11 Best Lightweight Linux Distros For Old Computers [2022 Edition]

If you’re using an old laptop or computer with low system resources, you can’t enjoy the full power of Linux distros like Ubuntu, as it demands high resources. But that does not mean you have no options available for Linux distros for an old laptop.

Many lightweight Linux distros let you enjoy a lag-free computing experience on your old computer and give you a visually appealing graphical desktop. Apart from being lightweight, these operating systems are small, fast, secure, and feature-rich, thanks to the light desktop environments that power them.

Lightweight & Fast Linux Distros In 2021

1. Bodhi Linux

If you’re looking for some Linux distro for an old laptop, there are good chances you’ll encounter Bodhi Linux. Bodhi Linux is a lightweight Linux distribution specially designed to run on hardware with limited capabilities.

Bodhi Linux is an Ubuntu LTS-based lightweight release that features Moksha Desktop. Moksha is a continuation of the Enlightenment 17 desktop with additional features and improvements. Moksha doesn’t come with any internal window compositor by default, but one can add Compiz effects.

On the aesthetics front, Bodhi Linux looks excellent, and everything works just right. Thanks to Ubuntu repositories, you get access to tons of free software. The latest Bodhi Linux 5.1 is now available in four editions: Standard, Legacy, AppPack, and HWE.

Each edition has special use cases. If you want a 64-bit operating system with kernel update to enjoy any brand new hardware support, you should consider the HWE edition. Or, if you’re not too concerned about the kernel, you should opt for a standard release.

Furthermore, Bodhi Linux Legacy is a 32-bit version that you can use to give your old fifteen-year-old computer a new life. You can also use the AppPack edition, a live system-based OS that you can directly plug into your computer and run the default applications.

Minimum hardware requirements for Bodhi Linux:

• 500MHz processor
• 256MB RAM
• 5GB storage space

2. Puppy Linux

In case you’re looking for a Linux distro with a cute name and special purpose, then check out Puppy Linux. One should note that Puppy Linux isn’t based on some other distro. Instead, it can be built from packages of distros like Ubuntu.

The choice of your binaries determines the availability of additional packages. In more straightforward language, if you’re comfortable with apt-get, go with the Ubuntu version. Puppy Linux’s size is around 300MB, making it one of the smallest Linux distros. So, dump all your worries about less storage space on your old PC in a corner and try the lightweight Puppy Linux.

Puppy doesn’t come with any popular preinstalled applications to reduce its size, but it’s understandable. It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and one can install them on UEFI and BIOS-enabled PCs.

Like many other Linux distros, you can also go for the live booting option using CD/DVD or USB. It boots itself entirely into RAM on bootup, so it’s pretty fast and responsive. The developers of this lightweight Linux distro call it “grandpa-friendly certified,” which means it’s straightforward to use.

Minimum hardware requirements for Puppy Linux:

• 600MHz processor
• 256MB RAM

3. Linux Lite

Linux Lite was also recently featured on our list of the best Linux distros for new users. This operating system has been growing at a rapid pace in the recent past. If you’re looking for a Linux distro that’s equally lightweight, beginner-friendly, and good-looking, your search should end here.

Personally, it is my favorite Linux distro that I’ve installed on my old laptop. It’s a great Ubuntu-based lightweight Linux OS that’s based on LTS releases. It comes loaded with all the popular and practical applications.

The latest Linux Lite 5.0 has added more features to make it work out-of-the-box and give you a better Linux desktop experience. It also now supports default UEFI boot mode.

The list of features doesn’t just end here; Linux lite is also considered one of the best Linux distros alternatives to Windows. So, if you’re switching from Windows, I would highly suggest starting with Linux Lite.

Minimum hardware requirements for Linux Lite:

• 1GHz processor
• 768MB RAM
• VGA screen 1024×768 resolution

4. Ubuntu MATE

If I had to choose a “heavyweight” among this list of lightest Linux distros that can work on older machines, I’d choose Ubuntu MATE. The latest release of Ubuntu MATE based on Ubuntu 20.04 turned out to be an essential release of the distro packing two years of continued improvement to MATE Desktop and Ubuntu MATE itself.

MATE is one of the best desktop environments alongside GNOME, KDE, and Cinnamon. This is one reason you get a more refined look in this Ubuntu official variant that you can even run on your limited hardware system. Moreover, do check out our article on the list of best Linux for gaming here!

Moreover, Ubuntu MATE also offers a polished Linux experience that would surely make the transition of any Windows user a pleasant experience. We often undermine the small Linux distros that don’t use many resources, but that’s not the case here. It’s even available for a credit card-sized powerful Raspberry Pi.

Minimum hardware requirements for Ubuntu MATE:

• 1GHz processor
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB free disk space
• 1024×768 resolution or higher

5. Lubuntu

Any list of lightweight Linux distros for netbooks and older PCs is incomplete without Lubuntu, which is an official Ubuntu flavor. Due to this, it enjoys the same software and repositories as Ubuntu.

After Ubuntu MATE, Lubuntu is another Ubuntu variant that is fast, lightweight, and highly suitable for old computers, even though the Lubuntu team has shifted their focus from providing a distribution for old hardware to a functional yet modular distribution.

It’s also worth noting that starting from Lubuntu 18.10, the project has stopped releasing support for 32-bit images. So, it could be a big no for those using older computers powered by 32-bit hardware.

Yet, you get a good performance and speed with the latest Lubuntu 20.04 LTS that features a minimal LXQt desktop. This switch from LXDE desktop to LXQt was made from Lubuntu 18.10 to give a modern and lightweight desktop.

Minimum hardware requirements for Lubuntu:

• Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8 or higher processor
• 1GB RAM

Also, check out our guide on how one can choose best Linux distributions for them here!

6. Arch Linux + Lightweight Desktop environment

If you’re an experienced user who loves customizations, we recommend Arch Linux. Arch is a no-nonsense Linux distro, and it doesn’t come loaded with lots of preinstalled packages.

We’d recommend a lightweight window manager like i3. Sure, it’ll take some learning and Googling compared to installing other distributions, but the things you’ll end up learning will put you at the level of an average Arch user. You can also go for barebones Openbox window manager. There’s a saying that the fastest DE is not having one at all. Just in case you’re willing to convert Arch into a fast and lightweight Linux distribution with a desktop environment, you’ve got choices like great Xfce and LXQt.

One thing you should note before going for Arch Linux is to ensure your machine isn’t based on 32-bit architecture, as Arch developers have stopped offering 32-bit images due to the decreasing popularity of the 32-bit platform. There’s an option to get for the forked archlinux32 option as well.

Minimum hardware requirements for Arch Linux:

• 530MB RAM
• 64-bit architecture
• 2GB free disk space

7. Xubuntu

Yet another one of Ubuntu’s flavors, Xubuntu, is an Ubuntu-based distro with Xfce as its default desktop environment. It is not as lightweight as LXQt, but it still uses a lot fewer system resources than your vanilla Ubuntu. Xfce ensures that the experience is clutter-free, and the distro is also pretty easy to use. As it’s one of the Ubuntu flavors, it receives quick updates.

If you own a very ancient Laptop/PC that is more than ten years old, Xubuntu might still not run very well, but if you have a comparatively modern PC, Xubuntu is the way to go.

Minimum hardware requirements for Xubuntu

• 1GB RAM
• Intel Core 2 Duo CPU or higher

8. Peppermint OS

Peppermint OS has a unique quality that sets it apart from the other Linux distributions. It’s a combination of cloud-based infrastructure and regular desktop applications for Linux. Apart from that, Peppermint is also one of the fastest Linux distros and a lightweight operating system.

Like the other Linux distros mentioned in this list, this Lubuntu-based distro supports 32-bit and 64-bit hardware. Being Lubuntu-based, it takes advantage of Ubuntu’s software repositories.

Peppermint OS Linux distro combines minimal experience and looks visually appealing. It ships with LXDE, known for its fast and lightweight nature and custom-made Ice applications for many tasks. Instead of running local applications, one can work in a site-specific browser (SSB).

However, the Peppermint project is currently on halt as its creator, Mark Greaves, passed away. His contributions to the Linux community are something that we could never forget. The last release, i.e., Peppermint OS 10 based on Lubuntu 18.04, was in 2019, and there’s no official confirmation if the project is still alive or dead, but since it’s based on Ubuntu, LTS, Peppermint OS 10 should be supported till 2025.

Minimum hardware requirements for Peppermint OS:

• 1GB RAM
• Intel x86 architecture CPU
• 20GB free disk space

9. antiX

antiX Linux distro is based on Debian and ships without a systemd init system, which could be the deciding factor for some Linux enthusiasts. This lightweight Linux distro comes for both 32-bit and 64-bit hardware, making sense as it focuses on older and newer computers.

You can also use antiX as a fast-booting rescue cd running live with or without persistence on a USB stick. Currently, antiX-19.2 “Manolis Glezos” comes in four different editions: Full, Base, Core, and Net. If you want complete control over the install, you can even use antiX-core or antiX-net and build up.

Minimum hardware requirements for antiX:

• 256MB RAM
• Intel-AMD x86

10. Manjaro Linux Xfce Edition

There are many other fast and lightweight Linux distros, but I’ve decided to end this round-up with Manjaro Linux Xfce Edition. Wondering why? Apart from my liking for Manjaro, it’s also one of the fastest-growing Linux distros with significant user community support.

The Xfce edition of Manjaro Linux is a flagship offering with a polished, integrated, and leading-edge Xfce experience. Coupled with the power of an Arch base, Xfce delivers a fast and lightweight experience. While it might not be as light as compared to some other Linux distros mentioned in this list, it’s undoubtedly going to turn out to be a great Linux desktop experience for you.

It’s also worth mentioning that Manjaro has dropped support for 32-bit architecture. So it could be a deal-breaker for many who want to run on the old 32-bit PC. However, you can also try out the new manjaro32 project.

Minimum hardware requirements for Manjaro Xfce:

• 1GB RAM
• 1GHz CPU

11. Zorin OS Lite

Zorin OS Lite is a perfect distro for users who’re tired of using Windows on their potato PC. Zorin OS is currently one of the most beautiful Linux distros and is an ideal alternative to Windows.

While it is not the lightest distros out there, it’s still a pretty great thanks to Xfce that helps Zorin OS Lite run smoother. It also comes with a decent amount of useful, preinstalled tools for a lite version.

Minimum Hardware Requirements For Zorin OS Lite

• 512MB RAM
• 600*480 pixels resolution
• 8GB of storage
• Single-core 700 MHz CPU 32/64-bit CPU

People often criticize the GNU/Linux community because choosing a Linux distro is very confusing. While we don’t completely disagree with the statement, we think the number of choices that users have when choosing a distro is a win in itself. Don’t like a distro? There’s probably a better one out there that you haven’t heard of. Linux has a lot to offer to everyone. That’s why there are so many great choices for Lightweight Linux Distros for old computers.

But, keeping in mind the easy installation and hassle-free experience, we recommend Bodhi Linux, Lubuntu, Zorin OS Lite, or Ubuntu MATE on your old computer. For better support with a beautiful desktop, you can choose either Linux Lite or Ubuntu MATE.

If you’re an experienced Linux user who loves to build their system, go for Arch Linux + Lightweight DE option. If you own a low-powered 32-bit computer, make sure to confirm that the distro of your choice supports it.

Do you know of any good Linux distro that deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the comments section below.