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elementary OS VS Lubuntu

Compare elementary OS VS Lubuntu and see what are their differences

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LibHunt tracks mentions of software libraries on relevant social networks. Based on that data, you can find the most popular projects and their alternatives. featured
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elementary OS logo elementary OS

A fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS. Pay what you want or download for free.

Lubuntu logo Lubuntu

Lubuntu is a fast and lightweight operating system with a clean and easy-to-use user interface. The core of the system is based on Linux and Ubuntu. Lubuntu uses the minimal desktop LXDE, and a selection of light applications.
  • elementary OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • Lubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17

elementary OS features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    elementary OS boasts a sleek, modern design that is easy to navigate, making it ideal for users transitioning from other operating systems like Windows or macOS.
  • Security and Privacy
    elementary OS is built on Ubuntu LTS, providing a secure foundation with regular updates and support for security patches. The OS also emphasizes user privacy by minimizing data collection.
  • Minimalism and Efficiency
    The system is designed to be lightweight, avoiding bloatware and unnecessary applications, which helps in optimizing performance and reducing system resource usage.
  • Custom AppCenter
    elementary OS features its own curated app store called AppCenter, where users can find high-quality, open-source applications that follow design guidelines and are safe to install.
  • Active Community and Support
    The distribution has an active community, providing forums, documentation, and third-party resources that can help new users with troubleshooting and customization.

Possible disadvantages of elementary OS

  • Limited Software Availability
    The AppCenter may not have as many applications as other more established app stores, requiring users to sometimes manually install software using the command line or third-party repositories.
  • Customization Limitations
    While elementary OS focuses on providing a consistent and polished user experience, it limits customization options compared to other Linux distributions, which may not appeal to power users.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Although it works with most mainstream hardware, users with very new or very old hardware might face compatibility issues, requiring extra configurations or workarounds.
  • Performance Overhead
    Despite being lightweight, elementary OS might run slower on very old systems due to its modern graphical interface and animations, which can consume system resources.
  • Learning Curve for New Linux Users
    While designed to be user-friendly, those new to Linux might still face a learning curve when dealing with system settings or troubleshooting without extensive resources compared to other mainstream OS options.

Lubuntu features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Lubuntu is designed to be lightweight, making it ideal for older or less powerful hardware.
  • Faster Performance
    Due to its minimal resource requirements, Lubuntu typically performs faster than more feature-rich operating systems.
  • User Friendly
    The LXQt desktop environment of Lubuntu provides a simple and intuitive user interface, making it easy for new users to adapt.
  • Good Community Support
    As an official Ubuntu derivative, Lubuntu benefits from the extensive support and resources available from the Ubuntu community.
  • Regular Updates
    Lubuntu receives regular updates and security patches, ensuring a more secure and stable system.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Lubuntu is free to use, modify, and distribute.

Possible disadvantages of Lubuntu

  • Minimal Software
    Out of the box, Lubuntu comes with fewer pre-installed applications, requiring users to install additional software to meet their needs.
  • Less Eye Candy
    The LXQt desktop environment is more utilitarian and may lack the visual polish and extensive customization options found in heavier desktop environments.
  • Limited Features
    To maintain its lightweight nature, Lubuntu sacrifices some advanced features and functionalities that might be present in other, more resource-intensive distributions.
  • Hardware Compatibility Issues
    While generally compatible with a wide range of hardware, some very specific or very new hardware may require additional drivers or tweaks.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Customization
    Advanced customization and configuration might require more technical knowledge than what is needed for mainstream distributions.

Analysis of elementary OS

Overall verdict

  • Elementary OS is generally considered a good choice for users who prioritize aesthetics, user privacy, and simplicity in their computing experience. It may not be the most suitable for users needing advanced customization or those who rely on specific software not well-supported on Linux.

Why this product is good

  • Elementary OS is often praised for its elegant and intuitive design, resembling macOS in terms of aesthetics. It is built on Ubuntu, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of hardware and access to a vast repository of software. Additionally, it emphasizes user privacy and includes a curated selection of applications to offer a clean and efficient user experience. Its focus on design and usability makes it especially appealing for users who appreciate visual appeal and simplicity in their operating system.

Recommended for

    Users transitioning from macOS due to its similar aesthetic, beginners looking for a simple and user-friendly Linux distribution, users who value privacy and a clean interface, and individuals who prefer a minimalist approach to their computing environment.

Analysis of Lubuntu

Overall verdict

  • Lubuntu is a good choice if you are looking for a fast, efficient, and low-resource operating system that comes with the backing of Canonical's support and the extensive Ubuntu community.

Why this product is good

  • Lubuntu is a lightweight variant of the official Ubuntu operating system provided by Canonical. It is designed to be resource-efficient, which makes it an excellent choice for older hardware or systems with limited resources. The LXQt desktop environment, which Lubuntu uses, is known for its simplicity and speed. Additionally, Lubuntu benefits from the larger Ubuntu ecosystem, providing access to a wide array of software, community support, and regular security updates.

Recommended for

    Lubuntu is particularly recommended for users who have older computers or devices with limited RAM and CPU capacity, users who prefer a minimalist and straightforward desktop environment, and those who want to extend the lifespan of their existing hardware without compromising on functionality.

elementary OS videos

+ Add

elementary OS 5.1 Hera Updates - Linux Distro Reviews

More videos:

  • Review - elementary OS 5.1 Hera | Review and Final Thoughts
  • Review - Distro Review : Elementary OS 5.1 "Hera" : GLAM UP YOUR DESKTOP!

Lubuntu videos

+ Add

Lubuntu 18.10 Review - Now with LXQt Desktop

More videos:

  • Review - Lubuntu 19.10 Look Around
  • Review - Lubuntu 19.04 overview | Lightweight, fast, easier.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to elementary OS and Lubuntu)

elementary OS

Lubuntu

Linux
58 58%
Linux
42% 42
Operating Systems
58 58%
Operating Systems
42% 42
Linux Distribution
55 55%
Linux Distribution
45% 45
OS & Utilities
50 50%
OS & Utilities
50% 50

User comments

Share your experience with using elementary OS and Lubuntu. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare elementary OS and Lubuntu

elementary OS Reviews

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Elementary OS has a few great homemade apps that look great and work well. In fact, distros such as Pop!_OS use Elementary’s store, and that’s a testament to the effort the Elementary team puts into developing one of these best Linux distros. Overall, Elementary OS is a user-friendly and good-looking distribution that gets most things right.
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Elementary OS is the ideal operating system for former Mac users. Usage and interfaces are reminiscent of the well-known Apple products. Elementary OS also prides itself on simple operation. It comes with pre-installed programs and an app store to add software to. Besides the desktop environment Pantheon, the team behind Elementary OS provides numerous other programs and...
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Elementary OS is based on Ubuntu LTS and it calls itself as a thoughtful, capable, and ethical alternative to macOS and Windows and the added benefit that it is free. Elementary, Inc. develops and maintains the operating system, desktop environment and it’s applications.
Source: cloudinfrastructureservices.co.uk
6 Best Linux Distributions That are Not Based on Ubuntu or Debian
I have been asked this question a number of times by our readers. I often answer to this question with Ubuntu, Linux Mint, elementary OS or something similar from the list of our best Linux distributions.
Source: itsfoss.com

Lubuntu Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
Lubuntu has become your go-to choice, right? It’s not necessarily the best at everything, but it ticks all the right boxes. Quick boot times, responsiveness, and the freedom to install whatever you want. Lubuntu’s got your back! Now, about that anonymous web browsing for political activism, you’re on the right track. Consider the Tor Browser, a trusty VPN, and some privacy...
Source: linuxsimply.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Lubuntu is a lightweight Linux system based on Ubuntu that utilizes LXQt instead of GNOME. Lubuntu claims to be lighter, less resource-hungry, and more energy-efficient. Lubuntu is a combination of LXQt and Ubuntu.
Source: cloudinfrastructureservices.co.uk

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, elementary OS should be more popular than Lubuntu. It has been mentiond 145 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

elementary OS mentions (145)

  • Eazel, ex-Apple led Linux startup
    > if a new Eazel emerged tomorrow (another Linux-focused startup led by ex-Apple "rock stars"), how would they best contribute to the Linux desktop? Probably by joining elementary OS: https://elementary.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: Where are the paid Linux desktop distributions?
    There's Zorin OS Pro: https://zorin.com/os/pro/ And elementaryOS is kinda-sorta paid (you can pay $0 too): https://elementary.io/ Finally, while this is not a proper distro as such, ParterdMagic makes for an excellent rescue option: https://partedmagic.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Microsoft Edge ignores user wishes, slurps tabs from Chrome without permission
    I hear you, but they've all moved along in leaps and bounds. Some options if you ever look again - * ElementaryOS(https://elementary.io/). - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Linux distributions for beginners in 2024: Expert tested and reviewed
    I’ve seen Raycast adjacent apps for Linux, but I don’t know what the current go-to all the kids are using these days. I used Quicksilver on OS X back in the day, which kind of defined the category I think. But these days I try to keep it simple. Elementary OS seems to be trying to solve for the design issue, but it’s not as polished as macOS and there are still all the 3rd party apps to contend with. I’ve tried... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Linux Lite: Easy to Use Free Linux Operating System
    I thought ElementaryOS was dead due to infighting between the two cofounders, but it still seems to be going: https://elementary.io/ (I installed it on one box a few years ago and liked it, but moved back to Ubuntu once I learned about its conflict in the team.). - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
View more

Lubuntu mentions (19)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (January 2025)
    Canonical | https://canonical.com/ | REMOTE | Software-Defined Networking Engineer We are particularly interested in candidates with deep understanding of Open vSwitch (OVS) and Open Virtual Network (OVN). https://canonical.com/careers/5163397 If you have a passion for networking technologies, deep familiarity with Linux networking and awareness of open source community best practices, then you will enjoy our... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • DevRel - Developer Relations - a scientific perspective
    Canonical: Engages with developer communities and ISVs to help them reach the Ubuntu ecosystem. Typically helps communities shape their snaps, charms, or Docker images based on Ubuntu and ensures Ubuntu is fully enabled in their CI/CD pipelines. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Running workloads at the edge with MicroK8s
    MicroK8s is a lightweight, batteries included Kubernetes distribution by Canonical designed for running edge workloads which also happens to be developer-friendly and a great choice for building your own homelab. The following lab covers how to install and run MicroK8s on your own edge node running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, deploy the NGINX web service and exposing your NGINX website to the Internet with SSL/TLS enabled... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Session manager Anbox
    Anbox Cloud as a solution developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, to bring Android at scale to any cloud with support for ultra low latency video streaming and recent Android versions. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Open Class - Distributing ROS2 Apps with Snaps
    In this open class, we will get hands-on with the new course Distributing ROS2 Apps with Snaps offered by Canonical - Developers of ubuntu), you’ll learn the basics of snap creation for ROS & ROS2 applications. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing elementary OS and Lubuntu, you can also consider the following products

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.

Manjaro - Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.

Debian - Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.

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