Windows 10 和Windows 11完全主导了桌面操作系统市场，因此很容易忘记 PC 用户还有其他选择。即使您是一名游戏玩家，您也会对非 Windows 系统上的游戏支持的增长感到惊讶。它们中的大多数都不会花费一分钱，我们在这里列出了Microsoft Windows操作系统的十种最佳免费替代品。
请注意，您当前的软件可能没有与这些替代操作系统兼容的版本。您可能必须寻找替代软件才能使用兼容层。查看本文末尾的“购买前先试”部分，了解有关简化过渡的一些技巧。
Ubuntu Linux是一个著名的桌面Linux发行版，其核心重点是成为大多数用户的Windows替代品。Ubuntu是用户友好的，并且隐藏了很多“技术性”Linux的东西。
由于其受欢迎程度，Ubuntu提供了大量的开发人员支持和对Windows游戏的良好支持，以及相当多的原生Linux端口在其上运行良好。
(Canonical)监督Ubuntu的公司(Ubuntu)Canonical在支持操作系统方面有着悠久的历史。对于这个Linux(Linux)发行版，您不必担心的一件事是它会在一夜之间突然被抛弃。尽管市面上有许多令人兴奋的Linux发行版，但它们中的许多都面临着失败的危险。
如果您因为听说过有关终端命令和编译自己的应用程序的可怕故事而从未尝试过Linux ，那么(Linux)Ubuntu是一个很好的起点。它已准备好成为您的全职操作系统，但它不会试图复制Windows。因此，您将获得独一无二的全新体验。
2.铬操作系统(Chromium OS)
Chrome OS最初是作为网络浏览器的准系统操作系统，在云中运行您的所有应用程序和软件。今天，Chrome OS仍然是Chromebook设备上的轻量级操作系统，但它不依赖于云，让您可以在无法访问互联网时使用ChromeOS笔记本电脑。(ChromeOS)它距离成为运行Google Chrome(Google Chrome)的光荣方式还有很长的路要走。尽管具有讽刺意味的是，这意味着您现在可以在 Chromebook 上使用 Firefox(Firefox on a Chromebook)。
但是， Chrome OS(Chrome OS)不能公开和免费地安装在非 Chromebook 硬件上。相反，您可以安装ChromeOS(ChromeOS)所基于的开源操作系统：Chromium OS。
安装Chromium OS有点复杂，不适合那些回避命令行脚本的人，但如果你有必要的技能，你可以根据自己的喜好构建 Chromium OS 。(build Chromium OS)
或者，您可以查看Chromium(Chromium)的预制版本，例如CloudReady Home Edition，它可以将 PC 或Mac轻松变成Chrome设备。
Chromium 是一种为旧计算机注入活力的好方法，它与现代操作系统的内存和CPU需求作斗争。(CPU)虽然 Chromium 缺乏与Windows(Windows)相同的功能，但如果您只需要基本的生产力、娱乐和网页浏览，那么它是一个绝佳的选择。
是的，macOS（又名 OS X）在技术上(technically )是免费的，尽管您需要购买Apple电脑才能使用它。好吧(Well)，这并不完全正确，因为可以创建一个“ Hackintosh ”，其中 macOS 安装在非Apple计算机上。当然，这违反了 macOS 许可条款，并且您需要一台非常特殊的计算机才能使其工作。此外，由于Apple正在逐步淘汰Intel Mac(Intel Macs)，Hackintosh计算机将很快成为过去，因此这扇门不会打开太久。
也就是说，如果您购买任何Mac，即使是最便宜的MacBook Air或Mac Mini，macOS 也免费包含在内，它是Windows的绝佳替代品，提供出色的稳定性并支持Apple创意软件，例如Final Cut Pro。
与Linux一样，macOS 是一个类似 Unix 的操作系统，但它们的使用方式并没有太大的不同，尤其是在 macOS 桌面环境方面。如果您来自Windows并考虑购买Mac，请放心，几乎所有非游戏软件都有 macOS 版本。一般来说，macOS 可以做任何Windows可以做的事情。更不用说，您遇到可能影响 macOS 的恶意软件的可能性要小得多。
macOS 还附带了一些很棒的Apple应用程序，例如GarageBand和 Apple 的办公应用程序。在其他操作系统上，您要么必须购买Microsoft Office之类的东西，要么使用诸如(Microsoft Office)Libreoffice 之(Libreoffice)类的开源软件包。
与Ubuntu一样，Manjaro Linux的创建重点是作为Windows和Linux等操作系统的用户友好替代品。该操作系统越来越受用户欢迎，尤其是那些不喜欢Ubuntu桌面界面的用户。Manjaro提供了几个官方支持的桌面环境。具体来说，它支持 XFCE、KDE和Gnome。
与Ubuntu一样，让许多Windows应用程序和游戏在Manjaro上运行非常简单。您可以使用WINE、PlayOnLinux、Steam Proton等来确保您仍然可以访问您想要的软件。当然，没有 100% 的保证，但今天的这些兼容性层比几年前要好得多。因此，如果您已经有一段时间没有接触Linux世界了，您可能会对当前的情况感到惊讶。
Manjaro的“一键式”配置理念也值得一提。它的包和更新管理系统非常出色，硬件管理和驱动程序安装同样简单。这两个方面在Linux中是出了名的对用户不友好，但是开发Manjaro的人已经沉着地解决了这个问题。
Fedora Linux没有Ubuntu、Mint或Manjaro那样获得媒体报道或用户兴趣。但是，如果您对始终拥有最新、最前沿的功能和硬件驱动程序感兴趣，Fedora是Windows替代品中的主要候选者。
Fedora有自己的专门为操作系统开发的软件库，在过去，让非Fedora软件包工作可能会很痛苦。然而，最新的Fedora版本使得使用(Fedora)Flathub的第三方软件变得容易。Fedora有自己的RPM软件包格式。尽管如此，随着时间的推移，Debian 格式变得越来越流行，因此扩展软件支持有助于使Fedora成为一种日常驱动操作系统。
Fedora使用GNOME桌面环境，Gnome 41是撰写本文时的最新版本。Gnome 的开发人员已经添加并改进了它的功能，使其成为一个合适的现代界面。不仅如此，功耗和CPU性能比以往任何时候都更加平衡，因此如果您正在为笔记本电脑寻找Windows替代品，Fedora是首选。
6.FreeBSD _(FreeBSD)
FreeBSD就像Linux，但它不是Linux 操作系统(Linux OS)！虽然Linux只是一个操作系统“内核”，各种Linux发行版添加了完整操作系统所需的其他部分，但FreeBSD是一个完整的操作系统版本。
这不是我们向任何想要替代Windows作为桌面操作系统的人推荐的操作系统。尽管如此，如果您正在寻找一个免费的操作系统来用作无头服务器或作为您自己的自定义操作系统的基础，那么FreeBSD有很多选择。
如果您正在寻找服务器解决方案，FreeBSD附带了一个长长的软件包列表，这些软件包为您提供了高级管理选项。Linux和FreeBSD之间最显着的区别可能在于许可条款。Linux开源许可要求所有基于Linux内核的修改和衍生代码也必须作为开源许可。开源操作系统FreeBSD没有这个要求。这就是为什么，例如，索尼(Sony)使用FreeBSD作为PlayStation 4s操作系统的基础。你不会在互联网上的任何地方找到它的源代码！
当然，可以通过一些努力为FreeBSD提供一个类似于Windows的桌面，但这并不值得费心。这是为那些喜欢修补和制定自己的解决方案的人准备的。如果您计划发布硬件产品并需要一个操作系统，从长远来看，FreeBSD是比Windows更好的选择。
7.基本操作系统(Elementary OS)（基于 Ubuntu）
如果您想要 macOS 体验，但不想要Hackintosh或实际的Apple硬件，那么Elementary OS可能是您的最佳选择。当然，这根本没有 macOS 的一部分。此外，Elementary OS 的开发人员表示， (Elementary OS)Elementary OS表面上的任何相似之处都是巧合。
也许只是Elementary OS和macOS有着相似的设计理念。所以说真的，这更像是一种趋同进化的例子，而不是任何人抄袭他人的作品。
Elementary OS 的设计原则是立即可用、非常温和的学习曲线和最少的文档。
在底层，Elementary OS基于Ubuntu，其Pantheon桌面环境基于GNOME。但是，我们认为Elementary是我们见过的最集成和最连贯的Linux发行版之一。(Linux)用户界面提供了对通常只能在带有特定水果徽标的计算机上找到的细节的关注。
这是一个可以替代Windows的操作系统列表，但ReactOS可能是唯一真正可以替代Windows的操作系统。作为一个“类windows”的操作系统，它可以运行原生为Windows编写的软件。
ReactOS内核旨在与Windows NT系列操作系统兼容，并且应该运行为 Windows 2003 和更高版本设计的软件(Windows 2003)。ReactOS类似于FreeDOS 项目，一个与(FreeDOS project)DOS软件兼容但不包含任何版权代码的开源操作系统。
ReactOS是Windows的直接替代品，它的外观和感觉类似于Windows 7 或更早版本的Microsoft Windows。它可以用作日常驱动的操作系统。不过，对于第二台个人计算机来说，它可能是最好的，您希望在该计算机上运行Windows软件而无需支付另一个Windows许可证。
Zorin OS是另一个Linux发行版，但它是一个与众不同的发行版。Zorin的创建者非常注重帮助当前的 macOS 和Windows用户轻松过渡到他们的系统。他们做到这一点的聪明方法是包含看起来像Windows、macOS 或Ubuntu的桌面布局模板。
Zorin基于Ubuntu ，并使用(Ubuntu)XFCE 4的(XFCE 4)GNOME 3的大量修改版本作为其图形用户界面。Zorin OS旨在使使用WINE和PlayOnLinux易于安装和配置，以便用户可以继续在(PlayOnLinux)Windows上使用他们习惯使用的游戏和应用程序。
Zorin OS最小化或消除了Linux 终端(Linux Terminal)的使用，并且您可能需要终端(Terminal)命令，无论您使用的是Windows还是 macOS。
Zorin OS有三个版本，但只有两个是免费的。Zorin Pro确实要花钱，但您可以使用一个许可证将其安装在多台个人计算机上。
“ Pro ”版本确实带有几个增值功能。例如，您可以访问与其他操作系统（如Windows 11 ）相似的其他布局。Zorin OS Pro还包括免费的第三方预装软件、密码管理器和Miracast功能。但是，您可以在Zorin(Zorin)免费版中手动安装第三方软件包。
Zorin因其性能和稳定性而获得赞誉，Nvidia GPU用户可能需要注意，Zorin OS中的驱动程序支持几乎是无与伦比的。如果您希望从Windows(Windows)或Mac转向开源，一定要试试Zorin 。
Linux Mint在与它所基于的Ubuntu竞争之后稳步发展成为主流。Mint通过提供功能齐全的开箱即用体验选项而与众不同，您需要立即使用所有软件。
虽然Mint(Mint)包含的大多数软件都是开源的，但它们也提供第三方闭源软件，没有开源替代品。例如，播放DVD(DVDs)、收听MP3(MP3s)或播放Adobe Flash内容所需的编解码器和插件。
这并不真正符合某些Linux社区的精神，但是许多用户想要这些功能，并且通过安装它们的过程可能会令人反感。
Linux Mint还以其Mint Tools集合而闻名。这些工具提供了用户友好的方式来管理您的计算机和执行日常任务，其中许多需要其他发行版上的第三方软件。
奖励：iOS和Android
我们列表中提到的所有操作系统都是成熟的桌面操作系统，但是您是否需要Windows 操作系统(Windows OS)来日常使用计算机？许多用户在Android(Android)或 iOS上做他们需要的一切可能都没有问题。
如果您已经拥有Android或 iOS 设备，那么您手头可能已经有一台免费的“桌面”计算机。您可以将外部显示器、键盘、鼠标、存储设备等连接到Android手机、Android平板电脑或Apple iPad。iPhone 的选项更加有限，而且不太合适。
某些Android设备（例如三星 Galaxy S(Samsung Galaxy S)手机）具有“桌面”模式，在将它们连接到外部显示器时会提供类似 Windows 的界面。还有一个官方的Android桌面模式功能正在开发中，我们可能会在未来的移动操作系统版本中看到。
先试后买”
更改您的操作系统是一项严肃的工作，因此您需要先确定自己喜欢替代操作系统，然后再使用它。确保您使用的软件可以在其他操作系统上运行，或者有一个替代软件包可以完成相同的工作，这一点也很重要。
除了 macOS，大多数操作系统替代品都可以轻松尝试使用Windows上的虚拟机，例如VirtualBox。您还可以尝试将许多操作系统作为“实时”操作系统。此处操作系统安装在外部驱动器或光盘上；您将从这些外部媒体启动到操作系统，而无需更改计算机上的任何内容。当然，您不能永久使用这样的操作系统，但这是一个很好的解决办法。
第三种选择是双启动Windows和您选择的替代操作系统。在这种情况下，两个操作系统(OSes)都完全安装在同一台计算机上，您可以在启动计算机时选择启动哪一个。设置起来有点棘手，但它确实有助于在较长时间内平稳过渡。
通过在投入使用之前试用新的操作系统，您更有可能为当前的 Windows PC 找到最佳的 Windows 替代品，而不会危及您的数据或工作效率。
10 Free Alternatives to Windows Operating Systems
Windows 10 and Windows 11 completely dominate the desktop operating system market, so it’s easy to forget that there are alternatives available for PC users. Even if you’re a gamer, you’d be surprised at how support for gaming on non-Windows systems has grown. Most of them won’t cost a penny, and we’ve listed ten of the best free alternatives to the Microsoft Windows operating system here.
Note that your current software may not have a version compatible with these alternative operating systems. You may have to look for alternative software to use compatibility layers. Check out the “try before you buy” section at the end of this article for some tips on making the transition easier.
Ubuntu Linux is a well-known desktop Linux distribution available, with its core focus on being a Windows alternative for most users. Ubuntu is user-friendly and hides much of the “technical” Linux stuff.
Thanks to its popularity, Ubuntu provides a lot of developer support and a good level of support for Windows games and quite a few native Linux ports that work well on it.
Canonical, the company that oversees Ubuntu, has a long history of supporting the operating system. One thing you don’t have to worry about with this Linux distribution is that it will suddenly be abandoned overnight. While there are many exciting Linux distros out there, many of them have a real danger of fizzling out.
If you’ve never tried Linux because you’ve heard scary stories about terminal commands and compiling your own apps, Ubuntu is a great place to start. It’s ready to be your full-time OS, but it’s not trying to copy Windows. So you’ll get a fresh experience that’s its own thing.
Chrome OS began life as a barebones operating system that acted as a web browser, running all your apps and software in the cloud. Today, Chrome OS is still a lightweight OS featured on Chromebook devices, but it’s not reliant on the cloud, making it possible to use a ChromeOS laptop when you don’t have internet access. It’s come a long way from being a glorified way to run Google Chrome. Although that means, ironically, that you can use Firefox on a Chromebook now.
Chrome OS is, however, not openly and freely available to simply install on non-Chromebook hardware. Instead, you can install the open-source OS that ChromeOS is built on: Chromium OS.
Installing Chromium OS is a little involved and not for those who shy away from command line scripts, but you can build Chromium OS to your liking if you have the requisite skills.
Alternatively, you can check out a pre-made version of Chromium, such as CloudReady Home Edition, which can turn a PC or Mac into a Chrome device with no fuss.
Chromium is a great way to breathe life into an old computer that struggles with the memory and CPU demands of modern operating systems. While Chromium lacks the same functionality as Windows, if all you need is basic productivity, entertainment, and web browsing, then it’s an excellent choice.
Yes, macOS (aka OS X) is technically free, although you need to buy an Apple computer to use it. Well, that’s not strictly true since it is possible to create a “Hackintosh” where macOS is installed on a non-Apple computer. This violates the macOS license terms, of course, and you need a very particular computer for it to work. Also, since Apple is slowly phasing out Intel Macs, Hackintosh computers will become a thing of the past soon, so this isn’t a door that will be open much longer.
That said, if you buy any Mac, even the cheapest MacBook Air or Mac Mini, macOS is included at no additional cost, and it’s a great alternative to Windows, offering excellent stability and supporting Apple creative software such as Final Cut Pro.
Like Linux, macOS is a Unix-like operating system, but they could not be more different to use, especially when it comes to the macOS desktop environment. If you’re coming from Windows and considering buying a Mac, rest assured that virtually all non-gaming software has a macOS version. In general, macOS can do anything that Windows can. Not to mention, you’re much less likely to run into malware that can affect macOS.
macOS also comes with some great Apple applications, such as GarageBand and Apple’s office applications. On other operating systems, you either have to purchase something like Microsoft Office or use an open-source package such as Libreoffice.
Like Ubuntu, Manjaro Linux was created with a strong focus on being a user-friendly replacement for operating systems such as Windows and Linux. The operating system is becoming more popular with users, especially those who aren’t fond of Ubuntu’s desktop interface. Manjaro offers several officially-supported desktop environments. Specifically, it supports XFCE, KDE, and Gnome.
Like Ubuntu, it’s pretty simple to get many Windows applications and games running on Manjaro. You can use WINE, PlayOnLinux, Steam Proton, and more to ensure you can still access the software you want to. There’s no 100% guarantee, of course, but these compatibility layers are far better today than only a few years ago. So if it’s been a while since you’ve poked your nose into the world of Linux, you may be surprised at the current state of things.
Manjaro’s “one-click” configuration philosophy is also worth mentioning. Its package and update management system is exceptional, and hardware management and driver installation are similarly straightforward. These are two aspects that are notoriously user-unfriendly in Linux, but the folks developing Manjaro have tackled this problem with aplomb.
Fedora Linux doesn’t get the sort of media coverage or user interest that Ubuntu, Mint, or Manjaro do. However, if you’re interested in always having the latest, most cutting-edge features and hardware drivers, Fedora is a prime candidate among Windows alternatives.
Fedora has its own library of software developed specifically for the OS, and in the past, getting non-Fedora packages working could be a real pain. However, the latest Fedora version makes it easy to use third-party software using Flathub. Fedora has its own RPM software package format. Still, over time the Debian format has become more popular, so expanding software support helps make Fedora viable as a daily-driver operating system.
Fedora uses the GNOME desktop environment, with Gnome 41 being the latest iteration at the time of writing. Gnome’s developers have added and refined its functionality to make it a proper modern interface. Not only that, but power consumption and CPU performance are better balanced than ever, so if you’re looking for a Windows alternative for your laptop, Fedora is a prime candidate.
FreeBSD is like Linux, but it’s not a Linux OS! While Linux is only an OS “kernel” with various Linux distros adding the other parts you need for a full OS, FreeBSD is a complete OS release.
This isn’t an operating system that we’d recommend to anyone who wants an alternative to Windows as a desktop operating system. Still, if you’re looking for a free operating system to use as a headless server or as the basis for your own custom operating system, FreeBSD has a lot going for it.
If you’re looking for a server solution, FreeBSD ships with a long list of software packages that give you advanced administration options. The most significant difference between Linux and FreeBSD is perhaps in the licensing terms. The Linux open-source license requires that all modifications and derivative code based on the Linux kernel also be licensed as open source. The open-source operating system FreeBSD does not have this requirement. This is why, for example, Sony used FreeBSD as the basis for the PlayStation 4s operating system. You won’t find the source code for that anywhere on the internet!
It is, of course, possible to give FreeBSD a Windows-like desktop with some effort, but it’s hardly worth the bother. This is one for those who like to tinker and make their own solutions. If you’re planning to release a hardware product and need an operating system for it, FreeBSD is a better choice in the long run than Windows.
If you want that macOS experience, but don’t want a Hackintosh or actual Apple hardware, then Elementary OS is probably your best choice. Of course, this has no part of macOS in it at all. Also, the developers of Elementary OS say that any similarity between Elementary OS on the surface is coincidental.
Perhaps it’s just that both Elementary OS and macOS share similar design philosophies. So really, it’s more a case of convergent evolution than anyone copying another’s work.
Elementary OS is designed around the principles of immediate usability, a very gentle learning curve, and minimal documentation.
Under the hood, Elementary OS is based on Ubuntu, and its Pantheon desktop environment is based on GNOME. However, we’d argue that Elementary is one of the most integrated and coherent Linux distros we’ve seen. The user interface offers attention to detail that would usually only be found on a computer with a certain fruit logo.
This is a list of operating systems that could be alternatives to Windows, but ReactOS might be the only one that is literally an alternative to Windows. As a “windows-like” operating system, it can run software written for Windows natively.
The ReactOS kernel is designed to be compatible with the Windows NT family of operating systems and should run software designed for Windows 2003 and later. ReactOS is similar to the FreeDOS project, an open-source operating system compatible with DOS software but doesn’t contain any copyrighted code.
ReactOS is a drop-in replacement for Windows, and it looks and feels similar to Windows 7 or older versions of Microsoft Windows. It can be used as a daily-driver operating system. Still, it’s perhaps best for a second personal computer on which you want to run Windows software without paying for another Windows license.
Zorin OS is another Linux distro, but it’s a distro unlike any other. The creators of Zorin have a strong focus on helping both current macOS and Windows users transition easily to their system. The clever way they’ve done this is by including desktop layout templates that look like Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu.
Zorin is based on Ubuntu and uses a heavily modified version of GNOME 3 of XFCE 4 as its graphical user interface. Zorin OS has been designed to make using WINE and PlayOnLinux easy to install and configure so that users can keep using the games and applications they’re used to on Windows.
Zorin OS minimized or eliminated the use of the Linux Terminal, and you’re as likely to need Terminal commands are you are in Windows or macOS.
There are three versions of Zorin OS, but only two are free. Zorin Pro does cost money, but you can use one license to install it on multiple personal computers.
The “Pro” version does come with several value-added features. For example, you can access additional layouts that look like other operating systems, such as Windows 11. Zorin OS Pro also includes free third-party pre-installed software, a password manager, and Miracast functionality. However, you can manually install third-party packages in the free version of Zorin.
Zorin has gained praise for its performance and stability, and Nvidia GPU users may want to take note that driver support in Zorin OS is virtually peerless. If your looking to move to open source from Windows or Mac, definitely give Zorin a try.
Linux Mint is steadily growing a mainstream following rivaling Ubuntu, on which it’s based. Mint sets itself apart by offering the option to have a fully-featured out-of-the-box experience with all the software you’ll need available immediately.
While most of the software included with Mint is open source, they also offer third-party closed source software for which there is no open-source alternative. For example, codecs and plugins that you’ll need to play DVDs, listen to MP3s, or play Adobe Flash content.
This isn’t really in the spirit of some Linux communities, but many users want these features, and going through the process of installing them all can be off-putting.
Linux Mint is also known for its collection of Mint Tools. These tools offer user-friendly ways to administer your computer and perform everyday tasks, many of which would require third-party software on other distributions.
Bonus: iOS and Android
All of the operating systems mentioned in our list are full-fledged desktop operating systems, but do you need a Windows OS for your daily computer use? Many users would probably have no trouble doing just about everything they need on Android or iOS.
If you already own an Android or iOS device, you might already have a free “desktop” computer on-hand. You can connect external displays, keyboards, mice, storage, and more to an Android phone, Android tablet, or Apple iPad. The options for an iPhone are more limited, and it’s not quite as suitable.
Some Android devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S phones, have “desktop” modes that offer a Windows-like interface when connecting them to an external display. There’s also an official Android desktop mode feature in the works, which we’ll likely see in a future release of the mobile OS.
Try Before You “Buy”
Changing your operating system is a serious job, so you’ll want to be sure that you like the alternative operating system before moving over to it. It’s also important to make sure that the software you use either works on the other OS or there’s an alternative package that does the same job.
Except for macOS, most operating system alternatives are easy to try using a virtual machine on Windows, such as VirtualBox. You can also try many operating systems as a “live” OS. Here the OS is installed on an external drive or a disc; you’ll boot from these external media into the operating system without changing anything on your computer at all. Of course, you can’t use the OS like this permanently, but it’s an excellent way to kick the tires.
The third option is to dual-boot Windows and the alternative OS of your choice. In this case, both OSes are fully installed on the same computer, and you choose which one to start up when you boot the computer. This is a little tricky to set up, but it does help the transition go smoothly over a longer period.
By trying out a new operating system before you commit to it, you’re more likely to find the best windows alternative for your current Windows PC without risking your data or productivity.
