Microsoft ended free security updates for Windows 10 on 14 October 2025. Extended Security Updates are available but cost per device and per year, and the price rises each of the next three years. For a home PC with a working Windows 10 install, the choices are: pay for ESU, upgrade to Windows 11 if the hardware supports it, replace the hardware, or install a different desktop operating system. The seven Windows 10 alternatives below cover option four. Each is free to download, ships with a full desktop environment, runs on typical Windows 10-era hardware, and receives regular security updates.
Every pick here installs from a USB drive alongside or in place of Windows 10. Try them from a live USB first before committing to the disk.
Quick comparison
| OS | Best for | RAM minimum | Familiar layout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux Mint | Windows 10 migrants who want zero surprises | 4 GB | Very | Cinnamon desktop resembles Windows 7/10 |
| Ubuntu | The mainstream Linux baseline | 4 GB | Somewhat | Largest install base, best third-party support |
| Pop!_OS | Modern desktop with proper NVIDIA support | 4 GB | Somewhat | Auto-tiling window manager, GPU installer |
| Zorin OS | Users nervous about switching away from Windows | 4 GB | Very | Preinstalled Windows-lookalike layout |
| ChromeOS Flex | Older laptops used mostly for browsing | 4 GB | Not really | Boots fast, updates on rails |
| Lubuntu | 10-year-old hardware with 2 GB RAM | 1 GB | Somewhat | LXQt desktop, minimal footprint |
| elementary OS | Users coming from macOS | 4 GB | macOS-like | Curated app store, cohesive design |
Why people leave Windows 10
Real reasons to move now:
- Free security updates ended in October 2025. Vulnerabilities disclosed after that date are patched only for paid ESU customers, and coverage is on a rolling clock.
- Windows 11 hardware requirements (TPM 2.0, an 8th-gen Intel or newer CPU) exclude a large share of Windows 10 machines.
- Even where Windows 11 will install, many owners of older laptops find performance and battery worse under Windows 11 than under Windows 10.
- Windows 10’s late-cycle updates increasingly push cloud accounts, telemetry, and third-party services into every corner of the shell.
- Modern Linux and ChromeOS Flex deliver a full desktop experience, security updates, a working browser, and free productivity tools on hardware Windows 11 will not touch.
The Windows 10 alternatives worth installing
Linux Mint — Best for Windows 10 migrants
Linux Mint ships the Cinnamon desktop, which looks and behaves closer to Windows 10 than any Windows successor Microsoft has released. Start menu in the corner, taskbar along the bottom, notification tray on the right. Cinnamon Edition is the flagship; XFCE and MATE editions are lighter for older hardware. Update Manager sorts security updates from feature ones. Installation is graphical from a USB stick, with a “install alongside” option that keeps Windows 10 as a dual-boot.
Where it falls short: proprietary NVIDIA driver install works but takes an extra step. Snap packages are disabled by default (this is a policy choice, not a bug; Flatpak is the recommended alternative).
Pricing: Free. Open source.
Download: linuxmint.com
Bottom line: The right default for the “my parents’ laptop after Windows 10” scenario.
Ubuntu — Best baseline Linux
Ubuntu is the most widely installed desktop Linux and the benchmark that third-party software targets first. GNOME is the default desktop, with a top bar and Activities overview that is closer to macOS’s Mission Control than Windows’ Start menu. Long-term support releases receive updates for five years, so a 2024 LTS installed today gets patches until 2029.
Where it falls short: GNOME is a big adjustment for Windows users. Snap-first packaging annoys some users.
Pricing: Free. Open source.
Download: ubuntu.com/desktop
Bottom line: The safest bet for long-term software support.
Pop!_OS — Best for modern hardware and NVIDIA
Pop!_OS by System76 fixes two of Ubuntu’s pain points out of the box: the NVIDIA installer works during setup, and the auto-tiling window manager suits multi-monitor workflows without extensions. The next generation with the COSMIC desktop is now the mainline release.
Where it falls short: smaller community than Linux Mint or Ubuntu, so a fringe question sometimes lacks a StackExchange answer.
Pricing: Free. Open source.
Download: pop.system76.com · GitHub
Bottom line: Best pick for a workstation with a discrete NVIDIA GPU.
Zorin OS — Best for switch-anxiety
Zorin OS ships preconfigured to look like Windows 10 (or Windows 11, or Ubuntu, or macOS) and offers a paid Pro tier with additional layouts and a game-focused edition. The free Core tier includes the Windows layouts. Preinstalls Wine and PlayOnLinux for running Windows apps.
Where it falls short: the Windows-lookalike layout is skin deep; system administration is still Linux underneath.
Pricing: Free Core tier. Pro tier around $50 one-time.
Download: zorin.com/os
Bottom line: For anyone who wants Linux underneath but nothing about the desktop to feel foreign.
ChromeOS Flex — Best for old laptops used mainly for browsing
ChromeOS Flex turns an older PC or Mac into a Chromebook. Fast boot, minimal maintenance, automatic security updates from Google’s servers. Everything runs in the browser: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 for the web, Zoom PWA, Netflix. The Google Play store is not available on Flex; Android app support is missing.
Where it falls short: no local desktop apps. If a specific Windows app is essential and there is no web equivalent, ChromeOS Flex will not run it.
Pricing: Free.
Download: chromeos.google/chromeosflex
Bottom line: The right pick for a family or education laptop that only needs Chrome.
Lubuntu — Best for very old hardware
Lubuntu uses the LXQt desktop and runs comfortably on 1 GB of RAM, which lets it revive machines that would slow to a crawl under Windows 10, Ubuntu, or Mint. Same package base as Ubuntu, so almost any Linux tutorial applies.
Where it falls short: LXQt does not look as polished as Cinnamon or GNOME. Feature-rich modern applications (heavy IDEs, Electron apps) will still stress low-RAM hardware.
Pricing: Free. Open source.
Download: lubuntu.me
Bottom line: The rescue OS for laptops with 2 GB of RAM and a spinning disk.
elementary OS — Best for macOS migrants
elementary OS takes the opposite approach from Zorin: rather than mimic Windows, it takes design cues from macOS. Dock along the bottom, curated App Center, cohesive design language. Pantheon desktop is unusually consistent even by curated-OS standards.
Where it falls short: paid apps in the App Center use a pay-what-you-want model that some users find awkward. Release cadence is slower than the Ubuntu base.
Pricing: Free (pay-what-you-want at download).
Download: elementary.io
Bottom line: The right pick when your users know macOS better than Windows.
How to choose
- Pick Linux Mint if the goal is “make it feel like Windows 10 but keep getting security updates.” This is the default answer for most home users.
- Pick Ubuntu if you want the largest software ecosystem and are willing to learn a slightly different desktop.
- Pick Pop!_OS for a modern workstation with a discrete GPU.
- Pick Zorin OS when the user is anxious about the change.
- Pick ChromeOS Flex when the machine is used almost entirely inside a browser.
- Pick Lubuntu for hardware with 2 GB of RAM or less.
- Pick elementary OS for users comfortable with macOS.
- Stay on Windows 10 with paid ESU only when a specific Windows-only app makes migration impossible and the hardware is not Windows 11 compatible.
FAQ
Is Windows 10 still safe to use in 2026? Not without paid Extended Security Updates. Free security patches ended 14 October 2025. Unpatched Windows 10 is a growing risk for banking, email, and general web use.
Which Windows 10 alternative is easiest for a Windows user? Linux Mint (Cinnamon Edition) and Zorin OS. Both ship a Windows-like taskbar and Start menu by default.
Will my Windows apps run on Linux? Common ones do through Wine or Proton (for games). Adobe Creative Cloud, most CAD tools, and some finance software do not. Check WineHQ AppDB and ProtonDB for your specific app.
How much RAM do I need for Linux Mint or Ubuntu? Four gigabytes is the practical minimum for a smooth desktop. Two gigabytes works but constrains the browser. One gigabyte pushes you to Lubuntu.
Can I dual-boot Windows 10 and one of these? Yes. Every graphical installer here offers an “install alongside” option that resizes the Windows partition and adds a boot menu. Back up first.
