Can You Really Replace Windows With Linux? An Honest Answer

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I’ve been seeing more and more people talk about ditching Windows for Linux lately, and I get why. Recent changes have pushed many users to reconsider their setup. I made the switch myself, and honestly, the experience surprised me in ways I didn’t expect.

Linux is a serious alternative to Windows for most everyday uses today. It gives you more control over your system, fewer restrictions, and often better performance, but it’s not a perfect fit for everyone yet.

After using Linux as my main system, I’ll show you why switching is worth considering, what worked for me, what didn’t, and who it’s really for.

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Why You Should Consider Switching From Windows

Windows is a wonderful operating system when it’s a staple install-and-forget OS. Recent design changes in the last couple of years, however, have felt unnecessary and intrusive.

On Windows, customization can be rather challenging. You often need to install third-party applications on top of the default Windows applications, and you have no way to remove the core components themselves completely.

Furthermore, the recent switch to Copilot is a major annoyance, as your PC’s resources are being used for a workload you have no easy way to opt out of.

Windows 11 seems to intentionally block you from using your PC the way you want. Workarounds exist, but they feel like you are fighting the system. Aren’t you supposed to be the master of your own computer?

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What Makes Linux Different from Windows

When considering an alternate OS from Windows, you really have only two choices: MacOS and Linux. macOS is primarily for Apple devices, so most people have only one choice: Linux.

Linux is more commonly associated with headless servers, and you need to be comfortable with the Linux terminal to use it.

I did some research and realized that most common myths about Linux are not true.
Here’s what actually stood out:

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Customization: You can change your desktop, workflows, and system behavior without third-party tools.
Bloat Free: You start with a minimal system and install only what you need.
Performance & Resource Efficiency: With no extra bloat installed on your system and the Linux kernel designed to run on lower-end machines, you get a highly resource-efficient system.
Developer-Friendly Environment: Linux has much better support for Python, C++, and Rust. Tools like Docker, Docker Compose, and Git are much more natively supported and integrated into the system terminal.
Cost & Licensing: Since Linux is open-source, most distributions are free and have no hidden or other costs. In fact, the Linux community is aggressively open-source centric, and paid/closed-source applications are generally not supported or encouraged.

Why People Hesitate to Switch to Linux

Despite these advantages, most people hesitate to switch. I had similar concerns when I myself considered switching from Windows to Linux, and here is how I overcame them.

Do You Have to Give Up Windows Completely?

For most of us, the thought of using Linux as an OS sounds interesting. However, the thought of outright overwriting your system seems a bit daunting.

Instead of replacing Windows, I recommend dual-booting. This way, when you start your computer, it will ask which OS you want to boot into.

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Choosing a Linux Distro Is Overwhelming

The next major issue I came across is the sheer number of Linux distributions available. It becomes nearly impossible to choose which distribution to install.

Here are my recommendations for people switching to Linux for the first time:

Linux Mint (Cinnamon): A Debian/Ubuntu-based OS with the Cinnamon Desktop Environment. Has probably the most straightforward installation procedure, and the Cinnamon Desktop Environment is very close in look and feel to Windows 7.
Ubuntu (Gnome): The names Linux and Ubuntu are more or less synonymous to most beginners. It is the most stable and polished version of Linux with a very strong community support.
Kubuntu (KDE Plasma): This is a flavor of Ubuntu that changes only the UI skin. Everything underneath remains the same as Ubuntu. The Desktop Environment has been changed from Gnome to KDE Plasma, which, in my personal opinion, is the most polished Desktop Environment for Linux.

If you’re unsure which one to choose, here’s how I think of them. All three are very similar operating systems (Debian-based), and the main difference is the UI skin. Select the one whose UI is most appealing to you.

Your first choice doesn’t matter much. One could easily start with Ubuntu and make it look and feel exactly like Arch Linux or Fedora. So don’t stress too much and pick the distribution that appeals most to you.

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Linux as Daily Driver: What to Expect

I had tried Linux before during the Windows 8 era. However, my experience was not very smooth. There were a lot of everyday things Linux couldn’t do, and I eventually had to switch back to Windows.

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However, compared to my previous attempt, the difference is dramatic, and you feel much more at home in Linux. Although I still maintain a dual-boot setup, I rarely have to boot into Windows.

Web Browsers

Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Technical Tinkering Required: None
Compromises Required: None

Browser-based workflows are the simplest to change from Windows to Linux. Most browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, are readily available on Linux as well.

Most Linux distributions include a browser out of the box. For example, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, and Linux Mint all come with Firefox as the default browser. You can easily install any other browser from the built-in App Stores, such as the Snap Store on Ubuntu.

I opted to use the Brave browser because I was already using it on my Windows setup, and it is also available in the Snap Store.

Multimedia

Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Technical Tinkering Required: None
Compromises Required: None

Media consumption is another area where I think there is no compromise when switching over from Windows to Linux. VLC media player is available through Snap Store.

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Only a very few media players, such as Windows Media Player, are not available in Linux.

The added advantage of shifting to Linux was that software like Kodi and Jellyfin were much more readily available and natively supported. This allowed me to manage my offline media library much more easily.

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File Management

Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Technical Tinkering Required: None
Compromises Required: None

When we talk about Linux, most people assume you have to jump into a terminal and use commands to handle everyday tasks like file management. However, this is no longer the case.

Depending on the distribution you choose, you will have access to GNOME Files, Dolphin, or Nemo. All three are highly functional, and since I made the switch, I have not missed Windows Explorer once.

Since I am running KDE, the file manager that came with it is called Dolphin. It is extremely similar to Windows Explorer, where you can pin certain folders to the left navigation bar. It also shows recently viewed folders and all the devices connected to your PC in the left bar.

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When you connect a USB drive to your computer, it is automatically detected and appears under the Removable Devices section. When you click it, it mounts automatically, and the experience is very similar to Windows Explorer.

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Messaging Apps

Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Technical Tinkering Required: None
Compromises Required: None

Linux offers excellent support for various messaging apps, making them easily accessible regardless of the app you choose. Applications like Discord, Zoom, and Slack can be accessed through the official Ubuntu Snap Store or via Flatpak for other distributions.

The only apps not available locally on Linux are iMessage, WhatsApp, and WeChat. However, workarounds for most of these exist as well.

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Gaming on Linux (The Biggest Surprise)

Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Technical Tinkering Required: Low
Compromises Required: Very Few

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Gaming on Linux was truly the biggest eye-opener and a pleasant surprise for me. The last time I attempted to switch to Linux, it was nearly impossible to run any AAA game. Only a few old games worked using compatibility layers or virtualization, and the overall experience was very bad.

However, with the advent of Steam OS, things have been streamlined significantly. Most popular games run well, often with performance similar to or better than on Windows.

If, for some reason, the game you want to run is not available on Steam, Lutris is an excellent tool that lets you play any offline game stored on your hard disk. It also lets you import your libraries from GOG, Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft.

The experience of using Lutris is also extremely seamless. You don’t have to jump into the terminal to manually configure. Lutris automatically handles everything for you.

However, games that use the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) system do not run on Linux. While a few EAC games are supported. However, there is still no way to run games such as League of Legends (LoL), Valorant, Fortnite, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege (not even with Wine or VM).

Luckily for me, I was not looking forward to playing any EAC games, and all the games I wanted to play worked seamlessly on my PC.

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The One Thing Linux Still Struggles With: Microsoft Office

Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐
Technical Tinkering Required: None
Compromises Required: Few

My main office work relies heavily on Microsoft Office. There are several good Microsoft Office alternatives available on Linux.

Full versions of most distributions come pre-installed with LibreOffice. While LibreOffice is perfectly functional. However, coming from Microsoft Office, there is a bit of a learning curve, especially concerning the interface.

Another popular alternative is OnlyOffice, which offers an interface very similar to Microsoft Office and is available through the Ubuntu Snap Store and Flatpak as well.

I tried these options, but none of them completely fit the workflow that I was accustomed to. The functionality that I needed was either not implemented or was too hard to find.

Therefore, I opted to use Microsoft 365 in a web browser, which gave me a familiar workflow. However, Microsoft 365 still doesn’t offer the same functionality as the offline version, and using it meant exposing my documents to the network, which creates cybersecurity concerns in certain organizations.

IDEs and SDKs

Ease of Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Technical Tinkering Required: Low
Compromises Required: Few

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I primarily used Visual Studio and Qt SDK for my workflow. While Qt is readily available on Linux, you can simply download the online installer and double-click it to install (same as Windows).

However, Microsoft Visual Studio was not available for Linux. For my use case, I was able to shift most of my Visual Studio workflow to Qt and have been comfortable doing so.

However, if your workflow doesn’t transfer easily to Qt, a good alternative, most people suggest, for Visual Studio is VS Code. VS Code is also available through the Ubuntu Snap Store. I tried it for a little while, and it is good for most purposes.

Another tool I commonly use for small-scale code editing is Notepad++. It has always been an indispensable tool for creating small batch files and making small edits to the code when I don’t want to launch the complete IDE.

A few alternatives to Notepad++ often suggested include Kate and Geany. However, in my experience, while Kate is a close match, it is not as good as Notepad++.

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The Honest Verdict: Should You Replace Windows With Linux?

Yes, you can replace Windows with Linux in many situations. It’s much easier to use than it used to be, and you don’t need advanced technical skills to get started anymore.

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Even non-technical users can set up and use Linux without the terminal. Tools like ChatGPT also make troubleshooting easier.

While you previously needed to manually install programs using a package manager in a terminal, Snap Store and Flatpak have made Linux significantly more beginner-friendly. All you have to do is search for your required application and install it.

The GNOME and KDE desktop environments have become much more refined, making the entire operating system feel significantly more cohesive than it did a few years ago.

Having said all that, I do think there are a few instances where I think the better choice is still to stick with Windows. If you fall into one of the following categories, then I would actually advise you to stick with Windows for now:

Adobe Creative Suite Users: If you use your home PC for content creation and rely on Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, for instance, I don’t think switching to Linux is a good idea. Although alternatives like GIMP and DaVinci Resolve are often recommended, changing your entire workflow to switch operating systems may not be worth it.
Competitive Gamer: If you play competitive multiplayer games like League of Legends, PUBG, or Valorant that use the EAC system, and you cannot abandon them, it is better to stick with Windows. At present, there is no way or workaround to play these games on Linux.
Corporate MS Office User: If you mainly use your PC to work on documents through Microsoft Office, I would suggest staying with Windows for the time being. While there are workarounds available (like the one I use), they are only practical for occasional use.
Engineers: In terms of CAD software, Altium is not available on Linux. Luckily for me, the open source alternative, KiCAD, was equally viable. The switch was easy for me, but if you’re reliant on commercial apps like Altium, then the only options are to run it in a Windows compatibility layer like Wine or in a VM. Both of these solutions require technical expertise, and even if you can get them to run, the experience still isn’t the same as on Windows.

Ultimately, your OS choice depends on the apps you rely on. Therefore, if you are heavily reliant on some application that is not available on Linux, you should not switch.

However, if you are not reliant on any such application or can make do with the alternatives available, switching to Linux is a much better choice and is much more approachable and accessible than it was a few years ago.

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Can You Really Replace Windows With Linux? An Honest Answer