Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MidnightBSD VS GhostBSD

Compare MidnightBSD VS GhostBSD and see what are their differences

MidnightBSD logo MidnightBSD

MidnightBSD is a new BSD-derived operating system developed with desktop users in mind.

GhostBSD logo GhostBSD

GhostBSD is a user friendly desktop operating system based on ...
  • MidnightBSD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • GhostBSD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-23

MidnightBSD features and specs

  • Focus on Desktop Use
    MidnightBSD is designed with a focus on desktop users, making it more user-friendly and accessible for those who are not server administrators or power users.
  • Mports System
    MidnightBSD uses its own package management system called 'mports', which offers a wide range of applications and utilities and is designed to be simpler for desktop users compared to some other BSD ports systems.
  • BSD Legacy
    Built on the BSD legacy, MidnightBSD benefits from robust security features, a stable environment, and advanced networking capabilities, which are hallmark features of the BSD family of operating systems.
  • Customizability
    Like many BSD systems, MidnightBSD allows a high degree of customizability, enabling users to tailor the system according to their specific requirements and preferences.
  • ZFS Support
    MidnightBSD offers support for the ZFS file system, providing advanced features like snapshotting, data integrity verification, and efficient data compression.

Possible disadvantages of MidnightBSD

  • Limited Hardware Support
    Compared to more mainstream operating systems, MidnightBSD may have limited support for modern hardware, which can be a barrier for users with newer devices.
  • Smaller User Base
    MidnightBSD has a smaller user and developer community, which can lead to fewer resources, less frequent updates, and limited third-party support.
  • Software Availability
    While the mports system provides a variety of applications, there might be fewer packages available compared to larger operating systems like Linux, potentially making it harder to find specific or niche software.
  • Learning Curve
    Users coming from other operating systems, especially those less familiar with Unix-like systems, might find the transition to MidnightBSD and its management tools challenging at first.
  • Development Pace
    The development of MidnightBSD can be slower compared to larger projects, with updates and new features being introduced at a more measured pace.

GhostBSD features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    GhostBSD offers a user-friendly interface that is ideal for those who are new to the BSD operating systems, making the transition smoother for users familiar with Linux or Windows.
  • Based on FreeBSD
    Being based on FreeBSD, GhostBSD inherits its robustness, security features, and advanced networking capabilities, providing a stable and reliable operating system.
  • Pre-installed Applications
    GhostBSD comes with a variety of pre-installed applications that cover basic needs such as web browsing, multimedia, and productivity, reducing the setup time for new installations.
  • Community Support
    The GhostBSD community offers support through forums and documentation, which can be helpful for troubleshooting or learning more about the system.
  • Rolling Release Model
    GhostBSD uses a rolling release model, which means users receive continuous updates and new features as soon as they are available.

Possible disadvantages of GhostBSD

  • Limited Software Availability
    Compared to more popular operating systems like Linux, GhostBSD may have limited availability of software packages and applications.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Like many BSD-based systems, GhostBSD can have compatibility issues with certain hardware, which might require additional troubleshooting or alternative drivers.
  • Smaller Community
    The community supporting GhostBSD is smaller compared to more mainstream operating systems like Ubuntu or Fedora, potentially making it harder to find help for specific issues.
  • Lack of Enterprise Features
    GhostBSD might lack some of the enterprise-level features and support that are offered by more established operating systems, making it less ideal for business use.
  • Resource Intensive
    Although relatively lightweight, GhostBSD can be more resource-intensive compared to some other BSD variants, impacting performance on older hardware.

MidnightBSD videos

MidnightBSD 1.1 Quick Look - Oh Dear...

More videos:

  • Review - How-to Install MidnightBSD 8.5 plus XFCE desktop
  • Review - MidnightBSD 2.0 update

GhostBSD videos

GhostBSD 20.08.04 Install & Review

More videos:

  • Review - GhostBSD 20.02 w/Mate Overview | Distro Delves S2:Ep14
  • Review - GhostBSD First Impression Install and Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MidnightBSD and GhostBSD)
Linux Distribution
32 32%
68% 68
Operating Systems
28 28%
72% 72
Linux
30 30%
70% 70
BSD
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using MidnightBSD and GhostBSD. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GhostBSD seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 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.

MidnightBSD mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of MidnightBSD yet. Tracking of MidnightBSD recommendations started around Mar 2021.

GhostBSD mentions (13)

  • GhostBSD June 1, 2023 release available https://ghostbsd.org/download
    Robonuggie Video Don't give up the Ghost(BSD)ghostbsd.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Can SGIโ€™s Enthusiast Community Bring IRIX Back to Life?
    People are still actively working on Illumos. The last change was yesterday morning. * https://illumos.org People are still actively working on MirBSD. There's a CVS commit account that can be followed on the FediVerse. * http://www.mirbsd.org It's DragonFly BSD, not Dragon BSD, and the irony of that is that you missed FreeBSD, which is of course still going. * https://dragonflybsd.org * https://freebsd.org As... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Suspicious content on GhostBSD's website
    There's a number of dubious looking websites listed at the bottom of https://ghostbsd.org (life insurance, "how to game", etc). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Microsoft provides The DirectX Shader Compiler binaries for Linux
    It will work for BSD Unix also. I will test it on ChostBSD, but I don't know about support AMD RX 6500 XT at the present time. After replacing RX 560 I can't start X11 :(. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Would you recommend FreeBSD to a home user/enthusiast?
    Though I'm not a UNIX desktop guy, when I do want FreeBSD I like to use GhostBSD, since it's well maintained and saves me some time with setup. You might want to start there. Source: almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing MidnightBSD and GhostBSD, you can also consider the following products

FreeBSD - FreeBSD is an advanced operating system for x86 compatible (including Pentiumยฎ and Athlonโ„ข)...

NomadBSD - NomadBSD is a persistent live system for USB flash drives, based on FreeBSD.

DragonFly BSD - DragonFly belongs to the same class of operating systems as other BSD-derived systems and Linux.

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

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

Twister OS - A Debian based OS with a ton of useful apps like Box86 and Steam, and theme switching to look like Windows, MacOS, and many more.