Debian

6.7easy start · #8 of 45
in Operating Systems

Free to practise onyes
Free trialnot on record
Well documentedyes
Runs where you worknot on record

Runs on Linux, self-hosted.

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Debian is ranked #8 of 45 in operating systems on The Geeks Club. It runs on Linux, Self-hosted. There is a free plan.

Debian plans and pricing

All plans

Debian Free Free operating system · official distribution packages are free to use and redistribute debian.org · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on operating systems

Free plan: Yes
Device types: Personal computers; cloud virtual machines
CPU architectures: amd64, arm64, armhf, ppc64el, riscv64, s390x; i386 supported as a co-architecture for 32-bit software on amd64; armel upgrades only
Support lifecycle: Debian 13: five years, including three years of full Debian support through August 9, 2028 and LTS through June 30, 2030
Built-in management: APT package installation, removal, and distribution upgrades
App compatibility: Debian packages (.deb); APT package manager
Deployment models: Physical computer installation; live boot from CD, DVD, or USB; OpenStack and QEMU cloud images; Amazon EC2 and Microsoft Azure images

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The record

What it is: Debian is a free operating system created by the Debian Project, an association of individuals.
Kernel support: Debian systems currently use the Linux kernel or the FreeBSD kernel.
Software collection: Debian comes with over 70,000 packages, the APT package manager, and utilities for managing packages across computers.
Installer: Debian offers a live system with the Calamares installer and an installer with options including automated network installation.
Supported architectures: Debian supports architectures including amd64, i386, ARM variants, POWER, IBM System Z, and RISC-V.
Release choices: Alongside stable, Debian offers testing and unstable releases for users seeking newer software versions.
Upgrade support: Debian supports upgrades to a new release and updates to individual packages.
Security: Debian coordinates security advisories with other free software vendors, and many advisories are published the same day a vulnerability becomes public.
Security formats: Debian Security Advisories are CVE-compatible, and Debian publishes security information using OVAL.
Automatic updates: The unattended-upgrades package can keep a computer current with security and other updates automatically.
Long-term support: Debian's free Long Term Support extends stable releases to at least five years; commercial Extended LTS covers a limited set of packages beyond five years.
Cloud and virtualization: Official cloud images are available for major cloud platforms, and Debian can also run in desktop virtual machines or containers.
Support channels: Users can get help from Debian documentation, mailing lists, IRC, or hired consultants.
Notable limitation: Debian says hardware from companies that do not publish specifications may not work with GNU/Linux.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on The Geeks Club

Best Operating Systems in 2026#8 of 45

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Sources

debian.org/intro/about· checked 30 Sept 2026
debian.org/intro/why_debian· checked 30 Sept 2026
debian.org/security/· checked 30 Sept 2026
debian.org· checked 28 Sept 2026