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MATE vs COSMIC: catalog facts
MATE	COSMIC

Best for: Linux users who prefer a classic GNOME 2 style desktop	Best for: Use System76's desktop environment with configurable workspaces and window tiling
Free Free to use; the project accepts donations.	Free Free and open source. Hosting, hardware and any external services are separate.
Linux	Linux
Traditional desktop layout carried over from GNOME 2 Packaged in the official repositories of many distributions Interface translated into many languages	Combines desktop panels with workspace controls Supports tiling and floating workflows
Full releases arrive every few years Linux and Unix-like systems only	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
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for MATE mate-desktop.org Catalog checked September 23, 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.