Alternatives to Lubuntu
An official Ubuntu flavour with the LXQt desktop, designed to be fast and lightweight. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Lubuntu
An official Ubuntu flavour with the LXQt desktop, designed to be fast and lightweight.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Lubuntu.
Xubuntu
A community-developed Ubuntu flavour with the lightweight Xfce desktop for everyday use.
Xubuntu keeps the Ubuntu base but swaps LXQt for the Xfce desktop, with a long-term support release supported until 2029 and documentation included with each release.
Linux Mint
A desktop Linux operating system designed to work out of the box, with a lightweight Xfce edition.
Linux Mint offers a lightweight Xfce edition with a Windows-like layout and common apps preinstalled, plus a Debian-based LMDE option, though fixed releases carry older software.
Zorin OS Lite
An Xfce-based edition of the Zorin OS Linux distribution intended for older and lower-powered PCs.
Zorin OS Lite replaces LXQt with Xfce plus Zorin-specific features and is supported until at least June 2029, but the Lite edition is planned to end from Zorin OS 19.
Linux Lite
A lightweight, beginner-friendly Linux distribution for older computers and people moving from Windows.
Linux Lite targets beginners and people leaving Windows on older hardware, with a built-in help manual and active forums, but offers fewer desktop choices than larger distributions.
Bodhi Linux
A lightweight Ubuntu-based Linux distribution with the Moksha desktop, derived from Enlightenment.
Bodhi Linux stays on an Ubuntu base but uses the very customisable Moksha desktop, offers a 32-bit non-PAE build for old hardware, and has a small developer team.
MX Linux
A midweight desktop Linux distribution based on Debian Stable, built with antiX components and MX tools.
MX Linux moves you from Ubuntu to a Debian Stable base with antiX components and MX tools, aiming to stay responsive on modest hardware with somewhat older software versions.
Q4OS
A lightweight Debian-based desktop Linux distribution aimed at ease of use and less powerful hardware.
Q4OS switches to a stable Debian base aimed at less powerful hardware, includes tools to remove unneeded components and an ARM edition, but has a small development team.
Peppermint OS
A minimal Xfce Linux distribution based on Debian or Devuan that lets you choose your own applications.
Peppermint OS gives a minimal Xfce system on Debian or Devuan with a very small default package set, so you install most applications yourself.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Lubuntu as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
BunsenLabs Linux
A Debian-based distribution with a preconfigured, lightweight Openbox desktop, continuing CrunchBang Linux.
Lubuntu moves to an Ubuntu base with the LXQt desktop and everyday apps included out of the box, giving access to the full Ubuntu software ecosystem.
Emmabuntüs
A Debian-based Linux distribution designed for refurbishing and reusing older computers.
Lubuntu switches to an Ubuntu base with the lightweight LXQt desktop and everyday apps included, suited to older or modest computers.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Pop!_OS
An Ubuntu-based Linux desktop operating system from System76, focused on productivity and customization.
antiX
A fast, lightweight live Linux distribution based on Debian Stable, without systemd or elogind.
SparkyLinux
A fast, customizable Debian-based Linux distribution offered in several versions for different uses.
Damn Small Linux
A revived compact Linux distribution for low-spec x86 computers, based on antiX.
