# Debian Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is Debian the right Operating Systems solution for you? Explore 24 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/229027/Debian/reviews --- Debian 4.6 (24) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/229027/Debian/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated March 13th, 2026 # Reviews of Debian Ease of use 4.3 Customer Service 3.7 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews DB Dave B Generalist and animatorGraphic Design, Self-employedUsed the software for: Less than 6 months. “It's highly customisable and easy to use for both experienced and novice users.“ January 27, 2026 santiago m studentEntertainment, Self-employedUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “The worst of Debian are: Buggy updates and more difficult to install than other distributions.“ September 16, 2021 Ronald C Software DeveloperHospital & Health Care, 1,001 - 5,000 employeesUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “What I like the most about this distribution is that it has a great user interface and as a developer it was what caught my attention the most when choosing it, being one of the first distributions used together with CentOS.“ July 24, 2022 Ali L Server administratorComputer & Network Security, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “Debian Linux is one of the oldest last real Open source projects still standing, supported developed and driven by the community, unlike many other open source projects that has already given up and got infiltrated by big tech money or influence.“ January 23, 2022 VS Vishvjit S Web developerInformation Technology and Services, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “The user interface is best because it's so easy to use and it is eye appealing and the terminal is the cherry on the cake.“ November 24, 2022 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-24 of 24 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Nabin P. CEO Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Open-source Linux OS that will be always free" August 21, 2021 5.0 Debian is a lightweight, robust, and fully customizable Linux OS that is also free and open-source. Pros The best part about Debian is that it's a free and open-source Linux-based operating system that is being developed and maintained by a community of people like us. New versions of Debian are released approximately every two years with five years of LTS. It is a good choice for web servers, personal computers, and IoT devices. It comes with extensive hardware support and 59000 installable packages. Many popular Linux distros like Ubuntu, Devuan, and Deepin are based on the Debian Linux system. Cons Debian LTS versions may not be always uptodate with security patches. Nonfree hardware drivers have to be downloaded from third-party websites. Limited enterprise-level support. Alternatives considered [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229025/Red-Hat-Enterprise-Linux/)[Oracle Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229031/Oracle-Linux/)[Raspberry Pi OS](https://www.capterra.com/p/230090/Raspbian/) Reason for choosing Debian We choose Debian over other Linux alternatives for its transparent source code and potential customization for a wide range of software solutions. Switched from [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229025/Red-Hat-Enterprise-Linux/)[CentOS Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229026/CentOS-Linux/)[Oracle Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229031/Oracle-Linux/)[Raspberry Pi OS](https://www.capterra.com/p/230090/Raspbian/) We made a switch to Debian Linux OS because it is a fully community-driven project. It is best suited for our IoT projects. Review Source DB Dave B. Generalist and animator Graphic Design Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "An excellent Linux distro choice when switching from Windows 11." January 27, 2026 5.0 I'm very impressed with this Linux Distro. Coming from Windows 11 and decades of Windows versions behind me, I first tried Linux Mint, which was good, but had compatibility problems with a specific laptop (An Acer Nitro 5). I stuck with Mint for a while but I was unable to fix some display issues. In contrast, Debian worked very smoothly as soon as it was installed and I prefer it to Mint. Debian features various options of desktop environment, including Cinnamon (also available for other distros, like Mint), and is a great choice for those migrating from Windows 11, and also Gnome. I like both and will try various options until I settle on one. Debian still had some glitches on initial set-up, but nothing that I wasn't eventually able to overcome. It's a very smooth, enjoyable experience and far nicer than the sadly bloated, intrusive experience Windows 11 has become. Pros Debian 13 is a very smooth, well designed distribution of the Linux operating system. It's had many years of development and it shows. It's highly customisable and easy to use for both experienced and novice users. Cons This isn't really a fault of Debian, but as with all Linux OS distros, some software just isn't created for Linux, which is a huge shame, and is honestly the only reason many haven't switched yet. Alternatives considered [Linux Mint](https://www.capterra.com/p/229032/Linux-Mint/) Reason for choosing Debian Display issues encountered in Linux Mint that I couldn't fix after many attempts (screen tearing), but never had any issues of that nature in Debian. Switched from [Windows 11](https://www.capterra.com/p/251507/Windows-11/) Sadly, like many other long-term windows users, I have become tired of Microsoft's insistence on forcing 'features', products and advertising on their loyal user-base. It's become buggy, bloated and intrusive in recent years, which is a huge shame. Review Source santiago M. student Entertainment Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Debian is multipurpose" September 16, 2021 4.0 Pros The best of Debian are: very adapted for different hardware, customizable and safe. Cons The worst of Debian are: Buggy updates and more difficult to install than other distributions. Review Source EM Evandro M. Administrator Assistant Accounting Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Debian great distro for beginners" November 1, 2024 4.0 I started using Debian in 2020 when but as a beginner coming from using windows but it's a great first time Linux distro Pros Great distro was my first Linux distro u used in 2020 when I was obsessed in learning linux Cons Everything is great expect learning command at first but with time and practice. It is possible Review Source ET Eltari T. Webmaster Retail Used the software for: 2+ years ### "why debian and the benefit that you will get when use it" May 21, 2022 5.0 I have been using the Debian since the potato version. compare to other Linux distros like the RPM-based (Redhat, centos), based on my personal experience Debian is the best. It really suit my need for a powerful server service on the cloud base or on premise Pros \- stable, debian only release the stable package, means that only if the app has been tested it will be deploy /reelease. - powerful, time has proved that debian is the most powerful linux distro - a lot of other distro using debian as the based, example ubuntu - off course its free, no charge at all when you used it Cons \- no official support only community - no long time support - late on release the new version Alternatives considered [Ubuntu](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/) Reason for choosing Debian besides it stable Operating system, even no official support but Debian have great community that will help to solve the issue Review Source EM Eric M. CEO Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "For your servers" April 18, 2022 5.0 I've used a LOT of different distros over a lot of years - starting with Slack when it first came out, and Redhat (before it was Fedora), Arch, CentOS, and OpenSUSE to name a few. Debian stands out as the no-nonsense distro for production systems. Pros Debian strikes the perfect balance between new-package availability and system stability... which is exactly what's needed for a production application environment. In my opinion, Debian (and Debian-based distros) have the best package manager: apt (and apt get). Cons Debian outshines other distros as a production server, but it falls behind other distros as a desktop distro, like Ubuntu, that trade a bit of stability for more cutting-edge applications and application versions. That said, you can usually strike your own balance between new versions and stability by using Personal Package Archives (PPAs). Switched from [Ubuntu](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/)[CentOS Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229026/CentOS-Linux/) Debian is the best mix of 1) ease of use, 2) stability, 3) package availability, and 4) distribution upgrades. Review Source Ali L. Server administrator Computer & Network Security Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Debian Linux is one of the biggest last standing real Open Source projects." January 23, 2022 5.0 Debian has always been stable, widely supported very popular works on any type of processors or devises. even if there isn't an official release from Debian that support certain devises there would a community forked distribution based on Debian that support it. Pros Debian Linux is one of the oldest last real Open source projects still standing, supported developed and driven by the community, unlike many other open source projects that has already given up and got infiltrated by big tech money or influence. Debian is still a real free open source project as in freedom. Debian is also the base and seed for alot of other widely used Linux distributions and open source projects specially Ubuntu Linux, and speaking of Ubuntu I always recommend Debian over Ubuntu Ubuntu is not a real open source project, Ubuntu is just one those many other commercial companies that tries to profit from the open source community projects, which threatens the open source world more than it may benefit it, For stability long term support and to avoid surprises that a company may decide to kill one version to sell you the next release or their newest product. sticking with Debian it's much safe for that regard. because if it benefits the community that a project stays alive forever it will stay alive forever, supported and driven by the community that use it and that's exactly what Debian has been. Cons There is nothing i can think of that's wrong with Debian, other than commercially supported projects like Ubuntu trying to overlap with Debian and keep it off the picture, to build their commercial brand that will be selling later. Debian Linux has a new release every 2 years with long term support limited to 5 years compared to projects tied or dependant on commercial Linux specially RedHat Enterprise based distribution which offer long term support for up to 9 years. with a release every 3 to 4 years. Reason for choosing Debian Debian is much more stable insured by the huge community that supports it, Debian is more like a public service always guaranteed to be there as long as the community exists. Review Source Jorge Guardiola M. Gen Mgr International Trade and Development Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Debian is a solid, stable, highly customisable and a totally free Linux distribution" October 23, 2021 4.0 Debian is still one of the three most traditional and respected Linux distributions. It is totally free and has more than 55,000 also free applications available to install. Being the base for the development of several of the most popular distributions worldwide is indeed a solid testimony of its quality and design. Pros Although Debian may look like a simple and not fancy system it is done on purpose so each user can tailor it according to his preferences and eventually even according to its hardware limitations. Memory management and kernel stability are indeed remarkable on Debian allowing the use of obsolete hardware. Cons Debian is not a new users friendly type of distribution. It requires some time to get acquainted with it. Debian's default application package may again look and feel skinny for new users but the objective is to allow more customization depending on the machine use. For example, there is no reason to prepare and use a fancy interface with plenty of graphical effects on a network server. A simple nevertheless totally functional interface can be used instead. This type of customization requires some degree of knowledge which may look intimidating for new users. Review Source Ahmed S. Linux System Engineer Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The easiest Linux OS" December 2, 2021 4.0 Very good experience and I am happy with it Pros Security, Software updates Memory Management File system Management. Free with no price. Cons Links of sources that you use in package manager needs to be updated. Alternatives considered [CentOS Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229026/CentOS-Linux/) Review Source Ronald C. Software Developer Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "A Linux distribution with a friendly interface, good performance and above all secure" July 24, 2022 4.0 I started to use this operating system as I had mentioned because of its great interface for the benefits of being able to develop and test services in an efficient way, this being favorable and helping me meet those efficiency and performance goals. Pros What I like the most about this distribution is that it has a great user interface and as a developer it was what caught my attention the most when choosing it, being one of the first distributions used together with CentOS. It is also a very well service-oriented distribution of Linux, making it a great laboratory for scenarios to try out. Cons The only weakness that I have been able to find is that it needs many dependencies to be able to install any other tool within the operating system, I imagine that this must be for compatibility issues and to ensure the best use Review Source LG Lourdes G. Atención al Cliente Supermarkets Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Debian el Origen de UBUNTU" October 31, 2022 4.0 Es buena en general, destacando su seguridad y la no existencia de virus. Existen problemas con el Hardware de distintas marcas. Pros La facilidad de uso para instalar aplicaciones y paquetes, por otro lado es una de las distribuciones más extendidas. Se aprecia su nivel de seguridad sobre todo a la hora de utilizar Intranet. Cons Para utilizarlo en todo su potencial es necesario aprender muchos comandos y ejecutarlos por medio de consola. También existen problemas para instlar Hardware tan común cómo el de Scanneres o Impresoras. Aún hay empresas que no tienen versiones para LINUX como por ejemplo Microsoft Office, Corel DRAW! o el paquete de ADOBE. Review Source NP Nicolas P. Responsable Informatique Internet Used the software for: 2+ years ### "La simplicité à un cout très faible" April 1, 2024 5.0 Un excellent système d'exploitation que j'utilise depuis plusieurs années sans problème particulier. Pros Debian, c'est l'accès au monde Linux simplement et sans une multitude de logiciels/services préinstallés. L'installation en mode "net-install" permet d'avoir accès à un ordinateur avec un minimum de services actifs et ainsi pouvoir paramétrer un serveur depuis rien sans aucun soucis ! Cons Il faut être un minimum compétent en ligne de commandes et en connaissances du monde de Linux pour paramétrer comme il faut le système. Alternatives considered [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229025/Red-Hat-Enterprise-Linux/)[Ubuntu](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/)[CentOS Linux](https://www.capterra.com/p/229026/CentOS-Linux/) Review Source AC Almudena C. Especialista comercial Insurance Used the software for: 2+ years ### "La distribución Linux más estable!" February 27, 2023 5.0 He probado muchas distribuciones de Linuz y Debian es una de mis favoritas. Es muy sencillo instalarlo, actualizarlo... e instalar nuevas aplicaciones es muy sencillo gracias a los paquetes deb.Es gratuita y prima la seguridad y estabilidad por encima del resto, por lo que no puedo mas que ofrecerla como una de las distribuciones más completas. Pros Todas las ventajas de Linux (seguridad, estabalidad, sencillez en las actualizaciones,etc) y todo ello gratuito.Como cualquier distribución de Linux, la interfaz es totalmente personalizable, por lo que la puedes dejar a tu gusto.La ventaja de Debian por encima del resto de distribuciones es su estabilidad, por lo que muchísimas otras distribuciones de Linux están basadas en ella. Cons Pocas pegas le puedo poner a Debian, mas allá que la misma que el resto de distribuciones, hay muchas aplicaciones y softwares que no tienen versión nativa para Linux, lo que en ocasiones puede ser un problema si no hay alternativas. Review Source Jonathan Alexander C. IT Infrastructure Senior Analyst Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 2+ years ### "An excellent Linux distro for new users" July 20, 2022 4.0 I started using Debian when I started on Linux and it was a pleasant experience and a lot of learning. It is a distribution where I was able to create multiple services in the company and at the same time manage open source tools. Pros What I like most about this distribution is that it was the first with a friendly user interface and that the user felt more comfortable using it, it is very stable and well supported by the community. Cons What I don't like about this is its packaging system that for developers is not very complete and it could be very complex to be able to create a development environment in this distribution Review Source Alaister L. System Administrator Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Stable, fast and secure OS for servers" February 28, 2022 5.0 My web server, database, DNS, and mail servers are powered by Debian. They have very good performance and uptime of more than a month. Pros Debian is always free and open-source. It provides excellent performance and uptime, a stable and secure environment, and has low hardware requirements. Cons Some APT packages I want to use are either missing or outdated. I have to install or build the latest version from the source. Alternatives considered [Ubuntu](https://www.capterra.com/p/229058/Ubuntu/) Review Source NK Nishant K. Netbackup administrator Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Debian review" January 9, 2023 4.0 Overall experience has been good and looking forward to use it for more than usual..Better than other environments. Pros Debain is a better product of linux.Even better than ubuntu when it comes to stability and better updates. Cons Bug tracking is little less.Updates take a little more time and takes time to update.User interface is not much user friendly. Review Source TS Tommaso S. In cerca di occupazione Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Debian Linux" February 12, 2023 5.0 Pros Debian Linux è una distribuzione di linux solida e stabile, una delle migliori in circolazione. Io la utilizzo da alcuni anni e devo dire che ne sono soddisfatto. Magari gli aggiornamenti alle ultime versioni dei software sono un po' lenti e dilatati nel tempo ma preferisco avere una versione vecchia e perfettamente funzionante piuttosto che una versione nuova ma con qualche bug, E' possibile installarla via internet con un net installer, oppure offline tramite cd, dvd oppure tramite chiavetta usb. Cons Sicuramente non è una distribuzione per nuovi utenti, è necessaria un po' di esperienza nel mondo linux prima di installarla. Review Source Adolfo M. System Administrador Government Administration Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Debian as a Server and Desktop OS" January 6, 2022 4.0 Simple to use, easy to install and very stable Pros Standard Operating System that works on all types of computers and servers within the organization Cons Not certified not officially supported by hardware manufacturers Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Direttore Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Tra le tante versioni Linux , Debian è uno dei preferiti " February 16, 2023 5.0 Pros Tra le tante versioni Linux , Debian è uno dei preferiti. La grande quantità di repository e la grande affidabilità del kernel. Cons La possibilità o difficoltà nel ricompilare per snellire. Review Source FRS Fayzur Rahman S. Head of Marketing Non-Profit Organization Management Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Lightweight , reliable and useful OS" September 28, 2022 5.0 Pros I've been using Debian Linux for over 2 years now and it has never failed me. I'm a Linux fan and have tried many other distributions, but none of them can even come close to the reliability of Debian. It's the best OS out there! Cons Debian Linux is Debian Linux, and that's just about all it needs to be. There are plenty of other operating systems out there, but the stability and ease of use Debian offers is unbeatable. I would recommend this OS to anyone who values their time. Review Source VG Victor G. Analyst Infraestructure Hospital & Health Care Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "good linux system" July 20, 2022 4.0 We have a web page running, with a database in MySql, although it is something simple, but it is solving us Pros it is a good and stable system despite having already been on the market for a long time, we have a page and a database in MySql, we have had few problems despite the time we have been running that page, it is used in our intranet and it is fast and efficient Cons I understand that they can improve the graphic version, time has passed and people like me who like how things look, it's important Review Source JK Jaroslav K. business owner Retail Used the software for: 2+ years ### "I have been using Debian on VPS" February 28, 2022 5.0 I have been using debian because Ubuntu was not available for VPS service and it was ready-made for website hosting. I never had any problems with my websites and it has been running swiftly. Pros It was available VPS configuration. It is as much user friendly on server as Ubuntu on desktop. Fast and has all software necessary. Cons Once the uptates ruined PHP and I needed help. But I found it quite quickly online. Review Source ALK André Luis K. programadorweb Design Used the software for: I used a free trial ### "Sistema Operacional Linux perfeito" May 11, 2023 5.0 Instalei S.O Debian por indicação de uma conhecido que utiliza ele... é como disse logo a ssim é um excelente S.O porem somente o Wifi que não funciiona... Pros Usei o debain por algum tempo,apenas de alguns problemas é um otimo S.O Cons Infelizmente nos notebooks da Lenovos não funciona o wifi Reason for choosing Debian Atualmente uso o Linux Mint pelo motivo do Wifi do Debia Review Source VS Vishvjit S. Web developer Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Best OS" November 24, 2022 5.0 Pros The user interface is best because it's so easy to use and it is eye appealing and the terminal is the cherry on the cake. Cons I don't dislike anything about Debian. because it's perfect. Review Source Similar Products Featured ## Related categories [Operating Systems](https://www.capterra.com/operating-systems-software/)