Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pop!_OS VS Fedora

Compare Pop!_OS VS Fedora and see what are their differences

Pop!_OS logo Pop!_OS

A developer-focused minimalist Linux distro from System 76

Fedora logo 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.
  • Pop!_OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01
  • Fedora Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-11

Pop!_OS features and specs

  • Optimized for Productivity
    Pop!_OS is built with various features oriented towards productivity, such as a customized GNOME desktop environment that includes tiling window management and keyboard shortcuts.
  • User-Friendly Installation
    The installation process for Pop!_OS is straightforward and user-friendly, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Pop!_OS is developed by System76, a hardware manufacturer, ensuring excellent support and compatibility with a wide range of hardware, particularly their own computers.
  • Regular Updates
    The operating system receives regular updates, ensuring that users have access to the latest features, security patches, and improvements.
  • Pre-installed NVIDIA Drivers
    Pop!_OS offers a version with pre-installed NVIDIA drivers, which simplifies the setup process for users with NVIDIA graphics cards.

Possible disadvantages of Pop!_OS

  • Limited Community Support
    While Pop!_OS has a growing community, it is still relatively small compared to more established distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora, which might make finding solutions to specific issues more difficult.
  • Resource Intensive
    Pop!_OS's GNOME-based desktop environment can be more resource-intensive compared to other lightweight desktop environments, which might not be ideal for older hardware.
  • Default GNOME Environment
    Some users may prefer other desktop environments over GNOME, and while it's possible to install them on Pop!_OS, it doesnโ€™t come with this flexibility out of the box.
  • Designed for System76 Hardware
    Although it works well on various hardware, Pop!_OS is primarily developed for System76 devices, which might lead to some optimizations not being as effective on non-System76 hardware.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    New users coming from Windows or macOS might find certain aspects of Pop!_OS different and challenging, such as the tiling window manager and keyboard-driven workflow.

Fedora features and specs

  • Cutting-edge Software
    Fedora is known for its bleeding-edge updates, incorporating the latest software versions, kernel updates, and features soon after they are released. This makes it ideal for users who want the newest technology.
  • Strong Security
    Fedora includes strong security features, such as SELinux (Security Enhanced Linux) by default, which provides advanced security policies and mitigates various types of attacks.
  • Developer Friendly
    Fedora offers a rich array of developer tools and software, making it a preferred choice for developers. It supports a wide range of programming languages and development environments.
  • Red Hat Sponsorship
    Fedora is backed by Red Hat, which adds a level of reliability, professionalism, and a stable foundation that many Linux distributions do not have.
  • Community Support
    Fedora has a robust community of users and developers who contribute to its development and provide assistance through forums, mailing lists, and other forms of support.
  • Modularity
    Fedora's modular repository allows users to choose different versions of software packages, accommodating the specific needs of various users and use cases.
  • Workstation Edition
    Fedora offers a Workstation edition that is specifically tailored for personal computers, offering a polished and user-friendly desktop environment.

Possible disadvantages of Fedora

  • Frequent Updates
    The cutting-edge nature of Fedora means frequent updates, which can be overwhelming for users who prefer a more stable and less frequently changing system.
  • Short Life Cycle
    Fedora has a relatively short life cycle of approximately 13 months for each release, meaning users need to upgrade more frequently compared to some other distributions.
  • Software Compatibility
    Due to its focus on free and open-source software, Fedora may not include some proprietary drivers and codecs by default, which may require additional setup to install.
  • Learning Curve
    While Fedora is user-friendly, it might have a steeper learning curve for new Linux users compared to more beginner-oriented distributions like Ubuntu.
  • Limited Corporate Support
    Unlike Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Fedora does not come with official corporate support, which can be a drawback for business users who require enterprise-level technical support.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Some users might experience hardware compatibility issues, especially with very new hardware, due to the rapid pace of updates and the lack of proprietary drivers.

Analysis of Pop!_OS

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Pop!_OS is highly regarded in the Linux community, praised for its ease of use, especially for individuals who need good hardware support out of the box, such as developers and gamers. However, as with any Linux distribution, user preference plays a big role, and trying it out is the best way to see if it meets your needs.

Why this product is good

  • Pop!_OS is a popular Linux distribution developed by System76. It is designed to provide a clean, efficient, and user-friendly desktop experience. Its strong points include excellent support for NVIDIA GPUs, a customized GNOME desktop environment with added features, and the Pop!_Shop for easy application management. It's also noted for its focus on privacy and security, alongside seamless updates and system performance.

Recommended for

  • Developers seeking a stable and customizable platform
  • Gamers needing reliable GPU support
  • Users new to Linux looking for a smooth and straightforward experience
  • Individuals concerned with system privacy and security

Analysis of Fedora

Overall verdict

  • Fedora is a robust and reliable distribution, particularly suitable for users who want to stay on the forefront of technology without sacrificing system stability. It is particularly well-suited for developers, system administrators, and enthusiasts who appreciate a polished and professional Linux experience.

Why this product is good

  • Fedora is often praised for being a cutting-edge Linux distribution that offers the latest features, updates, and improvements. It is a community-driven project sponsored by Red Hat, which ensures stability and security while allowing users to experience new technologies. Fedora has a strong emphasis on open-source software and provides excellent support for various hardware configurations. Additionally, it has a vast repository of software packages and benefits from an active and vibrant community.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for a stable yet cutting-edge development environment.
  • Users who want a secure and stable operating system with up-to-date software.
  • Linux enthusiasts who want to participate in an active community and contribute to open-source projects.
  • System administrators seeking a reliable operating system for server deployments.

Pop!_OS videos

Pop!_OS Is Even Better With 19.10 (Full Review)

More videos:

  • Review - Moving In - Pop!_OS 19.04 Review
  • Review - Using Pop!_OS 19.10 ep. 1 - Intro, Installation, Desktop and Gaming Prep

Fedora videos

omplete Guide: How to Download, Install and Review Fedora 38 Linux on VirtualBox 2023

More videos:

  • Review - Fedora 31 Workstation Review & Gnome 3.34.1 Walkthrough - Linux Distro Reviews
  • Review - Fedora 31 Review | Should You Use It? Find Out!
  • Review - Fedora Workstation 31 Full Review
  • Review - Fedora 34 Reviewed: A Great GNOME distro that's worth checking out!
  • Review - Fedora 34 | This is the ABSOLUTE Best Linux Distro of 2021 Yet (NEW RELEASE!)
  • Review - Review - Fedora Workstation 33 (and why you should avoid it)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pop!_OS and Fedora)
Linux
54 54%
46% 46
Operating Systems
49 49%
51% 51
Linux Distribution
49 49%
51% 51
Marketing Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Pop!_OS and Fedora. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Pop!_OS and Fedora

Pop!_OS Reviews

10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
Although Pop!_OS is based on Ubuntu, it is still able to make its unique place among Dekstop users because of its fast performance, with a customized GNOME desktop environment to provide a polished interface and out-of-the-box installed software & drivers. The US hardware distributor System76 developers behind the Pop!_OS also offers Laptops and desktops with pre-installed...
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Pop!_OS is based on Ubuntu and uses the COSMIC desktop environment, which is Pop!_OSโ€™ homemade desktop environment based on GNOME. However, unlike GNOME, itโ€™s a lot cleaner and has got a few neat tricks up its sleeve, like the keyboard shortcuts, which makes Pop!_OS one of the cleanest Linux systems. Overall, Pop!_OS is a great option for budding creators as well as folks...
Source: beebom.com
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Pop!_OS has been developed by System76 and is based on Ubuntu. The operating system offers GPU support for AMD and Nvidia as well as their programming interface CUDA. Pop!_OS has a high-quality desktop environment and offers a tiling function that benefits gamers.
Source: www.ionos.com
7 Best Rufus Alternatives To Create Bootable USB In 2022
Popsicle is a USB flasher shipped with Pop!_OS, one of the most popular Linux distributions. One of the best features of the tool is that it allows you to flash an ISO to multiple USB devices simultaneously.
Source: fossbytes.com
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
The Pop!_OS distro by hardware vendor System76 is one of the best options for gamers who want to assemble their own gaming installation.

Fedora Reviews

10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
It is available in different editions: Workstations for everyday use, CoreOS for container-focused OS, Server for server-related systems, Fedora Cloud for private and public clouds, and IoT for IoT-related work. Fedora is good for desktop users or developers who want RPM Linux with the latest features.
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
And since Fedora is open-source, it also has a few community versions called Spins. Some of the popular spins are Plasma, Xfce, LXQT, MATE, and Cinnamon. Overall, Fedora might not be the best option for absolute beginners, but itโ€™s great for those who know their way around Linux. Besides, Fedoraโ€™s got one of the most active distro communities on Reddit. Hence, if something...
Source: beebom.com
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Fedora is a popular, community-driven Linux distro known for its emphasis on new features and technologies, open source collaboration, and strong ties to the upstream software development communities (RHEL). It aims to provide a platform for both desktop and server users, offering the latest software while maintaining a balance between innovation and stability. Fedora users...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Fedora is a free alternative to RHEL but does not provide long-term support. The focus of the operating system is primarily on up-to-dateness, which may come at the expense of stability. Fedora is equally suitable for servers and desktops and uses RPM (known from Red Hat) for package management.
Source: www.ionos.com
6 Best Free Alternatives to Windows for Advanced Users
Considering all this, Fedora is not intimidating to beginners and could be a great first-time Linux experience.
Source: techcult.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pop!_OS should be more popular than Fedora. It has been mentiond 456 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.

Pop!_OS mentions (456)

  • Part 1: Getting Started With Linux
    To start using Linux, I personally would recommend going with Pop!_OS. You got a few options here: either you can run it on a VM or install it on Bare Metal. Don't worry, I got you coveredโ€”you can use any one of the following methods:. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • The Future Is Niri
    Did you see Pop OS? https://pop.system76.com/ They follow ubuntu releases, kind of. The downside, they went all in into their new desktop env - cosmic, and until they release it they won't move on from 20.04.. I really loved the tiling feature in PopOS 20.04 which came out of the box. But then I bought a new laptop, and had to move to arch to use it.. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Apple's Software Quality Crisis: When Premium Hardware Meets Subpar Software
    Please try a distro [0] maintained by a company making their own Linux laptops. [0] https://pop.system76.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Perl ๐Ÿช Weekly #707 - Is it ethical?
    What is Pop!_OS? Sounds like the name of one of the kids of Elon Musk. But no. It is apparently an Ubuntu-based Linux operating system for STEM and creative professionals. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Malibal and Coreboot Have a Disagreement
    > We no longer ship to Colorado due to the actions of System76's Principal Engineer (https://www.system76.com), Pop_OS! Maintainer (https://pop.system76.com), and Redox OS BDFL (https://www.redox-os.org) named Jeremy Soller (https://soller.dev). Source: https://portal.malibal.com/kb/a1064/why-dont-you-ship-to-colorado/ Err, what? I really can't follow the logic here. What does some dude have to do with Colorado. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
View more

Fedora mentions (124)

  • what are some good laptops to buy?
    I am using HP Omen. I easily open it, clean it and change the thermal paste every 3 months (they have detailed guides on YouTube). My laptop had another SSD slot and I upgraded it with a new Samsung 1TB SSD and I am looking to upgrade the RAM from 16 GB to 64GB soon. Since I do not like Windows, I have installed Fedora on it. If I want I can turn in into a Hackintosh and install macOS too. The possibilities are... Source: about 2 years ago
  • How do I remove this Ubuntu Pro ad from apt?
    You can find the solution at https://getfedora.org /s. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Fedora Project has a new website!
    It looks.. Awesome way better than getfedora.org kudos to the website developers. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Telemetr(ule)y
    Install Fedora (or one of it's spins. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Quick question about Fedora website
    Fedoraproject.org is it a legit website or is getfedora.org the only website ? Source: over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pop!_OS and Fedora, 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.

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

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

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

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