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GNOME vs COSMIC: catalog facts
GNOME	COSMIC
Best for: Use a Linux desktop organized around an activities overview and workspaces	Best for: Use System76's desktop environment with configurable workspaces and window tiling
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
Integrates application launching and workspace navigation Provides a consistent suite of desktop settings	Combines desktop panels with workspace controls Supports tiling and floating workflows
Shell extensions must match the installed GNOME version.	Requires a distribution and graphics stack that support the current COSMIC release.
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 GNOME gnome.org Catalog checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for COSMIC github.com/pop-os/cosmic-epoch Catalog checked September 22, 2026

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