My 5 favorite open source operating systems that aren't Linux
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Although Linux is the king of open-source OSes, there are options.
- Here you'll find a few open-source OSes to toy around with.
- Don't expect any of these to be viable options for daily use.
When you think of open-source operating systems, most likely only one option springs to mind: Linux.
That makes perfect sense, given that Linux is the most popular open-source OS on the planet (and starting to catch up with non-open-source OSs).
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But Linux isn't the only open-source game in town. In fact, there are several open-source options that you can try. I found five in particular that are interesting enough to share with you, including four that reimagine an operating system from the past and one built by a single developer (take that, Linus).
Let's see what there is to see within the realm of non-Linux open-source operating systems.
1. Haiku
The first time I tried
Haiku was two-thousand-two
It was in alpha.
Decades later, Haiku has finally reached beta. Yup, that's one slow development process. What attracted me to Haiku was its slight resemblance to the Afterstep Window manager that I once used and loved. Why the resemblance? Haiku is a reimagining of the late BeOS, inspired by NeXTSTEP (which in turn inspired AfterStep).
Besides the nifty UI, the craziest thing about Haiku is that it installs in seconds. On top of that, you probably won't find an OS where the apps run as fast as they do on Haiku. The trade-off is that you might not find the app you need. The good news is that there's the Haiku Depot, where you can install plenty of apps (even the likes of LibreOffice).
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Another cool feature found in Haiku is the Deskbar, which gives you quick access to minimized applications and system tray items.
I wouldn't recommend Haiku for daily use, but it's certainly fun to play with.
I've always loved an AfterStep-like UI.
2. BSD
BSD stands for Berkeley Software Distribution and is the closest thing to Unix that you can use on the desktop. Created at UC Berkeley by the Computer Systems Research Group and began as a derivative of the original AT&T UNIX that was created at Bell Labs.
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BSD lives on in several derivatives, such as FreeBSD, GhostBSD, MidnightBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, DragonFly BSD, and more. At first blush, you might think that whatever BSD you opt to use is actually Linux, because it probably uses one of the many Linux desktops, such as FreeBSD with KDE Plasma.
I've toyed around with several of the BSDs, and one of the most important things I always come away with is how remarkably stable they are. This should come as no surprise, given that BSD was based on an operating system used on mainframe computers worldwide.
The good news is that the BSDs are suitable for everyday desktop computing. In fact, if you want the single most reliable and stable operating system on the planet, try FreeBSD or OpenBSD.
3. ReactOS
ReactOS is what Windows would look like if it were open source and stuck with the Windows XP/7 UI. Although ReactOS isn't Windows, it does aim for Windows compatibility. You can even choose between a slightly more modern UI or the classic Windows (95/98) option. It allows you to join Workgroups and even install Windows apps.
The installation of ReactOS even resembles that of Windows (though it doesn't take nearly as long). There's a version of Internet Explorer you can use, too.
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Although ReactOS looks and feels like Windows, don't expect it to have all the same features, as this OS suffers from a very slow development process. Also, keep in mind that you're using an OS based on another, older OS, so there are certain features you won't find here (such as a universal search bar in the browser). It's also prone to not working as expected.
Regardless, ReactOS is a fun experiment to try.
ReactOS has always shown possibilities.
4. AROS
AROS is a recursive acronym that stands for AROS Research Operating System. This particular OS is a reimaging of the Amiga OS, a single-user OS that saw its final release in 2025 -- 40 years after its initial release. AROS is a full GUI OS with preinstalled apps, including the OWB web browser.
Although AROS looks pretty user-friendly, don't be fooled -- it's not. This should be considered a novelty or something of a research project. Installing AROS is a bit tricky because it's different from other installs, and it doesn't provide much help.
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Once you get AROS installed, you'll find that it's also a single-user operating system, meaning you don't log in. When you boot AROS, it goes directly (and quickly) to the desktop, where you can start opening the preinstalled applications and seeing what's what. Do be warned, you'll see a lot of application errors and apps that simply won't open.
Maybe someday, AROS will be a viable option.
If the developers can achieve some stability with AROS, it could be a viable option.
5. TempleOS
I place TempleOS on this list for one reason and one reason only -- it was created by a single person. Imagine that: A single person is writing an entire operating system alone. Although Linus Torvalds started writing Linux on his own, he wound up with plenty of help along the way.
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Now, TempleOS isn't an operating system that you would actually use. In fact, after installation (which takes seconds), you boot into what looks like a text-based file manager. Believe it or not, this is actually a GUI desktop, where you can access your personal menu and open apps like games.
One thing to keep in mind is that TempleOS is very much a biblical-themed OS, and it should really only be considered for a one-time experience and then walked away from. But given that a single person created this OS, it's impressive.
Open Source
After years of Linux, I tried GhostBSD and found it incredibly stable - and nearly unbreakable
Table of Contents
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ZDNET key takeaways
- GhostBSD is more UNIX than Linux.
- GhostBSD is a great option for rock-solid stability.
- You can install and use GhostBSD for free.
GhostBSD has had many changes over the years. When GhostBSD was first released, it was based on FreeBSD. In 2018, the developers decided they would switch it up and rebase the OS on TrueOS. Then, in 2020, TrueOS called it quits, and GhostBSD decided to migrate back to FreeBSD.
This shift was the right choice. First off, FreeBSD is an outstanding OS that has come a very long way. In fact, the latest FreeBSD was the first time I'd ever considered BSD as an option for everyday use. FreeBSD is rock-solid (like most BSDs) because it's a complete system. Unlike Linux, which only provides a kernel and drivers (with third parties adding the remaining bits), FreeBSD gives you everything.
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By switching to FreeBSD, GhostBSD also benefits from the latest upstream improvements, which include enhanced hardware support, security updates, and kernel advancements.
There have been other changes as well, such as:
- The default shell has been switched to zsh.
- XLibre is now the default display server.
- Enterprise WPA (802.1X/EAP) and WireGuard support was added to NetworkMGR.
- Update Station now supports major version upgrades based on the boot environment.
- Software Station benefits from a faster bisect-based package search.
- Refreshed visual identity with a new wallpaper.
- Updated icon themes and new theme variants.
There is one major difference between GhostBSD and FreeBSD: the default desktop environment. While FreeBSD defaults to KDE Plasma, GhostBSD opts for Mate. With GhostBSD going with a lighter-weight desktop environment, the OS feels considerably faster.
The choice of Mate also means GhostBSD is fairly streamlined, meaning you don't get much preinstalled software. You get a few Mate tools, the Plank Reloaded dock, Firefox, VLC media player, and not much more.
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There isn't even a GUI package manager, which can be resolved with the command:
pkg install -y desktop-installer
Once installed, you'll find Software Station in the top bar System menu, under Administration.
This package manager looks and behaves a lot like Synaptic.
After opening the station, all you have to do is search for the software you want to install, select it, click Apply, and confirm.
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I will say that package installation isn't exactly the fastest I've ever experienced, but the system works well.
Making it a bit more modern
From my perspective, Mate is definitely not a modern-looking desktop environment. With a bit of tweaking, I was able to give it a modern twist (thanks to Plank Reloaded). I deleted the bottom panel, ran Plank Reloaded, changed the theme, culled the desktop icons, and tweaked the top panel with some transparency.
A bit more modern looking, don't you think?
I then decided to install KDE Plasma and see if GhostBSD would play well with it. The installation went surprisingly fast and was taken care of with the command:
sudo pkg install kde -y
After a reboot, I logged in to the new (more modern) desktop and GhostBSD shone. The only caveat was that I couldn't use KDE Plasma with Wayland (even though the option was available). Even so, KDE Plasma looked and responded fantastically on GhostBSD.
That's much better.
It's all about stability
One thing I appreciate about GhostBSD (and all of the BSDs for that matter) is the incredible stability. It almost feels as if the system dares you to try to break it. Sure, I can break GhostBSD (because I've spent so many years with Linux), but it's not nearly as easy as you might think.
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As for the average user, breaking GhostBSD would be a challenge, but I wouldn't say it's impossible.
Who is GhostBSD for?
GhostBSD isn't really for those who've never wandered beyond Windows. The installation can be a bit tricky, and getting a GUI package installer added does require the command line. But once you get this OS installed, it will serve you well.
I'm inclined to say GhostBSD is best for people with enough Linux experience who want to use something a bit more like Unix. The system is also good for those who are sick of unreliable operating systems and would like something that is seemingly unbreakable. That's what the BSDs are, and GhostBSD does not disappoint.
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If I've piqued your interest, download the GhostBSD ISO now, burn it to a USB drive, boot from it, and install it. Trust me, it's worth the effort.
