Best Operating Systems for Small Business - Page 4

How Many Operating Systems Products Does G2 Track?

Total Products under this Category: 146

Category Stats (Oct 2026)

  • Average Rating: 4.31/5 (↑0.01 vs Sep 2026) The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings
  • Top Trending Product: Puppy (+0.78%) - Among all products in this category, Puppy recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month

Last updated: October 15, 2026

How Does G2 Rank Operating Systems Products?

Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:

  • 30 Analysts and Data Experts
  • 18,500+ Authentic Reviews
  • 146+ Products
  • Unbiased Rankings

G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category.

G2 Grid® for Operating Systems

G2 Grid® for Operating Systems plotting products by satisfaction and market presence

Highlighted products: Apple iOS, Windows 11, Chrome OS, macOS Sierra, Android, Ubuntu, Apple OS X Mountain Lion, and Windows 7.

Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/operating-system/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=apple-ios&focus%5B%5D=windows-11&focus%5B%5D=chrome-os&focus%5B%5D=apple-macos-sierra&focus%5B%5D=android&focus%5B%5D=ubuntu&focus%5B%5D=apple-os-x-mountain-lion&focus%5B%5D=windows-7&segment=small-business)

Solus

Solus is a modern operating system for consumer-grade systems.

Average Rating: 4.2/5.0

Total Reviews: 17

How Do G2 Users Rate Solus?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Quality of Support: 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Solus?

  • Seller: Solus
  • Year Founded: 1995
  • HQ Location: Birmingham, GB
  • Twitter: @SolusProject
    10,937 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    135 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Computer Software
  • Company Size: 78% Small, 28% Medium

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Solus?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About Solus?

SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time

Whether it’s an IoT sensor monitoring industrial devices or an edge system that must act instantly on external inputs, SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time is a real time operating system designed to reduce latency and increase the predictability and reliability of time-sensitive, business-critical applications. Banks, manufacturers, government agencies and others rely on time-dependent applications which must execute accurately and predictably all the time, every time. Precision Timing To act as a single unit, distributed systems need time accuracy not only within a server but across all servers. The Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronizes servers via the high-speed network, up to sub-microsecond accuracy. Predictability Includes support for device interrupt threads, enabling tuning at the device level, and hardware latency detectors to ensure predictability of application behavior. Low Latency SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time gives you the time advantage you need to beat the competition. A fully preemptible real-time kernel allows you to specify which processes take priority over previously uninterruptible operating system processes, such as spinlocks and hardware and software interrupts.

Average Rating: 4.3/5.0

Total Reviews: 35

How Do G2 Users Rate SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Ease of Use: 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)

Who Is the Company Behind SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time?

  • Seller: SUSE
  • Year Founded: 1992
  • HQ Location: Nürnberg, DE
  • Twitter: @SUSE
    64,779 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    2,718 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Information Technology and Services, Computer Software
  • Company Size: 43% Medium, 30% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users highly value the deterministic performance of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time, ensuring low latency and stability.
  • Users value the long-term support of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time, ensuring stability and confidence in critical applications.
  • Users value the incredible stability of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time, ensuring confidence in mission-critical applications.
  • Users value the compatibility with standard Linux tools, enhancing their experience and integration capabilities.
  • Users value the wide range of features and excellent performance of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time for heavy workloads.
Cons
  • Users find the high costs associated with certification and licensing to be a significant drawback of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time.
  • Users face a challenging learning curve due to the specific expertise needed for SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time.
  • Users note that the high resource requirements make it essential to use appropriate hardware, complicating usability.
  • Users face installation difficulties due to complex setup and the need for a solid understanding of real-time principles.
  • Users express concern over limited community support, which affects troubleshooting and user experience with SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time?

SparkyLinux

SparkyLinux is a lightweight, desktop-oriented operating system based on Debian, designed to provide a fast and customizable user experience. It offers a variety of desktop environments, including LXQt, MATE, Xfce, and KDE, catering to diverse user preferences. SparkyLinux is released multiple times per year to ensure users have access to the latest applications and system updates. Key Features and Functionality: - Multiple Editions: SparkyLinux provides several editions tailored to specific needs: - GameOver Edition: Aimed at gamers, featuring a vast collection of free and open-source games along with essential tools. - Rescue Edition: Equipped with a live system and numerous applications for recovering broken operating systems. - Multimedia Edition: Designed for audio, video, and web development tasks. - MinimalGUI and MinimalCLI Editions: Offer lightweight environments for users seeking minimalistic setups or advanced customization. - Rolling Release Option: In addition to the stable version, SparkyLinux offers a semi-rolling release based on Debian's testing branch, providing more up-to-date packages for users who prefer newer software versions. - Sparky APTus AppCenter: A user-friendly tool that simplifies package management, allowing easy installation and removal of applications. - Non-Free Remover: A utility that enables users to easily uninstall all 'contrib' and 'non-free' packages from the system, ensuring a fully open-source environment. - Persistence Support: Since 2023, SparkyLinux includes storage persistence for USB disk images, allowing users to save their work and system state during live sessions. Primary Value and User Solutions: SparkyLinux addresses the need for a versatile and efficient operating system that balances performance with ease of use. Its lightweight nature makes it suitable for older hardware, extending the lifespan of aging computers. The variety of editions ensures that users can select a version that aligns with their specific requirements, whether it's gaming, system recovery, multimedia production, or a minimalistic setup. By offering both stable and rolling release options, SparkyLinux caters to users who prioritize system stability as well as those who desire the latest software updates. The inclusion of tools like Sparky APTus AppCenter and Non-Free Remover enhances user control and customization, making system management straightforward and accessible.

Average Rating: 4.0/5.0

Total Reviews: 20

How Do G2 Users Rate SparkyLinux?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Quality of Support: 7.3/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)

Who Is the Company Behind SparkyLinux?

  • Seller: SparkyLinux
  • HQ Location: N/A
  • Twitter: @SparkyLinux
    2,012 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    1 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Company Size: 65% Small, 20% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About SparkyLinux?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the lightweight and stable nature of SparkyLinux, making it ideal for older hardware and efficiency.
  • Users praise SparkyLinux for its lightweight stability, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users alike.
  • Users love the lightweight and fast performance of SparkyLinux, ensuring efficiency without sacrificing functionality.
  • Users commend the lightweight stability of SparkyLinux, providing efficiency and power without sacrificing performance.
  • Users appreciate the customization and personalization options in SparkyLinux, enhancing both beginner and advanced experiences.
Cons
  • Users find the bloatware issues from unnecessary preinstalled apps detract from the overall experience of SparkyLinux.
  • Users find the interface issues of SparkyLinux to be less polished compared to other distributions, impacting aesthetics.
  • Users find a lack of support in SparkyLinux due to limited documentation and a smaller community for troubleshooting.
  • Users find SparkyLinux has a poor UI/UX, lacking the visual polish and modern aesthetics of other distributions.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of SparkyLinux?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About SparkyLinux?

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PCLinuxOS

PCLinuxOS is an alternative Operating System to MS Windows.

Average Rating: 4.1/5.0

Total Reviews: 18

How Do G2 Users Rate PCLinuxOS?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)

Who Is the Company Behind PCLinuxOS?

Who Uses This Product?

  • Company Size: 61% Small, 28% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About PCLinuxOS?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users value the excellent out-of-the-box hardware support of PCLinuxOS, enhancing ease of setup and maintenance.
  • Users value the stability of PCLinuxOS, enjoying its reliability and ease of use for daily tasks.
  • Users appreciate the easy management of PCLinuxOS, enjoying its user-friendly setup and stable performance.
  • Users praise the easy setup of PCLinuxOS, enabling smooth installation and maintenance without extensive Linux knowledge.
  • Users appreciate the lightweight size of PCLinuxOS, enabling efficient performance for various tasks without sacrificing stability.
Cons
  • Users note the limited apps and store in PCLinuxOS, complicating access to software and support.
  • Users find the limited software repository of PCLinuxOS restricts access to newer applications and support resources.
  • Users note the lack of support with PCLinuxOS due to its smaller community and limited software repository.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of PCLinuxOS?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About PCLinuxOS?

CloudReady

CloudReady is the highly secure, fast, and modern operating system that runs on almost any hardware. Launched in February 2015, CloudReady garnered immediate attention by giving budget-strapped schools a way to turn old, slow computers into fast, reliable devices that deliver the same experience as a Chromebook. Several years and more than 1.2 million installs later, CloudReady is the OS of choice for innovative organizations and IT teams eager to embrace the future of computing and eliminate the hassle and expense of legacy operating systems. Thousands of schools, businesses, and consumers in 142 countries around the world use CloudReady daily via our Education, Enterprise, and Home Editions. With CloudReady, you can transform your computers so they’re secure, easy to manage, and never slow down. CloudReady gives you all the power of the web without the weight or risk of traditional operating systems. Based on Google’s Chromium OS (the same foundation as Chromebooks and Chrome OS), CloudReady provides unparalleled speed, simplicity, and security without hardware limitations, whether your computers are brand new or 10 years old. That’s why companies, non-profits, schools, and government agencies around the world use CloudReady to streamline and secure their devices when accessing web apps and VDI.

Average Rating: 4.5/5.0

Total Reviews: 29

How Do G2 Users Rate CloudReady?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Quality of Support: 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)

Who Is the Company Behind CloudReady?

  • Seller: Neverware
  • Year Founded: 2011
  • HQ Location: New York, New York
  • Twitter: @neverware
    2,832 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    25 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Company Size: 56% Small, 28% Medium

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About CloudReady?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the ease of use of CloudReady, making setup and installation quick and straightforward.
  • Users find easy installation of CloudReady a great advantage for transforming old computers into efficient devices.
  • Users value the easy setup of CloudReady, enjoying quick start and support from product specialists.
  • Users love the lightweight size of CloudReady, transforming old computers into fast, efficient devices for everyday tasks.
  • Users value the security features of CloudReady, ensuring safe and reliable access for their online activities.
Cons
  • Users express frustration over compatibility issues, notably the lack of support for Android apps and offline functionality.
  • Users find hardware limitations in CloudReady frustrating, with issues on older devices affecting Wi-Fi, sound, and touchpads.
  • Users are dissatisfied with the high cost of CloudReady, feeling it limits accessibility and value for money.
  • Users often find the lack of support for apps and offline functionality frustrating, limiting overall usability.
  • Users find the limited apps and lack of Google Play Store support frustrating, affecting functionality and flexibility.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of CloudReady?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About CloudReady?

LibreELEC

LibreELEC is a lightweight Just enough OS Linux distribution purpose-built for Kodi on current and popular mediacentre hardware.

Average Rating: 4.2/5.0

Total Reviews: 21

How Do G2 Users Rate LibreELEC?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 5.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Quality of Support: 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 6.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)

Who Is the Company Behind LibreELEC?

  • Seller: LibreELEC
  • Year Founded: 2016
  • HQ Location: KODI, GLOBAL
  • Twitter: @LibreELEC
    7,582 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    1 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Company Size: 71% Small, 14% Medium

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of LibreELEC?

What Are G2 Users Discussing About LibreELEC?

Slax

Slax is a modern, portable, small and fast Linux operating system with modular approach and outstanding design. It runs directly from your USB flash drive without installing, so you can carry it everywhere you go in your pocket.

Average Rating: 4.1/5.0

Total Reviews: 14

How Do G2 Users Rate Slax?

  • Has the product been a good partner in doing business?: 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Ease of Use: 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)
  • Quality of Support: 7.2/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10)
  • Ease of Admin: 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10)

Who Is the Company Behind Slax?

  • Seller: Slax
  • HQ Location: N/A
  • Twitter: @slax0
    6,593 Twitter followers
  • LinkedIn® Page: www.linkedin.com
    1 employees on LinkedIn®

Who Uses This Product?

  • Top Industries: Computer Software
  • Company Size: 86% Small, 14% Large

What Do G2 Reviewers Say About Slax?

AI-generated summary from verified user reviews

Pros
  • Users appreciate the customization options of Slax, enabling a tailored, lightweight computing experience on-the-go.
  • Users love the lightweight size of Slax, appreciating its speed and portability for on-the-go computing.
  • Users love the speed and portability of Slax, ideal for on-the-go computing with minimal system requirements.
  • Users love the speed and portability of Slax, enjoying its lightweight performance for on-the-go computing.

What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Slax?

Shalaka Joshi
SJ
Researched and written by Shalaka Joshi
Updated