robust OS is equipped to support smart and connected products built on Arm Cortex-M architecture, offering features such as machine learning, secure connectivity stacks, an RTOS kernel, and drivers for various sensors and I/O devices. Specifically designed for the Internet of Things, Arm Mbed OS integrates capabilities in connectivity, machine learning, networking, and security, complemented by a wealth of software libraries, development boards, tutorials, and practical examples. It fosters collaboration across a vast ecosystem, supporting over 70 partners in silicon, modules, cloud services, and OEMs, thereby enhancing choices for developers. By leveraging the Mbed OS API, developers can maintain clean, portable, and straightforward application code while benefiting from advanced security, communication, and machine learning functionalities. This cohesive solution ultimately streamlines the development process, significantly lowering costs, minimizing time investment, and reducing associated risks. Furthermore, Mbed OS empowers innovation, enabling developers to rapidly prototype and deploy IoT solutions with confidence.

Open source software and a universal router are key to democratizing the way we access networks. VyOS' vision is to revolutionize how we access networks, so that everyone can build the solutions they have always wanted, without limitations, restrictions, or prohibitive prices. We believe that internet access is just as important to human development as food, water, air, and healthcare. VyOS was founded by engineers for engineers. It is an open-source software company that makes it possible to access networks without restrictions or prohibitive fees. Through our open-source software and virtual platforms, we do this as VyOS. Stateful firewalls, zone based firewall, all types source and destination NAT (one-to-one, one-to many, many to many). For auditing, creating customized images and contributing, everyone has access to the entire codebase and build toolchain.

Reliable servers help decrease customer turnover while enabling you to boost server density, ultimately enhancing your profitability. The stability features of CloudLinux OS effectively mitigate resource surges, ensuring that your servers maintain exceptional stability even under significant pressure. Additionally, CloudLinux OS safeguards your servers against attacks by virtualizing users' file systems, preventing any potential leaks of sensitive information. Our advanced kernel-level technology effectively blocks all known symbolic link attacks, significantly bolstering server security. It is also essential to secure outdated PHP versions where vulnerabilities may exist, particularly in cases where the PHP.net community does not provide patches. By utilizing CloudLinux OS, you can effectively increase the number of users on a more stable server while managing resource limits for each individual customer. Moreover, you can troubleshoot performance issues with comprehensive insights into system bottlenecks, slow database queries, functions, or external calls, ensuring optimal server performance. This holistic approach not only guarantees security but also enhances the overall user experience.

AlmaLinux OS is a free, community-driven enterprise Linux distribution that emphasizes long-term stability and serves as a reliable platform for production environments. It is designed to be fully compatible with RHEL® and pre-Stream CentOS, allowing users to transition seamlessly between systems. The source code and various tools necessary for building AlmaLinux OS can be accessed through our GitHub organization. Engage with a lively community on Reddit, where you can interact with fellow users, stay informed on the latest developments, and both offer and seek assistance. Participate in real-time discussions with other members, including the governance team and developers, to ask questions and share knowledge. As a fully independent operating system, AlmaLinux OS benefits from $1M in annual support from CloudLinux Inc, along with contributions from additional sponsors, ensuring ongoing development is driven by community involvement. This collaborative approach allows for a more resilient and adaptable OS that meets the needs of its users.

FreeBSD stands out with its sophisticated networking, exceptional performance, security, and compatibility elements that many other operating systems, including several top commercial options, still lack. It serves as a prime choice for both Internet and Intranet servers, delivering reliable network services even under extreme loads while efficiently managing memory to ensure excellent response times for numerous simultaneous user processes. Moreover, FreeBSD extends its advanced operating system capabilities to both appliance and embedded systems, accommodating a diverse range of hardware platforms such as higher-end Intel-based devices, as well as ARM, PowerPC, and MIPS architectures. Vendors globally depend on FreeBSD for their embedded products, which encompass everything from mail and web appliances to routers, time servers, and wireless access points, thanks to its integrated build and cross-build environments. Additionally, the Berkeley open-source license allows these vendors the flexibility to determine the extent of their contributions back to the community, fostering collaboration and innovation. This combination of features makes FreeBSD an invaluable asset for developers aiming to create high-performance embedded solutions.

EuroLinux Desktop represents a significant advancement in the realm of operating systems. It seamlessly blends the visual appeal and functionality found in Windows® and macOS® while delivering the dependability and security characteristic of Enterprise Linux distributions. By implementing several modifications to the Linux user interface, EuroLinux Desktop ensures an intuitive experience for users familiar with Microsoft® or Apple® platforms. Moreover, it guarantees top-tier security and stability, as it is based on the source code of Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® 9, which is widely utilized in high-stakes environments such as financial institutions, telecommunications, and public sector entities. This operating system caters to both individuals and organizations transitioning from Windows® or macOS®, seeking a robust platform that preserves the familiar aesthetics of Microsoft® and Apple® offerings, all while benefiting from long-term technical support. EuroLinux Desktop effectively addresses the requirements of public administration, the financial industry, educational institutions, and everyday users, making it a versatile choice for a diverse range of applications. As a result, it stands as an appealing alternative for those aiming to enhance their computing experience without sacrificing familiarity or security.

Freespire is the free and open-source version of the commercial Linspire operating system, sharing many software packages with it but excluding those that require a license for redistribution. Users are allowed to redistribute Freespire freely without restrictions. To run a basic productivity environment, Freespire needs a processor that is x86_64 bit, a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, and at least 20 GB of hard drive space. For enhanced performance, especially for those intending to use emulation tools like VMWare or VirtualBox, it is advisable to have 6 to 8 GB of RAM. Additionally, for demanding applications such as CAD software or video and audio production, a RAM capacity of 8 GB or more is recommended. Freespire can also be installed either as a standalone system or alongside another operating system on Intel-based Apple Mac computers, providing flexibility for users who wish to explore different computing environments.

PixelExperience is a custom ROM built on AOSP, incorporating Google applications and a variety of Pixel enhancements such as the launcher, wallpapers, icons, fonts, and boot animation. Our goal is to deliver the highest level of stability and security, while also providing essential features that enhance the overall performance of the device. Additionally, we strive to ensure that users have access to a seamless and enjoyable experience when using their smartphones.

A project grounded in AOSP was initiated with the intent of maintaining simplicity, clarity, and orderliness. We incorporated various features designed to be beneficial over time, all while striving to achieve seamless performance and extend battery longevity. Additionally, the focus on organization ensures that future enhancements can be integrated effortlessly.

Havoc-OS is a custom firmware derived from the Android Open Source Project, drawing inspiration from Google Pixel and featuring an enhanced Material Design user interface. We prioritize delivering a seamless and reliable experience for your device, complemented by a curated selection of outstanding features that enhance user satisfaction. Our ROM supports more than 150 devices from over 20 manufacturers, ensuring broad accessibility for users. Additionally, we provide Generic System Images (GSI) so that you can explore our ROM even if your specific device isn't on our supported list. Our commitment to expansion means that we continuously add support for new devices each month, making it easier for more users to enjoy the benefits of Havoc-OS.

Apple's upcoming macOS 26 is rumored to be named "macOS Tahoe," drawing inspiration from the scenic Lake Tahoe in California. This naming choice continues Apple's tradition of using California landmarks for its macOS versions, following names like Yosemite, Sierra, and Sequoia. The anticipated update is expected to bring a significant redesign to the macOS interface, possibly featuring more translucent windows and a glass-like aesthetic. This would mark the first major visual overhaul since macOS Big Sur in 2020. Specific features of macOS Tahoe remain unconfirmed, but the update is expected to enhance user experience and align with Apple's design philosophy. macOS Tahoe is expected to be released in the fall of 2025. The update is anticipated to be available as a free software update for compatible Mac devices. Users can expect improved performance, enhanced security features, and a more streamlined user interface with macOS Tahoe.

Vampire OS is an alternative to Windows and macOS that makes your computer more powerful, faster, safer, and more privacy-respecting. Privacy is a fundamental human rights. Vampire OS does not collect personal data so that advertisers and governments cannot spy on your activities. Vampire OS is Open Source. Anyone can inspect its source code to verify its privacy. You can use RAM or hard disk to experience amazing animations at lightspeed. Vampire OS comes with more than five advanced security tools. Users can also adjust their security level using vampire tools, from low secure mode to high secure. Vampire Connect integrates into Vampire OS desktop to combine the experience between your computer, Android device, and the Vampire OS desktop. It works over an encrypted connection on the local network so that your data remains private and never reaches cloud.