Windows is not a stable operating system, or private one. This is partly because Windows is the world's most popular desktop operating system, and has become the biggest target for hackers and malware peddlers. And, let's not forget that Microsoft was actually (by some margin) the first organization to comply with the NSA's PRISM mass surveillance programme. Microsoft even collects tons of telemetry from your machine, whether or not you want it.
We list the 3 best alternatives to the Windows operating system in this guide, and further detail the privacy issues around Windows OS.
The Perfect Alternatives to Windows-
Below we listed the best Windows Operating System alternatives. We also outlined the advantages of using each alternative to Windows, what to look for if you intend to use those operating systems.
1. Linux-
Linux is an open-source, free operating system that can do anything Windows do. Unlike Windows, however, Linux is inherently protected and is designed with a view to privacy. Most Windows "flagship" applications are also available for Windows, so there is typically a strong alternative to open-source Windows if they aren't.
If you want to keep your current Computer hardware and just change your operating system, then Linux is just about your only choice. For most common PC hardware, Linux drivers (official or unofficial) are available, although you might need to substitute one or two components for compatibility purposes.
It's worth remembering that Linux is much less resource-intensive than Windows, which means it's running well on older machines and low-spec.
Linux comes in a confounding variety of flavors, known as "distros," each of which has its own strengths and weakness. Some are designed for a very particular use case while others are strongly focused on privacy.
The versions of Linux that we are addressing in this article do not emphasize out-of-the-box safety, since we are searching for more an OS that replicates Windows' wide general features.
Learning How to Use Linux Can Be Hard-
As much as we love Linux, the fact that it has a much steeper learning curve than Windows does not get away from this.
Distros like Ubuntu and Mint have made great strides towards improving the user-friendliness of Linux, but even with these, it won't be long before you'll find yourself in need of entering arcane text commands into the command line Terminal.
There's a lot of support available from an active Linux fan base online, but we're reluctant to recommend it to the more tech-averse out there. On the other hand, if privacy is your key reason to leave behind Windows then Linux is the only alternative operating system that is more or less guaranteed not to spy on you.
Gaming on Linux OS-
Given its fairly low user base, the number of games porting to Linux (mainly to Ubuntu) is surprising. Indeed, Steam even has a dedicated portal on Linux. That said, the catalog of Linux games is several times smaller than the one on Windows.
Therefore many Linux gamers, even die-hard open-source fanatics, opt for dual-booting games into Windows. The privacy consequences of using Windows are mitigated by the fact that, for all other activities, many such gamers only use Windows to play games, and move back to Linux.
Live DVD, Live CD and Live USB Distros-
One of the best features Linux provides is bootable Live CD, Live DVD, and Live USB distros. These allow you to run most Linux versions directly from a bootable media source, without having to install them permanently.
Some highly privacy-focused distros, like TAILS, are meant to run as live CDs that don't leave any trace on your PC. However, you may want to mount a Distro properly for full-time use for Windows replacement OSs.
However, live CDs (etc.) allow you to try out various Linux versions before you decide which one you prefer. They 're also a perfect way to test for compatibility problems with drivers and the like before subscribing to a different distro.
So, Which Linux Distro to Choose-
Linux variants are various, each with its own loyal fan base. The list below contains some of the most popular desktop replacement options which is "newbie friendly," all of which are free.
Notice that as a philosophy we have chosen to suggest Linux mainstream releases over smaller distros like Zorin OS and Pinguy OS (although very user friendly to Windows).
We have also decided to refuse to recommend popular mainstream distros like Arch and Fedora (including its FOSS offshoot CentOS), as we don't believe these render Windows replacements appropriate for beginners or more casual users.
Ubuntu-
Ubuntu is the most popular Linux version, by far. It's done more than any other distro, built on Debian, to make Linux a fully loaded and user-friendly OS that anyone can use.
Its default heavily customized desktop GNOME 3 (user interface) feels very modern and intuitive in use, although it will undoubtedly feel a little odd to recent Windows refugees. In comparison, Mac users should feel right at home.
Ubuntu is often regarded as the "default" version of Linux, due to its popularity. This means a lot of Linux software is developed specifically for Ubuntu, and therefore Ubuntu enjoys the highest level of support and compatibility of all Linux distros. Indeed, the value of this argument is hard to overemphasise.
By design, Ubuntu installs proprietary drivers and numerous other closed-source bits and bobs to provide quick installation and good compatibility with as large a range of Computer hardware as possible. This also includes non-free applications in its principal repository for the applications kit.
Together with some questionable decisions made in the past by developer Canonical (which doesn't affect recent versions of Ubuntu), open-source and privacy die-hards can be somewhat sniffy about the OS.
However, the fact remains that Ubuntu (together with its offshoot, Mint, see below) is widely regarded as the most user friendly and easiest-to-use Linux version around.
Mint-
Mint is based on Ubuntu but provides a much more Windows-like interface with its default Cinnamon desktop. Ubuntu software works flawlessly in Mint, and the interface is similar enough to Ubuntu that the majority of Ubuntu guides can be used as well as they are in Mint.
While Mint's biggest draw over Ubuntu is that Windows users can immediately feel more at home, its package manager is quicker and simpler to use than Ubuntu's, and it comes with must-have out-of-the-box installed Linux apps including VLC and GIMP.
Mint is lighter than Ubuntu, though, and therefore runs well on lower-specced systems.
Debian-
Mint is Ubuntu-based and Ubuntu is Debian-based. Many Linux purists prefer Debian to any of its common offshoots, since it is a true community-developed program, and there are no closed source packages in the core installation kit.
While laudable, this means that users may encounter more compatibility issues with hardware than they do when installing Ubuntu or Mint. There is however an installation kit which includes proprietary software designed to improve this situation.
Nevertheless, the wisdom that has been obtained is that Ubuntu and Mint are best for beginners while Debian is more appropriate for seasoned Linux users. So this is an assessment we would not disagree with.
Debian's development cycle is much longer than Ubuntu, which helps to make it more stable but less cutting-edge. The fact that most (though not all) Ubuntu software packages function perfectly in Debian is quite useful considering Ubuntu's broad user base.
Debian supports a wide variety of desktop environments out of the box, including GNOME (shown above), KDE, Cinnamon, MATE and more. It will have a really Windows / Mint-like experience using the Cinnamon desktop.
OpenSUSE-
Unlike the other Linux distros for beginners mentioned in this article, OpenSUSE is not Debian based. Indeed it's also a stand-alone release not based on any of the other major branches of Linux. Although FOSS software developed by a community, it is sponsored by SUSE Linux GmbH and other companies.
What makes OpenSUSE really stand out as a substitute for Windows is its YaST control centre. This provides an intuitive graphical user interface for tinkering with just about every aspect of the operating system, including hard disk partitioning, system setup, online updates, network and firewall configuration, user administration, package management and more.
When it comes to package management, OpenSUSE uses RPM, rather than Debian-based systems-favoured DEB packages. However, RPM packages are commonly distributed so it is unlikely that this would be a concern (and it is not difficult to install DEB packages in OpenSUSE anyway).
An significant choice to make is whether to mount the Leap or Tumbleweed models with OpenSUSE. Leap has a daily update schedule for 8 months, and is widely considered to be the more robust version of OpenSUSE.
Tumbleweed has a rolling release process which implies regular updating of packages. Therefore, users benefit from a bleeding-edge OS, but possibly at the cost of stability (although with Tumbleweed, many enthusiasts contest any stability concerns).
KDE Plasma (shown in the screenshot above) and GNOME are the main desktop environments that are supported during installation, but as with any Linux version you may later upgrade to any desktop you want.
2. macOS-
The most noticeable alternative to Windows operating system is macOS. The biggest downside this choice has for most people is that it almost definitely involves buying a brand new machine to run it, and a premium-priced one at that.
And although undoubtedly beautiful machines, when compared with Windows PCs (let alone self-built PCs!), Macs do not represent good value for money in terms of bang for the buck or cutting edge features.
It has been possible to create a "hackintosh" on the cheap using PC parts since Macs began using Intel processors back in 2006, but this is not a job for the technically timid. Although the situation has improved in recent years thanks to an enthusiastic fan base, hardware compatibility problems mean that devices that are supplied with official Mac drivers usually perform better when installed from the ground up.
Is it a True Windows Replacement?
However macOS is hard to beat in terms of being a direct substitute for Windows. It does things differently, so when you first change over there's a learning curve, but macOS is beautiful, mature, stable, possibly even easier to use than Windows, and comes bundled out of the box with all the productivity software that many people will ever need.
Quite every tech publisher on the planet also supports it completely. Indeed, several creative industries accept Mac software which is not even available for Windows, or which is specifically designed for macOS with Windows ports being more of an afterthought!
However, an exception to this is games. Steam officially supports macOS as with Linux, but the list of Mac games is considerably smaller than the one of Windows. As with Linux, Mac gamers often tend to dual-boot into Windows to enjoy a wider range of games.
Unlike Linux users, however, they are also hindered by the fact that when designing their (non-upgradeable) Mac computers, Apple does not give priority to gaming hardware (such as graphics cards).
So if money isn't an issue, and you don't use your Computer to play, macOS is a great Windows replacement OS. Except, it's not open-source.
Privacy Concerns-
Apple makes its money by selling premium products, so it has less motivation to spy on its users for profit than firms like Google, whose whole business model is focused on violating the privacy of its users. In reality, Apple has recently made a big deal of its commitment to the privacy of users.
But it did comply with the PRISM mass surveillance scheme of the NSA (although much later than most other participating companies). And since macOS is a closed source program, it's difficult to know for certain what it's up to.
3. ChromeOS-
Chrome OS is the latest kid on the desktop OS block. As is (usually) the case with macOS, you'll need to buy a new device to use it. Unlike Mac hardware, however, the market has a multitude of low-cost, low-end, Chromebooks (as well as a increasing number of mid-to-high-end ones).
Chrome OS was originally developed as an ultra lightweight Windows alternative. Since many of us are doing almost everything related to computers in the browser these days, the idea of Google was clear-why not convert the Chrome browser into a whole OS?
The apparently strange idea actually worked, to the delight of many observers! Since Chrome OS was little more than a basic browser, it could be built on cheap low-end laptops without having any noticeable effect on their performance (unlike Windows bloated).
A major problem at first was that without an active internet connection ChromeOS was useless as just a browser. However, this became less of a concern over time as web applications like HTML5 such as Google Docs became increasingly available when offline.
This made Chrome OS a popular choice for unsolicited users , allowing them to browse the net, stream Netflix, check their email, and knock on low-cost laptops and boxes with the odd letter in Google Docs. And it can be said that Google Docs now provides good support for Microsoft Office document editing and exporting.
However, this was not a "real" operating system like Windows, Linux, or macOS. But, here we are.
Is it a True Windows Replacement?
Recent updates have metamorphosed the opportunity for Chrome OS. As of 2018, almost all newer Chromebooks have the ability to run Android apps within the desktop. And now in 2020, all new Chromebooks also ship by default with support for Linux apps (something that has been possible for some time on many Chromebooks using unofficial hacks).
Needless to say, both of these steps (let alone all together) expands tremendously on what you can do with Chrome OS. For example, the ability to run Android apps opens up a vast range of games, and even the ability to run Microsoft Office. Of course, the games aren't console-beaters from AAA, but they're running well on even low-end Chromebooks. How well Android apps perform in Chrome OS is a bit hit-and-miss but they certainly make Chrome OS a platform that is much more versatile and powerful.
On the other hand, Linux help puts productively professional-level applications like GIMP and LibreOffice in the hands of Chromebook users. Technically, Linux apps run within a virtual machine (VM) of Debian, but integration with the file manager of Chrome OS software is impressive.
For example, you can install DEB packages directly from within Files, and can directly access saved Linux files from Files.
Privacy Concerns-
Chrome OS is Google's proprietary, closed-source software, a company whose entire business model relies on ignoring user privacy to target highly personalized advertising on it. Google was also working with the PRISM system at the NSA.
The fact that Chrome OS is a closed source, like the standard Chrome browser, makes it all but impossible to know for sure if it's spying on you for Google in ways it really shouldn't. But people seriously, Google isn't your mate.
So, Final Thoughts-
If you're concerned about privacy then you can instantly uninstall Windows, and instead using Linux. It's a Windows replacement that's all-singing and all-dancing and no matter which version you select, Linux is built- to protect your privacy.
And since it's open-source, this can be checked with proprietary closed-source OSs clearly not possible.
However, there is no moving away from the fact that Linux will never be as user friendly as Windows (at least in the near future). Learning to use Linux requires a level of dedication, and in our experience, an ability to deal with persevering frustrations. But it's a wonderful OS that is loved by many, and if you really care about privacy then you have no choice but to roll up your sleeves and hang in.
MacOS is a truly sophisticated operating system which can go head-to-head with Windows in almost every way (and is superior in many). In fact, the macOS software is the reason why large numbers of people spend insane sums of money on premium hardware which is in many ways inferior to their often much cheaper Windows counterparts.
Whether macOS is safer than Windows is cause of a heated debate for many, but what is certain is that hackers and malware merchants target it much less than Windows. However, how good it's for privacy depends heavily on how much you trust Apple.
Having now had the opportunity to use Chrome OS on a modern laptop with full Android and Linux support, we must admit we're pretty impressed. We are sure that power users will experience different problems as time goes by, but we also believe that Chrome OS has developed into a strong and elegant OS that offers a genuine Windows alternative. But, this OS is made by Google.