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Should I Use Peppermint OS?

peppermintos.com·Analyzed 19 hours ago··Based on 8 sources

The Linux Desktop OS

Worth it

Worth it

Use it if you want a free, minimal Linux to revive old or low-spec hardware and are fine installing your own apps.

Free, featherweight Linux for old PCs. Great for tinkerers; wrong pick if you want preinstalled polish or support.

Confidence: Medium

$0

Price

Free ISO download

<512 MB

Footprint

Reported for earlier releases

2 per release

Editions

Debian-based and Devuan-based

Peppermint 11

Latest version seen

Announced via official Facebook

Value for money5

Free, full desktop OS

Ease of use3

Boots ready, but minimal preinstalls mean setup

Feature depth2

Core packages only, by design

Support quality2

Community forums and Facebook groups only

Pros

  • Free to download; can be demoed live from USB before installing.
  • Lightweight: checked in at under 512 MB in earlier releases.⁵
  • Reviewed as 'a well-built distribution, ready to use' with networking preconfigured.⁴
  • Two base options each release: Debian and Devuan.³
  • Repeatedly recommended for old laptops and weak Celeron/Pentium hardware.⁶

Cons

  • Ships nearly nothing preinstalled; you assemble the system yourself.¹
  • No security page found on the official site.²
  • Users have publicly asked whether the project will continue.⁷
  • Discussed almost entirely in hobbyist forums, not formal reviews or deployments.

Gotchas

  • highProject continuity publicly questioned; verify recent releases before adopting.⁷
  • mediumNo official security page; security updates are tracked via community channels.²
  • lowMinimal base means installing browsers, office apps, and codecs yourself.¹

Best for

  • Reviving old laptops and low-RAM PCs
  • Tinkerers wanting a minimal base
  • Live-USB testing before install
  • Refurbishing machines to give away

Not for

  • Anyone needing Windows-only software natively
  • Non-technical users wanting everything preinstalled
  • Businesses needing vendor support or SLAs
  • Anyone betting on long-term vendor commitment

Pricing

Peppermint OS

Free

  • Full desktop OS ISO
  • Debian or Devuan base
  • Build-your-own app set

Security

No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Hobbyists praise it as a fast, ready-to-use distro for old hardware, though some worry about the project's future.

“A well-built distribution, ready to use.”
— Facebook, Linux PC group
“Peppermint Six is being used in a refugee centre”
— Facebook, XFCE/LXDE group
“Does anybody know if Peppermint OS will continue?”
— Facebook, Linux Fans group

Alternatives

Compare Peppermint OS with each alternative.

Linux Mint (Xfce)

More polished and beginner-friendly, still light on old hardware.

Zorin OS

Windows-like layout; suggested alongside Peppermint for old PCs.

Full analysis

Based on ~15 public sources; mostly forum and Facebook threads, few formal reviews.

Sources

  1. Peppermint OS – The Linux Desktop OSpeppermintos.com
    official
  2. Peppermint OS Security pagepeppermintos.com
    security
  3. 12 Lightweight Linux Distros for older computersmedium.com
    review
  4. Peppermint OS Linux distribution reviewfacebook.com
    review
  5. Linux aficionados gained a new option: Peppermint OScrazyengineers.com
    review
  6. Best Linux distro for an Intel Celeron n3050?linux.org
    review
  7. Does anybody know if Peppermint OS will continue?facebook.com
    news
  8. Peppermint 11 Linux OS releasedfacebook.com
    news

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