Zorin OS

An Ubuntu-based distribution with a layout switcher that mimics Windows or MacOS, marketed directly at people switching operating systems.

Beginner-Friendly Desktopdesktopbeginner-friendlyWindows-likeswitcher-focusedDownload ↗Official site ↗Docs / Wiki ↗

Based on

Ubuntu

First released

2008

Package manager

APT (.deb)

Desktop environments

GNOME (customized, 'Zorin Desktop')

Zorin OS leans hardest into the 'switcher' pitch of any beginner distro: its built-in Zorin Appearance app lets a new user pick a desktop layout that looks like Windows 7, Windows 11, or MacOS with a couple of clicks, easing the visual culture shock of moving off a commercial OS. The free Core edition covers most everyday needs; a paid Pro edition adds more layouts, extra pre-installed software, and priority support, which funds ongoing development. It also bundles Zorin Connect (an equivalent to KDE Connect) for phone integration and a compatibility layer that runs many Windows applications directly. Under the hood it's Ubuntu LTS, so hardware support and the software catalog match Ubuntu's.

MirrorNest doesn't mirror distro ISOs — installation media should always come straight from the project's own official download page (linked above), so you get the correct checksum/signature to verify against.