Pop!_OS
Ubuntu-based Linux distribution from System76, featuring the Rust-built COSMIC desktop.
Commenters use it as a dependable daily driver on laptops, desktops and older hardware,12345 and some like its Cosmic desktop with auto-tiling.678 The most common complaint is bugs and missing features since the move to Cosmic and Wayland,910 and some gamers found it needed more tweaks than other distros.1112
Why people recommend it
Daily driver · 3
Several commenters run it day to day across many machines with few issues.
“pop and Bazzite in particular have proven to be perfectly capable daily drivers”
“I use Pop!_OS almost everywhere, but Debian/Ubuntu/Arch with IceWM or Fluxbox (or the like) works great.”
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“using Ubuntu and PopOS! on two different laptops. I've had very small number of issues.”
Old hardware · 3
Runs well and stays stable on older ThinkPads and a 2014 MacBook Pro.
“I use Pop_OS! on my old 2014 Macbook Pro”
“I run Haiku, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Ubuntu, and Pop OS, and all of them go like stink and are daily-drivable”
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“All are 100% stable and run for days on end without a problem with Ubuntu, Pop OS, FreeBSD”
Gaming · 3
Some use it on their gaming PCs and enjoy it.
“I use Pop!_OS for my gaming PC and I generally enjoy it.”
“ubuntu for work popos for gaming setup to be better for me”
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“I did put PoP OS! and Steam on it but I'll swap to another distro if needed”
Cosmic desktop · 3
Fans like the Rust-based Cosmic desktop and its auto-tiling.
“PopOS! I used arch for my intro but shortly got tired of the setup.”
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“I have been using is since early Alpha and overall its pretty good.”
Easier setup · 2
One commenter switched to it after tiring of setting up Arch, and another finds it approachable as a non-power user.
“PopOS! I used arch for my intro but shortly got tired of the setup.”
“pop and Bazzite in particular have proven to be perfectly capable daily drivers”
No Snap · 1
Recommended as a lighter Ubuntu alternative without Snap.
“which is why I recommend Pop OS - at least I did when it was a light weight Ubuntu fork”
Caveats and dissent
Cosmic bugs · 1
The newer Cosmic release is described as a bit buggy, with sparse functionality and missing shortcuts.
“the OS is a little buggy and functionality can be quite sparse in some applications”
Wayland migration · 1
A long-time user says the move to Wayland in 24.04 is causing serious problems for many people.
“I am a huge fan of System76 and Pop_OS”
Gaming tweaks · 2
Some gamers hit issues and found it less performant than Bazzite or Arch.
“PopOS came with a myriad of tweaks and issues needed for things like Ubi Connect”
“It worked when it worked but when it didn't, it REALLY didn't.”
Hard to search · 2
The punctuation in the name makes distro-specific help harder to find.
“I use Pop!_OS for my gaming PC and I generally enjoy it.”
“I have been using is since early Alpha and overall its pretty good.”
Security posture · 1
One commenter warns against it over the project's security posture.
“I won't and I recommend anyone currently using it to reconsider”
Less lightweight · 1
One commenter is unsure it is still the lightweight Ubuntu fork they once recommended.
“which is why I recommend Pop OS - at least I did when it was a light weight Ubuntu fork”
Often compared with
1 moved from Arch Linux to Pop!_OS
1 moved from Pop!_OS to Arch LinuxWindows1 comment mention both
2 moved from Windows to Pop!_OS
1 moved from Pop!_OS to Bazzite
1 moved from Windows 11 to Pop!_OSmacOS1 comment mention both
1 moved from macOS to Pop!_OSEndeavourOS1 comment mention both
1 moved from Pop!_OS to EndeavourOS
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Ask HN: What Linux distro do you daily drive? 3 mentions
- Ideas on modernizing the open-source desktop 2 mentions
- Pop_OS 24.04 LTS with COSMIC desktop environment 2 mentions
- Pop!_OS bans AI-generated code from much of its codebase 1 mention
- Upgrade your desktop: Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS is now available 1 mention
- Google ending ChromeOS support two years early 1 mention
Data: pop-os.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 24
“I won't and I recommend anyone currently using it to reconsider”
“having used Pop!_OS for a while”
“I run Haiku, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Ubuntu, and Pop OS, and all of them go like stink and are daily-drivable”
“pop and Bazzite in particular have proven to be perfectly capable daily drivers”
“I love the future shaped by two things: Omarchy and Pop!_OS.”
“I use Pop!_OS almost everywhere, but Debian/Ubuntu/Arch with IceWM or Fluxbox (or the like) works great.”
“ubuntu for work popos for gaming setup to be better for me”
“PopOS! I used arch for my intro but shortly got tired of the setup.”
“I was looking into PopOS or CachyOS (with Cosmic).”
“the OS is a little buggy and functionality can be quite sparse in some applications”
“I did put PoP OS! and Steam on it but I'll swap to another distro if needed”
“I use Pop_OS! on my old 2014 Macbook Pro”
“I daily drive pop os now.”
“which is why I recommend Pop OS - at least I did when it was a light weight Ubuntu fork”
“using Ubuntu and PopOS! on two different laptops. I've had very small number of issues.”
“I am a huge fan of System76 and Pop_OS”
“I love Pop!_OS (and Cosmic)”
“I was on POP_OS! for a good year”
“I've been using popos for a while”
“It worked when it worked but when it didn't, it REALLY didn't.”
“All are 100% stable and run for days on end without a problem with Ubuntu, Pop OS, FreeBSD”
“I have been using is since early Alpha and overall its pretty good.”
“I use Pop!_OS for my gaming PC and I generally enjoy it.”
“PopOS came with a myriad of tweaks and issues needed for things like Ubi Connect”