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Compare desktop operating systems by licensing, package management, and software compatibility.

Native support
⚠️ Via compatibility layer / VM
Not supported

Note: iOS is excluded (end users cannot self-install it); Android lives with the mobile installers.

Operating System Open Source Kernel Package Manager Win Apps Linux Apps Cost
Windows 11 Windows NT winget / Microsoft Store ⚠️ WSL Paid
macOS XNU (Darwin) Homebrew (3rd-party) ⚠️ VM ⚠️ VM Bundled
Ubuntu Linux APT / Snap ⚠️ Wine Free
Debian Linux APT ⚠️ Wine Free
Fedora Linux DNF (rpm) / Flatpak ⚠️ Wine Free
Arch Linux Linux pacman / AUR ⚠️ Wine Free
FreeBSD FreeBSD pkg / ports ⚠️ Linuxulator Free