With Windows 10 reaching its end of life on October 14, 2025, millions of current Windows 10 users face a difficult decision: should they buy a new PC that meets the Windows 11 strict requirements, or is there a modern, long-term supported alternative that works with the computer they already own? Microsoft is essentially saying that all these “older legacy” computers, even if they still function technically, should be sent to the electronic waste bin. This is, of course, terrible advice. But you’re on a Linux website right now, so you probably already know that Linux and many distributions based on it can provide a good solution for your current computer. And a Linux distribution that’s an excellent alternative to Windows 10 is Zorin OS. 

This week, the Zorin team gave me a heads-up on the soon-to-be-released Zorin OS 18. In this article, I will give you insight into the Zorin OS 18 Beta release that is available for everyone to try out. This latest Beta release is a thoughtful evolution of, in my opinion, one of the most user-friendly Linux distributions available today. Whether you’re a seasoned Linux user looking for a great out-of-the-box experience or someone looking to escape the Windows upgrade nightmare, Zorin OS 18 offers a stunning, intuitive, and powerful experience that feels familiar, powerful, and fresh at the same time.

Content of the article

1. Introduction
2. Zorin OS explained
3. Why I Recommend Zorin OS
4. What does Zorin OS 18 have to offer?
5. How to try Zorin OS 18 Beta yourself
6. Final words

Zorin OS explained

Zorin OS is a robust, beautiful, simple to use, and surprisingly powerful variant of a Linux-based operating system. Such a variant is what we call in the Linux world a distribution. Like most Linux distributions, Zorin OS is made up of three main layers:

• The Linux kernel (the core engine)
• A desktop environment (the visual interface you interact with)
• A collection of software packages (apps, tools, and utilities)

With these building blocks, the Zorin OS team has created an operating system that feels familiar from the moment you boot it up, especially if you’re coming from Windows. It has a graphical desktop environment that is flexible, elegant, and designed with all kinds of users in mind.

Why I Recommend Zorin OS

Zorin OS is one of those rare Linux distributions that just gets it right. The Core version is completely free, and it offers a clean, intuitive interface that feels instantly familiar if you’ve used Windows before. It’s built on top of Ubuntu, one of the most trusted and widely used Linux distributions, which means you get access to a massive library of software and a huge support community.

What I love most is how Zorin OS balances simplicity with power:

• It’s easy enough for beginners to dive in without feeling overwhelmed.
• It’s stable and reliable enough for advanced users to stick with it long-term.
• You will notice a performance boost compared to Windows 10 on your current machine, especially on older hardware.

What does Zorin OS 18 have to offer?

When the official version of Zorin OS 18 is released, I’ll be diving deeper into everything that my personal favorite Linux distribution has to offer, but based on this Beta release, thanks to the Zorin team, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at what you can expect soon.

A fresh look that feels just right

The first thing you’ll notice as an existing Zorin OS user is the updated visual design. The current Zorin OS 17.3 is already a stunner visually, but the Zorin team managed to refine the look even further. Zorin OS 18 introduces a more rounded, modern look that’s both stylish and calming. The default theme has been refreshed with softer colors and subtle tints that are easier on the eyes. 

The out-of-the-box experience of Zorin OS 17.3 was very bright, and for some users, a bit too bright on the eyes, but in Zorin OS 18, everything is much friendlier and more gentle, but still has the well-known Zorin signature. The screenshot below shows the current Zorin 17.3 styling on the left and the new Zorin 18 visuals on the right, which have become slightly less bright.

The main panel now floats on your desktop with a more rounded style, and the workspace indicator gives you instant feedback as you switch between tasks.

Also, the main apps as part of the system have been redesigned with care:

• The Files app has a cleaner sidebar and better-organized controls.

• The Settings app is easier to navigate, with redesigned panels.
• The Calendar app now includes a handy sidebar with a month and events view.
• A new Camera app replaces Cheese, offering a simpler way to snap photos and record videos via your desktop.
• The Evolution mail app has an updated, more modern interface that fits beautifully with the rest of the system.

According to the Zorin team:

“At Zorin, we recognise the impact that a well-designed environment can have to inspire you to do better work and think in new ways. That’s why we’ve obsessed over the details to deliver you our most beautiful and functional operating system ever.“

Smarter multitasking with window tiling

Zorin OS 18 introduces a new window tiling manager that makes multitasking a joy. Drag a window to the top of the screen, and you’ll see different layout options in the pop-up. There is no need to memorize different shortcuts. You can even create custom layouts, customise tiling behaviour, and enable auto-tiling for a more dynamic workflow.

Use web apps with a native app-like experience

In this modern technological world, we are using more and more online applications through our web browsers. Applications like Notion, AppFlowy, Todoist, Clickup, Asana, Microsoft 365, and Google Docs are all available online and don’t need to be installed locally. Regardless of the debate about whether it is always wise to use cloud-based solutions, many people find online apps the preferred way to be productive using various technical platforms.

Zorin OS 18 offers a new Web Apps tool that lets you turn your favorite websites into desktop apps. They appear in your start menu and behave just like native applications. It’s seamless and perfect for cloud-first users. The new Web Apps tool is able to integrate with different web browsers and allows you to customise the experience the way you like.

OneDrive integration is built in

I started this article by mentioning the decision current Windows 10 users have to make: buying a new Windows 11 device or looking for alternatives. Many Windows 10 users are using Microsoft OneDrive for their cloud storage. Zorin OS 18 now includes Microsoft 365 OneDrive integration. Just sign in via Online Accounts, and your OneDrive-based file structure and files will appear in the Zorin OS Files app sidebar, directly available and ready for you to use.

Expanded database to detect Windows app alternatives

A unique Zorin OS feature that I don’t know of in any other Linux distribution is the built-in functionality and underlying database that helps to advise on alternatives to Windows installer files. When you try to install a Windows application (which is also possible via built-in Windows support), this functionality will in many cases indicate whether a native version of this same app is available and can be installed for Linux, or if a native Linux installer is not available, whether there is a comparable Linux application available that can be a good replacement for the Windows app you are trying to install. This functionality is therefore extremely valuable for people who switch from Windows to Linux, who often do not yet have the knowledge of the alternative applications available for Linux. 

Zorin OS 18 now recognizes over 170 popular Windows installers and offers tailored guidance. If you try to install something like Microsoft Office, Zorin OS will suggest the best way to run it, being a web version, a native Linux app, or a great alternative like LibreOffice. I think it is one of these features that makes Zorin OS a good gateway into the world of Linux and helps new users feel supported from day one.

A new foundation

While the Zorin OS 17.X releases were all based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, which came out in April 2022, with official support till 2027, Zorin OS 18 is based on the current Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release, which will be officially supported till April 2029 and offers updated drivers for broader hardware compatibility and Linux kernel 6.14.0.

Other improvements and changes

Here are some other improvements and refinements:

• New theme colors
• Three new desktop layouts (Zorin OS Pro only)
• Improved performance and responsiveness
• Search Everywhere in the Files app
• Improved multi-monitor and touchscreen support
• Remote login via RDP
• Centered window placement by default
• Better Bluetooth audio thanks to PipeWire

Note: RDP = Remote Desktop Protocol, which is a secure network communications protocol developed by Microsoft.

How to try Zorin OS 18 Beta yourself

Zorin OS 18 Beta is available directly for anyone who wants to take a look and have a feel for what’s coming soon, and if you want to help the Zorin team find bugs before the official version is released. Please note that this is a Beta version and that, although it already runs very stable and fast on my test machine, it is not advisable for production purposes (share your findings with the Zorin team via the dedicated built-in “Send Feedback” option on the panel). Install Zorin OS Beta in a virtual environment, on a test machine, or try it out as a live environment, enjoy it, and wait for the formal release to be announced.

Use the following button to download Zorin OS 18 Beta:

Final words

I think Zorin OS is an operating system that is great, beautiful, refined, complete, well-thought-out, accessible, inviting, robust, stable, fast, and an example of a Linux distribution with which you can convince many people to make the switch from their current operating system to Linux, especially now that Windows 10 will come to an end. With a distribution like Zorin OS, the Zorin team clearly shows how friendly Linux can be for regular computer users, but also how complete and powerful it can be as a professional desktop environment. I can’t wait for the stable release to be ready and install it on my main production machine. 

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