What are the best Linux distros that don't use systemd?

Using a non-live install medium provides the debian installer for expert installs, making it easy to choose an init system (sysvinit or OpenRC), a release (Stable, Testing, Unstable), a boot loader (lilo or grub2), install onto multiple disks with mbr or gpt partitions, create lvm volumes, create raid volumes, or encrypt disks. See More

Top Pro

Uses debian installer

Top Con

A stable release is several months behind Debian

It takes Devuan several months after a Debian stable release to complete the corresponding Devuan release. See More

ModestMomus's Experience

32bit support too, works almost on 99% hardware out of the box, Devuan Minimal Live to build a customized system on a solid base, a bunch of software in repos. Suggested! See More

Top Pro

It's Debian

Devuan is Debian just without systemd, it just mirrors the the Debian archive and repacks packages that have hard dependencies on systemd. See More

Top Con

No one

CoherentNessus's Experience

Running Devuan Beowulf (Testing) for a math / science workstation. Using OpenRC init. Both Cinnamon and Plasma desktops run smoothly. Everything proves very reliable. See More

Top Pro

Stability

Top Pro

Init based

Isn't based on systemd which can spread malware into your system. See More

Top Pro

Supports SecureBoot

Just like debian it supportes SecureBoot so you don't have to disable it on dual boot systems. See More

Top Pro

"Testing" version is very stable

After installing the release version called Ascii most users will easily be able to upgrade and run the testing version called Beowulf with few or no problems. See More

Top Pro

32bit support

Default Desktop Environment:Openbox

Obarun

An init system with the "do one thing and do it right" mentality. Void Linux does not support systemd. See More

Void Linux

Top Pro

Runit init system

Top Con

Not popular

Void Linux is not a popular Linux distro. So, if you run into a problem then it's likely you won't find any fix except from the maintainers. See More

Semi's Experience

Void Linux has been quite a breath of fresh air compared to distros that I've used in the past, such as Arch, Manjaro, and Ubuntu. On my (not very minimal) install, it idles at ~450 megabytes of ram, which is far better than Windows's 4 gigabytes. The package manager has more support for packages than a lot of people shape it up to have. Although I'm not one who considers SystemD the spawn of the devil like some more adamant supporters of this distro, I find that runit runs at least parallel to SystemD's performance. Overall, Void has absolutely been my favorite distro I've used, and I'm planning on sticking with it for a while. See More

Specs

Init-System:runit

Based On:Independent

Default Desktop Environment:GNOME, KDE, XFCE, Cinnamon, Enlightenment, LXDE, LXQt, MATE, CLI

A brand new package manager that is fast, full-featured, and tailored specifically for Void Linux. See More

Top Pro

xbps (X Binary Package System)

Top Con

Small amount of packages

Top Pro

Rolling distribution

A single instance of Void will be supported forever without needing to reinstall. See More

Top Con

No ppp package in installation ISO

May become a problem for certain people See More

Top Pro

Runit is fast and easy to configure

Runit init system is incredibly fast to boot and very simple to use. See More

Top Con

Slower than pacman

Top Pro

BSD-like improvements with Linux

Full support for LibreSSL, an OpenSSL fork focused on maximizing security. The xbps-src package builder works in a similar manner to BSD's ports collection. See More

Top Con

Not suitable for those new to Linux

Documentation is scarce, NTFS partitions aren't automatically mounted, etc. See More

Top Pro

Different DE's live ISO's are available

Arch Linux doesn't make ISO's with different DE's. One need to manually install it through CLI version. But Void which is competitor of Arch, provides a wide range of DE's ISOs. See More

Top Pro

Musl image available

Musl libc is lighter and faster than bloated glibc. Musl has been argued to be more secure overall than glibc also. See More

Top Pro

Rolling release

A single instance of Void will be supported forever without needing to reinstall. See More

Top Pro

Easy installation

Void includes a very user-friendly installer that makes it much easier to install for beginners than alternatives like Arch. See More

Top Pro

Very Minimal

More minimalistic than Arch since it doesn't use systemd. See More

Top Pro

Very lightweight

Base installation can idle at less than 250 megabytes of RAM. See More

Top Pro

Easy to use installer

Unlike it's closest competitor, Arch, Void includes a very user-friendly and simple installer in the ISO. See More

Top Pro

Friendly Forum

Unlink Elite Arch Forum, it is friendly forumalthough it's small See More

It is a full stage 4 build that is fully compatible with Gentoo. See More

Redcore Linux

Top Pro

Stage 4 build of Gentoo

EnterprisingMehen's Experience

I would prefer a normal funtoo or gentoo install but if you dont care about customization it is a great way to discover gentoo. See More

Specs

Init-System:OpenRC

Based On:Gentoo

Release Type:Source, however binary packages are available

Default Desktop Environment:KDE, LXQt

It focuses Qt-desktops and software but it also has GTK+ software available if you need them. See More

Top Pro

Focuses Qt-Software

LearnedSopdet's Experience

The project started out nice, but then each update became worse. It's very unstable especially for being Gentoo based. See More

You build the package from a source you can see and read. You decide which features you want to build in and which aren't needed. You can choose build options, optimisation and whatever else fancy stuff you want modified. With a binary distribution this simply isn't possible. See More

Gentoo Linux

Top Pro

Full control of the software

Top Con

Has no live images with graphical interface

Full installation is hand-made with a CLI (Command-Line Interface). See More

Specs

Init-System:OpenRC

Based On:N/A

Release Type:Source, however binarys packages are available

Default Desktop Environment:N/A

The usage of advanced features like USE flags makes it more customizable than any binary distribution. See More

Top Pro

Fully customizable

Top Con

Not beginner-friendly

You have to read a lot of instructions to start, even if you are familiar with Linux. Furthermore, as you have to configure the kernel and init system, expect some boot failures at beginning. See More

Top Pro

Freedom

You are free to do whatever you want with it. As a result, its configuration reflects your unique taste and personality. See More

Top Con

Dependencies can be a pain

If you install a lot of packages you can get a bit stuck at upgrade time. Sometimes you have to unmerge packages in order to update, then reinstall them. Not always though! See More

Top Pro

Can be officially systemd-free

Gentoo's default init system is OpenRC. Gentoo also officially supports systemd-free Gnome and udev. Users are free to choose any init system they want. See More

Top Pro

Documentation and community are second to none

Provides a whole handbook to refer to during setup and usage. See More

Top Pro

Can by optimized to any given CPU by using proper compile flags

Since everything is being built on your PC you can fine-tune the code to make use of your CPU. And all it requires is two lines of string variables in a global config. See More

Top Pro

Gentoo does not impose a standard look-and-feel

Top Pro

Portage's emerge is powerful

Since this is completely "free", you won't find many packages available, so there isn't a lot you can do with Parabola. See More

Parabola GNU/Linux-libre

Top Pro

All the benefits of Arch Linux, only 100% certified free software

Top Con

Very few packages

Specs

Init-System:Systemd or OpenRC

Based On:Arch Linux

Default Desktop Environment:LXDE

As always with full libre distros you have to make compromises. See More

Top Pro

Protects your freedom, certified free by the FSF

Top Con

Hard to find non-free stuff

Top Pro

Has its own repos

Parabola has its own repos (which are almost as large as Arch Linux) and the IceCat browser is included. See More

Top Con

Small Repositories

Since Parabola is a completely free distro, there is no nonfree software available and the community repositories are small compared to the AUR. See More

Top Pro

Very secure

Top Con

Won't work out-of-the-box on the most PC's

Almost all PCs need unfree drivers but parabola has none to offer. See More

Top Pro

Option to use OpenRC or Systemd

Top Con

Limited hardware support

Only free drivers are available. See More

Top Pro

Can be migrated from Arch Linux without a CD/USB

Top Pro

Very Secure

Top Pro

Based on Arch Linux

Besides Debian (which was first released in August 1993), it is the oldest still maintained Linux Distribution and was first released in July 1993. See More

Slackware

Top Pro

Oldest surviving Linux distro

Specs

Init-System:SysVinit

Based On:Softlanding Linux System

Default Desktop Environment:KDE SC

Uses standard tar archives with shell scripting as packages. See More

Top Pro

Ideal to learn more of Linux

Top Pro

Package management

Top Pro

Strong adherence to UNIX Principals

Top Pro

keep it stupid simple

Unlike Debian, SUSE or Arch, Slackware aims to be as KISS as possible See More

Top Pro

Stable

Uses stable, plain-vanilla packages from upstream. See More

A portable version, that can be carried on a thumb drive without requiring installation, weighs less than 100MB; a Live CD - less than 150MB. You can even save your settings and files for Puppy on the external device/media. Running off a live CD also has security benefits, as your system will reset to the known config after each boot. See More

Puppy Linux

Top Pro

Designed to run as a live USB/CD

Top Con

Smallest software library ever

You can barely find any precompiled packages for Puppy. See More

AmbitiousAchilles's Experience

Have been using Puppy on and off, for years. Currently my favourite on low-spec Intel NUC machine - beats all comers for speed. See More

Specs

Init-System:SysV

Based On:N/A (however binaries are usually taken from Debian/Ubuntu or Slackware)

Default Desktop Environment:Usually JWM

Since Puppy Linux is completely loaded and run off of RAM instead of HDD, it's read/write speed is not a factor. See More

Top Pro

The whole OS runs off of RAM

Top Con

A bit ugly

Using puppy makes you feel like you just jumped 20 years into the past. Being that the purpose of Puppy Linux is to run or really low resource machines the software used is often on the older side, which is precisely why it has a 20 year old look. See More

Top Pro

Different distro based versions available

Puppy Linux offers a few different releases. The first is an Ubuntu based release called Tahrpup, by using this version the user is able to take advantage of all software and support from Ubuntu. The second version is called Slacko, which is built upon the Slackware binaries. The third is called Wary and it is built to support older hardware than the rest. And the fourth is called Quirky, which is used as a base to explore new ideas. See More

Top Pro

Extremely low minimum system requirements

Puppy Linux requires 128MB of RAM and 333Mhz of CPU, although 256MB of RAM is recommended. See More

Top Pro

JWM used as window manager

JWM is a low resource window manager that is used in most Puppy Linux installs. See More

It otionally includes plenty of GUI helpers to administrate the destop eg: setting time an date, group management and an update-notifier. See More

Salix OS

Top Pro

User friendly

Top Con

Slow development

Since it follows Slackware releases See More

Specs

Init-System:SysVinit

Based On:SLS>Slackware

Default Desktop Environment:Xfce

it uses slapt-get as default and adds simple dependency resolution management to slackware. See More

Top Pro

slapt-get

Top Pro

Fully Slackware compatible

It is fully binary compatible with Slackware. See More

Top Pro

KISS

Apart from its package managers added dependency resolution it is fully KISS with no helpers. See More

Everyone can use it and if you don't root it you can't even kill it See More

Bliss OS

Top Pro

OS for Dummies

Top Con

Too simple

It might be too simple for more advanced users. See More

Specs

Init-System:Android-init

Based On:AOSP>Android-x86

Default Desktop Environment:Android

It is made by individuals not by a company that needs to make money. See More

Top Pro

No ADs

Top Con

No GNU userland

There is no classic GNU userland. See More

Top Pro

Almost stock

It is almost a Stock AOSP-Android with no huge modifications. See More

Top Con

Limited hardware support

Like android-x86, it has limited hardware support. See More

Top Pro

ARM Virtualization

Like android-x86, it comes with ARM virtualization support, so you can run many Android ARM apps on your x-86 device. See More

Top Con

Not for power users

Android is designed for everyone so it might be a bit limited for power users. See More

Top Pro

Rooted with a few clicks

Similarly to android-x86, it's rooted with just a few clicks, thus allowing the use of AdAway and other Ad Blockers. See More

Top Pro

Google Play Store

Google Play Store is installed by default. See More

Top Pro

Extra launchers

Comes with a taskbar launcher and the Pixel launcher. See More

Top Pro

Fully opensource

It is fully opensource and there is no company behind it. See More

Top Pro

Familiar UI/Design

Everyone who owns an android device already know the OS. See More

Top Pro

Multi-platform

Android is available for PCs, Phones, Tablets, TVs and even Clocks. See More

Top Pro

Simple Linux distro

Like ChromiumOS it has a very simple(stipped down) user interface that is easy to understand and use. See More

Top Pro

Unique

It is unique compared to taditional GNU-based Linux distributions. See More

Top Pro

Android Apps

There exist an app for any task. See More

It allows selecting, for example, gnome or desktop profile with most of the sane use flags enabled inside the profile. See More

Funtoo

Top Pro

Use flags that are suitable for a task or environment are grouped into Profiles

Top Con

Manual install

there are no official stage 4 builds available. There is also no installer that will install you a light base system. See More

Specs

Init-System:OpenRC

Based On:Gentoo

Release Type:Source

Default Desktop Environment:N/A

The profile system improves portage's usability without losing the soul of Gentoo. See More

Top Pro

Like Gentoo but more streamlined

Top Pro

Funtoo Linux offers a variety of stage3 builds

Customized to a variety of CPU microarchitecture variants from AMD, ARM, and Intel. See More

Top Pro

Stage3 archive coming with pre-compiled kernel based on Debian's kernel

Set up just how you want - meta-packages clean, not cluttered. Really fast, responsive OS even on older hardware. See More

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Artix Linux

Top Pro

Configure your own system from scratch - like Gentoo but no compiling

Top Con

Few Arch packages might not be available yet

Developers are working migrating all packages into their own repositories while ensuring there's no systemd malware. See More

ArtisticLlefelys's Experience

open-rc simpe and best See More

Specs

Init-System:runit, s6, or OpenRC

Based On:Arch Linux

Default Desktop Environment:LXQt/KDE or MATE/LXDE

Fast boot time and multi-core out of the box See More

Top Pro

Great OpenRC defaults

Top Con

small community

It has only a few developers and a small userbase. See More

AssertiveWuGang's Experience

Overall great experience: fast and easy. See More

Top Pro

Close to bare Arch Linux

No learning curve if you're coming from Arch or any of its derivatives See More

Top Con

Mirrors are slower out of the box

Mirros are located all over the world and users can choose whichever they want; this con is frivolous. See More

LovelyPrabhasa's Experience

Installed with good hardware support for my newish laptop, totally issue free. GUI installer allows for manual partitioning or automatic, anf it even supports disk encryption. Base install allows you to do it through pacstrap and cli. So far I haven't encountered any missing packages. See More

Top Pro

Lightweight

Only the software you would need like Terminal emulator, file manager, media player and a browser. See More

Top Con

Missing init scripts

Not all packages have unit scripts. Especially not AUR packages. See More

LoyalCorymbus's Experience

Init systems apart, it provides 3 levels of configuration choices: base (i.e. bare minimum CLI install, for advanced users), minimal (moderately preconfigured LXDE, LXQt, MATE, Cinnamon or Plasma desktops, for most users) and community editions (fully loaded and preconfigured GTK or Qt desktops, i.e. MATE/LXDE and Plasma/LXQt, ready for production). All installation media are available in OpenRC, runit or s6 versions. You choose how much you want to configure and you're set. Huge package selection available, as you can use any pacman-based repositories you like (e.g. Black Arch's or Manjaro's) and of course the AUR. Best of all: no systemd Borg and its assorted CVEs. See More

Top Pro

No systemd

Top Con

Only amd64

It does not support ARM, MIPS or any other CPU architecture than amd64. See More

Nathan's Experience

Customize your own system, down to init system of choice: openrc, runnit, s6 See More

Top Pro

Flexibility

You can have a functional system in less than 10 mins using GUI installer OR you can do it "the Arch way" See More

Top Con

No security not greatly tested

They stuff openrc and runit files directly from the master branch of either gentoo or void linux into a PKGBUILD and call it stable. See More

DebonairMehetWeret's Experience

Customize your own system, down to which init system you like. See More

Top Pro

runit

Artix actively supports the runit init system known from Void Linux. (Equally besides the OpenRC init system known from Gentoo.) See More

Top Con

Most packages are directly imported from arch

Not exactly, the're cleaned of systemd dependencies first and built afresh. See More

ReasonableEnbilulu's Experience

Very flexible. I use Plasma and it starts fast, very fast. There is not a gazilliion meta packages that create cluttered systems. If you do end up with a cluttered system YOU are to blame, not the distro. See More

Top Pro

Rolling distro

Top Con

No 32 bit support

It does not support intel-like 32 Bit CPUs. See More

Top Pro

Choices for everything

Offers choices, of which init system you want among runit, openrc & s6, versus other nonsystemd Linux Distros, fast, lightweight, Arch software packages with AUR, incredible simple, choices of DEs on installation and., of course, you can add any other you may want, like XFCE. A real good choice for Linux Desktop See More

Top Con

No secureboot support

after install you wont automatilly get secureboot support. See More

Top Pro

Install base-only and customize to be your own system

Top Con

Bloated

For installation it just unpacks the LiveCD to your hard drive. See More

Top Pro

s6 init

Artix actively supports the s6 init system. See More

Top Pro

Arch documentation

You can use almost all arch documentation. See More