Zorin OS

Zorin OS

Zorin OS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu which provides both free and paid versions. 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. 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.

Features

Zorin OS

Zorin OS is available in various free and paid versions including versions using Xfce for use with older computers, instead of the traditional GNOME. 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 and allow the interface to be familiar regardless of the previous system a user has come from. 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.

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. As of December 2025, the software is unreleased.

History

Zorin OS

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

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

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

Adoption

Zorin OS

In April 2016, the Italian city of Vicenza began migrating approximately 900 municipal computers from Windows to Zorin OS. 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.

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. 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.

Versions

<table><thead><tr><th>Version</th><th>Release Date</th><th>Support End</th><th>Base</th><th>Kernel version</th><th>Features/Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 1.0</td><td>1 July 2009</td><td>1 January 2010</td><td>Ubuntu 9.04</td><td>2.6.28</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS Limited Edition ’09</td><td>27 October 2009</td><td>1 January 2010</td><td>Ubuntu 9.10</td><td>2.6.31</td><td>Preview of the Zorin OS 2.0</td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 2.0</td><td>1 January 2010</td><td>April 2011</td><td>Ubuntu 9.10</td><td>2.6.31</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 3</td><td>10 June 2010</td><td>April 2013</td><td>Ubuntu 10.04 LTS</td><td>2.6.32</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 4</td><td>17 December 2010</td><td>April 2012</td><td>Ubuntu 10.10</td><td>2.6.35</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 5</td><td>5 June 2011</td><td>October 2012</td><td>Ubuntu 11.04</td><td>2.6.38</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 6</td><td>18 June 2012</td><td>April 2017</td><td>Ubuntu 12.04 LTS</td><td>3.2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 7</td><td>9 June 2013</td><td>January 2014</td><td>Ubuntu 13.04</td><td>3.8</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 8</td><td>27 January 2014</td><td>July 2014</td><td>Ubuntu 13.10</td><td>3.11</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 9</td><td>15 July 2014</td><td>April 2019</td><td>Ubuntu 14.04 LTS</td><td>3.13</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 10</td><td>1 August 2015</td><td>February 2016</td><td>Ubuntu 15.04</td><td>3.19</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 11</td><td>3 February 2016</td><td>August 2016</td><td>Ubuntu 15.10</td><td>4.2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 12</td><td>18 November 2016</td><td>29 April 2021</td><td>Ubuntu 16.04 LTS</td><td>4.8</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 15</td><td>5 June 2019</td><td>30 April 2023</td><td>Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS</td><td>4.15, 4.18, 5.x</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Unsupported: Zorin OS 16</td><td>17 August 2021</td><td>31 May 2025</td><td>Ubuntu 20.04 LTS</td><td>5.11, 5.13, 5.15</td><td>Visual changes, based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Flatpak support out of the box. Ease of use, stronger security and better hardware compatibility. "Zorin OS Upgrader" tool added; updated software packages; same kernel version as Ubuntu 22.04.</td></tr><tr><td>Supported: Zorin OS 17</td><td>20 December 2023</td><td>1 June 2027</td><td>Ubuntu 22.04 LTS</td><td>6.2, 6.5, 6.8,</td><td>Wine 9.0 and Bottles, Reading Strip, Logseq, LibreOffice 24.2, updated Linux Kernel and Graphics Stack, better hardware support. Software updates, e. g. LibreOffice 24.8. Additional window management and theming settings. Redesigned software store. For 17.3 Brave is the default web browser.</td></tr><tr><td>Latest version: Zorin OS 18</td><td>14 October 2025</td><td>1 June 2029</td><td>Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS</td><td>6.14.0-xx</td><td>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.</td></tr></tbody></table>