Best Lightweight Linux Distributions for Old and Low-Spec PCs

On a machine with 2 GB of RAM, the choice of distribution matters more than the choice of applications. These are the lightest serious Linux distributions.

24 distributions suited to old hardware

• MX Linux — Debian family, systemd, apt
• Void Linux — Independent family, runit, xbps
• Alpine Linux — Independent family, openrc, apk
• antiX Linux — Debian family, runit, apt
• Puppy Linux — Independent family, busybox-init, ppm
• Xubuntu — Ubuntu family, systemd, apt
• Lubuntu — Ubuntu family, systemd, apt
• Gentoo Linux — Gentoo family, openrc, portage (emerge)
• Linux Lite — Ubuntu family, systemd, apt
• Bodhi Linux — Ubuntu family, systemd, apt
• Peppermint OS — Ubuntu family, systemd, apt
• Q4OS — Debian family, systemd, apt
• SparkyLinux — Debian family, systemd, apt
• BunsenLabs Linux — Debian family, systemd, apt
• DietPi — Debian family, systemd, apt
• Tiny Core Linux — Independent family, custom, tce
• Mabox Linux — Arch family, systemd, pamac
• Salix — Slackware family, sysvinit, slapt-get
• Porteus — Slackware family, sysvinit, modular xzm packages
• SliTaz GNU/Linux — Independent family, sysvinit, tazpkg
• 4MLinux — Independent family, sysvinit, custom
• LibreELEC — Independent family, systemd, kodi-addons
• Slax — Debian family, sysvinit, apt
• wattOS — Debian family, systemd, apt

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