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COSMIC vs GNOME: catalog facts
COSMIC	GNOME
Best for: Use System76's desktop environment with configurable workspaces and window tiling	Best for: Use a Linux desktop organized around an activities overview and workspaces
Free Free and open source. Hosting, hardware and any external services are separate.	Free Free and open source. Hosting, hardware and any external services are separate.
Linux	Linux
Combines desktop panels with workspace controls Supports tiling and floating workflows	Integrates application launching and workspace navigation Provides a consistent suite of desktop settings
Requires a distribution and graphics stack that support the current COSMIC release.	Shell extensions must match the installed GNOME version.
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for COSMIC github.com/pop-os/cosmic-epoch Catalog checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for GNOME gnome.org Catalog checked September 22, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.