Zorin OS

Zorin OS
Logo
Zorin OS 18 desktop with modified GNOME desktop environment
DeveloperZorin Group
Written inC, C++, Python, D, Java
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen-source
Initial release2009
Latest release18[1]  / 14 October 2025
Repository
Marketing targetPersonal computers
Available inOver 50 languages
Update methodSoftware Updater
Package managerAPT, dpkg, Snap, flatpak
Supported platformsx86_64
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux kernel)
UserlandGNU
Default
user interface		GNOME, Xfce
LicenseFree software + some optional proprietary device drivers
Official websitezorin.com/os/

Zorin OS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu which provides both free and paid versions.[2] It uses a GNOME and Xfce 4 desktop environment by default, although the desktop is heavily customized for users more familiar with Windows and macOS.[3][4] Zorin OS Pro is a premium paid version offering additional desktop appearance customization options and apps for creative users such as for photo or video editing.[5]

Features

Zorin OS is available in various free and paid versions[6] including versions using Xfce for use with older computers, instead of the traditional GNOME.[7] Zorin OS follows the long-term releases of the main Ubuntu system and uses its own software repositories as well as Ubuntu's repositories. The desktop environment themes can resemble those of Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu[8][9][10] and allow the interface to be familiar regardless of the previous system a user has come from.[11] Zorin OS Lite, the XFCE-based edition for older computers, will be supported through versions 17 and 18, with updates until June 2029, and is expected to be discontinued from version 19.[12]

In January 2020, the developers announced plans to release Zorin Grid, which would be software for installing and maintaining Zorin OS within a network, aimed at companies and schools.[13][14] As of December 2025, the software is unreleased.[15]

History

The project was started in 2008 by co-founders Artyom and Kyrill Zorin. The company is based in Dublin, Ireland.[16]

Zorin OS was initially released on 1 July 2009. Since version 16.3, the system's upgrade tool can be used to upgrade existing installations; earlier versions required users to do a clean install. 18 is the most recent version.

Reception

Zorin OS has been noted as having intuitive and familiar layouts, functionality, and installation process;[17][18][19] as well as for making it easy to use a Windows-similar layout.[18][20]

Adoption

In April 2016, the Italian city of Vicenza began migrating approximately 900 municipal computers from Windows to Zorin OS.[21][22] The transition was reported to be cost-neutral while improving system speed on older hardware and offering security benefits. The city cited long-term cost savings and the ethical value of open-source software as key drivers for the decision.[23]

Following Microsoft's end of support for the Windows 10 operating system in October 2025, and partly due to the high Windows 11 system requirements, privacy concerns and backlash against integrated AI features, Zorin OS received 1 million downloads in five weeks as an alternative operating system.[24][25] On January 12, 2026 it was announced that downloads of Zorin OS 18 reached the 2 million mark in under three months, with a majority of downloads coming from Windows users.[26]

Versions

Legend:
Unsupported
Supported
Latest version
Preview version
Future version
Version Release Date Support End Base Kernel version Features/Notes
Unsupported: Zorin OS 1.0 1 July 2009 1 January 2010 Ubuntu 9.04 2.6.28
Unsupported: Zorin OS Limited Edition ’09 27 October 2009 1 January 2010 Ubuntu 9.10 2.6.31 Preview of the Zorin OS 2.0
Unsupported: Zorin OS 2.0 1 January 2010 April 2011 Ubuntu 9.10 2.6.31
Unsupported: Zorin OS 3 10 June 2010 April 2013 Ubuntu 10.04 LTS 2.6.32
Unsupported: Zorin OS 4 17 December 2010 April 2012 Ubuntu 10.10 2.6.35
Unsupported: Zorin OS 5 5 June 2011 October 2012 Ubuntu 11.04 2.6.38
Unsupported: Zorin OS 6 18 June 2012 April 2017 Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 3.2
Unsupported: Zorin OS 7 9 June 2013 January 2014 Ubuntu 13.04 3.8
Unsupported: Zorin OS 8 27 January 2014 July 2014 Ubuntu 13.10 3.11
Unsupported: Zorin OS 9 15 July 2014 April 2019 Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 3.13
Unsupported: Zorin OS 10 1 August 2015 February 2016 Ubuntu 15.04 3.19
Unsupported: Zorin OS 11 3 February 2016 August 2016 Ubuntu 15.10 4.2
Unsupported: Zorin OS 12 18 November 2016 29 April 2021 Ubuntu 16.04 LTS 4.8
Unsupported: Zorin OS 15 5 June 2019 30 April 2023 Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS 4.15, 4.18, 5.x
Unsupported: Zorin OS 16 17 August 2021 31 May 2025 Ubuntu 20.04 LTS 5.11, 5.13, 5.15 Visual changes, based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Flatpak support out of the box.[27] Ease of use, stronger security and better hardware compatibility. "Zorin OS Upgrader" tool added; updated software packages; same kernel version as Ubuntu 22.04.[28]
Supported: Zorin OS 17 20 December 2023 1 June 2027 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS 6.2, 6.5, 6.8, Wine 9.0 and Bottles, Reading Strip, Logseq, LibreOffice 24.2, updated Linux Kernel and Graphics Stack, better hardware support.[29] Software updates, e. g. LibreOffice 24.8.[30] Additional window management and theming settings. Redesigned software store. For 17.3 Brave is the default web browser.[31]
Latest version: Zorin OS 18 14 October 2025 1 June 2029 Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS 6.14.0-xx Taskbar updates, updated apps (Evolution, Files, Calendar), new apps (Web Apps, Camera replaced Cheese), a new window tiling system, OneDrive file integration, enhanced performance, lower latency sound with PipeWire, menu changes, RDP, and better hardware compatibility.[32][33][34]

Notes and references

  1. ^ "Zorin OS 18 Has Arrived". 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  2. ^ Phillip, Watt (29 August 2015). Pro Freeware and Open Source Solutions for Business. Apress. p. 218. ISBN 978-1-4842-1130-4.
  3. ^ "Zorin OS: The Linux Distribution for Windows XP and 7 Fans". linux.com. The Linux Foundation. 24 February 2016.
  4. ^ "10 reasons to try Zorin OS 9, the Linux OS that looks like Windows". pcworld.com. PC World. 30 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Zorin OS Pro - Zorin OS". Zorin. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  6. ^ Johnston, Mike (5 December 2016). "Zorin OS 12 Review". CMS Critic. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  7. ^ Moore, Shawn (17 December 2019). "Zorin OS Lite Review – 15.1 Lite Edition". CMS Critic. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Zorin OS-Home". Zorin OS. Retrieved 19 March 2016. Zorin OS is a multi-functional operating system designed specifically for newcomers to Linux. It's based on Ubuntu Linux....The Look Changer lets you change your desktop to look and act like either Windows 7, XP, 2000, Ubuntu Unity, Mac OS X or GNOME 2 for ultimate ease of use.
  9. ^ "Zorin OS". DistroWatch.com. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  10. ^ Speed, Richard (14 August 2018). "Linux 4.18 arrives fashionably late while Zorin OS shines up its Windows". The Register. Situation Publishing. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  11. ^ "Zorin OS Review – An alternative to macOS and Windows". www.fosslinux.com/. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  12. ^ "The Future of Zorin OS Lite". Zorin OS Blog. Zorin Group. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 30 March 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Zorin Grid – Manage all of your computers. As easily as one". Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Zorin Grid Lets You Remotely Manage Multiple Zorin OS Computers". 16 January 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Zorin Grid". Zorin. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  16. ^ Prakash, Abhishek (November 2017). "Zorin OS: From the Hobby Project of Two Teenagers to a Growing Startup – It's FOSS". It's Foss. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  17. ^ Bidwell, Jonni (22 February 2017). "Zorin OS 12 Core". TechRadar. Future plc. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Zorin OS 12 Review: LinuxAndUbuntu Distro Review Of The Week". LinuxAndUbuntu. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 14 February 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  19. ^ Fagioli, Brian (14 August 2018). "Zorin OS 12.4 Linux distribution is here – switch from Microsoft Windows 10 now!". betanews. BetaNews, Inc. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  20. ^ Germain, Jack M. (8 October 2021). "Zorin OS 16: Better GNOME With Much More Simplicity". LinuxInsider. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  21. ^ "The City of Vicenza is Choosing Zorin OS". Zorin OS Blog. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Computer comunali, al via la sperimentazione del sistema operativo Zorin" (in Italian). Comune di Vicenza. 29 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Linux statt Windows: Vicenza ist das neue München". Der Standard (in German). Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  24. ^ Pickstone, James (18 June 2025). "Let's stop Microsoft creating millions of tonnes of e-waste this October". The Restart Project. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  25. ^ Zak, Killian (24 November 2025). "In wake of Windows 10 retirement, over 780,000 Windows users skip Win 11 for Linux, says Zorin OS developers — distro hits unprecedented 1 million downloads in five weeks". Tom's Hardware. p. 1. Retrieved 7 December 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Borisov, Bobby (12 January 2026). "Zorin OS 18 Hits 2 Million Downloads as Windows Users Drive Growth". Linuxiac. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  27. ^ "Introducing Zorin OS 16: Test the Beta Today". 16 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Zorin OS 16.3 Is Released". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Zorin OS 17.1 Is Released". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Zorin OS 17.2 Has Landed". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Zorin OS 17.3 is Here". blog.zorin.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Zorin OS 18 Has Arrived". blog.zorin.com. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  33. ^ Sneddon, Joey (14 October 2025). "Zorin OS 18 Released with New Look, New Apps + More". OMG! Ubuntu. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  34. ^ Nestor, Marius (14 October 2025). "Zorin OS 18 Officially Released, Specifically Tailored for Windows 10 Expats". 9to5Linux. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
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