Linux Market Share and Top Distros

Linux Market Share and Top Distros | Generated by AI

Home 2026.02

Question: What is the global desktop Linux market share? Who are the tops?

Answer:

As of early 2026 (latest available data from January/February 2026), the global desktop Linux market share is approximately 4%, according to the most reliable and widely referenced source, StatCounter Global Stats.

Detailed Breakdown (StatCounter - January 2026)

Windows: ~67.7%
Unknown (often includes some Linux variants or unclassified): ~15.26%
OS X (older macOS versions): ~7.03%
macOS (newer versions): ~4.76%
Linux: 4.02%
Chrome OS: ~1.23%

This places Linux in third place among clearly identified desktop operating systems (behind Windows and macOS variants combined). Note: StatCounter measures based on web browsing traffic, which is a large sample but can fluctuate monthly due to regional differences, ad blockers, or sampling bias. The “Unknown” category sometimes includes lightweight or custom Linux installs.

Other sources and context:

Some reports (e.g., from late 2025) cite Linux desktop share around 4.1% to 4.7% globally in 2025, with growth driven by Windows 10 end-of-life and better hardware support.
In specific regions like the United States, Linux crossed 5% in mid-2025 (e.g., ~5.03% in June 2025 per some trackers), but global averages remain lower.
Gaming-focused metric: Steam Hardware Survey (January 2026) shows Linux at 3.38% among Steam users (a subset of desktop users, skewed toward gamers; it peaked at ~3.58% in late 2025).

Top Linux Distributions (Desktop Popularity)

No single source gives exact desktop market share percentages for individual distros (as most users don’t report telemetry), but popularity rankings (based on DistroWatch hits, community polls, surveys, and adoption data) consistently show:

Ubuntu — The clear leader (often estimated 30–35% of Linux desktop users; beginner-friendly, large community).
Linux Mint — Very popular among ex-Windows users (Cinnamon edition especially).
Fedora — Strong in development and modern features.
Debian — Favored for stability (basis for Ubuntu/Mint).
Arch Linux / Manjaro / Pop!_OS / Zorin OS — Growing in niches like gaming, customization, or ease-of-use.

Ubuntu dominates overall Linux adoption across desktop, server, and developer use cases.

Linux desktop share has been slowly but steadily rising (from ~2–3% a few years ago to ~4% now), with potential for more growth in 2026 due to factors like Windows changes, privacy concerns, and better gaming support (e.g., Proton/Steam Deck influence).

References:

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