Choose two or three systems and compare consistent, editorially reviewed information.
| Feature | SparkyLinux | Ubuntu | Debian GNU/Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | 8.4 | 26.04.1 LTS | 13.7 |
| Base | debian | debian | independent |
| Family | debian | ubuntu | debian |
| System type | linux distribution | linux distribution | linux distribution |
| Release model | stable | lts | stable |
| Architectures | x86_64 | x86_64,arm64,ppc64le,s390x | amd64,arm64,armhf,ppc64el,riscv64,s390x |
| Desktop | Xfce | GNOME | Not applicable or user selected |
| Use cases | desktop, light | desktop, server, beginner, enterprise | desktop, server, advanced |
| Available images | desktop, minimal | desktop, server | minimal, desktop |
| Editorial review | 2026-10-16 | 2026-09-03 | 2026-09-03 |
SparkyLinux provides Debian-based desktop and minimal installation images. Stable 8.4 offers Xfce, LXQt, MATE and KDE Plasma editions, while a separately maintained semi-rolling branch tracks Debian testing. This catalogue entry selects the stable Xfce x86-64 ISO through the official SourceForge project. Other desktops and architectures remain available from the project download selector.
View downloads Official websiteUbuntu is a Debian-derived distribution developed by Canonical and its community for desktops, servers, cloud platforms and containers. Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS Resolute Raccoon is the current long-term-support desktop release and receives five years of standard security maintenance.
View downloads Official websiteDebian is an independent community distribution known for stability, an extensive package archive and support for several hardware architectures. Debian 13.6 Trixie is the current stable point release and is suitable for desktops, servers, containers and infrastructure.
View downloads Official website