Distributions in this category
4MLinux 52.1JWM4MLinux is a small independent live distribution organized around maintenance, multimedia, miniserver and games. It can serve as a lightweight…View downloadsAlpine Linux 3.24.4Desktop · ServerAlpine Linux provides Linux installation images. Consult the official project sources for release-specific changes, supported editions and…View downloadsArchBang rollingLabwcArchBang is a lightweight Arch Linux-based live and installable system using the Labwc Wayland compositor. Images are rebuilt regularly with current…View downloadsArchcraft 2026.08.01Openbox / Bspwm / SwayArchcraft is a minimal Arch-based rolling distribution with configured lightweight window-manager sessions and graphical or command-line installers…View downloadsBesGnuLinux 4.1JWMBesGnuLinux is a lightweight Debian stable-based desktop distribution built around the JWM window manager. Version 4.1 provides a 64-bit live and…View downloadsBodhi Linux 7.0.0MokshaBodhi Linux is an Ubuntu LTS-based desktop distribution using the lightweight Moksha environment. Its Standard image supplies a minimal graphical…View downloadsBunsenLabs Linux CarbonOpenboxBunsenLabs Carbon is a Debian 13 Trixie-based live and installable system with a configured Openbox desktop, tint2 panel and graphical utilities. It…View downloadsEasyOS 7.4.5JWMEasyOS is an experimental Linux system by Barry Kauler that combines a frugal image-based installation, layered filesystems, rollback and…View downloadsFunOS 26.04.1 LTSJWMFunOS is a minimal Ubuntu LTS-based desktop distribution using the JWM window manager and omitting Snap. FunOS 26.04.1 LTS follows Ubuntu 26.04.1…View downloadsLilidog Linux 26.10.26OpenboxLilidog Linux is a lightweight Debian stable desktop distribution built around Openbox, Tint2 and practical customization utilities. The 26.08.22…View downloadsLinux Lite 8.0XfceLinux Lite is an Ubuntu LTS-based desktop distribution designed to make Linux approachable for people moving from Windows. Linux Lite 8.0 provides…View downloadsLubuntu 26.04.1 LTSLXQtLubuntu is an Ubuntu flavour featuring the LXQt desktop. It provides a graphical environment for everyday browsing, documents and desktop…View downloadsMabox Linux 26.10OpenboxMabox Linux is a lightweight Manjaro-based rolling desktop centered on a configured Openbox environment and project utilities. Installation…View downloadsMiniOS 5.1.1Xfce,FluxboxMiniOS is a portable, modular Debian stable-based live distribution designed for USB persistence and optional operation from RAM. Version 5.1.1…View downloadsPeppermint OS Trixie / ExcaliburXfcePeppermint OS is a minimal Xfce desktop distributed in Debian- and Devuan-based editions. Its continuous-delivery images provide a small starting…View downloadsPorteuX 2.8XfcePorteuX is a fast, modular and portable Slackware Current-based distribution inspired by Slax and Porteus. It publishes multiple small desktop…View downloadsPorteus 5.01XfcePorteus is a portable, modular Slackware-based live distribution designed for USB media and small installations. Stable 5.01 is available with…View downloadsPuppy Linux current build familyJWM,Labwc,XfcePuppy Linux is a family of compact live distributions built with the official Woof-CE system. Multiple maintained variants use packages from…View downloadsQ4OS 6.8KDE Plasma or TrinityQ4OS is a Debian-based long-term-support desktop distribution focused on stability, modest hardware requirements and familiar administration. Q4OS…View downloadsSlax 12.2.0FluxboxSlax is a compact modular live system designed to run from optical media or USB storage and preserve optional changes. It is published in Debian…View downloadsSparkyLinux 8.4XfceSparkyLinux provides Debian-based desktop and minimal installation images. Stable 8.4 offers Xfce, LXQt, MATE and KDE Plasma editions, while a…View downloadsTiny Core Linux 17.1FLTK/FLWMTiny Core Linux is an extremely small modular distribution that loads a minimal system into memory and lets users add only the extensions they need…View downloadsVendefoul Wolf Linux 20260301SonicDE,Trinity,KDE Plasma,Xfce,LXQt,Katana,Budgie,IceWM,BSPWM,CinnamonVendefoul Wolf Linux Excalibur is a Devuan 6-based desktop distribution using OpenRC by default and the XLibre display server. Its 64-bit image…View downloadsXubuntu 26.04.1 LTSXFCEXubuntu is an Ubuntu flavour using the Xfce desktop. It offers a conventional desktop layout and is an alternative for users who prefer Xfce to…View downloadsantiX 26IceWM, Fluxbox, JWM and herbstluftwmantiX is a lightweight Debian-based live distribution designed to work without systemd or elogind on both older and newer x86 computers. antiX 26…View downloads
How to choose
Lightweight distributions aim to reduce memory, storage or processor requirements. Check the minimum architecture, graphics support and included applications rather than relying only on ISO size. A small installation can still require extra packages, and very old hardware may have browser or driver limitations.
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