Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Linux Mint VS MX Linux

Compare Linux Mint VS MX Linux and see what are their differences

Linux Mint logo Linux Mint

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

MX Linux logo MX Linux

MX Linux is an operating system - a cooperative venture between the antiX and former MEPIS...
  • Linux Mint Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-13
  • MX Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-26

Linux Mint features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Linux Mint offers a user-friendly interface that is often considered intuitive and easy to use, especially for users who are transitioning from Windows. The desktop environment (Cinnamon, MATE, and Xfce) closely mimics the traditional Windows UI.
  • Low Hardware Requirements
    Linux Mint can run efficiently on older or less powerful hardware, making it an excellent choice for extending the life of older computers.
  • Software Manager
    The built-in Software Manager provides an easy way to install, update, and remove software. It features a large repository of applications that are easy to browse.
  • Community Support
    Linux Mint has a strong and active community that provides ample support and documentation, which can be very helpful for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Pre-installed Software
    It comes with a wide array of pre-installed software, including productivity tools, multimedia applications, and system utilities, which means users can start working immediately after installation.
  • Security and Privacy
    Linux Mint offers better security and privacy compared to many other mainstream operating systems, thanks to its Linux base and the ability to control updates and software installations.

Possible disadvantages of Linux Mint

  • Learning Curve
    While Linux Mint is user-friendly, those new to Linux may still face a learning curve, particularly when it comes to using the command line for more advanced tasks.
  • Limited Professional Software
    Some professional-grade software, particularly in areas like graphic design, video editing, and certain professional services, may not be available or may require workarounds to install and run.
  • Gaming
    Despite improvements, gaming on Linux Mint is not as seamless as on Windows. A smaller library of available games and potential compatibility issues may deter gamers.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Although Linux Mint is compatible with a wide range of hardware, there are instances where users might encounter driver issues or lack of support for certain peripheral devices.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    The release cycle of Linux Mint is slower compared to some other distributions, which means it may take longer for users to receive the latest features and updates.
  • Software Ecosystem
    While Linux Mint has a substantial array of applications available, it doesn’t quite match the breadth and depth of software available for Windows or macOS. Some software may need to run via compatibility layers like Wine.

MX Linux features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    MX Linux offers a highly intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it a great choice for beginners who might be new to Linux.
  • Performance
    The distribution is lightweight and optimized to run smoothly even on older hardware, ensuring good performance.
  • Stability
    Built on the Debian Stable base, MX Linux is known for its robustness and reliability, providing fewer system crashes and bugs.
  • Customization
    MX Linux allows extensive customization, enabling users to tailor their system’s appearance and functionality to their liking.
  • MX Tools
    The distribution includes a unique set of tools, such as MX Snapshot and MX Package Installer, that enhance user experience by simplifying complex tasks.
  • Community Support
    MX Linux has an active and helpful community, offering extensive forums and documentation to assist users in troubleshooting and optimizing their systems.

Possible disadvantages of MX Linux

  • Slower Updates
    Being based on Debian Stable, MX Linux may not have the latest software and feature updates, lagging behind more cutting-edge distributions.
  • Limited Software Availability
    The software repositories, although extensive, may not have as wide a selection as some other distros, requiring users to sometimes rely on external sources.
  • Aesthetic
    While functional and customizable, the default look and feel might not be as polished as some other distributions designed with visual aesthetics in mind.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Customization
    While it is user-friendly for basic tasks, more advanced customization and optimization may require a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with Linux internals.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Though generally good, there can be occasional issues with hardware compatibility, especially with very new or very old devices.

Analysis of Linux Mint

Overall verdict

  • Linux Mint is considered a solid choice for both beginners transitioning from other operating systems and experienced users looking for a stable and reliable Linux distribution. Its ease of use, extensive documentation, and active community support make it a favorable option.

Why this product is good

  • Linux Mint is often praised for its user-friendly interface, stability, and compatibility with a wide range of hardware. It's based on Ubuntu, which means it benefits from a vast community and extensive software repositories. Users appreciate its Cinnamon desktop environment for being intuitive and similar to the traditional Windows layout, making it approachable for those new to Linux.

Recommended for

  • New users looking to transition from Windows or macOS
  • Users seeking a stable and reliable everyday operating system
  • Developers and tech enthusiasts who appreciate customization potential
  • Users with older hardware who need a lightweight yet capable OS

Linux Mint videos

Reviewed: Linux Mint 19.3 "Tricia" (Cinnamon Edition)

More videos:

  • Review - Linux Mint 19.2 "Tina" Review (Cinnamon Edition)
  • Review - Feature Complete? - Linux Mint 19.1 Review

MX Linux videos

MX Linux 19.1 Xfce Review | Distro Delves S2:Ep9

More videos:

  • Review - REVIEW: MX LINUX 19 : "BLAZING FAST!"
  • Review - Why is MX Linux So Popular?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Linux Mint and MX Linux)
Linux
82 82%
18% 18
Linux Distribution
86 86%
14% 14
Operating Systems
82 82%
18% 18
Gaming
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Linux Mint and MX Linux

Linux Mint Reviews

  1. Best linux distro

    i have used about 2years linux mint and i really like it look and feel

    🏁 Competitors: Ubuntu, Windows 10
    👍 Pros:    Easy to use|Easy user interface|Easy customizability|Secure
    👎 Cons:    Slow

10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
For most of the Desktop users who move from Windows to Linux, their first preference would be the popular Mint. It is because of the user-friendly Cinnamon interface and out-of-the-box multimedia support. Also, it is based on Ubuntu, although Debian Linux Mint is also available, still the Ubuntu derived Mint is more common among the users. You will have Software Manager to...
The 5 Best Privacy-Focused Operating Systems
Linux Mint is a popular Linux distribution known for its user-friendliness. You can configure Linux Mint to enhance your privacy, and, when combined with the Cinnamon desktop environment, it offers a smooth and familiar user experience. As with any Linux distribution, Linux Mint offers open source code, but also comes with antivirus capabilities, making it easier for you to...
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Linux Mint has established itself as one of the best distros for beginner Linux users, thanks to Cinnamon’s simplicity (Linux Mint’s desktop environment) and ease of use. It’s an Ubuntu-based operating system that’s good for day-to-day usage and gaming. The Windows-like feel of Mint makes users switching from Windows feel at home and is one of the main selling points of the...
Source: beebom.com
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Debian is known for its commitment to open source principles, stability, and extensive package management system. It serves as the foundation for various other Linux distros such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Debian is widely used in both desktop and server environments.
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Linux Mint is also based on Ubuntu and is now an established alternative. The operating system is based on specially designed desktop environments and comes with important software pre-installed. The system is considered stable and user-friendly. Hardware support, useful security tools, and a practical file manager are available. For (former) Windows users, Linux Mint is...
Source: www.ionos.com

MX Linux Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
MX Linux is a mid-weight distro that uses the Xfce desktop environment. It is known for its stability, ease of use, and performance.
Source: linuxsimply.com
10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
MX Linux is always able to make its place in our list when it comes to selecting the best mid-weight Linux distros. Out of the box it uses a lightweight XFCE desktop environment and being built on Debian, stability is always not an issue. The user-friendly approach to this distro and multiple sources to install popular Linux packages make it an excellent choice for old and...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
MX Linux is based on Debian and is suitable for use on older and less powerful computers because of its slim Xfce desktop. Compared to other professional Linux distributions, MX Linux is much more user-friendly. However, because of its many options it is also an interesting distribution for experienced users.
Source: www.ionos.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Linux Mint should be more popular than MX Linux. It has been mentiond 423 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.

Linux Mint mentions (423)

  • best Distro for Noob
    When I started out, I used red hat, Suse linux, and then finally I jumped to Ubuntu, when they killed gnome and rolled out their new GUI later, I switched to Ubuntu Mate, with xfce alternatively installed. And then later came MINT. Which is based on ubuntu anyway. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Windows 10 support doesn't end in 2025 after all, if you pay up
    I'm partial to Linux Mint myself, but at this point, if you're not running some Windows specific software, there's less and less reason to use it every year. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Introduction
    My first Linux distro was PopOS and It was a refreshing experience. It was really easy to install, use, and game on. I distro hopped a few times to see what other linux flavors are like. These are the ones that I remember trying Zorin OS and Linux Mint. These ones looked mostly like windows and it was easy to use. At work, I gained most of my linux knowledge from docker and configuring / administrating RHEL... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • is linuxmint.com down?
    I cant access the site , is linuxmint.com down ? Source: over 1 year ago
  • Why Linux Mint is the best Linux distribution
    If you have been reading some of the articles on my blog, you will have seen that I often talk about macOS or the Mac Mini. And this is because this is the preferred machine that I use for the development of multiplatform apps, however, my main operating system, the one I use "by default", the one I use for personal and professional management, the one I use for my tech experiments, is, and has been for the past... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
View more

MX Linux mentions (91)

  • Linux market share approaching 4.5% for first time, could hit 5% by 1Q25
    Does one really care? Have you looked at https://www.clearlinux.org/ https://github.com/clearlinux https://github.com/CachyOS https://github.com/MX-Linux ? Would they lack anything? I picked these three specifically because I tested them recently on new hardware I got. What they have in common is their focus on encapsulating 4. For mere mortals, while not doing 5, or at... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: What if I don't want constant OS upgrades?
    I like Manjaro XFCE, it's rolling updates so it's as packages come out you can update to the newest (it pulls latest from github, but has other repos) if you want oldschool oldschool, check out antiX linux, MX Linux is based on AntiX but looks semi-better, they're based on Debian. Remember though, debian is like 5 package versions behind, because that's what they do with their auditing for stability. MX Linux has... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • what happened to my linux mint laptop and how do I fix it?
    If you want something new you probably want to aim light. I'd opt for AntiX full version as it's very light, stable and comes with a variety of lightweight desktops, themes and other stuff to choose from at login. The sister project MXLinux could also be worth a look for a more traditional system, but I'd try the Fluxbox option to keep things light. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Installing MX Linux
    I'm getting an error of - Could not find file antiX/linuxfs - searched devices /dev/sdc1 /dev/sdb1 etc. Gives me an ooption to contact Bitjam at mxlinux.org and then says P=power off, r=reboot. I've tried to look around but I'm not finding any details on what's going on. There was a mention of bad hardware, but if my other ISO's are booting no problem I dont think that is the issue. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Arch, void or something else entirely?
    I thought I would never say this, but I think you should try the KDE edition of https://mxlinux.org/. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Linux Mint and MX Linux, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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.

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

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.

Pop!_OS - A developer-focused minimalist Linux distro from System 76