Which OS Is Best: Windows, macOS, Linux, or ChromeOS?

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You don’t have a huge number of choices when it comes to your computer's operating system, but the one you pick has wide-ranging consequences. PCMag has been testing operating systems since the beginning of personal computers in the '80s, so we have the experience to inform your decision. The four OSes here are your most viable options: Windows 11, macOS Sequoia, Ubuntu Linux, and ChromeOS. Four isn't a huge number, but each has distinct strengths and weaknesses. Three come from commercial tech giants, while one, the Linux-based Ubuntu, is free and open-source. Windows and macOS support the most hardware and software; ChromeOS is more lightweight and runs on inexpensive computers. Read on for a summary of each personal desktop operating system in order of usage share, along with links to our in-depth reviews and some advice to keep in mind while you consider your options.

What Is an Operating System?

An operating system is the software that makes your computer work. It provides an interface between the hardware, the application software running on the hardware, and the user interacting with the software. Today's modern OSes include slick user interfaces and loads of utilities, tools, and preloaded apps that let you do a lot without even installing anything. Those apps include photo editors, video editors, web browsers, email clients, calendars, text editors, and music players, among others.

An operating system also includes tools to keep your computer running smoothly, safely, and malware-free. Most even include built-in security features and support for VPNs. Much of an operating system's security and stability is left to an automated update process that makes sure the system receives timely fixes to hardware and software compatibility and vulnerability issues.

With smartphones being such a dominant part of modern life, a good desktop operating system needs to work in concert with those devices. Another prevalent theme is "the cloud," and most operating systems integrate with their own cloud services to varying degrees. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a focus as of late as well.

Ubuntu is what's known as free and open-source software, and ChromeOS is based on Google's open-source ChromiumOS project, meaning volunteer coders can contribute to the code and third parties can put out their own versions. ChromeOS is Google's proprietary version of that code base.

How to Choose an Operating System

In our linked reviews of the four operating systems discussed above, we took into account the following criteria, which can help inform your choice of OS:

• Range of hardware options

• Range of software available, including gaming, media editing, and productivity

• Interface design and windowing niceties

• Included apps and utilities

• Mobile and cloud integrations

• Stability, security, and updates

If you need to run software that's supported by one of these operating systems alone, your choice is obvious. You can get around this sometimes by running a virtual machine (see the next section), but running native apps typically results in a superior experience. For example, if Adobe Premiere Pro just won't do and you want to use Final Cut Pro as your video editor, your only option is macOS. If you want to run AAA video games, stick with Windows. The same holds for peripherals. You may have a VR headset or 3D printer that has drivers for only one type of system.

Can Your Computer Run Multiple OSes?

If you need to use software that's only compatible with a particular OS (usually Windows or macOS), multiboot setups and virtualization software let you run more than one operating system on your computer. For example, you can run Windows on a Mac inside a virtual machine or dual-boot using Boot Camp (if you have an Intel-based Mac). You can also create a Linux partition on a Windows PC and boot to that when the need arises. Running macOS outside of an actual Mac computer isn't possible—unless you're comfortable jumping through the technical hoops required to create a Hackintosh. You can run ChromeOS from either of the big two on a live ChromeOS Flex USB stick.

Dig Deeper Into OSes

For all our related content, head to PCMag's operating systems page, and for some bizarre and obscure operating systems that most people have never heard of, you can read about the strangest operating systems ever released. For a head-to-head comparison of the two leading choices, read macOS vs. Windows: Which OS Is Best?