AlmaLinux OS vs MX Linux
AlmaLinux OS
almalinux.orgMX Linux
mxlinux.orgSide by side
| Figure | AlmaLinux OS | MX Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Operating Systems | 9.0 (#1) | 8.1 (#11) |
| Security updates | The Foundation publishes errata for security issues and bug fixes, with analysis of their significance. | The FAQ says MX is based on Debian Stable and automatically receives its security updates. |
| Support | Community support is available through forums, chat, and Reddit, while commercial support is offered by listed providers including Cybertrust Japan and TuxCare. | Support resources include videos, documentation and the MX Linux Forum. |
Plans
In their own words
AlmaLinux OS
AlmaLinux OS is a free, open-source, community-owned enterprise Linux distribution designed for binary compatibility with RHEL. The project presents it as an option for users who need enterprise Linux without a commercial license agreement, including people seeking a CentOS Linux replacement. It can run on servers, workstations, virtual machines, cloud instances, containers, Raspberry Pi devices and Windows Subsystem for Linux environments. ISO downloads cover x86_64, aarch64, ppc64le and s390x architectures. The project also provides cloud images, OCI, Docker and UBI-compatible container images, Vagrant images, and live media with several desktop choices. A WSL image provides a terminal environment on Windows. The Foundation publishes security and bug-fix errata, and packages are GPG-signed and verified by default when installed. OpenSCAP, SCAP Workbench, OVAL streams and CIS tooling are available for auditing or hardening systems. Community support is available through forums, chat and Reddit; commercial support is offered separately by listed providers. The project plans stable updates and security patches for 8.x until 2029 and 9.x until 2032.
MX Linux
MX Linux is a free family of Linux operating systems built from Debian Stable repositories for desktop use focused on efficiency, stability, and performance. The project is a cooperative venture between the antiX and MX Linux communities. Its official editions use Xfce, KDE, or Fluxbox, and graphical MX tools cover tasks such as boot options and repository management. MX Package Installer provides access to popular applications from Debian Stable, MX Test Repo, Debian Backports, and Flatpak; listed compatibility also includes Snap on supported setups and AppImage. MX Updater checks packages, offers upgrade modes, and can schedule unattended upgrades. Live USB and snapshot tools support portable operation and remastering. The Xfce edition comes in standard and Advanced Hardware Support versions; KDE includes Dolphin and KDE Connect. MX automatically receives Debian Stable security updates, and its ISO Signature Verifier checks signed checksums. It can be installed on desktop and laptop computers or run live from removable USB media. Support resources include videos, documentation, a user manual, and a forum.