Pop!_OS
Pop!_OS is a free Linux operating system from System76 for productive, customizable computer use.
What Pop!_OS is
Pop!_OS is a free Linux operating system from System76 for productive, customizable computer use. Automatic window tiling can be adjusted with a mouse or keyboard, and its launcher opens applications, switches windows, calculates, finds files, searches the web, and runs commands. Users can place one or two panels along any screen edge and create themes with custom fonts and icons. The system uses APT and Flatpak, and System76 says Ubuntu-compatible software can run on it, including VS Code, Android Studio, Blender, DaVinci Resolve, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and MATLAB. The download page lists Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS with the COSMIC desktop environment. Installation supports 64-bit x86 and ARM64 computers, including laptops, desktops, workstations, and ARM computers. The guide requires at least 4 GB RAM and 20 GB storage, and Secure Boot must be disabled. System76 says installation includes full-disk encryption and that installations do not have information collected or stored.
Good
- Free Linux operating system
- Adjustable automatic window tiling
- APT and Flatpak support
- Full-disk encryption during installation
- Rolling updates and version upgrades
Watch out
- Secure Boot must be disabled
- Requires compatible computer hardware
- Installation guide requires 4 GB RAM and 20 GB storage
Who it suits
Pop!_OS suits Linux users who want tiling windows, desktop customization, and compatibility with Ubuntu-oriented tools. It is intended for compatible x86 or ARM computers.
Verdict
Pop!_OS offers a free desktop system with tiling, customization, and listed application compatibility. Verify hardware requirements and the Secure Boot limitation before installing.
Plans and prices
From Pop!_OS's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Pop!_OS | Free | 24.04 LTS · Standard, NVIDIA, ARM, and ARM-with-NVIDIA ISOs |
The facts
Each one read from Pop!_OS's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility
- The system includes controls for color blindness, limited vision, impaired hearing, and screen-reader access.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Bioinformatics tools
- Listed bioinformatics software includes R, Bioconductor, Bioconda, UniProt, Bowtie 2, and Biopython.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Current release
- The download page identifies Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS as the current release.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can choose single- or dual-panel layouts, move panels to any screen edge, and create themes with custom fonts and icons.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Desktop environment
- Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS uses the Rust-based COSMIC desktop environment.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- Official compatibility examples include TensorFlow, PyTorch, Caffe, Jupyter, MATLAB, VS Code, ROS, Postman, KiCad, Android Studio, and Arduino IDE.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation
- System76 publishes installation, desktop-basics, application-management, and troubleshooting documentation.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- The installer enables full-disk encryption by default and leaves the encryption key with the user.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Firmware
- A firmware-management application provides automatic firmware updates.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Gaming
- System76 promotes Steam gaming with integrated driver handling and graphics support.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review gaming result
- PC Gamer measured roughly 11.1% lower average performance at 1080p and 16.3% lower at 4K across its Linux-versus-Windows tests, with large game-specific variation.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review limit
- TechRadar lists 64-bit-only hardware support as a drawback.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review limits: bugs
- It's FOSS reported audio-device switching problems, missing dock icons, and OBS Studio screen-recording issues in Pop!_OS 24.04.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review praise
- TechRadar recommends Pop!_OS for beginner gamers, highlighting keyboard control, hybrid graphics, and default full-disk encryption.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Independent review praise: installation
- It's FOSS found the Pop!_OS 24.04 installer straightforward, with simple clean or custom partitioning and useful onboarding.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Installation limit
- Secure Boot must be disabled before installation, according to the installation guide.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Install requirements
- The installation guide lists 64-bit x86 or ARM architecture, 4 GB RAM minimum, and 20 GB storage; its download page recommends 4 GB RAM and 16 GB storage.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Licensing
- Public Pop!_OS repositories use open-source licenses including GPL-3.0, MPL-2.0, and BSD-3-Clause.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: delivery and defects
- Trustpilot complaints include shipping delays, initial hardware defects, international delivery costs, and occasional communication problems.checked 15 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Apps and compatibility
- Pop!_OS uses APT and Flatpak, and the maker says Ubuntu-compatible tools can run on it.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Independent review limit: application availability
- PC Gamer reports that Adobe, Affinity, Battle.net, Office 365, iTunes, Notion, and several hardware-control utilities lack native Linux versions.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company headquarters
- System76 lists Denver, Colorado as its headquarters and manufacturing location.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The product is made by System76, Inc.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Denver, Colorado, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
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