Solus

Free plan Linux

What Solus is

Solus is a free Linux operating system for personal computers, including desktops and laptops with 64-bit x86-64 processors. It comes in Budgie, GNOME, Plasma, and Xfce desktop editions. Budgie includes settings and Raven controls for notifications, media playback, and sound devices; Xfce is described as a lightweight option for less powerful hardware. Solus follows a stable rolling release model, with updates intended to avoid system breakage. The project says updates are tested and pushed weekly, without requiring system reinstalls. Software Center provides software management, while the eopkg command-line tool handles package operations. Solus has its own package repository and supports Flatpak applications; the project prefers Flatpak for third-party apps. Included software includes Firefox, Thunderbird, and LibreOffice. The listed minimum requirements are a 64-bit x86-64 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 10 GB of free disk space. Installation help is available through the project documentation, Matrix community, and forum.

Who it suits

Solus suits people seeking a Linux system for a personal desktop or laptop with a 64-bit x86-64 processor. Its four desktop editions offer different interfaces, including an Xfce edition described for less powerful hardware.

What it does well

Four desktop editions are available.
Rolling updates do not require system reinstalls.
Includes Firefox, Thunderbird, and LibreOffice.
Supports Flatpak applications.
Free to use.

What to know first

Requires a 64-bit x86-64 processor.
Minimum listed memory is 4 GB RAM.
Requires 10 GB of free disk space.

Limits

The free plan is the Solus Linux operating system with four desktop editions. The listed minimum requirements are a 64-bit x86-64 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 10 GB free disk space.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Solus	Linux operating system · four desktop editions	Free

As getsol.us lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Visit the Solus website.
Choose Budgie, GNOME, Plasma, or Xfce from the download options.
Check the listed minimum requirements: 64-bit x86-64 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 10 GB free disk space.
Use the installation documentation, Matrix community, or forum for help.

Verdict

Solus offers four desktop choices, rolling updates, and built-in software management for x86-64 personal computers. Check the listed hardware requirements and choose the desktop edition that fits your needs.

Questions

Is Solus free?

Yes. The Solus plan is listed as free.

Which desktop editions are available?

Solus offers Budgie, GNOME, Plasma, and Xfce.

What computers does it support?

The listed device types are desktop and laptop personal computers with 64-bit x86-64 processors.

What are the minimum requirements?

Solus lists a 64-bit x86-64 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 10 GB free disk space.

Who maintains Solus?

The maker identifies itself as the Solus Project, an independent organization maintaining the operating system.

Does Solus support Flatpak?

Yes. Solus supports Flatpak applications.

Facts from Solus's own pages

Budgie: The Budgie edition includes Budgie Desktop Settings and Raven for notifications, media playback, and sound-device controls. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Community contributions: The project welcomes contributions to package maintenance, issue reporting, and documentation. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Desktop editions: The download page offers Budgie, GNOME, Plasma, and Xfce editions. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Download verification: Solus provides image hashes and signature files, and says checking them helps determine whether a download was corrupted or tampered with in transit. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Editions: Solus is available in Budgie, GNOME, Plasma, and Xfce desktop editions. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
For creators: The site lists creative applications including GIMP, Inkscape, Kdenlive, and Shotcut, and says it maintains ROCm support for AMD GPU acceleration. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
For developers: Solus supports development editors, programming languages, compilers, version control systems, Docker, and Podman. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
For gaming: The site lists Steam, Proton, and Heroic Games Launcher among the ways to play games on Solus. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
GNOME: The GNOME edition includes extensions such as Speedinator and AppIndicatorSupport. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Hardware requirements: The download page lists minimum requirements of 10 GB free disk space, 4 GB RAM, and a 64-bit x86-64 processor. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Included software: Solus ships with Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird, and LibreOffice. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Integrations: Solus supports Flatpak applications, according to its technology information. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Maker: The maker identifies itself as the Solus Project, an independent organization maintaining the Solus operating system. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Minimum requirements: The listed minimum requirements include a 64-bit x86-64 processor, 4 GB RAM, and 10 GB free disk space. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Organization: The Solus Organization describes itself as an independent organization dedicated to creating and maintaining Solus, a Linux-based operating system. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Plasma: The Plasma edition provides a curated desktop experience with sensible defaults. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Product: Solus is an independent Linux-based operating system designed for home and office use. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Project funding: Solus says it is volunteer-run and relies on community donations. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Release model: Solus provides rolling software updates without requiring system reinstalls. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Security contact: The Solus security page provides a channel for reporting security issues. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Security reporting: Solus accepts vulnerability reports through GitHub security issues or email to [email protected]. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Security updates: Solus says both unstable and stable (“Polaris”) package releases are supported with security updates. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Support: Installation help is available through Solus documentation, its Matrix community, and its forum. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026
Update cadence: Solus says updates are pushed weekly after testing. · getsol.us, 9 Oct 2026

Where Solus stands on Freedom251

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