There’s been a lot of talk about Zorin OS lately. That’s because with Windows 10 support ending in October 2025, millions of users fed up with Microsoft are looking for an alternative. And right now, this Linux distribution is the one making waves. In just five weeks, Zorin OS 18 has surpassed one million downloads, with 78% coming from Windows machines. This operating system offers a polished interface that looks like Windows or macOS. And like all Linux systems, there’s no spyware, no forced cloud services, and no mandatory account with the publisher. On paper, it’s the dream for anyone wanting to escape the Microsoft ecosystem.

So we wanted to see for ourselves what this is really about from a Linux user’s perspective. We downloaded Zorin OS 18 and installed it on two test machines to bring you our complete analysis. As usual here at NovaFuture, an honest, well-documented analysis that pulls no punches. Because if you’re looking for yet another article that practically copies Zorin’s press release word for word saying everything is wonderful, you’ll find plenty of those online. But here, we’re going to dig deep. We’re going to look at what’s really under the hood, what the paid version is actually worth, and whether the current hype is justified or just clever marketing. Spoiler alert: We found things we liked and things that genuinely annoyed us. But we’ll let you form your own opinion.

Let’s put the controversy to rest: Yes, beginner-friendly Linux distributions absolutely belong in this ecosystem

Before we go any further, let’s set the record straight. In the Linux community, there’s always been a certain disdain for so-called mainstream distributions like Zorin OS, Linux Mint, or Ubuntu. Some purists believe that real Linux means Arch, Gentoo, or Debian with nothing but the command line. To them, if you’ve never compiled your own kernel, you don’t deserve any respect.

But let’s be real, this elitist mindset is completely counterproductive and totally misses the point. Simply put, Linux isn’t reserved for network administrators or developers. Linux is for everyone! And if a distribution lets your grandma browse the web without being spied on by Microsoft, that’s a win for free software. End of story!

Full disclosure, I personally use Linux Mint with Cinnamon daily because it gives me a pleasant desktop environment. Alongside that, I also use Debian on another machine for professional tasks like networking and development. So there’s no conflict between so-called easy distributions and so-called serious ones. You can absolutely use both depending on your needs. And it’s actually pretty smart to do so.

All this to say that we’re not going to criticize Zorin OS for being a beginner-friendly distribution. That’s actually great. What we are going to examine closely is whether the results live up to the promises. And on that front, there’s a lot to discuss…

What exactly is Zorin OS?

Zorin OS is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that’s been developed since 2008 by a small Irish team called Zorin Group. Their stated goal is to offer an alternative to Windows and macOS with an interface familiar enough that anyone can make the switch without any headaches.

Version 18 was released on October 14, 2025. And that’s no coincidence since it’s the exact day Microsoft ended support for Windows 10. On the technical side, Zorin OS 18 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with Linux kernel 6.14. Support for this version is announced through June 2029, which gives you plenty of runway.

There are several editions of Zorin. The Core version is free and serves as the base with the GNOME desktop and four different themes. The Lite version, which is also free, uses the XFCE desktop for older machines, but it’s not yet available for version 18 at the time of writing. The Education version is also free and builds on the Core version by adding a collection of educational software like GCompris, TurboWarp, or Kolibri. Finally, there’s the Pro version, which costs $47.99. It offers twelve desktop themes instead of four, a suite of pre-installed creative software, additional wallpapers, and email-based technical support for installation. We’ll come back to this Pro version in detail because there’s quite a bit to say about what you actually get for that price.

Our testing protocol for Zorin version 18

For this analysis, we installed Zorin OS 18 Core on two very different machines. The idea is to see how the system performs on both modern hardware and an older setup.

The first machine features an Intel N100 processor with four cores, 16 GB of RAM, and an NVMe SSD. Modern hardware without being high-end. The kind of setup you’d find today in a $200 mini PC. The second machine runs on an AMD A4-5000 processor with integrated Radeon graphics, also four cores, 8 GB of RAM, and a traditional hard drive. It’s clearly not what you’d call a recent machine anymore, but it’s not ancient either. The choice of these two test machines is far from random since this is exactly the kind of computer you’ll find in many households.

On the older machine, we also tested the XFCE environment to see if it improves performance compared to the GNOME desktop in the Core version. This is the environment used by the Lite version, which is supposed to run Zorin on machines over fifteen years old according to official communications. Let’s see how it goes…

Testing Zorin on the modern machine

On our Intel N100 with 16 GB of RAM, the installation went off without a hitch. Clean and fast. On first boot, you discover an interface that is indeed very attractive. It’s polished, clean, and the design is modern. A user coming from Windows immediately finds their bearings with a start menu in the bottom left and a file browser that works exactly as expected.

We appreciated several things. First, the default use of PipeWire for audio management. In practical terms, this means Bluetooth works really well. We connected a wireless headset and it was instant with good sound quality and no noticeable latency. Next, we noticed that Brave is installed as the default browser rather than Firefox. That’s a solid choice for privacy, even though obviously you can install Brave in thirty seconds on any Linux distribution.

You’ll also find Zorin Connect pre-installed. This feature lets you sync your phone with your computer. Basically, you can receive your phone notifications on your PC, transfer files without a cable, share the clipboard between both devices, control media playback, or even use your phone as a touchpad. It’s a bit gimmicky for my taste, but it can come in handy for some and it works well. On the phone side, you just need to install the Zorin Connect Android app from the Play Store and pair the two devices on the same WiFi network.

And here’s where we have our first issue with Zorin OS. Because Zorin Connect isn’t something Zorin created. It’s simply a rebrand of KDE Connect, an open source project that’s been around for years. In fact, on Zorin’s official GitHub repository, it’s written in black and white that the app is based on KDE Connect. Except nowhere in Zorin’s interface or documentation will you find this information clearly mentioned. Which isn’t exactly classy.

So if you’re thinking of choosing Zorin OS specifically for this feature, know that it’s available for free on all Linux distributions. Just install KDE Connect, which also has its own Android app on the Play Store and F-Droid, and even an iPhone version for those poor souls stuck with Apple. The only difference is it doesn’t have the Zorin logo.

As for the rest, the software catalog is accessible through a graphical interface that pulls from multiple sources. You can install applications from the Ubuntu and Zorin repositories, from Flathub for Flatpaks, and from the Snap Store. For someone discovering Linux who doesn’t want to touch the terminal, it’s genuinely convenient. So for our tests on this machine, no major complaints. Zorin OS 18 does indeed get the job done for beginners.

Testing Zorin on the older machine is a rude awakening

This is where things get rough! On our AMD A4-5000 with 8 GB of RAM, Zorin OS Core becomes barely usable. Applications take forever to launch, window transitions are choppy, and as soon as you open more than two or three things at once, it freezes up. Three or four open tabs in Brave are enough to lock up the system. We’re very far from the smooth experience that was promised.

So we installed the XFCE environment to see if it would improve things. Because that’s the lightweight desktop that will be used in the Lite version, the one that’s supposed to breathe new life into old machines. The result? Sure, it’s better than GNOME. But it’s still sluggish. We didn’t get the same snappiness that we achieve with other lightweight distributions on the same hardware.

And this is where we start having a problem with Zorin’s messaging. Because on their official website, the minimum specs list 2 GB of RAM for the Core version and 1 GB of RAM for the Lite version. They also claim the system can run on fifteen-year-old machines.

Let’s be crystal clear! These numbers are pure marketing fantasy. Technically yes, the system can boot with 2 GB of RAM. But using it daily with a modern web browser is simply impossible. Just open the browser and your machine is on its knees. So these specs are there to look impressive on paper, not to reflect real-world usage. And that, frankly, ticks us off. Because it’s nonsense and it’s going to waste people’s time who will try it on small machines and come away with a bad impression of Linux.

Breaking down the Zorin Pro version at $47.99

Now let’s talk about the paid version. Right off the bat, the pricing is already a bad start! $47.99 LOL Not $48. Nope, $47.99! That’s a marketing trick straight out of a discount supermarket that tells you everything about Zorin Group’s commercial approach. But let’s move on and look at what you actually get for this price.

The Pro version offers twelve desktop layouts instead of four. You can make your interface look like Windows 11, classic Windows XP-style, macOS, ChromeOS, Ubuntu, elementary OS, Linux Mint, and a few other variations. It’s presented as an exclusive premium feature.

Except in reality, these are themes and GNOME extension configurations. Nothing that a slightly curious user couldn’t recreate for free on any Linux distribution with the GNOME desktop. In fact, if you look hard enough, you’ll find tutorials on Zorin’s own forum for recreating these famous layouts on the free version. So much for exclusivity.

But the best part is the creative suite. On their website, Zorin proudly announces that the Pro version includes the equivalent of over $5,000 worth of professional software. Wow! Impressive, right? Except when you look at the actual list of software, you find GIMP, Inkscape, Blender, Kdenlive, Darktable, Krita, Ardour, OBS Studio, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, VirtualBox, and Scribus. See the problem? Every single one of these programs is free and open source. They’re available on every Linux distribution on the planet. You can install them with a single command on Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, or anything else.

Zorin doesn’t develop any of these programs. They just pre-install them, and that’s it. Claiming $5,000 in savings for software that anyone can get for free is what you might call very optimistic messaging, but I’d lean more toward saying it’s just a flat-out insult to your intelligence.

But wait, there’s more. In its Pro package, Zorin also offers technical support. Except it only covers installation, which generally doesn’t cause any particular issues anyway. And after that, if you have a problem with everyday use, you’re on your own with the Zorin forum like everyone else. Speaking of the forum, several users point out that Zorin developers are relatively absent compared to other communities like Linux Mint’s, where the team responds regularly.

Another very important detail: Your purchase gives you access to Zorin OS 18 Pro and its future minor updates. But when Zorin OS 19 comes out, you’ll have to pay again. A discount is promised for existing customers, but you’ll still have to shell out once more. The more I think about it, the more I wonder if we’re still in Linux territory here?

If Zorin actually included premium proprietary software like CorelDRAW or a DaVinci Resolve Studio license, then we could understand the price tag. But that’s absolutely not the case. Honestly, paying the asking price just for some themes and wallpapers is pretty outrageous.

Funding free software shouldn’t be a taboo subject

That said, let’s be very clear: We’d much rather hear that a free software publisher has found a viable business model than that they’re shutting down due to lack of resources. Funding free software is a real issue and a real problem. Excellent projects unfortunately shut down every year because developers can no longer afford to dedicate their time for free. That’s a reality we can’t ignore. So yes, spending money according to your means to support free software isn’t a problem at all. Quite the opposite.

But there’s a right way to do it! When a project clearly states that it needs support to keep going, when it offers optional donations or a transparent contribution system, you know why you’re participating. Personally and on behalf of NovaFuture, we regularly donate to free software projects. Because they do great work and because they don’t feed us a line of bull. On top of that, if a free software project offers me a mug or a t-shirt with Tux on it to help make ends meet, I have absolutely no problem with that. I love penguins and logos from good free alternatives.

On the other hand, tactics that involve disguising hot air as a premium offering, artificially inflating the value of free software, and using the most blatant marketing tricks from the proprietary world, that’s a hard no! And if I’m emphasizing this point, it’s because it goes beyond just Zorin. So it’s better to draw the line now to keep the free software world healthy. We can’t ask the general public to leave Windows only to find the same shady practices on Linux. There, I said it!

So which Linux distribution should a beginner choose?

Personally, for a nice desktop environment I much prefer my Linux Mint. But beyond my preferences, what really bugs me about Zorin OS is the way everyone’s talking about it. Because once again, media outlets that know nothing about Linux are parroting Zorin’s marketing materials without verifying anything. And then it gets picked up by a swarm of clickbait sites all repeating the same thing. Five thousand dollars worth of free software, the revolutionary distribution, the holy grail for leaving Windows… And in the end, we’re really sick of hype at any cost! We’d like to get real information once in a while, especially when it comes to tech.

For their part, Zorin clearly understands the world we live in and uses every marketing trick in the book to pass themselves off as an exceptional distribution. But let’s stop the madness. This isn’t 2010 anymore! We need to be done with this myth that Linux is hard compared to Windows and with this endless quest for the holy grail of simplicity.

Because the reality is that today, distributions like Linux Mint, Ubuntu, MX Linux, and many others are perfectly suited for beginners. Without shameless marketing, without inflated promises, and without charging you $48 for wallpapers. Sorry, that’s $47.99 🙂 So if you too want to ditch Windows and join the magical and wonderful world of Linux and need some advice, don’t hesitate to use our dedicated forum for open source. We’ll be happy to help you make your choice in a friendly atmosphere.

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