Top Ubuntu Touch Alternatives: Explore Your Mobile OS Options
Ubuntu Touch is a mobile version of the Ubuntu operating system, adapted for touch-screen devices while also offering a “desktop mode” for a truly converged experience. Maintained by the UBports Community, it's a fantastic open-source option for those seeking a Linux-based mobile OS. However, if you're looking for an Ubuntu Touch alternative, whether for broader device compatibility, specific features, or a different philosophy, there are several compelling options available.
Discover the Best Ubuntu Touch Alternatives
While Ubuntu Touch offers a unique blend of mobile and desktop functionality, the mobile operating system landscape is diverse. Below, we explore some of the top alternatives, each offering distinct advantages for users seeking different experiences, from robust Android forks to entirely new mobile Linux distributions.
Android
Android is a ubiquitous operating system for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, built upon a Linux kernel. As a free and open-source platform, it offers extensive device support and a vast ecosystem of applications. It's a powerful Ubuntu Touch alternative for users who prioritize app availability and broad hardware compatibility, featuring ARM support, Google integration, and optimization for fastboot mode.
LineageOS
LineageOS is a free and open-source operating system for smartphones and tablets, based on the Android mobile platform and a successor to the popular CyanogenMod. It's an excellent Ubuntu Touch alternative for those who want a customizable, privacy-protected, and security-focused Android experience without the bloatware often found in stock Android versions.
Android-x86
Android-x86 is an open-source project that ports the Android open-source project to the x86 platform. This makes it a unique Ubuntu Touch alternative for users looking to run Android on non-ARM devices, such as traditional laptops or desktops, or within virtual machines like VirtualBox and VMware Player.
Replicant
Replicant is a distribution of Android that stands out for being 100% Free Software. It's an ideal Ubuntu Touch alternative for users deeply committed to software freedom and privacy, offering a mobile OS that is security-focused and requires root access for full control, ensuring minimal proprietary components.
/e/
/e/ is a fork of LineageOS specifically designed to be completely free of Google services. This open-source Android-based OS is an excellent Ubuntu Touch alternative for those prioritizing extreme privacy and security, offering features like cloud sync, Nextcloud integration, regular OTA updates, and a beginner-friendly, ungoogled experience with a focus on user privacy.
Resurrection Remix OS
Resurrection Remix ROM is a full-featured, stable, and highly customizable custom ROM based on Android. It's an open-source Ubuntu Touch alternative for users who want extensive customization options and a combination of the best features from various open-source ROMs, providing a rich and tailored Android experience.
MIUI
MIUI is a popular Android-based firmware developed by Xiaomi, known for its extensive theming options and rich feature set. While not fully open-source in the same vein as Ubuntu Touch, it offers compelling features like cloud sync, deep customization, and OTA updates, making it a viable alternative for users who prefer a highly polished and feature-rich Android experience with strong community support.
Plasma Mobile
Plasma Mobile transforms your phone into a fully open Linux hacking device, much like a PC. This open-source, Linux-based mobile OS is a direct competitor and a powerful Ubuntu Touch alternative for users interested in a truly open and portable Linux experience on their mobile device, offering flexibility for development and customization.
CopperheadOS
CopperheadOS is a hardened open-source operating system based on Android, with a strong emphasis on privacy and security features like PaX and OpenBSD malloc. It's an excellent Ubuntu Touch alternative for users who prioritize robust security and privacy measures on their mobile devices, offering an enhanced Android experience for the security-conscious.
Tizen OS
Tizen is an open-source mobile and device operating system based on Linux, developed by Samsung and Intel. As a lightweight, Linux-based mobile OS with multi-touch and multitasking capabilities, Tizen OS presents a unique Ubuntu Touch alternative, particularly for those interested in a different open-source mobile ecosystem with support for various devices beyond smartphones.
Choosing the right mobile operating system depends on your priorities, whether that's app availability, privacy, customization, or a purely open-source experience. Explore these Ubuntu Touch alternatives to find the best fit for your needs and devices.