Why Zorin OS 18.1 is the best Linux distro for anyone

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ZDNET Highlights

• Zorin OS 18.1 is now available to install for free.
• There are lots of updates and plenty of polish.
• This latest release might be the best OS I’ve tried so far.

In 2025, I said that Zorin OS 18 could be my new best Linux distro. Before then (in 2023), I called Zorin OS exactly what a desktop operating system should be.

Notice a pattern?

With each release, Zorin OS makes a very strong statement that it is Linux distribution for all types of users.

Zorin OS 18.1, released today, continues that trend to the point where I’m officially calling it the best Linux distribution on the market; Not just for new users, not just for experienced users – for everyone.

It won’t take long after your first login to understand why I can make such a bold claim. Zorin OS 18.1 refines all the work the developers have done so far, creating an operating system that is just as good.

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Why is this release of Zorin OS so good?

New perspective on desktop alternatives

It all starts (as it usually does) with the desktop layout.

Before 18.1, when you first logged in to Zorin Desktop, you were presented with layout options. In the free version, there were four layouts, and in the Pro version, there are a total of 10.

In Zorin OS 18.1, that option does not appear when you log in for the first time. Instead, you’re greeted by a KDE Plasma-like layout with only a bottom panel containing the Start menu, quick launcher, and a system tray. It’s clean and effective.

For those who prefer a different layout, you can still open Zorin Appearance and select from four free options (or upgrade to the Pro license and get six additional), but I believe most users (especially first-time users) will stick with the default.

Another great feature is the innovative window tiling. Although this isn’t a new feature, it’s definitely been polished for 18.1, and, man, is it good.

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By default, when you launch an app, it opens normally. However, if you hold down the Ctrl key while moving the window, you can tile it as you want. Essentially, it gives you an on-the-fly tiling window manager.

You can also tile windows in the normal way (drag to the left edge of the screen to tile it to the left edge, etc.).

And let’s not forget about Zorin OS’s software suggestions feature. If you download a Windows installer (.exe), and double-click on it, Zorin OS recognizes the application and suggests an open-source alternative. For example, if you download the Office 365 installer and double-click it, Zorin OS will suggest using the pre-installed LibreOffice office suite.

Although the feature has been around for some time, with 18.1, the number of supported apps has grown to over 240.

preinstalled software

For preinstalled applications, you get Brave Browser, LibreOffice, Evolution (email/calendar/tasks/contacts), Remina (remote desktop viewer), Rhythmbox (music player), Video (video player), and more.

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Naturally, you also get GNOME Software, including a well-designed GUI app store with Flatpak support, so you can install proprietary apps like Slack and Spotify, too.

Everything that makes 18.01 so good

The more I use Zorin OS 18.1, the more I realize that it’s not just one or a handful of features that make it so good. What makes this release great is that everything comes together to create a cohesive whole that most Linux distributions can’t match.

Zorin OS surpasses all other operating systems by offering the best in everything: look, feel, style, feel, simplicity, reliability and completeness. I hope almost all types of users can install Zorin OS 18.1 and become productive immediately while feeling at home without making a single change.

It really is that good.

What’s improved in 18.1

The short list looks like this:

• new tiling options
• Latest version of LibreOffice
• all apps updated
• A new lite version for old hardware
• Better security and compatibility

It may not be a huge list of updates, but they all work in harmony, making you feel like every single aspect of the OS has been improved.

Also: I’m a Linux power user, and this distro made me rethink what an operating system could be.

If you are interested in installing Zorin OS 18.1, download iso imageBurn it to a USB drive, boot, and install.