5 Linux desktop environments that make ditching Windows 10 easy - including my top pick
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- There's a Linux desktop environment for everyone.
- Windows users will feel right at home with several DEs.
- All of these desktop environments are free.
Have you found yourself itching to walk away from Windows and make your way to a more reliable, secure, and flexible environment?
If so, Linux is what you want.
However, if you're one who doesn't exactly enjoy change, you might be concerned about learning something completely different. That's understandable, given how many desktop environments are available for Linux, and how many of them are so radically different than what most are accustomed to.
Also: Ready to ditch Windows? 'End of 10' makes converting your PC to Linux easier than ever
That's OK, because there are some Linux desktop environments that actually do follow the same design scheme as Windows. So, if you like the way the age-old metaphor of panel, start menu, system tray, and clickable icons works, then one of these Linux desktop environments will suit you well.
Choose any one of these options, and migrating from Windows to Linux will be a no-brainer.
1. KDE Plasma
I place KDE Plasma at the top of this list because it's one of the best Linux desktops available. Not only does it resemble the Windows desktop out of the box, but it's highly configurable. KDE Plasma offers everything you are used to in a desktop. Panel. Check. Start menu. Check. System tray. Check. Clickable icons. Check.
Everything is there, laid out in the usual fashion.
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There is one major difference. Thanks to the amount of customizations in KDE Plasma, you can start with the default look and feel and, as you learn more, you can change it to whatever you want. If you prefer the panel on the side, have at it. Want to add more panels? Go for it. KDE Plasma is one of the more configurable desktops on the market.
It's also really beautiful and performs better than what you're used to.
And did I mention it will remind you of the Windows UI… only prettier.
You can find KDE Plasma as the default desktop environment for distributions such as KDE Neon, Kubuntu, openSUSE, and Fedora KDE.
A reconfigured panel and a newly downloaded theme was all it took to achieve this look.
2. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is the default desktop environment of Linux Mint, so you know it's not only popular, it's easy to use and well-designed.
Like KDE Plasma, Cinnamon includes all of the bits and pieces you're accustomed to (panel, start menu, system tray, clickable icons). In fact, Cinnamon was intentionally designed to resemble common desktops, and it has succeeded brilliantly. Not only is the look of the desktop similar to that of Windows, but even its window management (moving, closing, minimizing, maximizing, etc) is equally similar.
All of it comes together to resemble Windows.
One area where Cinnamon differentiates itself from Windows is in customization. Unlike KDE Plasma, Cinnamon doesn't offer tons of customization, which means Windows users will feel even more at home. Those constraints aren't meant to dictate how the desktop is used but to keep it intact and running smoothly.
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You're not going to break Cinnamon by getting curious in the Settings app. Other similarities include file management, application launching, and keyboard shortcuts.
If you're looking for a desktop that will make you feel right at home after leaving Windows, Cinnamon is what you want.
Distributions that ship with Cinnamon include Linux Mint, Ubuntu Cinnamon, and Fedora Cinnamon.
3. MATE
MATE is pronounced Maté (as in the drink) and is yet another desktop that should make Windows users feel right at home. Although MATE does somewhat resemble Cinnamon, the biggest difference lies in the addition of a top bar.
In truth, the MATE desktop was created after GNOME went the way of GNOME Shell (aka GNOME 3). There was a huge uproar with a good portion of GNOME fans who didn't appreciate such a dramatic change. Soon after the migration to GNOME Shell, MATE was brought to life as a continuation of GNOME 2.
MATE does include all of the features you like in Windows: panel, start menu, clickable icons, and system tray. The addition of a top bar gives it an almost Windows/MacOS hybrid feel, and it works well.
MATE also happens to be a desktop that is very light on resource usage. If you have an older computer running Windows 10 (that's not eligible for Windows 11), any distribution with MATE would be a good option (especially if you like the idea of having a top bar).
Distributions that ship with MATE include MATE as an option include Debian, Fedora, Gentoo, Linux Mint, Mageia, Manjaro, openSUSE, Ubuntu MATE, Void Linux, and more.
4. Budgie
Budgie is a beautiful desktop environment that looks and feels like Windows out of the box. You'll find all the familiarity you need, along with the ability to highly customize the desktop. Every time I use Budgie, the first thing I do is switch the panel into dock mode, simply because I prefer the look and feel of a dock over a panel.
For those who would rather stick with a panel, you're good to go.
Budgie also includes the features you're accustomed to: panel, start menu, system tray, and clickable icons.
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One difference you'll find is in the notifications. Unlike Windows, where notifications come at you from the Action Center (next to the clock), Budgie has what it calls Raven, which acts as a slide-out panel (right side of the desktop) that includes notifications, calendar, media controller, and other widgets you can add.
Budgie also happens to be more flexible than Windows, in that you can add as many panels as you like and change each panel. For example, you could have a panel at the bottom and a dock on either side.
Budgie ships as the default desktop for Ubuntu Budgie and is also available as an option with Fedora, Arch, Manjaro, Debian, and more.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a prettier Linux desktop.
5. Xfce
I hesitantly add Xfce to this list. The reason I add it is because, out of the box, Xfce resembles Windows with all the usual bells & whistles.
The reason why I hesitate is that I wouldn't exactly call Xfce one of the more user-friendly desktop environments. Xfce is probably the most customizable desktop environment on the market. You can make this baby do anything. In fact, there's very little you can't change in Xfce.
Also: 5 ways to make the Xfce desktop more enjoyable to use
The problem with it being so highly customizable is that a user without an understanding of what things do could wind up breaking the desktop. So, even though by default Xfce looks and feels like the Windows desktop, it might be a bit too much for those just now learning the way of Linux.
Xfce ships as the default desktop for Xubuntu, MX Linux, and is offered as an option for the likes of Manjaro, Debian, and Fedora.
The Xfce desktop with just a couple of tweaks to make it look very familiar.