MX Linux vs Ubuntu
MX Linux draws more interest (#3 vs #9).
your computer is older or low on memory.
you write software or you run AI models or LLMs on your own GPU.
| MX Linux #3 · Debian | Ubuntu #9 · Debian | |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (12 months) | 3 | 9 |
| Rank last month | 4 | 7 |
| Index | 299 | 296 |
| Family | Debian | Debian |
| Based on | Debian | Debian |
| First released | 2014 | 2004 |
| Latest release | 25.3 | 26.10 |
| Supported until | Aug 2028 | Jul 2027 |
| GitHub stars | 23 | - |
| Commits, last 30 days | 0 | - |
| Telemetry (OS default) | - | Off unless you opt in |
Pros and cons
MX Linux
Good
- Handy graphical MX Tools for common tasks
- Light enough for older computers
- Debian stable base
Trade-offs
- Xfce default looks dated to some
- Older software than rolling distros
- Smaller community than Mint or Ubuntu
Ubuntu
Good
- The most documented desktop Linux
- LTS releases supported for years
- Widely supported by commercial software and hardware vendors
Trade-offs
- Snap packages are the default for some apps, which some users dislike
- Stock GNOME is customised in ways that differ from upstream
- LTS software ages between releases
Questions
Is MX Linux or Ubuntu more popular?
MX Linux draws more interest over the last 12 months (#3 vs #9 in our popularity ranking). That measures interest, not installs.
Which is better for beginners, MX Linux or Ubuntu?
Both suit people new to Linux. The choice mostly comes down to the desktop you prefer.
Which runs better on an older computer?
MX Linux is the lighter choice and is known for running well on older hardware.
Rankings from our composite index: English Wikipedia article views, DistroWatch page hits, GitHub stars and views on this site, built 2026-11-12. All of these measure interest, not installs. Repository activity from GitHub. Ratings come from signed-in LinuxStatistics users. "Pick if", pros and cons are LinuxStatistics editorial notes based on each project's own documentation. Release dates and support from endoflife.date (CC BY-SA 4.0).