Alternatives to FreeBSD

An open source Unix-like operating system with native ZFS, jails and the bhyve hypervisor. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as FreeBSD.

  • OpenBSD

    A free, security-focused BSD Unix operating system that runs on many hardware platforms.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    OpenBSD puts security first with integrated cryptography and OpenSSH, suiting firewalls and routers, but lacks FreeBSD's integrated ZFS, jails and bhyve.

  • NetBSD

    A free, highly portable Unix-like operating system that runs on dozens of hardware platforms.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    NetBSD runs on far more CPU architectures, including embedded and vintage machines, but has a smaller software and driver ecosystem.

  • DragonFly BSD

    A free BSD operating system with the HAMMER2 filesystem, derived from FreeBSD.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    DragonFly BSD is derived from FreeBSD and uses its own HAMMER2 filesystem and NVMM hypervisor, with DPorts packages that lag the FreeBSD ports branch.

  • MidnightBSD

    A BSD-derived desktop operating system for x86 and AMD64 PCs and virtual machines.

    FreeOpen sourceCommand line

    MidnightBSD targets desktop use with mports and an app store, but it supports only x86 and AMD64 and has a small developer community.

Also worth comparing

These listings name FreeBSD as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • SmartOS

    An open-source illumos-based hypervisor operating system that runs zones and KVM or bhyve virtual machines.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hosted

    FreeBSD offers native ZFS, jails and the bhyve hypervisor in a general Unix-like operating system with a thorough Handbook, installed to disk rather than booted into memory.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.