This entry is compiled from primary sources: Zorin OS's own documentation, release notes, and licensing or pricing pages.
It has not been hands-on tested by us. Where a limit, a price or a requirement is stated below, it is the published figure at the time of writing rather than a measured result.
Anything we have not verified is left out instead of guessed at.
Zorin OS Review (2026) — Honest Take for Free Users
FreeZorin Group
Zorin OS, from Zorin Group, is a free, open desktop Linux distribution. It is free to use, with no paywall on the core experience.
Below: what you actually get for free, where the limits sit, and who should skip it.
What it does well
- Genuinely free; the useful parts are not locked behind a paywall.
- Practical defaults; it works without a steep learning curve.
- Actively maintained by Zorin Group; Windows-like is a current highlight.
Pros
- The most convincing Windows impersonation in Linux — the layout switcher genuinely reduces the relearning a switcher has to do.
- Built on Ubuntu LTS, so it inherits five years of security updates and the largest software ecosystem.
- Zorin Connect pairs the desktop with an Android phone for notifications, files and remote input.
- The installer and first-run experience are unusually polished for a small team.
Cons
- There is a paid edition, and this is the one to know about. Zorin OS Pro costs $48. The free Core edition is a complete OS, but the download page presents Pro prominently and it is easy to assume the free one is crippled.
- What Pro actually adds is cosmetic and convenience: eight extra desktop layouts on top of Core's four, some bundled creative software, and installation support. No core capability is withheld.
- Development is a two-person operation, so releases trail Ubuntu LTS by months.
- The heavy theming means more can break on a major GNOME update than on a vanilla distro.
What it costs
Core is free and is a genuinely complete desktop — take it and lose nothing important.
Zorin OS Pro is $48, a one-off payment rather than a subscription. It buys extra desktop layouts, some preinstalled creative apps and installation support. Paying is a way of funding the project more than unlocking function.
The trap to avoid is inferring from the download page that Core is a trial. It is not.
Best alternatives
- Linux Mint — The other big Windows-switcher pick, with no paid edition anywhere in sight (linux).
- Ubuntu — Zorin's own base, if you would rather run the upstream and skip the theming (linux).
- Linux Lite — A lighter Windows-like option when the hardware is older than Zorin is comfortable with (linux).
FAQ
Is Zorin OS free? Yes — it is free to use.
Do I need a card? No, to start.
Best for? a free, open desktop Linux distribution without paying.