Linux Download: Every Major Distribution (Official ISOs)

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Linux runs most of the world's web servers, cloud infrastructure, and supercomputers — and every major distribution is free to download from its own official source. This page collects the official download links for each major Linux distribution, the current version as of 2026, and the practical steps to verify the ISO and write a bootable USB.

Linux distributions at a glance

Distribution	Based on	Best for	Latest version (2026)	Official download
Ubuntu	Debian	Desktops, servers, cloud, beginners	24.04 LTS / 25.04	ubuntu.com ↗
Debian	Independent	Stable servers, purists	12 "Bookworm"	debian.org ↗
Linux Mint	Ubuntu / Debian	Windows switchers, ease of use	22 "Wilma"	linuxmint.com ↗
Fedora	Independent (Red Hat)	Latest tech, developers	41 / 42	fedoraproject.org ↗
Rocky Linux	RHEL (rebuild)	Free RHEL-compatible servers	9.x (and 10)	rockylinux.org ↗
AlmaLinux	RHEL (rebuild)	Free RHEL-compatible servers	9.x (and 10)	almalinux.org ↗
RHEL	Independent (Red Hat)	Enterprise production, support contracts	9.x (and 10)	redhat.com ↗
Kali Linux	Debian	Penetration testing, security	Rolling (2026.x)	kali.org ↗
Arch Linux	Independent	Advanced users, custom builds	Rolling	archlinux.org ↗
openSUSE	Independent	Sysadmins, YaST, stable or rolling	Leap 15.6 / Tumbleweed	get.opensuse.org ↗
Oracle Linux	RHEL (rebuild)	Oracle DB, enterprise, free to use	9.x (and 10)	oracle.com/linux ↗

Ubuntu download

Ubuntu is the most widely used Linux distribution for both desktops and servers, and the usual starting point for people new to Linux. It is based on Debian and backed by Canonical. LTS (Long Term Support) releases get five years of updates; interim releases get nine months and carry newer software.

Current versions (2026): Ubuntu 24.04 LTS "Noble Numbat" (the recommended long-term release) and the newer interim Ubuntu 25.04. Choose the LTS for stability, the interim release for the latest packages.

Ubuntu Desktop

The standard GNOME desktop edition, delivered as a single live ISO of roughly 5-6 GB. Boot it to try Ubuntu before installing.

Ubuntu Server

A minimal, no-GUI install image for servers, VMs, and cloud instances. Much smaller than the desktop ISO (around 2-3 GB) and the standard choice for web hosting, databases, and containers. The "ubuntu server download" and "ubuntu iso" you want for headless machines lives on the same download hub.

Official flavors

Ubuntu ships official variants with different desktop environments: Kubuntu (KDE Plasma), Xubuntu (Xfce, lightweight), Lubuntu (LXQt, very light), Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Studio (audio/video production), and Ubuntu Cinnamon. All are the same Ubuntu base with a different desktop.

Edition	Use	Official download
Ubuntu Desktop	Laptops and desktops (GNOME)	Desktop ↗
Ubuntu Server	Servers, VMs, cloud	Server ↗
All flavors	Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Lubuntu and more	Flavors ↗
Alternate downloads / torrents	Older releases, mirrors	Alternatives ↗

Linux Mint download

Linux Mint is built on Ubuntu LTS and aims at a familiar, traditional desktop — a common first choice for people moving away from Windows. It comes in three desktop editions: Cinnamon (the flagship), MATE, and Xfce (lightest). There is also LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition), which uses Debian directly instead of Ubuntu as its base.

Current version (2026): Linux Mint 22 "Wilma", based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, supported through 2029.

Edition	Notes	Official download
Cinnamon / MATE / Xfce	Pick a desktop, then a mirror	linuxmint.com ↗
LMDE	Debian-based edition	LMDE ↗

Debian download

Debian is one of the oldest and most respected distributions, built entirely by a volunteer community. It prioritizes stability and free software, and it is the base that Ubuntu, Mint, and Kali are built on. Debian is a top choice for servers that need to run untouched for years.

Current version (2026): Debian 12 "Bookworm". Debian offers a small network-install (netinst) image, full DVD sets, and live images. The netinst image is tiny and pulls packages during install; the live images let you try before installing.

Image	Notes	Official download
Download hub	All images and methods	debian.org ↗
Netinst / CD	Small installer, downloads packages	Netinst ↗

Fedora download

Fedora is sponsored by Red Hat and serves as the upstream proving ground for RHEL. It ships recent kernels and software while staying stable enough for daily use, which makes it popular with developers. Editions include Fedora Workstation (GNOME desktop), Fedora Server, Fedora IoT, and the image-based Fedora Silverblue. "Spins" offer alternative desktops (KDE Plasma, Xfce, and others).

Current version (2026): Fedora 41 and the newer Fedora 42. Each Fedora release is supported for about 13 months.

Edition	Use	Official download
Workstation	Desktop and laptop (GNOME)	Workstation ↗
Server	Servers	Server ↗
Spins	KDE, Xfce, other desktops	Spins ↗

Kali Linux download

Kali Linux is a Debian-based distribution built for penetration testing and security research, maintained by Offensive Security. It ships with hundreds of pre-installed security tools. Kali is a rolling release, so a fresh download always carries the current toolset. Images come in installer, live, virtual machine (VMware/VirtualBox), ARM, WSL, and cloud formats.

Current version (2026): Kali rolling (release tags such as 2026.x). Use the platform picker on the official page to choose the right image.

Get Kali (official) ↗

Arch Linux download

Arch Linux is a lightweight, rolling-release distribution aimed at users who want to build their system from the ground up. There is no graphical installer by default — you assemble the system from the command line, though the guided archinstall script is included on the ISO. The Arch Wiki is one of the best Linux references anywhere, used even by people on other distros.

Current version (2026): Rolling — a single monthly ISO snapshot that installs the current packages. The image is a small live environment (around 1 GB).

archlinux.org/download ↗

Rocky Linux download

Rocky Linux is a free, community-run rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, created after CentOS shifted to CentOS Stream. It is binary-compatible with RHEL, which makes it a common drop-in for production servers that need RHEL compatibility without a subscription. Images include a full DVD, a minimal ISO, a boot ISO, and cloud/container images.

Current version (2026): Rocky Linux 9.x, with Rocky Linux 10 also available. Support runs roughly ten years per major release.

rockylinux.org/download ↗

AlmaLinux download

AlmaLinux is the other major free RHEL rebuild, backed by the non-profit AlmaLinux OS Foundation. Like Rocky, it targets RHEL compatibility for servers. It offers boot, minimal, and full DVD ISOs plus cloud, container, and live images, and provides an easy migration path from CentOS and other RHEL-family systems.

Current version (2026): AlmaLinux 9.x, with AlmaLinux 10 available. Supported for around ten years per major release.

almalinux.org/get-almalinux ↗

RHEL / Red Hat download

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is the commercial, subscription-backed enterprise distribution from Red Hat, with formal support and a long lifecycle. It is the reference platform that Rocky, AlmaLinux, and Oracle Linux rebuild.

You do not need a paid contract just to download and use it for development: the Red Hat Developer Subscription for Individuals is free and allows RHEL on a number of systems for development use. Create a free Red Hat account, then download from the customer portal or the Developer site.

Current version (2026): RHEL 9.x, with RHEL 10 available.

Route	Notes	Official link
Product page	Overview and editions	redhat.com ↗
Developer subscription	Free for individual dev use	Developer download ↗

openSUSE download

openSUSE is a stable, sysadmin-friendly distribution known for the YaST configuration tool and the Snapper/Btrfs snapshot system. It comes in two flavors: Leap, a fixed regular release aligned with SUSE Linux Enterprise, and Tumbleweed, a tested rolling release with the newest packages.

Current versions (2026): openSUSE Leap 15.6 and Tumbleweed (rolling). There is also MicroOS for immutable/container hosts.

get.opensuse.org ↗

Oracle Linux download

Oracle Linux is Oracle's free RHEL-compatible distribution. It is free to download, use, and redistribute; paid support is optional. It ships both the standard Red Hat Compatible Kernel and Oracle's own Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK). It is commonly used under Oracle Database and other Oracle software, but works as a general-purpose server OS.

Current version (2026): Oracle Linux 9.x, with Oracle Linux 10 available. ISOs are distributed through the Oracle Linux yum/download site.

Route	Notes	Official link
Product page	Overview and editions	oracle.com/linux ↗
ISO downloads	Direct ISO images	ISO images ↗

How to verify a Linux ISO (checksums and GPG)

Always verify a downloaded ISO before installing it. Verification confirms the file arrived intact and was not tampered with. Every project above publishes a checksum (usually SHA-256) alongside the ISO, and most also sign that checksum with a GPG key.

Step 1: Check the SHA-256 hash

Compare the hash of your file against the one published on the download page.

On Linux or macOS:

sha256sum ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso

On Windows (PowerShell):

Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 .\ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso

If the output does not exactly match the published hash, delete the file and download again. Do not install a mismatched ISO.

Step 2: Verify the GPG signature (recommended)

A matching checksum proves the file is complete, but a signed checksum also proves it came from the project. Projects publish a signature file (for example SHA256SUMS.gpg) and a public key. Import the key, then verify:

gpg --verify SHA256SUMS.gpg SHA256SUMS

A "Good signature" line from the project's official key means the checksum list is authentic. Each project's download page lists its exact key fingerprint and commands.

How to make a bootable USB

Once you have a verified ISO, write it to a USB drive of 8 GB or larger. Writing an ISO erases everything on the drive, so back up first.

Tool	Platform	Notes
Rufus	Windows	Fast, portable, no install. Pick the ISO, select the USB, click Start.
balenaEtcher	Windows / macOS / Linux	Simple three-step interface, works the same on every OS.
dd	Linux / macOS	Built-in command line. Powerful but unforgiving — the target device must be exact.

Using dd (Linux/macOS): confirm the device name first with lsblk, then write. Replace /dev/sdX with your actual USB device — an incorrect device name can overwrite the wrong disk.

sudo dd if=ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

After writing, reboot and open the boot menu (commonly F12, F10, F2, or Esc, depending on the machine) to boot from the USB. Most desktop distros let you run a live session first, then install from an icon on the desktop.

Which Linux distro should you choose?

There is no single best distribution — the right one depends on what you are doing. This table gives a quick starting point.

If you are...	Start with	Why
New to Linux	Linux Mint or Ubuntu	Familiar desktop, huge community, easy install
Coming from Windows	Linux Mint (Cinnamon)	Traditional start menu and taskbar layout
Setting up a web/app server	Ubuntu Server or Debian	Stable, well-documented, common in cloud
Running an enterprise production server	RHEL, Rocky, or AlmaLinux	RHEL compatibility and long lifecycles
A developer wanting current software	Fedora	Recent kernels and toolchains, still stable
Doing security testing	Kali Linux	Pre-loaded security toolset
An advanced user who wants full control	Arch Linux	Build exactly the system you want, rolling updates
Reviving an old, low-spec PC	Xubuntu, Lubuntu, or Mint Xfce	Lightweight desktops that run on modest hardware

FAQ

Is Linux free to download?

Yes. Every distribution on this page is free to download and use. Most are fully open source. The only paid item mentioned is a RHEL support subscription, and even RHEL offers a free developer subscription for individual use.

How big are Linux ISO files?

It varies by type. Minimal or network-install images can be under 1 GB. Full desktop live ISOs are usually 2-6 GB. Full DVD server images with all packages can be 8-10 GB or larger. Ubuntu Desktop is around 5-6 GB; Ubuntu Server is smaller.

What are the minimum system requirements for Linux?

It depends on the distribution and desktop. A mainstream desktop such as Ubuntu or Fedora generally wants at least a 64-bit dual-core CPU, 4 GB of RAM, and 25 GB of disk. Lightweight options like Lubuntu or Xfce editions run comfortably on 2 GB of RAM and older hardware. Server installs without a graphical desktop need far less.

Which Linux download is best for beginners?

Linux Mint and Ubuntu are the usual recommendations. Both have graphical installers, large communities, and extensive documentation, so problems are easy to search and solve.

What is the difference between an LTS release and a rolling release?

An LTS (Long Term Support) release, like Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, stays on a fixed version and receives security updates for years, changing little. A rolling release, like Arch or openSUSE Tumbleweed, continuously updates to the newest packages, so you always have current software but with more frequent change.

Can I try Linux without installing it?

Yes. Most desktop distributions ship as "live" images. You boot from the USB and run a full session in memory without touching your hard drive. If you like it, an installer icon on the desktop lets you install it permanently.

Is it safe to download Linux ISOs?

Yes, as long as you download from the official project source and verify the checksum and GPG signature. Every link on this page points to the distribution's own website. Avoid unofficial mirrors and torrents that are not linked from the official site.