Zorin OS (ZorinGroup)
Worth it
Confidence: Medium
Buy if you want a free, Windows-like Linux for everyday or older PCs.
Comparison
Zorin OS (ZorinGroup) lands on Worth it, and Linux Mint lands on Depends.
Buy if you want a free, Windows-like Linux for everyday or older PCs.
Take it if you want a free, familiar desktop for everyday use or to rescue a Windows 10 end-of-life PC.
| Compare | Zorin OS (ZorinGroup) | Linux Mint |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Worth it | Depends |
| Best for | Windows switchers | Reviving Windows 10 end-of-life PCs |
| Who it's not for | IT teams needing fleet-scale device management (Zorin Grid was only a stated vision) | Anyone needing Microsoft Office, Adobe, or Windows-only apps |
| Privacy | No known public breaches found; Ubuntu base with prompt patching; background pings/telemetry drew criticism but are opt-out. | No Mint-specific breach found; scores 'Excellent' trust. |
| Support quality | Buyers report paid support agreements broken | Volunteer forums only, no paid support |
| Public sentiment | Most users find Zorin stable and Windows-like, but paid support, telemetry defaults, and marketing claims draw sharp criticism.² | Users call it a comfortable, homey desktop that wins over Windows switchers and even a 37-year macOS veteran, with limits once needs get advanced.16 |
| Biggest gotcha | A paid buyer says ZorinGroup backed out of their support agreement; thread titled 'Don't pay for Zorin'.⁷ | Linux-wide 'Copy Fail' root-access vulnerability disclosed April 2026 . patch promptly after install. |