In today’s article, we will be discussing the top 5 distributions to start your Linux journey. This is aimed at beginners who have little to no experience with Linux. But the list also contains more advanced distros which I think are also a good choice, especially if you want to take a deeper look into the world of Linux.

Our Top 5 list of Linux distros for the first Linux journey

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is by far the most popular Linux distribution and for good reason. It’s user-friendly, has a huge amount of software available, and is relatively stable. Ubuntu is not my favorite one, but it sits in first place in this chart because it’s really easy to set up and even newcomers to the Linux world will be able to use it without hassle.

Debian

Debian is the distribution that Ubuntu is based on and shares many of the same features. It’s a bit more difficult to use than Ubuntu, but it’s still a great option for beginners. Debian really clean and fast distro, personally I’ve started my Linux journey with Debian. So don’t worry if I can install it, you can do it too without any problems. It’s also really good if you mean to play some games with it.

Arch

If you’re looking for a more minimalist approach, Arch is a great option. It doesn’t come with a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s a great distribution for learning the basics of Linux and begin new linuxjourney. It’s clean and very customizable, so with Arch, you’ll be able to build a distro that will perfectly suit your needs. A little bit complicated, but worthwhile. If you start with Arch Linux, it will help you to understand how Linux works. That’s a reason why I recommend it even for beginners.

Fedora

Fedora is another great option for beginners. It’s similar to Ubuntu in many ways, but it uses a different package manager (yum instead of apt). It’s a bit more difficult to use than Ubuntu, but it’s still a great option for beginners. Fedora is based on Red Hat Linux and uses RPM packages, so it’s a good choice if you’re planning on using Red Hat Enterprise Linux in the future.

Manjaro

Manjaro is a great option for beginners who want a bit more functionality out of the box. It’s based on Arch, so it shares many of the same features. It’s got a great community and a wealth of documentation, so it’s a great choice for those who want to learn more about Linux. Thanks to the latest software and rolling release model is Manjaro very popular in the Linux gaming community.

Honorable Mentions

There are a few other distributions that are worth mentioning but didn’t quite make the cut.

Linux Mint: Linux Mint is a great option for those who want an easy-to-use distribution. It’s based on Ubuntu, so it shares many of the same features.

openSUSE: openSUSE is a great option for those who want a stable distribution. It’s got a great community and a wealth of documentation, so it’s a great choice for those who want to learn more about Linux and start linuxjourney.