Zorin OS’s headline-grabbing surge to a million downloads and AnduinOS’s rapid rise as a Windows‑11‑style Ubuntu remix have put two very different “Windows‑like” Linux desktops in the same conversation — but they’re solving different problems for different people, and choosing between them should be about workflows, hardware, and how much hand‑holding you want on day one.
Background / overview
Both Zorin OS and AnduinOS are built on Ubuntu foundations and aim to lower the barrier for Windows users who want to try Linux. That shared base gives them access to Ubuntu’s drivers, repositories, and long‑term support cadence — but what each project does with that base is where they diverge.
- Zorin OS targets newcomers who want a polished, guided migration from Windows, shipping more preinstalled tools, layout switching, cloud continuity features, and paid Pro extras for a curated experience.
- AnduinOS is a lightweight, single‑layout GNOME remix that mimics the visual language of Windows 11 with minimal preinstalled software, a Flatpak‑centric app store, and a small‑team/single‑maintainer model that prizes simplicity and a tight theme. It emphasizes a clean, fast install rather than extensive out‑of‑the‑box app curation.
Both projects benefited from increased interest following the end of mainstream support for Windows 10 (October 14, 2025). Zorin’s team reported a large download spike — 1,000,000 downloads in roughly five weeks, with about 78% originating from Windows systems — and that milestone has been covered across major outlets. Treat download counts as a signal of interest, not a guarantee of conversions or active installs.
What Zorin OS brings to the table
A polished, migration‑focused experience
Zorin OS is designed to feel like home to Windows users on first boot. The distro’s selling points are deliberate: multiple desktop layouts accessible via the Zorin Appearance tool, integrated migration helpers (OneDrive browsing, web‑app packaging), and a curated selection of apps that make the initial session productive without hunting for packages.
- Multiple layouts: Zorin’s free Core edition provides several desktop layouts (including Windows‑like options) and the Pro edition unlocks more premium layouts and extras. The Appearance tool makes switching instant and persistent.
- Out‑of‑the‑box apps and continuity: Core includes LibreOffice, an email client, and utilities; Zorin adds OneDrive integration via GNOME Online Accounts and a Web Apps utility for turning Microsoft 365 or Google Docs into desktop-like launchers. These features preserve common Windows workflows.
- Windows‑app triage: Recent Zorin releases emphasize improved Wine/Proton support and installer detection so that when you try a .exe it suggests native alternatives or the best compatibility path. Zorin OS 18 is reported to bundle an updated Wine runtime to ease common compatibility gaps.
Hardware support and performance
Zorin OS 18 is built on an Ubuntu 24.04 lineage with a Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel series (community testing has identified kernel 6.14 images), which improves support for newer GPUs, Wi‑Fi chipsets, and modern laptop power states. This makes Zorin attractive if you’re trying to revive older Windows‑10 hardware or avoid buying new machines.
Editions, pricing and support model
Zorin ships multiple editions:
- Zorin OS Core (free)
- Zorin OS Education (free)
- Zorin OS Pro (paid, one‑time purchase around $47.99 at the time of writing)
The Pro purchase funds development and unlocks extra desktop layouts and bundled convenience apps; the Core edition can still install the same applications via the software store if you prefer not to pay.
Strengths and ideal users
- Best for: users who want a complete Windows‑like replacement that works immediately for daily tasks, families and small offices who need low training overhead, and people who value integrated migration aids (OneDrive, PWAs, Zorin Connect for phones).
- Strengths: polished UI, migration helpers, strong set of included apps, and a focus on making the first‑hour experience painless.
Risks and caveats
- Zorin’s “looks like Windows” packaging is cosmetic and functional parity with Windows is not guaranteed — Windows‑only proprietary software (kernel drivers, vendor‑locked peripherals, some DRM/anti‑cheat systems) still requires virtualization or a retained Windows host. Downloads do not equal installs; the million‑download milestone is meaningful as interest but not a conversion metric. Exercise caution with mission‑critical devices.
What AnduinOS brings to the table
A single, faithful Windows‑11 aesthetic built on GNOME
AnduinOS takes a different approach: instead of offering multiple layout choices, the distro ships one highly‑polished GNOME configuration that mimics Windows 11’s centered taskbar, rounded corners, and translucency. It’s designed to be lightweight and fast, with a small ISO and a minimum of preinstalled extras.
- Creator and project model: AnduinOS is primarily a hobby project maintained by Anduin Xue (publicly identified as a Microsoft engineer), hosted on GitHub with public documentation. The project is small‑team/single‑maintainer, donation‑funded, and open source.
- Flatpak‑first, Snap‑free: AnduinOS eschews Canonical’s Snap in favor of Flatpak for GUI applications; the GNOME Software store is configured for Flatpak, which simplifies installing sandboxed desktop apps without command‑line work.
- Minimal preinstalled software: The ISO is compact (around 2GB in many builds), and the system intentionally leaves users to install the apps they want — a deliberate lightweight stance.
Privacy and a curated aesthetic
AnduinOS is explicit about not collecting telemetry; the upstream messaging and community coverage highlight an absence of data collection, advertisements, or built‑in AI features. The default theme is typically dark; reviewers and testers note that switching to a light “Default” appearance is straightforward in Settings > Appearance.
Hardware and compatibility
AnduinOS targets mainstream x86_64 hardware, supports Secure Boot, Wayland and X.org, and is suitable for virtualization. Minimum installer requirements are commonly listed around 3–4GB RAM and ~20GB storage (varies by version). It keeps a modern kernel stack (many builds use recent Ubuntu bases and recent kernels) to maximize device coverage.
Strengths and ideal users
- Best for: Windows 11 converts who mostly care about look and feel, users who prefer a minimal, clean install and wish to build their environment intentionally, and people who want a lighter, GNOME‑based Windows‑like desktop without the commercial polish of a larger project.
- Strengths: faithful Windows‑11 aesthetics, lightweight ISO, Flatpak‑centered app distribution, and a privacy‑minded stance.
Risks and caveats
- Smaller project: AnduinOS is a hobbyist project. That can mean faster iteration in some areas but also smaller support channels and a heavier reliance on community goodwill and GitHub Discussions for help. For mission‑critical environments, a single‑maintainer distro increases risk compared with well‑funded projects.
- Less preinstalled guidance: If you want everything set up for you (email, office suite, media, phone integrations), AnduinOS expects you to install those apps. That’s great for customization but less friendly for people who want a ready workstation on first boot.
Head‑to‑head comparison: quick checklist
- Desktop flexibility
- Zorin OS: multiple layouts out of the box; Pro unlocks additional layouts. High day‑one familiarity options.
- AnduinOS: single, Windows‑11‑like layout. Focused but non‑configurable by default.
- Out‑of‑the‑box software
- Zorin OS: bundled apps (LibreOffice, Evolution, utilities), Web Apps, OneDrive integration. Ready to work.
- AnduinOS: minimal set; users expected to add apps from Flatpak. Lean and modular.
- Windows app support
- Zorin OS: includes updated Wine runtime and installer triage tools in recent releases (reported Wine 10 integration). Good GUI helpers to suggest alternatives or compatibility routes.
- AnduinOS: Flatpak + Wine available; minimal preinstalled Wine tooling means you’ll need to set up Bottles/Wine/Proton if you need Windows apps.
- Package/format choice
- Zorin OS: Flatpak + Snap (Classic ubuntu heritage) with an app store GUI that surfaces Flatpak and snaps; also apt/ppa for system packages.
- AnduinOS: Flatpak first, Snap removed; GNOME Software tailored to Flatpak.
- Privacy & telemetry
- Zorin OS: markets itself as privacy‑respecting and avoids telemetry by default; paid Pro is a one‑time purchase rather than telemetry monetization.
- AnduinOS: explicitly states no user‑data collection and no advertising or AI features baked in. Smaller project but clear privacy posture.
- Support model
- Zorin OS: larger team, paid Pro helps fund work, and broader community/press coverage means more third‑party help resources.
- AnduinOS: single maintainer, GitHub Discussions and community support — acceptable for hobbyist/personal use but riskier for enterprise rollouts.
Migration playbook — step‑by‑step (recommended)
- Inventory: list critical apps, peripherals, and any vendor‑specific drivers.
- Backup: create a full disk image and copy essential user data off‑device.
- Live test: create a bootable USB for each distro and verify Wi‑Fi, audio, display scaling, printing, and cloud file behavior.
- Pilot: install on one non‑critical machine for a week and test day‑to‑day tasks (email, browser, file sync, specific line‑of‑business apps).
- Compatibility fallback: maintain a Windows VM (VirtualBox, VMware, or cloud VM) for stubborn apps; test gaming titles for anti‑cheat compatibility if needed.
- Rollout: adopt a phased approach, use Timeshift or image backups before wide installs, and document issues and fixes encountered during pilot.
Deep technical notes and verification of key claims
- Zorin’s million‑download figure was announced by the Zorin team on their official blog; independent outlets corroborated the figure and the rough Windows‑origin percentage. That announcement is a valid company‑published milestone, but it is not the same as verified installs or active users. Use it as context, not as a capacity or support guarantee.
- Zorin OS 18’s technical improvements (Ubuntu 24.04 lineage, HWE kernel, PipeWire audio, OneDrive web integration, and updated Wine runtime) are documented in release notes and reviews. Multiple independent tech outlets reported that Zorin ships updated Wine tooling in the 18 series. If Wine compatibility for a particular Windows application is essential, test that app specifically in a Wine/Bottles environment or within a VM.
- AnduinOS is an independently maintained Ubuntu‑based remix with an explicit Flatpak focus, a small ISO, and a GNOME‑extensions‑driven theme. The project’s GitHub and public documentation show the codebase and release cadence; reviewers note that the distro prioritizes aesthetics and minimalism over providing a full suite of preinstalled desktop apps. The claim that AnduinOS’s creator is a Microsoft engineer is publicly documented in interviews and articles; for mission‑critical deployments, treat individual maintainer claims as background color — evaluate the project by its code, issue tracker activity, and release history.
- Where claims are hard to verify: any public download counts, “market share” narratives, or the exact percentage of users who actually install and keep a distro are inherently noisy. The Zorin million‑download announcement is transparent about its methodology, but independent sources don’t have complete view into installs, rollouts, or retention. Consider these figures directional.
Real‑world scenarios: which to pick
Pick Zorin OS if:
- You want the least friction for moving off Windows: desktop layouts, OneDrive access, web‑apps, and bundled tools make day‑one productivity more likely.
- You prefer a distro backed by a larger team, press coverage, and a paid Pro option to fund support and features.
- You have older hardware you want to revive with a solid hardware enablement stack and an easy‑to‑use UI.
Pick AnduinOS if:
- You want a single Windows‑11‑style GNOME desktop with a lightweight footprint and minimal preinstalled apps.
- You prefer a Flatpak‑first package model, dislike Snap, and don’t need a huge curated app set out of the box.
- You value a privacy‑first small project and are comfortable standing up your own app set and doing occasional troubleshooting via GitHub or community forums.
Practical tips after install
- Verify firmware and GPU drivers: install proprietary drivers (NVIDIA) only if necessary and test GPU acceleration and suspend/resume behavior on a live session first.
- OneDrive expectations: Zorin’s OneDrive integration provides browsing and in‑place opening, but it is not always a 1:1 replacement for Windows Files On‑Demand selective sync. Confirm offline file needs before committing.
- Windows apps: test critical Windows apps early. Use Wine/Bottles for simple installers, Proton for gaming through Steam, and virtualization for kernel‑mode or protected apps.
- Backups and snapshots: configure Timeshift (or regular disk images) immediately after you finish your preferred customization to simplify rollbacks.
Final analysis — strengths, risks and a pragmatic recommendation
Zorin OS and AnduinOS both make the Windows‑to‑Linux transition easier, but they solve adjacent — not identical — problems. Zorin is a polished, migration‑first OS that reduces cognitive friction with ready features and paid funding to maintain polish. AnduinOS is a focused, lightweight GNOME remix that appeals to users who want a Windows‑11 visual language with tight privacy choices and a Flatpak‑first app model.
- Strengths: Both protect privacy better than many consumer Windows installs, extend hardware life, and lower the cost of continuing productive computing on older machines. Zorin’s prominence and outreach make it a safer choice for non‑technical households and small organizations. AnduinOS’s simplicity and fidelity to a Windows‑like look are compelling for users who want a single, coherent theme and a lean system.
- Risks: Neither distro can magically run kernel‑level Windows drivers or eliminate vendor lock‑in for proprietary peripherals. Gaming with modern anti‑cheat systems and some professional applications may still require a Windows VM. Zorin’s download numbers are context, not proof of conversion; AnduinOS’s smaller maintainer base means less formal support.
Pragmatic recommendation: boot both from USB and test your most important workflows (apps, printers, OneDrive files, and games). Use a pilot machine for at least a week before replacing Windows on your primary device. If minimal retraining and immediate productivity matter most, choose Zorin OS; if you prefer a lightweight, Windows‑11 aesthetic and don’t mind installing your own apps, AnduinOS is a very attractive alternative.
Both projects show that Linux desktop options have matured into real choices for mainstream users — the decision is now less about capability and more about tradeoffs in polish, support, and the size of the community you want backing your desktop.
Source: ZDNET
Zorin OS vs. AnduinOS: How to pick the right Windows-like Linux distro for you