Alternatives to DietPi
A minimal Debian-based OS for single-board computers with menus for installing optimised software. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
DietPi
A minimal Debian-based OS for single-board computers with menus for installing optimised software.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as DietPi.
Raspberry Pi OS Lite
Official Raspberry Pi operating system without a desktop, based on Debian Trixie, for headless use.
Raspberry Pi OS Lite is the official headless system on a Debian 13 base, but it only runs on Raspberry Pi hardware and has no software install menus.
Armbian
Debian and Ubuntu images with board-specific patched kernels for ARM single-board computers.
Armbian offers standard Debian or Ubuntu images with board-specific patched kernels for over 300 ARM boards, in minimal CLI or full desktop versions, but it is ARM only.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
CasaOS
Personal cloud dashboard that installs Docker apps on a home server in one click.
Runtipi
Home server manager with a curated app store for self-hosted services.
YunoHost
Debian-based server distribution that installs and maintains self-hosted apps for you.
OpenMediaVault
Debian-based network-attached storage operating system with a browser web interface.
