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OS Tier List (media.fedia.io)
submitted 1 day ago by keiko@fedia.io to c/linuxmemes@lemmy.world
91 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So I saw political compass memes a while ago and started making one, but then I started taking it too seriously and eventually turned it into a tier list. Idk if it makes sense to share it here, but idk where else to share such a thing. I also made a browser tier list, but idk where to share that either.

This whole thing is a png export of a pure svg image. For some of the logos, I had to make them either from scratch or by using gimp and inkscape to convert a png into an svg (imperfect but good enough).

Hopefully this is all formatted properly.

OS Tier ListS-Tier (reasonably secure operating system):

  • Qubes OS

Advanced (complicated setup and configuration):

  • Gentoo Linux
  • Guix System
  • Slackware Linux
  • Linux From Scratch (LFS)
  • Mobile NixOS
  • NixOS
  • Whonix
  • Predator-OS
  • Linux Kodachi
  • Gentoo FreeBSD

Enhanced (optimized security and minimalism):

  • Alpine Linux
  • Hyperbola GNU/Linux-libre
  • Chimera Linux
  • EasyOS
  • postmarketOS
  • Tails
  • Kicksecure
  • NetHydra
  • ParrotOS
  • OpenBSD
  • GrapheneOS
  • Secureblue

Minimal (maximally mini resource use):

  • Tiny Core Linux
  • LibreCMC
  • Void Linux
  • Puppy Linux
  • AsteroidOS
  • Slitaz
  • 4MLinux
  • OpenWrt
  • DragonFly BSD
  • FreeBSD
  • NetBSD

Indie & BSD (independent distros and BSD systems):

  • PCLinuxOS
  • Dynebolic
  • KaOS
  • Mageia
  • LuneOS
  • Solus
  • AerynOS
  • GNOME OS
  • KDE Linux
  • GhostBSD

Arch (reasonably fresh and arch-based):

  • SystemRescue
  • Parabola GNU/Linux-libre
  • pearOS
  • EndeavourOS
  • Nemo Mobile
  • Arch Linux Arm
  • BlackArch Linux
  • Archhurd
  • Archcraft
  • Nyarch
  • Ageless Arch
  • Arch Linux
  • CachyOS
  • Garuda Linux

Debian (reasonably stable and debian-based):

  • Flora Linux-libre
  • Genuen
  • Devuan GNU+Linux
  • Loc-OS
  • antiX
  • MX Linux
  • Maemo Leste
  • Mobian
  • Emmabuntüs
  • Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE)
  • Ageless Linux
  • Debian
  • KNOPPIX
  • PikaOS Linux
  • RetroPie
  • LibreElec
  • Vanilla OS

Corpo-ish (corporation-created and/or dependent):

  • Replicant
  • Uruk GNU/Linux-libre
  • Trisquel GNU/Linux
  • AnduinOS
  • Linux Lite
  • UBports
  • Xubuntu
  • Lubuntu
  • Kubuntu
  • Linux Mint
  • KDE neon
  • Fedora
  • Asahi Linux
  • Bazzite
  • Nobara Linux
  • Rocky Linux
  • AlmaLinux
  • openSUSE

Corporate (corporation-owned and/or controlled):

  • /e/OS
  • Sailfish OS
  • PureOS
  • Manjaro Linux
  • Raspberry Pi OS
  • OSMC
  • Kali Linux
  • Zorin OS
  • Tuxedo OS
  • Pop!_OS
  • elementary OS
  • Ubuntu
  • Proxmox
  • SteamOS
  • CentOS Stream
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
  • CloudLinux OS
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise
  • Unraid

Dubious (questionable and/or suspicious):

  • Waydroid
  • Artix Linux
  • Omarchy
  • OpenMandriva

Borderline (possibly dangerous and best to avoid):

  • LineageOS

MALWARE (actively dangerous and harmful to use):

  • android
  • chromeOS
  • Apple Operating Systems (macOS, iOS, etc.)
  • Windows
  • Red Star OS
top 50 comments
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[-] DupaCycki@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

This might be the best looking and most comprehensive tier list of anything I've ever seen.

Although I have some concerns, mainly with the 3 bottom tiers, it's still more reasonable than most tier lists I've seen.

As for my concerns, perhaps someone will be able to answer some questions:

  • Why are Artix Linux and Waydroid 'dubious'? Especially Waydroid, as it's not an operating system. The other two I'm unfamiliar with, or at least the logos.
  • Why is LineageOS 'borderline'? I'm not aware of anything dangerous about it. It's not far from Graphene, just for a lot more devices.
  • I'm not sure Android belongs in the bottom tier. Or at least not yet. As of right now, you can still use it as an open OS, and it's great for devices such as handheld gaming consoles. I've also never seen age verification in Android yet.
[-] AVincentInSpace@pawb.social 3 points 6 hours ago

Lineage

Possibly dangerous, best to avoid

[citation needed]

[-] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 3 points 8 hours ago

Thanks but the vertical categories could be way clearer if the logos were not strictly left-aligned

[-] HieroProtagonist@feddit.org 1 points 6 hours ago

On this list, where would FreeDOS, Haiku and 9Front stand?

[-] 01189998819991197253@infosec.pub 2 points 10 hours ago

I can't see the image. It asks me log in on an instance where I do not have an account. So, I appreciate the text in the expand.

[-] glitchdx@lemmy.world 42 points 19 hours ago

This is not a tier list. This is a chart. possibly even an infographic. It resembles a teir list, but that doesn't make it one.

[-] keiko@fedia.io 2 points 18 hours ago

From wiki/Tier_list

A tier list is a ranking system where items are subjectively arranged in tiers from the best to worst.

...

[-] keiko@fedia.io 4 points 18 hours ago

Idk if it matters, but here's how I see the tiers:

Qubes OS: S-Tier Advanced: A+ Enhanced: A Minimal: B+ Indie & BSD: B Arch: C+ Debian: C Corpo-ish: D+ Corporate: D Dubious: F Borderline: F- Malware: -F

That doesn't mean I exclusively use distros from the top tiers. I can't yet run Qubes OS on a linux phone, but if and when I'm ever able I will absolutely do that. For now, distros like postmarketOS and PureOS are good enough for me, for the phones. OSMC is good for the Vero and devices like it. Generally, the trend is that the higher up in the list you go, the more there is to learn in order to make the best use of the distro selected.

[-] glitchdx@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago

I was getting ready to argue with your interpretation but then I noticed you're the op 😂

[-] keiko@fedia.io 3 points 17 hours ago

😇 (random mini-rant: omg it's so much more difficult to respond on fedi than platforms like matrix where i would typically emoji-react without much thought, whereas here i am contemplating the proper way to respond or whether to respond at all, since mbin doesn't support reacts without making a whole new comment 😖)

[-] Malyca@lemmy.zip 11 points 17 hours ago

Neurodivergent brain likes this for some reason

[-] slemptastrophe@piefed.social 11 points 18 hours ago

What makes Artix dubious? Genuinely curious because I use it and want to know if I there's a reason I should reconsider that.

[-] keiko@fedia.io 6 points 17 hours ago

This repo, made in response to another repo, has this bit:

Artix Linux | Developers are openly transphobic

When attempting to click the link to see for myself, I still find that the artix forums are inaccessible, and so I can't see for myself. I remember seeing something mentioned on a reddit post or forum somewhere about the same sort of thing, which makes me think it's true. So I placed Artix in the Dubious row to represent my unwillingness to recommend it.

[-] slemptastrophe@piefed.social 6 points 16 hours ago

Gross. I'll check out the link you shared. Might be just the push I need to finally move to Void.

Thanks!

[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 45 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Those tiers are weird

[-] keiko@fedia.io 21 points 1 day ago

as am i

[-] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 17 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Complicated setup and configuration to best thing to have? Then tiers that just say arch, debian.

And maximally mini

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[-] Zizzy 12 points 21 hours ago

Ok, but where is TempleOS?

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[-] Natanox@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 19 hours ago

Is that the Knoppix logo? To my knowledge it's unmaintained (still offering kernel 2.6?) and last time I tried downloading it years ago the .iso contained a virus. That one is definitely dubious at best.

[-] toddestan@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago

When I saw that, I was like "wait, is Knoppix still around?". A quick search revealed it hasn't been updated in some time.

Back in the 2000's Knoppix was a life saver more than once, but once other distros gained the ability to run live from the install media, I didn't really need Knoppix any longer.

[-] tehn00bi@lemmy.world 3 points 17 hours ago

Sad, knoppix was the goat for me back in 2004. Ran several scrap yard computers for months at a time from the live disk.

[-] keiko@fedia.io 3 points 18 hours ago

When I'd previously gone searching, I remember having seen some posts on reddit and forums about how Professor Klaus Knopper had paused development for a while but indicated that he'd eventually get back to it. I can't seem to find those posts at the moment, but I'm pretty sure that still holds true.

As for the problem of iso files containing malware, that seems unrelated to the actual distro itself and more to do with re-shares of it. Though people should definitely be aware of such problems, as well as the problem of running out-of-date or end-of-life distros. It's mainly in the list as a nod to its historical significance, with the hope that it gets a big update one day.

[-] modem_down@thebrainbin.org 20 points 1 day ago

Nice. It would be good to put the distro name beneath each logo, for people who don’t recognise the logos.

[-] keiko@fedia.io 9 points 1 day ago

I did include a full list in the original post, organized by row, and placed in a spoilered text-box thing. I had decided not to include the names under the logos because I would have obsessed so much longer if I'd have attempted to do that. As it is, I'd been obsessing with this project for several weeks. Why? idk

[-] mlg@lemmy.world 4 points 19 hours ago

Is that just a weird Kali logo or is it a modified kali distro lol?

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[-] MrSoup@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 day ago

Waydroid is just a container of a slightly modified LineageOS. Why is LineageOS dangerous?

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[-] j3tt@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Did you forget about Clonezilla, Fedora Silverblue and their other variants?

My personal S-tier is Debian stable.

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[-] Sprossnix@slrpnk.net 2 points 16 hours ago

Nice list. I wanna comment, that it's questionable whether Chimera Linux, EasyOS, Kicksecure and Secureblue genuinely offer enhanced security over the major distros. I guess it depends on ones thread model...

[-] Digit@lemmy.today 4 points 19 hours ago

I think you have the skill to take this further, and make it interactive, clickable, explorable, even wiki'fied (or at least git'ified) to allow others to contribute too.

I noticed some were missing.

  • BedrockLinux
  • CRUX
  • SLAX
  • Tin Hat
  • Hannah Montana
  • KISS
  • Carbs
  • Exherbo
  • ... Okay, I'll not exhaust this list with dozens more. ;)

Well done for including as many as did already. Was joyous seeing Slitaz made the lislt. :) A fave of the small distros.

[-] quantumvoid0@programming.dev 3 points 19 hours ago

Finally....an os tier list we all can agree

[-] jonman364@sh.itjust.works 2 points 18 hours ago

I installed Omarchy on my laptop after seeing its helper scrips mentioned a lot in a Waybar config I was... getting inspiration from. Why does it fall under dubious on your list?

[-] Envidon@feddit.nl 9 points 18 hours ago

Omarchy was getting a lot of attention when first released. The two major issues are that the guy that made it is very right wing (the term fascist was thrown around, I have not read up myself so do not now the details) and although it looks good it has a lot of technical issues, this blog post goed into more details if interested: https://xn--gckvb8fzb.com/a-word-on-omarchy/

[-] keiko@fedia.io 5 points 17 hours ago

When researching the distro, I came across articles like this, this, and this detailing the many unpleasant aspects of the dev's character, including racism and transmisia. So I placed Omarchy in the Dubious row to represent my unwillingness to recommend it.

[-] RanchBranch@anarchist.nexus 7 points 1 day ago

I think this might be the most impressive/best one I've seen so far

[-] keiko@fedia.io 7 points 1 day ago

tyvm ❤️ I credit my unmedicated psychological disorders and the emptiness of my life which is sometimes randomly filled by projects like this that captivate me and don't really matter.

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this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2026
144 points (100.0% liked)

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