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These Are The 5 Most Popular Linux Distros In 2026
One common mistake people make when they switch over to Linux is not doing enough research to see which distro is best for them. Some people might also mistake "popular" for "the best," and that's not always the case. There are plenty of disadvantages to Microsoft Word and Google Docs, yet they're both more popular than LibreOffice (clearly the superior suite of programs and arguably why there's no need for Microsoft Office anymore). That doesn't mean they're not good, of course.
And when it comes to a Linux distro, everyone chooses one (especially their first one) for a variety of reasons. Maybe they want an extra stable distro like Debian, or they want one that makes the transition from Windows to Linux easier, like Mint. Whatever the reason one has for picking a distro, it's always worth looking to see what's popular, if for no other reason than to see what makes them so popular. DistroWatch has a ranking based on how many people click on each distro's page, which is how we gauged popularity for each one listed here. If you decide to use this method to research Linux distros, take advantage and look beyond the top five.