Best Operating Systems
View:
Compare the Top Operating Systems as of October 2025
Sort By:
What are Operating Systems?
Operating systems are foundational software that manage computer hardware, software resources, and provide services for applications and users. They handle critical functions such as process scheduling, memory management, device control, file systems, and security. Operating systems provide a user interface—either graphical (GUI) or command-line—that allows individuals to interact with the machine. They also offer APIs and system calls that enable developers to build and run applications consistently across devices. From personal computers to servers, mobile devices, and embedded systems, operating systems are essential for ensuring stability, efficiency, and usability in modern computing environments. Compare and read user reviews of the best Operating Systems currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly.
-
1
Ubuntu
Ubuntu
Better security. More packages. Newer tools. All your open source, from cloud to edge. Secure your open source apps. Patch the full stack, from kernel to library and applications, for CVE compliance. Governments and auditors certify Ubuntu for FedRAMP, FISMA and HITECH. Rethink what’s possible with Linux and open source. Companies engage Canonical to drive down open source operating costs. Automate everything: multi-cloud operations, bare metal provisioning, edge clusters and IoT. Whether you’re a mobile app developer, an engineering manager, a music or video editor or a financial analyst with large-scale models to run — in fact, anyone in need of a powerful machine for your work — Ubuntu is the ideal platform. Ubuntu is used by thousands of development teams around the world because of its versatility, reliability, constantly updated features, and extensive developer libraries. -
2
TrueNAS
iXsystems
TrueNAS is the world's most deployed storage software. TrueNAS is a universal data platform that allows users to easily adopt a modern, open source approach to storing and protecting their growing data. TrueNAS is open source and harnesses the power of the legendary ZFS file system to provide unified storage (File, Block Object, and Apps) with the reliability and performance demanded by virtualization, backup, and many other data-heavy workloads. The TrueNAS CORE edition (formerly FreeNAS) is based on FreeBSD for unified scale-up storage. The TrueNAS SCALE edition is based on Debian Linux for either scale-up or scale-out solutions, and offers Linux Containers, VMs (KVM), and scale-out ZFS storage capabilities. Both are known to work well on standard hardware. Join the millions already using TrueNAS, including the majority of Fortune 500 companies, and experience why TrueNAS is very highly rated for yourself.">
Starting Price: Free -
3
Windows Server
Microsoft
Windows Server 2022 introduces advanced multi-layer security, hybrid capabilities with Azure, and a flexible application platform. Elevate the security posture of your organization starting with the operating system. Extend your data center to Azure for greater IT efficiency. Empower developers and IT pros with an application platform to build and deploy diverse applications. See how your cost savings will add up on Azure with offers such as Azure hybrid benefit and extended security updates. Modernize your workloads on Azure, the trusted cloud for Windows Server. Connect on-premises Windows Servers to Azure with Azure Arc. Update to the latest operating system for enhanced security, performance and value. Now you can leverage all of the benefits of the cloud with Azure. It’s free to start, so manage your servers, clusters, hyper-converged infrastructure, and Windows 10 PCs with Windows Server.Starting Price: $501 one-time payment -
4
KDE Plasma
KDE
Use Plasma to surf the web, keep in touch with colleagues, friends and family; manage your files, enjoy music and videos; and get creative and productive at work. Do it all in a beautiful environment that adapts to your needs, and with the safety, privacy-protection and peace of mind that the best Free Open Source Software has to offer. The Plasma Launcher lets you quickly and easily launch applications, but it can do much more – convenient tasks like bookmarking applications, searching for documents as you type, or navigating to common places help you getting straight to the point. With a history of recently started programs and opened files, you can return to where you left off. It even remembers previously entered search terms so you don’t have to. Plasma is made to stay out of the way as it helps you get things done. But under its light and intuitive surface, it's a powerhouse. So you're free to choose ways of usage right as you need them and when you need them. -
5
IBM z/OS
IBM
IBM® z/OS® brings the computing power and resources of the IBM Z® platform to help you drive business transformation and accelerate innovation. Get the stable, secure environment your organization requires to improve performance for mission-critical workloads and meet future challenges. A highly secure and scalable operating system for running mission-critical applications. The new IBM® z16™ platform accelerates decision velocity, protects against threats across your business, and modernizes for hybrid cloud. IBM z/OS V2.5 enables innovative development to support hybrid cloud and AI business applications, along with next-level technologies for security and resilience. With a continuous delivery model, new z/OS capabilities are available quarterly with no impact on stability, complexity, or costs. Achieve rapid application development and provisioning for hybrid cloud deployment. Simplified and modern experience for easier installation, management, etc. -
6
DelphiOS
Turbotic
Meet the worlds first operating system that connects all your AI and automations into one visual platform. Automation & AI initiatives often fail due inadequate analysis of what exact business processes to automate. A well defined process analysis is key. Visualizes Automation & AI process candidates. Process discovery and analysis. Solution proposals by our AI-engine. Automation & AI implementations often fail due to inadequate planning and execution. DelphiOS helps you avoid these common pitfalls. Best-in-class methodology how to implement your solutions. Shortens your development by appropriately allocating development tasks and approval steps. Controlling and managing multiple Automation and AI technologies from different vendors can be very challenging. Full control and overview of existing solutions is crucial. Manage robots, AI-models and solutions in 6 technologies. The DelphiOS Control module shows performance and diagnostics of your Automation & AI solutions in real time.Starting Price: $99 per month -
7
ChromeOS Flex
Google
Try the cloud-first, fast, easy-to-manage, and secure ChromeOS for PCs and Macs. ChromeOS Flex is a free and sustainable way to modernize devices you already own. It’s easy to deploy across your fleet or simply try it to see what a cloud-first OS has to offer. Install ChromeOS Flex on your PCs and Macs so they are secure, boot fast, don’t slow down over time, update automatically in the background, and can be managed from the cloud. Devices boot quickly, don’t slow down over time, and update in the background, reducing device downtime. Experience fast access to VDI and web apps with an intuitive, clutter-free, and reliable experience. Deploy ChromeOS Flex across your fleet via USB or network deployment and a user’s settings and policies sync to the device almost instantly. Use the Google Admin console to manage updates and configure device policies remotely. Blocked executables and sandboxing technology eliminate the need for antivirus software.Starting Price: Free -
8
VxWorks
Wind River
The World’s Leading Real-Time Operating System for the Intelligent Edge For nearly 35 years, VxWorks has been used to ensure the security, safety, and reliability you need to design and build mission-critical embedded systems that simply must work. VxWorks® is the industry’s most trusted and widely deployed real-time operating system (RTOS) for mission-critical embedded systems that must be secure and safe. It delivers a proven, real-time, and deterministic runtime combined with a modern approach to development. Regardless of industry or device type, companies building intelligent edge systems rely on the VxWorks pedigree of security, safety, high performance, and reliability. VxWorks is a deterministic, priority-based preemptive RTOS with low latency and minimal jitter. It is built on an upgradable, future-proof architecture to help you rapidly respond to changing market requirements and technology advancements.Starting Price: $18,500 / seat -
9
Mbed OS
Arm
Arm Mbed OS is a free, open-source IoT operating system that includes all the necessary features to develop IoT products. The OS includes everything you need to develop smart, connected products on Arm Cortex-M based hardware, including machine learning capabilities, security, connectivity stacks, an RTOS kernel and drivers for sensors and I/O devices. Arm Mbed OS is designed for the Internet of Things. It is integrated with connectivity, machine learning, networking, and security stacks and is supported with software libraries, development hardware, tutorials and examples. From hardware to the cloud, Mbed OS supports more than 70 silicon, module, cloud, and OEM partners, optimizing your developer choice. By using the Mbed OS API, your application code can remain clean, portable, and simple, while taking advantage of security, communications and machine learning. The integrated solution reduces development cost, time, and risk. -
10
BlackBerry QNX
BlackBerry QNX
Launch your critical embedded systems faster with our commercial RTOS, development tools and services. BlackBerry QNX delivers a time-tested real-time operating system (RTOS), hypervisor, and other embedded software to help make you successful. We are the embedded OS of choice for ventilators, train controls, factory automation systems, medical robots and more. Whether your priority is safety certification, security or performance, our software, tools and services can help you build more reliable products. If you’re looking to increase security or safety, or you want to streamline your cross-platform development process, we can help. We can bring your plans to life with an RTOS and hypervisor purpose-built for embedded systems, including pre-certified product variants. Our modular microkernel architecture delivers better reliability and saves duplication of OS development effort across multiple products. -
11
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Red Hat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is an enterprise Linux operating system, certified on hundreds of clouds and with thousands of vendors. Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides a consistent foundation across environments and the tools needed to deliver services and workloads faster for any application. Red Hat Enterprise Linux reduces deployment friction and costs while speeding time to value for critical workloads, enabling development and operations teams to innovate together in any environment. Red Hat Enterprise Linux extends your hybrid cloud infrastructure to the edge—across hundreds of thousands of nodes all over the world. Create edge-optimized OS images, minimize workload interruptions caused by OS updates, transfer system updates more efficiently, and have confidence in automatic health checks and rollbacks. Run purpose-built command line utilities to automate many inventory and remediation steps associated with upgrading your subscription or migrating from another Linux distro.Starting Price: $99 one-time payment -
12
CopperheadOS
Copperhead
CopperheadOS is a Secure Android built for encrypted and secure phones by a privacy focused company. Available as security-centric and privacy focused Google-free Android for the latest Pixel devices. Develop or include a secure phone in your businesses mobile security program. CopperheadOS integrates with the latest and greatest mobile security solutions. Mobile devices are easy targets for hackers so we developed the most secure android, CopperheadOS, to protect against a variety of attack vectors. Copperhead's technical documentation is available for review. Security-centric, non- technical user experience. No Google or any tracking analytics. Sandboxing and application isolation. Integrates with the latest mobile device management and intrusion detection system mobility software. -
13
CloudLinux
CloudLinux
Stable servers reduce churn and allow you to increase density, and therefore magnify your profit. The CloudLinux OS stability features prevent resource spikes and make your servers rock-solid stable, even in the most stressful situations. CloudLinux OS protects your servers from attacks by virtualizing users’ file systems and prevent sensitive information disclosure. Our kernel-level technology prevents all known symbolic link attacks, which further enhances the security level of the servers. Secure the unsupported versions of PHP where, vulnerabilities, even if discovered, are not patched by the PHP.net community. Multiply the number of users on a more stable server with Cloudlinux OS and manage any resources limits for each customer. Troubleshooting performance problems with Detailed information on system bottlenecks, slow database queries, functions, or external calls.Starting Price: $7 per server per month -
14
Stratodesk NoTouch
Stratodesk
Stratodesk NoTouch is the #1 Thin Client endpoint OS and management solution in the world. Comprised of both NoTouch OS and NoTouch Center, Stratodesk NoTouch lets you transform any PC, Thin Client, Laptop or Raspberry Pi device into a secure and centrally managed Thin Endpoint. You can also instantly deploy NoTouch OS onto thousands of devices and manage them from oStratodesk NoTouch is the #1 Thin Client endpoint OS and management solution in the world. Comprised of both NoTouch OS and NoTouch Center, Stratodesk NoTouch lets you transform any PC, Thin Client, Laptop or Raspberry Pi device into a secure and centrally managed Thin Endpoint. You can also instantly deploy NoTouch OS onto thousands of devices and manage them from one browser. NoTouch OS is the minimal footprint OS that installs from your server onto your PC, Laptop, Thin Client, or Raspberry Pi Device. NoTouch Center is the #1 endpoint management software for your VDI endpoints. -
15
IBM i
IBM
IBM i is an integrated operating environment developed by IBM, consisting of operating system, database, middleware, and development tools. IBM I, a platform for innovators, by innovators. The latest update to IBM i has arrived. With IBM i 7.4, you'll get continuous availability (thanks to IBM Db2 Mirror for i), the latest security features, and easy integration with IoT, AI and Watson. Ensures mission-critical applications remain up and running. Enhanced security features implement the latest industry-standard practices. Protect critical business applications and data. New auditing capability at the object level. Industry-standard Open Source environments. Port more applications to IBM I. Easily integrate with IoT, AI and Watson. Get work done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Transfer virtual save media to and from the cloud. Consolidate most commonly used tasks for managing IBM i. -
16
openSUSE Leap
openSUSE
A brand new way of building openSUSE and a new type of a hybrid Linux distribution. Leap uses source from SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE), which gives Leap a level of stability unmatched by other Linux distributions, and combines that with community developments to give users, developers and sysadmins the best stable Linux experience available. If you’re already running openSUSE you can upgrade by booting from the DVD/USB and choosing upgrade, or carry out an ‘Online Upgrade’ in a few commands. Leap is a classic stable distribution approach, one release each year and in between security and bugfixes. This makes Leap very attractive as server operating system, but as well for Desktops since it requires little maintenance effort. openSUSE Leap is compatible with SUSE Linux Enterprise; this gives Leap a level of stability unmatched by other Linux distributions and provides users the ability to migrate to an enterprise offering. -
17
HP-UX
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Highly integrated UNIX operating system and tools that deliver the highest availability, reliability, and security on mission-critical HPE Integrity servers. Streamline your operations using a highly integrated UNIX operating system with tools that delivers the highest reliability, availability, and security on mission-critical HPE Integrity servers. HP-UX gives you a dynamic, secure, and unified environment and comes pre-integrated on mission-critical HPE Integrity servers. Meet your specific UNIX mission-critical requirements. HP-UX offers four operating environments tailored to specific needs. Holistic server security and system management that includes HPE Systems Insight Manager functionality with power management, health check, and deployment tools. It also provides full performance analysis tools for kernel processes and applications. Protect your business’s most critical applications and services to keep your business on target. -
18
Tizen
Tizen
Tizen is an open and flexible operating system built from the ground up to address the needs of all stakeholders of the mobile and connected device ecosystem, including device manufacturers, mobile operators, application developers and independent software vendors (ISVs). Tizen is developed by a community of developers, under open source governance, and is open to all members who wish to participate. Tizen operating system comes in multiple profiles to serve different industry requirements. The current Tizen profiles are Tizen IVI (in-vehicle infotainment), Tizen Mobile, Tizen TV, and Tizen Wearable. In addition to that, as of Tizen 3.0, all profiles are built on top of a common, shared infrastructure called Tizen Common. With Tizen, a device manufacturer can begin with one of these profiles and modify it to serve their own needs, or use Tizen Common base to develop a new profile to meet the memory, processing and power requirements of any device and quickly bring it to market. -
19
HPE OpenVMS
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
With HPE OpenVMS, get a platform that is proven to deliver. OpenVMS is a general-purpose, multi-user Operating system that offers immunity to both planned and unplanned downtime with proven continuous computing, including disaster-tolerant, multisite clusters at an open system price. While most enterprise IT environments measure uptime in days or weeks, OpenVMS customers characterize uptime in terms of years. You can depend on OpenVMS for uncompromising reliability, availability, scalability, and security. HPE provides a high performance development and production environment on OpenVMS. HPE OpenVMS Cluster software is an integral part of the OpenVMS operating system, providing the basis for many of the key capabilities used by OpenVMS enterprise solutions. HPE OpenVMS provides a full range of security products and services from HPE and our partners designed to protect a company's vital assets. -
20
Netvisor ONE
Pluribus Networks
Moving to Open Networking bare metal switches brings significant operational and financial benefits to build next-generation networks. These switches provide the capacity needed to achieve cloud-scale, agility, elasticity, and adaptability. As you move to a disaggregated open networking strategy, selecting the right Network Operating System (OS) is a critical success factor. Why? The Network OS deployed unlocks the performance, functionality, and services from Open Networking switches to realize the most value. Netvisor® ONE is an open, secure, and programable next-generation Network OS that is purpose-built to optimize the power and performance of bare metal Open Networking hardware. Deployment-proven in production mission-critical enterprise and carrier networks, Netvisor ONE operating system meets the most stringent performance requirements and delivers the maximum levels of reliability and flexibility at scale, and without compromise. -
21
Arista EOS
Arista Networks
Arista Extensible Operating System (EOS®) is the core of Arista cloud networking solutions for next-generation data centers and cloud networks. Cloud architectures built with Arista EOS scale to hundreds of thousands of compute and storage nodes with management and provisioning capabilities that work at scale. Through its programmability, EOS enables a set of software applications that deliver workflow automation, high availability, unprecedented network visibility and analytics and rapid integration with a wide range of third-party applications for virtualization, management, automation and orchestration services. Arista EOS is a fully programmable and highly modular, Linux-based network operation system, using familiar industry standard CLI and runs a single binary software image across the Arista switching family. -
22
OcNOS
IP Infusion
OcNOS is a robust, programmable and innovative operating system, featuring a single software image that runs across the entire portfolio of Open Compute platforms from leading network device vendors. This guarantees consistent operations, workflow automation and high availability, while significantly reducing operational expenses. OcNOS borrows heavily from the popular ZebOS line of products, which provides a rich feature density and robustness that has been built up over the years and validated in thousands of diverse customer networks. OcNOS provides industry standard CLI, supports all standard MIBs and other standard operation and management tools. Its integrated centralized management and provisioning layer allows for transaction-based configuration and device feature modelling. The management layer has support for Netconf, REST APIs besides custom CLI generation capability. This allows an OcNOS system to be configured, managed and controlled by Network Management System. -
23
Pica8 PICOS
Pica8
The one-of-a-kind PICOS open NOS with tightly coupled control planes gives network operators surgical, non-disruptive control of their enterprise applications, deep and dynamic traffic monitoring, and even attack mitigation, all in real time. There’s no better way to implement zero-trust networking and software-defined perimeters than PICOS. Our flagship open network operating system installs on 1G- to 100G-interface open switches from a broad array of Tier 1 manufacturers. This fully featured license offers the most comprehensive support for enterprise features on the market. It includes the Debian Linux distribution, with an unmodified kernel for maximum DevOps programmability. Enterprise Edition also includes AmpCon, an Ansible-based automation framework that couples Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP) with the Open Network Install Environment (ONIE) to simplify installation and operation of open network switches across the enterprise. -
24
NVIDIA Cumulus Linux
NVIDIA Networking
Reduce complexities and benefit from complete interoperability across your entire data center with Linux. Get additional levels of security, exclusive to Cumulus Linux, in addition to industry-standard security features. Use the existing Linux-based management tools and talent, and benefit from the ability to assign more switches per engineer. Easily leverage native integration and best-of-breed tools for automation, monitoring, analytics, and more. Run multiple network paths without the need for multiple switches, giving you traffic isolation and network segmentation for multiple devices. Efficiently go from whiteboard to physical cable. With PTM, you can program your data center to verify connections and resolve issues faster. Realize blazing fast speeds and the lowest latencies with RoCE implementation that’s ready with just one line of code. -
25
Indus OS
Indus OS
Powered by artificial intelligence, Indus App Bazaar curates locally relevant apps and content for the users based on their demographics, lingual preferences, and behaviour and offers an intuitive user interface with content-led discovery. Indus OS is specifically designed and developed for the unique needs and lingual preferences of smartphone users in diverse ecosystems. It bridges the barriers between app developers and smartphone users and offers a personalized mobile experience. Indus App Bazaar leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable a seamless app discovery journey by delivering contextual app recommendations while helping developers with multi-point distribution and monetization opportunities. -
26
Rocket EOS 360
Rocket
Simply providing access to reports and data on the mainframe is no longer enough for today’s stakeholders. Your users, whether they’re employees, partners, or customers, increasingly expect a more modern digital experience and efficient workflows. And with more regulation and restrictions across the world impacting data security, you’re expected to protect all data, regardless of platform. Rocket® EOS 360 integrates with mainframe environments to capture output from applications, manage the storage of that data and provide fast and secure access for users. Rocket EOS 360 allows you to allocate precious MSUs to business-critical applications, improving the efficiency of your output management system. Rocket EOS 360 centralizes your data and provides a single, secure point of access to ensure you stay in compliance with any regulations and minimize the risk of a data security leak. -
27
Unisys ClearPath Forward MCP
Unisys
For computing requirements that demand the utmost in security, resiliency, availability and scalability combined with optimal business agility, ClearPath Forward provides the foundation for simplification, controlling costs, and digital transformation. Augment staff, optimize performance and speed digital transformation of your ClearPath Forward environment with a managed service offering and cloud hosting managed, maintained and optimized by Unisys. Build a clear, actionable strategy that outlines how to evolve your applications in response to new demands with ClearPath Forward Advisory Services and ClearPath Forward Application Evolution Services. Benefit from a full range of advisory and implementation services to streamline the transition of your ClearPath Forward environment to private or public cloud. -
28
The ClearPath MCP and ClearPath OS 2200 operating environments provide a complete and integrated software portfolio for hosting your business-critical workloads. Be well-equipped to support even the most demanding applications. Access features ranging from multi-layered, built-in security and transaction managers to databases, integration tools, development tools, and everything in between. Be able to license the operating environment separately to enable transaction processing in a public cloud, private cloud, or the server hardware of your choice. With the vast array of cross-platform software available in the ClearPath Forward environment, you’ll have everything you need to complement and extend the capabilities of the ClearPath MCP and ClearPath OS 2200 operating systems.
-
29
IBM z/VM
IBM
IBM z/VM is an operating system with security-rich and scalable hypervisor and virtualization technology designed to run guest servers such as Linux, z/OS and z/TPF virtual machines as well as Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Z and LinuxONE servers. IBM z/VM runs hundreds to thousands of guest servers on a single IBM Z or IBM LinuxONE server with high efficiency and elasticity. It supports multiple machine images and architectures, simplifying migrations, facilitating application transitions, and consolidating systems onto one server. IBM z/VM excels in sharing system resources among virtual machines, offering extreme scalability, security, and efficiency, leading to cost savings and a robust foundation for cognitive computing. Use on-premises cloud computing in a hybrid cloud strategy. Scale and run thousands of Linux and container workloads efficiently. Help ensure continuous availability with IBM's resiliency offerings. -
30
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is a robust, scalable, and secure enterprise-grade operating system designed for businesses and organizations. It offers a reliable platform for running mission-critical workloads and applications across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server provides advanced features such as high availability, virtualization, and cloud integration, making it ideal for deploying complex IT infrastructures. It is known for its stability and long-term support, ensuring organizations can maintain a secure and consistent environment over time. SUSE's management tools allow for streamlined configuration and automation, simplifying the deployment and maintenance of servers. It supports a wide range of hardware architectures, including x86_64, ARM, and IBM Power, ensuring flexibility for various business needs. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is also optimized for performance, with strong security features.