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Pop!_OS VS ProtonUp-Qt

Compare Pop!_OS VS ProtonUp-Qt and see what are their differences

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Contents:
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  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

Pop!_OS logo Pop!_OS

A developer-focused minimalist Linux distro from System 76

ProtonUp-Qt logo ProtonUp-Qt

Install and manage GE-Proton, Luxtorpeda & more for Steam and Wine-GE & more for Lutris with this graphical user interface.
  • Pop!_OS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01
  • ProtonUp-Qt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-02-08

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 doesn’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.

ProtonUp-Qt features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    ProtonUp-Qt provides a graphical interface that makes managing and updating compatibility tools like Proton and Wine-GE easier for users, especially those who are not comfortable with command-line operations.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The tool supports multiple platforms, including Linux and macOS, which allows users across different operating systems to access and manage their game tools seamlessly.
  • Automated Updates
    ProtonUp-Qt can automatically check for and install the latest versions of Proton and other compatibility tools, ensuring that users always have the most recent and optimized versions.
  • Customization Options
    The application allows users to install specific versions of compatibility tools according to their needs, offering greater control over gameplay experience and compatibility.

Possible disadvantages of ProtonUp-Qt

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it simplifies basic management tasks, power users may find the application lacking in advanced features that could further customize their gaming setup.
  • Dependency on External Tools
    ProtonUp-Qt requires Proton or Wine-GE updates from external sources, which could pose issues if there are upstream problems with those projects.
  • Potential Stability Issues
    As with any tool that manages compatibility layers, there might be stability issues or bugs introduced with updates that could temporarily affect game performance or compatibility.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    Although it provides a GUI, new users without prior experience in managing game compatibility layers might still face a learning curve in understanding and utilizing all the features effectively.

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

Pop!_OS videos

+ Add

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

ProtonUp-Qt videos

+ Add

Install ProtonUp-QT and TRANSFORM your games and the Steam Deck experience.

More videos:

  • Review - ProtonUp-QT 2.7.7 for Steam Deck brings new game support!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pop!_OS and ProtonUp-Qt)

Pop!_OS

ProtonUp-Qt

Linux
100 100%
Linux
0% 0
Cloud Computing
0 0%
Cloud Computing
100% 100
Operating Systems
100 100%
Operating Systems
0% 0
Gaming
0 0%
Gaming
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Pop!_OS and ProtonUp-Qt. 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 Pop!_OS and ProtonUp-Qt

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...
Source: linux.how2shout.com
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Pop!_OS is based on Ubuntu and uses the COSMIC desktop environment, which is Pop!_OS’ homemade desktop environment based on GNOME. However, unlike GNOME, it’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.
Source: edumotivation.com

ProtonUp-Qt Reviews

We have no reviews of ProtonUp-Qt yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pop!_OS seems to be more popular. 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 covered—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 🐪 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

ProtonUp-Qt mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ProtonUp-Qt yet. Tracking of ProtonUp-Qt recommendations started around Feb 2025.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pop!_OS and ProtonUp-Qt, 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.

Proton - Compatibility tool for Steam Play based on Wine and additional components

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

DDrawCompat - DirectDraw and Direct3D 1-7 compatibility, performance and visual enhancements for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and 11 - narzoul/DDrawCompat

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

Wine - Open Source Software for running Windows applications on other operating systems.

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