Choose two or three systems and compare consistent, editorially reviewed information.
| Feature | Whonix | Ubuntu | Debian GNU/Linux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | 18.2.1.9 | 26.04.1 LTS | 13.7 |
| Base | debian | debian | independent |
| Family | debian | ubuntu | debian |
| System type | virtual appliance | linux distribution | linux distribution |
| Release model | stable | lts | stable |
| Architectures | x86_64 | x86_64,arm64,ppc64le,s390x | amd64,arm64,armhf,ppc64el,riscv64,s390x |
| Desktop | LXQt | GNOME | Not applicable or user selected |
| Use cases | security, privacy | desktop, server, beginner, enterprise | desktop, server, advanced |
| Available images | virtual machine | desktop, server | minimal, desktop |
| Editorial review | 2026-10-16 | 2026-09-03 | 2026-09-03 |
Whonix is a Debian-based privacy environment that separates a Tor gateway from a workstation in virtual machines. The selected Intel/AMD64 LXQt 18.2.1.9 download is an OVA appliance for VirtualBox, not a bootable ISO. Follow the official guide to import and configure both Gateway and Workstation; other hypervisors and architectures use different installation paths.
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