- Zorin OS, a Linux distro, has boasted an avalanche of new recruits
- Two days after Windows 10 support ended, Zorin OS 18 recorded 100,000 downloads
- We’re told nearly three-quarters of them came from Windows PCs.
Some of the best Linux distributions have been looking to capitalize on the end of support for Windows 10 with various initiatives or projects, and apparently one of them, Zorin OS, is doing very well following the end of life of Microsoft’s operating system last week.
Neowin reports that the latest version of Zorin OS was released on the same day that Windows 10 abandoned its deadly codebase (October 14) and presented itself as a “modern alternative that makes your computer feel new.”
Zorin OS 18 just hit 100,000 downloads in just over 2 days 🎉️Over 72% of these downloads came from Windows, reflecting our mission to provide a better alternative to current Big Tech operating systems. Thank you for making this our biggest release yet! pic.twitter.com/6U4h3EQ3dqOctober 16, 2025
The developer of the Linux distribution informed us at
Analysis: Fighting Big Tech on the Desktop
Zorin Group sees this as a victory for alternative desktop platforms over the “incumbent “Big Tech operating systems”, i.e. Windows. However, when you look at the latest Linux transition in France, only 10% of city hall PCs are actually running Zorin OS (or another distribution), and much of the movement has been away from Microsoft’s Office apps (to LibreOffice) instead of Windows.
In any case, the official end of Windows 10 is certainly prompting some people and organizations to think about Linux as a genuine alternative, and an increase of around 70,000 Windows 10 users in a couple of days is pretty impressive for a relatively minor player in the world of desktop operating systems like Zorin.
If you want to know more about Zorin, it’s one of the best Linux options for those coming from Microsoft’s operating system, as it’s quite similar in design to Windows 11, as we explore in more detail in our hands-on Zorin 17 review. You might also want to consider some of the other recommendations we have for the best Windows-like Linux distributions.
While switching to Linux could be a good alternative, particularly for users of older PCs who can’t come close to the system requirements for Windows 11, such a move comes with compromises. You may have issues with hardware drivers or software compatibility, and games could be especially problematic; For starters, many online PC games don’t work because of their anti-cheat systems.
It’s also worth noting that you don’t need to abandon Windows 10 just yet – there’s another option in terms of accepting Microsoft’s extended support offer for an extra year of security updates. Yes, you’re simply postponing the decision of where to go next with your Windows 10 PC until next year, but if you need a break, the option is there (with a small catch, although that caveat doesn’t apply to everyone).
