Operating Systems · head to head
Linux Mint vs Pop!_OS
Linux Mint
Operating Systems
Ubuntu-based Linux distribution built for familiarity
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Pop!_OS
Operating Systems
Ubuntu-based Linux distribution tuned for developers and GPU work
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Linux Mint based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions; Pop!_OS built primarily around System76 hardware, so other machines get less attention
- They diverge on capability: Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Pop!_OS covers NVIDIA ISO.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Linux Mint and Pop!_OS actually diverge.
| Attribute | Linux Mint | Pop!_OS |
|---|
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), platforms (Linux, Desktop), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Operating Systems).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Linux Mint
- Cinnamon desktop
- Codecs included
- Ubuntu package base
- Update manager
Only in Pop!_OS
- NVIDIA ISO
- Auto-tiling
- Pop!_Shop
- Ubuntu base
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Linux Mint
- Moving a desktop or laptop off Windows with minimal retrainingnot Pop!_OS
- Reviving older hardware that struggles with current Windows releasesnot Pop!_OS
- Everyday desktop use where stability matters more than the newest packagesnot Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS
- Machine learning and graphics work needing NVIDIA drivers that work on first bootnot Linux Mint
- Developers who want tiling without configuring a window managernot Linux Mint
- System76 hardware, which it is built aroundnot Linux Mint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Linux Mint
- Based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions
- Cinnamon is less polished on fractional scaling and multi-monitor setups than GNOME or KDE
- Smaller team than Ubuntu or Fedora, which shows in the pace of security response for its own components
- Wayland support has lagged behind the major desktops
Pop!_OS
- Built primarily around System76 hardware, so other machines get less attention
- Based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages lag current upstream
- A smaller team than Ubuntu or Fedora, and releases have sometimes slipped well behind the Ubuntu base
- The COSMIC desktop rewrite has been a long transition with the older GNOME-based version in maintenance
Pricing, plan by plan
Linux Mint
Free- Linux MintFree
- Full operating system
- All updates
- Community support
Pop!_OS
Free- Pop!_OSFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose Linux Mint if
- You need cinnamon desktop.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Desktop.
- You also want codecs included.
Choose Pop!_OS if
- You need nvidia iso.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Desktop.
- You also want auto-tiling.
Questions people ask
- Is Linux Mint or Pop!_OS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Linux Mint starts at Free and Pop!_OS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Linux Mint or Pop!_OS?
- Linux Mint starts at Free and Pop!_OS at Free.
- Does Linux Mint or Pop!_OS run on more platforms?
- Both run on Linux, Desktop, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Linux Mint for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Linux Mint best used for?
- Linux Mint is most often used for moving a desktop or laptop off windows with minimal retraining, reviving older hardware that struggles with current windows releases, everyday desktop use where stability matters more than the newest packages. Of those, moving a desktop or laptop off windows with minimal retraining and reviving older hardware that struggles with current windows releases are not what Pop!_OS is typically brought in for.
- What can Linux Mint do that Pop!_OS cannot?
- Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Codecs included, Ubuntu package base, Update manager. Pop!_OS covers NVIDIA ISO, Auto-tiling, Pop!_Shop, Ubuntu base.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint free?
Yes, entirely free and open source, funded by donations and sponsors.
Pop!_OS: Is Pop!_OS free?
Yes, free and open source. System76 funds it through hardware sales.
Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint good for beginners?
It is one of the most commonly recommended distributions for people leaving Windows, because the desktop layout is conventional and media codecs are installed by default.
Pop!_OS: Why is there a separate NVIDIA download?
It ships with the proprietary GPU drivers already installed and working, which removes the most common first-day failure on Linux for GPU work.
Linux Mint: Can I run Ubuntu software on Linux Mint?
Yes. Mint is built on Ubuntu and uses its repositories, so nearly all Ubuntu packages and instructions apply.
Pop!_OS: Is it just Ubuntu?
It is based on Ubuntu LTS and uses its repositories, with a different desktop, tiling, an NVIDIA image and System76 tuning on top.
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