Pop!_OS
Debian family, based on Ubuntu · first released 2017
- Popularity rank
- #5
- Index
- 298
- GitHub stars
- 5,290
- Commits / mo
- 0
- Released
- 2017
- Latest release
- 24.04 LTS
- Supported until
- May 2029
you're new to Linux, you play games on PC, you write software or you run AI models or LLMs on your own GPU.
Pros and cons
Good
- NVIDIA ISO with drivers ready
- COSMIC desktop with built-in tiling
- Made by a hardware vendor (System76) that tests it on laptops
Trade-offs
- Release timing follows System76, not Ubuntu's calendar
- COSMIC is newer and less mature than GNOME or KDE
- Fewer desktop choices than Ubuntu flavours
How Pop!_OS fits what you do
Everyday use: Good fit
Good
- Made for day-to-day desktop use
- Easy to set up if you're new to Linux
Trade-offs
None we know of.
Gaming: Good fit
Good
- Built with gaming in mind
- NVIDIA drivers set up for you
Trade-offs
None we know of.
Older computers: Not the best fit
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- Needs about 4 GB of RAM to feel smooth
- No 32-bit images
Programming: Good fit
Good
- Popular with developers
- A stable base that doesn't change under you
Trade-offs
None we know of.
AI & Local LLMs: Good fit
Good
- A common choice for running models locally
- CUDA available from NVIDIA's or the distro's own packages
- NVIDIA driver set up for you
Trade-offs
- AMD ROCm isn't officially supported
Servers & home labs: Can work
Good
- Fixed releases with tested updates
Trade-offs
- Mainly a desktop system
Privacy & security: Can work
Good
- Sends no usage data
Trade-offs
- Privacy tools like Tor or sandboxing are up to you
Music, video & graphics: Can work
Good
Nothing that stands out for this.
Trade-offs
- Creative apps and low-latency audio setup are up to you
From our hand-written profile of Pop!_OS. Take the quiz to compare it with other distros for your setup.
Rank over time
| Window | Rank | Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last month | #9 ▼ 4 | 296 | |
| 12 months | #5 | 298 |
Shorter windows react faster. A better rank there than over 12 months means interest is growing.
Telemetry
NoneNo telemetry or error reports. It only contacts System76, Ubuntu and Flathub to check for updates and to test the network connection, and System76 says nothing from those requests is stored.
The OS itself, by default. Every distro contacts its servers to check for updates; that isn't counted here. Apps you install have their own settings. Checked in the project's build files. Source
Rate Pop!_OS
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Ranking 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. Release dates and support from endoflife.date (CC BY-SA 4.0). Ratings come from signed-in LinuxStatistics users.