Choosing a Linux desktop environment can make a big difference in how your computer feels and works. Some desktops are feature-rich and highly customizable, while others are lightweight and better suited for older or low-powered machines.
One important thing to know is that your Linux distribution and desktop environment are not the same thing. Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky Linux and Mint are distributions, while GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, Cinnamon and others are desktop environments. You can even change your desktop environment without reinstalling Linux.
In this guide, we'll look at 8 popular Linux desktop environments, their strengths, resource usage, Wayland support and installation options. Whether you're a beginner, using an older laptop, managing a server with a GUI, or simply looking for a better desktop experience, this guide will help you choose the right one.
1. GNOME
GNOME is the default desktop on Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian and RHEL, so if you've used Linux at work, you've probably used it. It's built on GTK4 and libadwaita and licensed under the GPL.
The workflow is keyboard first. Hit the Super key, type, done. There's no traditional taskbar, just a top bar and an Activities overview with dynamic workspaces. Fractional scaling, variable refresh rate and touchpad gestures all work well out of the box.
GNOME went Wayland-only with GNOME 50 in March 2026 (the version in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS), and GNOME 51, released in September 2026 for Ubuntu 26.10 and Fedora 45, keeps it that way. You can't log into an X11 GNOME session anymore. That does not mean your old apps are broken. Legacy X11 programs still run, GNOME starts XWayland (an X server that runs inside the Wayland session) on demand and they open like any other window. In practice most people won't notice. If you're still fuzzy on what actually changed, our X11 vs Wayland breakdown covers it.
The catch is customization. Want a dock or a tray? That's an extension, and community discussions keep circling back to the same pain: a major GNOME upgrade breaks half your extensions for a few weeks. Typical idle RAM: around 1 to 1.5 GB.
Installing GNOME on Linux
On a server or minimal install you'll also need to switch the default boot target so the machine starts into the graphical login screen.
On Ubuntu:
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sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y ubuntu-desktop-minimal
# boot into the GUI
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
On Debian:
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sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y task-gnome-desktop
# boot into the GUI
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
On RHEL/Rocky Linux 9 and 10:
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sudo dnf groupinstall -y "Server with GUI"
# boot into the GUI
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
# after login, confirm what you are running
echo $XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE
After reboot you land on GDM, GNOME's login screen (the "display manager"). If the box still drops to a text console, check systemctl get-default, our guide on systemd targets and boot modes explains why.
Key benefits:
- Default on Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian and RHEL, and the only desktop Red Hat ships in RHEL itself
- Mature Wayland session with solid fractional scaling and multi-monitor support
- Super key search launches apps, files and settings in one place
- Consistent look because GTK4 and libadwaita apps follow one design system
Enterprise Insight:
On Rocky Linux 10 (and RHEL 10) the Xorg server is gone, so only Wayland desktops can run. Today that means GNOME, plus KDE Plasma from EPEL. Xfce, MATE and Cinnamon are not practical on Rocky 10 yet, which is why the Rocky commands below target Rocky Linux 9.
2. KDE Plasma
KDE Plasma is the "configure everything" desktop, built on Qt by the KDE community under GPL and LGPL licenses. Out of the box it looks a lot like Windows, taskbar at the bottom, start menu on the left, which makes it an easy landing spot for people switching over.
Under the hood there's a lot: KRunner for quick search, per-screen virtual desktops (new in Plasma 6.7), a built-in clipboard history, and KDE Connect for syncing with your phone. Dolphin, with split view and a built-in terminal panel on F4, is the file manager a lot of people miss after leaving KDE.
In community threads, Plasma usually comes out on top or very close to it. People like that it's fast now, not the resource hog it was ten years ago. The usual complaint is that the settings app can be overwhelming the first week. Typical idle RAM: around 0.8 to 1.2 GB.
One thing to watch: Plasma 6.7 is the last series with an X11 session. Plasma 6.8, due in mid-October 2026, only offers Wayland sessions at login, though old X11 apps keep working through XWayland. If you really need X11, Plasma 6.6 gets extended three-year support. Release notes and screenshots live on the official KDE Plasma page. We compare the two big desktops head to head in KDE vs GNOME.
Installing KDE Plasma on Linux
On Ubuntu you'll be asked which display manager to use. Pick sddm if Plasma is going to be your main desktop. Choose one of the two Ubuntu options below, not both: the minimal package gives you just the desktop, the Kubuntu package pulls in the full KDE app set.
On Ubuntu/Debian (option A, minimal Plasma):
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sudo apt install -y kde-plasma-desktop
On Ubuntu (option B, full Kubuntu desktop):
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sudo apt install -y kubuntu-desktop
On Rocky Linux 9:
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sudo dnf install -y epel-release
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb
sudo dnf groupinstall -y "KDE Plasma Workspaces"
# use the KDE login manager and boot into the GUI
sudo systemctl enable sddm --force
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
EPEL is the extra package repo maintained by Fedora for RHEL clones, and CRB holds the build libraries EPEL depends on. On the login screen, pick "Plasma (Wayland)" from the session menu before you type your password.
Key benefits:
- Almost every panel, widget, shortcut and animation can be changed without extensions
- Windows-like layout makes it the easiest switch for people coming from Windows
- KDE Connect links your phone for notifications, file transfer and clipboard sync
- Per-screen virtual desktops and strong multi-monitor handling in recent releases
3. Xfce
Xfce is the lightweight desktop that doesn't feel cheap. It's GTK based, GPL licensed, and has been around since the late 90s. Its whole philosophy is "stay out of the way and don't break".
You get a classic panel, a normal app menu, Thunar for files, and a settings manager that hasn't changed much in years. That's the point. People who run Xfce tend to say they forget it's there.
Typical idle RAM is around 400 to 600 MB, which makes it the go-to for older laptops, small VMs and remote desktops over xrdp. Xfce 4.20 is the current stable branch. Wayland support is still being worked on, with a new Rust-based compositor in preview, but X11 is staying put for the long haul. You can check how much memory any desktop is really using with htop.
Installing Xfce on Linux
Xfce pairs nicely with LightDM. Both commands below pull it in.
On Ubuntu:
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sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y xubuntu-desktop-minimal
On Debian:
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sudo apt install -y task-xfce-desktop
On Rocky Linux 9:
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sudo dnf install -y epel-release
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb
sudo dnf groupinstall -y xfce
# use LightDM and start in graphical mode
sudo systemctl enable lightdm --force
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
First login gives you a prompt asking for a default or empty panel. Choose default, you can strip it down later.
Xfce is also the usual pick for a remote GUI on a VM. If you need that, xrdp lets you connect from any RDP client on port 3389.
Remote access with xrdp on Ubuntu:
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echo xfce4-session > ~/.xsession
sudo systemctl enable --now xrdp
sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp
Remote access with xrdp on Rocky Linux 9:
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echo xfce4-session > ~/.Xclients
chmod +x ~/.Xclients
sudo systemctl enable --now xrdp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=3389/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload
Only open 3389 to trusted networks or a VPN. Our firewall-cmd guide shows how to limit a port to one source subnet. And if the only reason you wanted a GUI on that server was to manage a WordPress site, you can skip all of this: a managed host like the one in our Kinsta review gives you a web dashboard with no desktop on your side at all.
Key benefits:
- Low memory and CPU use, perfect for old hardware and small VMs
- Very stable, the UI barely changes between releases
- Works great over xrdp or VNC for remote GUI access
- Panels and plugins are easy to rearrange without any extensions
Compatibility Note:
Xfce on Rocky Linux 10 is not an option right now. EPEL 10 has no Xfce group and Rocky 10 has no Xorg server, while Xfce's own Wayland compositor (xfwl4) only reached its first preview in June 2026. Stay on Rocky Linux 9 for Xfce desktops.
4. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is the Linux Mint team's desktop, originally forked from GNOME 3 back when lots of people wanted a traditional layout. It's GPL licensed and built on GTK.
It feels like a polished, modern Windows 7. Bottom panel, a proper menu, system tray, desklets, and applets you can add from a built-in store. The defaults are sensible, so most people never have to tweak much.
If you ask a room of beginners which desktop "just worked" for them, Cinnamon on Mint comes up a lot. Our best Linux distro for beginners guide explains why Mint keeps winning that crowd. Wayland support is still marked experimental today, but Linux Mint 23, due at the end of 2026, is set to make Wayland fully supported alongside X11. Typical idle RAM: around 700 MB to 1 GB.
Installing Cinnamon on Linux
The best Cinnamon experience is still Linux Mint itself, but you can add it to Ubuntu or Rocky.
On Ubuntu/Debian:
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sudo apt install -y cinnamon-desktop-environment
On Rocky Linux 9:
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sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb
# Cinnamon and LightDM come from EPEL
sudo dnf install -y cinnamon lightdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdm --force
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
Log out, select Cinnamon in the session menu, and sign back in.
Key benefits:
- Familiar layout that Windows users pick up in minutes
- Applets, desklets and themes install from inside system settings
- Sensible defaults, very little setup needed after install
- Backed by the Linux Mint team with a steady release cycle
5. MATE
MATE is the continuation of GNOME 2. When GNOME 3 changed everything in 2011, a group of developers forked the old desktop and kept it alive. It's GPL licensed and now fully ported to GTK3.
It looks old school: two panels, Applications/Places/System menus, Caja file manager. And that's exactly what its fans want. It's light, predictable, and runs fine on hardware that would make GNOME stutter.
Ubuntu MATE is the polished way to get it. Wayland support exists but is limited, so treat MATE as an X11 desktop for now. Typical idle RAM: around 400 to 600 MB.
Installing MATE on Linux
On Rocky, the MATE docs install the core packages directly instead of a group, which avoids group name mismatches between EPEL releases.
On Ubuntu:
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sudo apt install -y ubuntu-mate-desktop
On Debian:
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sudo apt install -y task-mate-desktop
On Rocky Linux 9:
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sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb
# core MATE packages plus LightDM from EPEL
sudo dnf install -y mate-session-manager mate-panel marco caja mate-control-center mate-terminal lightdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdm --force
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
Pick MATE from the session menu on the LightDM login screen.
Key benefits:
- Classic GNOME 2 workflow for people who never wanted to leave it
- Low resource use, happy on 2 GB RAM machines
- Caja, Pluma and the MATE tools are simple and very stable
- Great fit for thin clients and remote desktop sessions
6. LXQt
LXQt is what you install when even Xfce feels heavy. It came from merging LXDE and Razor-qt, it's built on Qt, and it's LGPL/GPL licensed.
It's modular, so you can swap the window manager (Openbox by default on many distros) and pick the pieces you want. Lubuntu uses it as the default. Since LXQt 2.1 there is an optional Wayland session that runs on compositors like labwc or KWin, though the project still calls it experimental.
Don't expect polish. Settings are spread across several small tools and some things look a bit dated. But on a 15 year old laptop, nothing else feels this quick. Typical idle RAM: around 300 to 450 MB.
Installing LXQt on Linux
On Ubuntu you can grab plain LXQt, or swap the package for lubuntu-desktop if you want the full Lubuntu set. Pick one, not both.
On Ubuntu:
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sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y lxqt
On Debian:
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sudo apt install -y task-lxqt-desktop
On Rocky Linux 9:
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sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled crb
# confirm the group is listed, then install it
sudo dnf group list --hidden | grep -i lxqt
sudo dnf groupinstall -y "LXQt Desktop"
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot
After first login, open LXQt Configuration Center and set your window manager and theme.
Key benefits:
- Lowest memory use on this list, good for really old hardware
- Qt based, so KDE apps fit in visually without extra theming
- Modular design lets you swap the window manager
- Optional experimental Wayland session since LXQt 2.1
7. Budgie
Budgie started inside the Solus project and is now developed by the Buddies of Budgie team. It's GPL licensed and aims for something between GNOME's cleanness and a traditional panel layout.
The Raven sidebar is the signature feature: notifications, calendar and media controls slide in from the right. You also get a clean bottom or side dock and a fast app menu.
Budgie 10.10 moved the desktop to Wayland, which was a big rewrite. It's a nice middle ground if GNOME is too minimal for you and KDE is too much. Ubuntu Budgie is the easiest way in. Typical idle RAM: around 700 MB to 1 GB.
Installing Budgie on Linux
Budgie is not packaged in EPEL, so there is no clean Rocky Linux install. On the Red Hat side, use Fedora, which ships Budgie in its main repos.
On Ubuntu:
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sudo apt install -y ubuntu-budgie-desktop
On Debian:
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sudo apt install -y budgie-desktop
On Fedora:
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sudo reboot
Open Budgie Desktop Settings after login to choose panel position and applets.
Key benefits:
- Raven sidebar puts notifications and quick controls in one spot
- Clean look without needing extensions
- Good balance between simplicity and customization
- Moving to Wayland keeps it current with where Linux is going
8. COSMIC
COSMIC is the newest desktop here, built from scratch in Rust by System76, the company behind Pop!_OS. It's GPL licensed and Wayland native from day one, no X11 baggage at all.
Its big draw is built-in tiling. You can flip between normal floating windows and auto tiling per workspace with one toggle, something that usually needs extensions or a separate window manager. The core apps (Files, Terminal, Settings, Store) are also COSMIC native.
The first stable release shipped with Pop!_OS 24.04 in December 2025, and it's been moving fast since, with regular point releases. Epoch 1.8.0 arrived in September 2026. It's packaged in the official repos for Fedora, Arch and NixOS. Ubuntu and Enterprise Linux users only have unofficial repos for now.
It's young, so expect the odd rough edge. But community discussions show a lot of excitement, especially from people who liked Pop!_OS tiling and hated fighting GNOME extensions to get it. If you want full keyboard tiling rather than a desktop, tiling window managers like Sway, i3 or Hyprland are the next step up. Typical idle RAM: around 700 MB to 1 GB.
Installing COSMIC on Linux
Pop!_OS 24.04 is the reference install, and the safest one. Fedora carries COSMIC in its official repos. On Ubuntu the only route is an unofficial PPA, which replaces parts of your graphics stack, so only use it on a fresh install or a test machine.
On Ubuntu (unofficial PPA, test machines only):
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sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:hepp3n/cosmic-epoch
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y cosmic-session
sudo reboot
On Fedora:
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sudo dnf install -y @cosmic-desktop-environment
sudo reboot
There is no EPEL package for Rocky Linux. If you want COSMIC on a Red Hat style system, Fedora is the supported path.
Key benefits:
- Built-in auto tiling you can toggle per workspace
- Written in Rust and Wayland native, no X11 session to maintain
- Native core apps that match the desktop design
- Fast release pace with regular point updates
Production Tip:
Linux Desktop Environments - FAQ
Q1: Which Linux desktop environment uses the least RAM?
LXQt is usually the lightest full desktop, followed closely by Xfce and MATE. GNOME and KDE Plasma need noticeably more at idle. Numbers swing with distro, apps and drivers, so measure your own right after login with free -h, or sort processes by memory with ps -eo rss,comm --sort=-rss | head. Our system monitoring cheat sheet lists more ways to read the same data.
Q2: Can I install two desktop environments and switch between them?
Yes. Each desktop adds its own session file, and you pick one from the session menu on the login screen before typing your password. To see what is installed, run ls /usr/share/xsessions /usr/share/wayland-sessions. The catch is clutter: duplicate apps, mixed themes, and sometimes two display managers. On Ubuntu you can choose which one runs with sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3.
Q3: How do I remove a desktop environment I don't want?
On Ubuntu, purge the metapackage you installed, then clean up the leftovers with sudo apt purge kde-plasma-desktop followed by sudo apt autoremove. On Rocky Linux, remove the group with sudo dnf group remove "KDE Plasma Workspaces". Make sure another desktop and display manager are still installed first, or you will boot to a text console. Our dnf vs apt guide covers the differences between the two package managers.
Q4: I get a black screen or I'm sent back to the login screen. What now?
Switch to a text console with Ctrl+Alt+F3, log in, and check the display manager with systemctl status display-manager. Then read its log for the current boot, for example journalctl -b -u gdm or journalctl -b -u sddm. On NVIDIA cards the usual cause is a missing or mismatched driver, so try the Xorg session on desktops that still have one, or reinstall the driver. If the box never reaches the login screen, run systemctl get-default and make sure it says graphical.target.
Q5: Should I install a Linux desktop environment on my server?
Usually no. A desktop adds hundreds of packages, more services and a bigger attack surface, and most admin work is faster over SSH anyway. If a vendor tool really needs a GUI, install a light desktop like Xfce and reach it over xrdp, and keep port 3389 closed to everything except your VPN or admin subnet. You can check what a GUI is costing you with systemctl list-units --type=service --state=running before and after the install.
Conclusion
All eight are free, open source, and a single package install away. The right one depends on your hardware and how much you like to tweak. Ubuntu and Debian get the widest choice. On Rocky, stick to Rocky Linux 9 for anything beyond GNOME and KDE. Need a fresh base first? See our Ubuntu LTS install guide or the Rocky Linux 9 install guide.
Our recommendations:
- GNOME: Use this if you want a clean, keyboard driven desktop that matches what most distros ship.
- KDE Plasma: Use this if you want to customize everything or you're coming from Windows.
- Xfce: Use this if you have older hardware or need a light desktop over remote access.
- Cinnamon: Use this if you want a traditional layout that just works with almost no setup.
- MATE: Use this if you liked GNOME 2 and want that same workflow today.
- LXQt: Use this if your machine is really old and every MB of RAM counts.
- Budgie: Use this if GNOME feels too bare and KDE feels like too much, on Ubuntu, Debian or Fedora.
- COSMIC: Use this if you want built-in tiling and run Pop!_OS or Fedora.
Did we miss a desktop you rely on? Tell us in the comments below.
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