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elementary OS VS Solus OS

Compare elementary OS VS Solus OS and see what are their differences

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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.

Solus OS logo Solus OS

Solus Operating System is a Linux distribution built from scratch, exclusively for desktop systems.
  • elementary OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • Solus OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-29

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.

Solus OS features and specs

  • Performance
    Solus OS is known for its performance and efficiency, especially on modern hardware. The operating system is optimized for speed and responsiveness.
  • Rolling Release
    It adopts a curated rolling release model, which ensures users have access to the latest software updates and security patches without needing to reinstall.
  • Budgie Desktop
    Solus OS comes with the Budgie desktop environment, which is known for its modern look and ease of use. It provides a clean and intuitive user interface.
  • Simple Package Management
    EOPKG, the package manager used by Solus OS, is straightforward and user-friendly, making software installation and updates a simple process.
  • Focus on Desktop Experience
    Solus is designed with a focus on the desktop experience, aiming to provide a hassle-free and polished user environment for daily computing tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Solus OS

  • Limited Software Repositories
    Compared to other major Linux distributions, Solus has a smaller selection of software packages available in its repositories.
  • Smaller Community
    Solus OS has a smaller user base and community compared to more popular distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora. This can affect the availability of community support and resources.
  • Less Enterprise Focus
    Solus is primarily aimed at home and desktop users, and may not have the enterprise-level features and support that some organizations require.
  • Limited Hardware Support
    Though Solus generally supports most modern hardware, there might be occasional issues with very new or very old hardware components not being fully supported.
  • Custom EOPKG
    While EOPKG is user-friendly, it is a less common package manager, meaning not all third-party software may have native support or instructions tailored for it.

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 Solus OS

Overall verdict

  • Solus OS is generally considered a good choice for both new and experienced Linux users. It combines a polished user experience with efficient performance and a curated selection of software. Its unique design philosophy and independent nature make it appealing to users looking for an alternative to mainstream distributions.

Why this product is good

  • Solus OS is known for its simplicity, efficiency, and focus on desktop usability. It is independent, meaning it is built from scratch rather than based on another Linux distribution, allowing for a tailored experience. Solus offers a variety of desktop environments, including Budgie, GNOME, MATE, and KDE Plasma, each providing a distinct user experience. It's designed to be a user-friendly and stable operating system with a rolling release model, ensuring that users have the latest software while maintaining stability.

Recommended for

  • Users seeking a simple, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing desktop environment.
  • Those who appreciate a rolling release model with a focus on stability.
  • Individuals who want an independent distribution with a fresh take on the Linux desktop experience.
  • Users preferring out-of-the-box functionality with minimal configuration needed.

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!

Solus OS videos

+ Add

Why Another Linux Distro? - Solus 4 Review

More videos:

  • Review - Solus 4.0 Budgie Review | Distro Delves S1:Ep4
  • Review - Solus 4 Review - I like it but ...
  • Review - Solus OS - Best Way To Be Independent | Unique Linux Distro

Category Popularity

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

elementary OS

Solus OS

Linux
79 79%
Linux
21% 21
Operating Systems
78 78%
Operating Systems
22% 22
Linux Distribution
83 83%
Linux Distribution
17% 17
OS & Utilities
46 46%
OS & Utilities
54% 54

User comments

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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 Solus OS

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

Solus OS Reviews

12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Solus is a rather underrated Linux distro. The OS focuses keenly on developers, gamers, and content creators by including the tools required to get started with development, gaming, and content creation. The flagship flavor of Solus OS uses their in-house Budgie desktop, which is one of the cleanest desktop environments you can try.
Source: beebom.com
6 Best Free Alternatives to Windows for Advanced Users
The distribution support for Solus comprises a Wiki, which includes distribution documentation and other resources for the users and forums.
Source: techcult.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Solus is an independent OS based on the Linux kernel and offering the Budgie, GNOME, MATE, or KDE Plasma desktop environments. It’s package manager, eopkg, is based on Pardus Linux’s PiSi package management system and fresh package updates land in the stable repository every Friday. Solus’ creators declare that it is designed solely for home PCs and does not include...
Source: cloudinfrastructureservices.co.uk
6 Best Linux Distributions That are Not Based on Ubuntu or Debian
Solus is yet another impressive non-Ubuntu distribution that has been tailored for desktop users. It’s easy to use and offers a pretty good user experience.
Source: itsfoss.com
Best Linux distros of 2021 for beginners, mainstream and advanced users
Solus is a general purpose rolling release distro that can be used for all sorts of regular desktop tasks. In fact, it pitches itself as an ideal platform for developers.
Source: www.techradar.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, elementary OS seems to be a lot more popular than Solus OS. While we know about 145 links to elementary OS, we've tracked only 6 mentions of Solus OS. 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
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Solus OS mentions (6)

  • On the harm shareholders can do to OpenSource
    If you are interested in an excellent, 100% community-based distro without any corporate involvement whatsoever, consider Solus. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ubuntu are Evil, Fedora are going down that same road, what to do?
    You might consider Solus OS, an independent that is not derived from Arch, Debian, SUSE, Fedora or anything else. Built from the ground up. I've been using Solus since 2017, and have been happy with it. Solus is focused on the use case of an "ordinary home desktop user", and is remarkably stable and reliable. Solus is a curated rolling release, which means that Solus is always up to date, but nothing is... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Moving from Kinoite back to mutables
    You might want to take a look at Solus Plasma. Solus is an independent, entirely community-based and community-funded distro, offering KDE Plasma, Budgie and Gnome desktops. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Good Distro for Beelink PC and Browser Use Only
    Solus MATE. Solus is extremely fast and lightweight. I'd say is perfect for this case. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Website Situation Update: Main Site Back Online
    The main Solus website (getsol.us) is back online. DataDrake also updated it with some of the changes she's been working on. In the next few days she's going to go back to the datacenter to bring the rest of the infrastructure online. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing elementary OS and Solus OS, 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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