Alternatives to Xubuntu
A community-developed Ubuntu flavour with the lightweight Xfce desktop for everyday use. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Xubuntu
A community-developed Ubuntu flavour with the lightweight Xfce desktop for everyday use.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Xubuntu.
Lubuntu
An official Ubuntu flavour with the LXQt desktop, designed to be fast and lightweight.
Lubuntu keeps the Ubuntu base but swaps Xfce for the LXQt desktop, which is lighter though it has fewer built-in features.
Linux Mint
A desktop Linux operating system designed to work out of the box, with a lightweight Xfce edition.
Linux Mint offers an Xfce edition with a Windows-like layout and common apps preinstalled, plus a Debian-based LMDE option.
Zorin OS Lite
An Xfce-based edition of the Zorin OS Linux distribution intended for older and lower-powered PCs.
Zorin OS Lite also uses Xfce with Zorin-specific features added, 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 Windows switchers on older hardware, with a built-in help manual but fewer desktop choices.
MX Linux
A midweight desktop Linux distribution based on Debian Stable, built with antiX components and MX tools.
MX Linux moves to a Debian Stable base with antiX components and MX tools, aiming to stay responsive on modest hardware.
Pop!_OS
An Ubuntu-based Linux desktop operating system from System76, focused on productivity and customization.
Pop!_OS stays Ubuntu-compatible but focuses on productivity with full-disk encryption and NVIDIA support, and is tuned for System76 hardware.
Peppermint OS
A minimal Xfce Linux distribution based on Debian or Devuan that lets you choose your own applications.
Peppermint OS keeps an Xfce desktop on a Debian or Devuan base with a very small default package set, so you install most applications yourself.
Bodhi Linux
A lightweight Ubuntu-based Linux distribution with the Moksha desktop, derived from Enlightenment.
Bodhi Linux keeps the Ubuntu base but uses the light, highly customisable Moksha desktop, which is less common than Xfce.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Xubuntu as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Emmabuntüs
A Debian-based Linux distribution designed for refurbishing and reusing older computers.
Xubuntu offers an Ubuntu base with the Xfce desktop and a long-term support release until 2029, looking more traditional than newer desktops.
Q4OS
A lightweight Debian-based desktop Linux distribution aimed at ease of use and less powerful hardware.
Xubuntu switches to an Ubuntu base with the Xfce desktop and long-term support until 2029, but it is heavier than minimal distributions.
SparkyLinux
A fast, customizable Debian-based Linux distribution offered in several versions for different uses.
Xubuntu switches to an Ubuntu base with the Xfce desktop and a long-term support release maintained until 2029.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Manjaro Linux
An Arch-based rolling-release Linux distribution that aims to make Arch easier to install and use.
Flatpak
Sandboxed application packaging for Linux, with shared runtimes and Flathub.
Snap
Canonical's universal Linux packages with confinement and automatic updates.
Budgie
A free and open source Linux desktop environment with its own panel, application menu and window management.
