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Chances are, your computer came with Windows or macOS. These operating systems may seem free, but they’re not. Manufacturers have to pay Microsoft a license to ship with Windows, and you need to buy a copy if you want to install Windows yourself. macOS updates are free, but they’re only available to people who have purchased Macs. The cost is hidden in the price of the computer.
There are many operating systems that actually are free. Most of them are pretty unknown. The most popular is Linux, and if you’re a regular around these parts, that name is hardly unfamiliar. But keep reading. By the time you finish this list, Linux will seem downright mainstream. Here are ten other free operating systems that most of us have never heard of.
1. FreeBSD
If you’re using a free operating system that isn’t Linux, then it’s probably based on BSD. FreeBSD is only one of several UNIX-like operating systems3 UNIX-Like Operating Systems That Aren't Linux3 UNIX-Like Operating Systems That Aren't LinuxRecently, people started to confuse 'UNIX' with 'Linux.' Linux was influenced by UNIX, but UNIX systems have no relation to Linux. Here are some important UNIX-based systems worth knowing about.Read More. Others include NetBSD, OpenBSD, and PC-BSD. Whichever one you use, much of the experience is similar to what you will find on Linux. Free and open source software available for one is typically able to run on the other.
Even if you’re not a free software lover, you may be using parts of FreeBSD without realizing it. Due to the project’s permissive licenseOpen Source vs. Free Software: What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter?Open Source vs. Free Software: What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter?Many assume 'open source' and 'free software' mean the same thing but that's not true. It's in your best interest to know what the differences are.Read More, some of the code has made its way into Apple macOS, the Sony PlayStation 4, and Juniper routers.
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2. ReactOS
Most free operating systems provide an alternative to Windows. ReactOS, in a sense, strives to be Windows. The goal is giving users a means to run software made for Windows without having to buy an operating system from Microsoft.
ReactOS is a free and open source operating system, so it can’t utilize any of Windows’ actual code. The project has partially implemented many Windows APIs, and it collaborates with the Wine project to get programs up and runningHow to Run Windows Apps & Games with Linux WineHow to Run Windows Apps & Games with Linux WineIs there any way to get Windows software working on Linux? One answer is to use Wine, but while it can be very useful, it probably should only be your last resort. Here's why.Read More.
3. FreeDOS
Do you live in the terminal? Did you use computers back when that was the only option? Are you having fond memories of MS-DOS?
FreeDOS lets you relive that bygone era. The barebones OS gives you a means to run old DOS programs on more modern hardware or inside a virtual machine. Or you can just use it to run old games7 Sites To Find The Best Classic DOS Games7 Sites To Find The Best Classic DOS GamesRead More.
4. Haiku
Haiku draws inspiration from BeOS. Drawing a blank? Me too. BeOS was a graphical operating system developed by Be Inc to run on the BeBox back in 1995. The operating system stuck around for five years, before the last update went out in 2000.
BeOS may not have been a household name, but it picked up some users, and a few wanted to see the OS live on enough to create their own open source version. The goal is for software written for BeOS to work on Haiku, sort of like what ReactOS wants to do with Windows. All things considered, the Haiku team probably has an easier job on its hands.
5. illumos
Oracle used to maintain an operating system called Solaris. It was originally closed source, but the project became open in 2008. Oracle discontinued OpenSolaris in 2010 and went back to a proprietary model with Solaris 11 in 2011.
illumos is an effort to keep OpenSolaris alive. Like Linux, you don’t download illumos directly. Instead, you grab a distribution such as DilOS or openindiana.
6. Syllable
Syllable is based on AtheOS, an AmigaOS clone that was abandoned around the turn of the century. As for AmigaOS, it’s still alive despite being born in the 80s for a line of computers long considered ancient.
Syllable targets home and home office users with a usable interface and native apps, including a Webkit-based web browser and an email client. Thing is, it can do this on a computer with only 32MB of RAM (though at least 64MB is recommended for browsing). The full installation should only take up around 250MB of hard drive space.
7. AROS Research Operating System
While Syllable is based on an AmigaOS clone, AROS takes a different approach. It actually aims to be binary compatible with AmigaOS at the API level. This is similar to how ReactOS targets Windows, and Haiku targets BeOS.
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You may be wondering if it’s worth giving AmigaOS this much attention. Did I mention that AmigaOS is still around? It’s not free either. Someone out there is still willing to pay for an operating system most people have never heard of. AROS offers a way to use some AmigaOS programs without having to hand over money. Plus it’s open source, which may leave you feeling more secureIs Security Through Obscurity Safer Than Open Source Software?Is Security Through Obscurity Safer Than Open Source Software?Open source software comes with clear security benefits. The opposite approach is security through obscurity. Is one approach actually safer than the other or is it possible that there's truth to both?Read More.
8. MenuetOS
Here’s the thing about MenuetOS — it’s small enough to fit on a single floppy disk. These were the flash drives of the 90s, and they only offered up to 1.44MB of storage. Considering many Linux distros have a hard time fitting on a 700MB CD, booting from a floppy is hard to fathom in this day and age.
MenuetOS is written entirely in 32/64-bit assembly language and is designed to run with very little overhead, even though it does support up to 32GB of RAM.
9. DexOS
Do all desktop operating systems feel a bit same-y? Here’s one that takes a different approach. Firing up DexOS will feel less like using the computer in keyboarding class and more like playing on a basic home game console.
Launching applications within DexOS feels vaguely like inserting a disc into an old Dreamcast. The experience feels seems more authentic if you’re actually playing a game. And another cool thing? This free OS is also small enough to fit on a floppy. Try putting a version on a Raspberry Pi.
10. Visopsys
Like DexOS, Visopsys is the hobby project of a single developer. Check this out if you want another look at how much a single person can create.
The Visual Operating System (admittedly a name that could possibly apply to any OS with a desktop environmentThe Best Lean Linux Desktop Environment: LXDE vs. Xfce vs. MATEThe Best Lean Linux Desktop Environment: LXDE vs. Xfce vs. MATETweaking your choice of Linux desktop environment can speed things up a lot. Here we look at three options: LXQt, Xfce, and MATE.Read More) has been in development since 1997. Impressively, it’s not based on any pre-existing OS. That’s not to say the project doesn’t utilize pre-existing code. You will find common GNU tools here, and the icons may look familiar to KDE Plasma users.
Would You Actually Use Any of These Free Operating Systems?
Most of them — no. Haiku developers don’t run Haiku full-time. The Visopsys developer explicitly says the OS isn’t as functional as Linux or, perhaps a more fair comparison, Syllable. DexOS is more an experiment than anything else.
That said, there are plenty of folks who prefer FreeBSD over Linux. illumos may not be a household name, even among FOSS lovers, but it has its uses. And did I mention using FreeDOS to play all those old DOS games?
Are there any systems on this list that you would consider using? Do you know of another obscure free operating system that isn’t on this list? Let us know in the comments!
Image Credit: mrmohock via Shutterstock.com
Explore more about: Linux, MS-DOS, Open Source, Unix.
There is one called ZORINOS that is a linux base OS, that is really cool to use and is pretty obscure.
GUI operating systems may be considered 'tiny' if they barely fit on a floppy (<1,440 kilobytes). If text-only is adequate, an OS can be far smaller. I use a 2001 version of FreeDOS that occupies only 77 kilobytes (less than 6% of a floppy) as the operating system for my diskette-based voting system. (See http://www.SAVIOC.com.) That compact kernel leaves plenty of room for the voting program itself, the ballot info, several supporting files including AUTOEXEC.BAT, and the results from 9999 voters. Because everything fits on a bootable floppy, no hard drive is required or used. If you needed the COMMAND.COM interface, that would add only another 80 KB.
You can also use Zorin OS. Download it, give it a try.
Zorin is simply another GNU/Linux distribution. I have it on my older laptop
PC-BSD, now TrueOS, is a variant of FreeBSD, employing the same kernel and userspace - albeit with a different package format and ergo package manager. However, you can still use the FreeBSD packages and ports.
In contrast - unless I'm mistaken - NetBSD and OpenBSD use kernels slightly modified from FreeBSD's
'it’s small enough to fit on a single floppy disk. These were the flash drives of the 90s'
(Stares emotionlessly at camera.)
how about https://reactos.org/
Im upset to see Zorin is not on this list. It is the best out of the box, the prettiest to look at and very user friendly without giving up functionality. If you haven't seen it you should look it up. My favorite of all the distros I have played with. http://zorinos.com/index.html
Dude, Zorin is Linux, Ubuntu Linux. The artical is about other OS's (like Windows and OS X but Free). Got it?
the article, sorry
'and implementing certain features and bits of code from the old operating system'
They are trying to implement all of the features of BeOS, not just some of them. One of the goals is to be binary compatible BeOS's last release. This will change in the future, but for now it stands.
Haiku doesn't implement code from BeOS. There would be legal problems if they did.
'and implementing certain features and bits of code from the old operating system'
They are trying to implement all of the features of BeOS, not just some of them. One of the goals is to be binary compatible BeOS's last release. This will change in the future, but for now it stands.
Haiku doesn't implement code from BeOS. There would be legal problems if they did.
Have you ever used Plan9? Is really cool :-) http://plan9.bell-labs.com/pla...
Have you ever used Plan9? Is really cool :-) http://plan9.bell-labs.com/plan9/
Suggesting freespire is quite useless, as this distro has been idle since 2007.
Today it is reported as 'Dormant' by Distrowacth. http://distrowatch.com/table.p...I'd really discurage to use it.
@Saikat: Reactos is a good suggestion, talking about windows-compatibility, while I didn't know Syllable, give it a look
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Suggesting freespire is quite useless, as this distro has been idle since 2007.
Today it is reported as 'Dormant' by Distrowacth. http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=freespireI'd really discurage to use it.
@Saikat: Reactos is a good suggestion, talking about windows-compatibility, while I didn't know Syllable, give it a look
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I thought Windows 7 was basically a realized and more functionally friendly version of Vista?
Very interesting but I can't let back my favorite programs so I'll just stick with my Win 7 for now but maybe I'll give Chrom OS a try :)
I'm quite old to start learning new OS...Windows 7 fits me best, for now. :)
Now that's a new one. Didn't know that there was a system like Freespire or PD-BSD. First one reminds me of good ol' Windows a little. Nice post, usefull info as usual on this site.