Side by side
elementary OS vs Fedora CoreOS
Both stand on operating systems. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Linux
elementary OS combines a Linux desktop, everyday applications, workspaces, and a pay-what-you-can app store. Its physical-install focus, hardware requirements, and community-powered support are important considerations.
Visit elementary OS Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
Pick Fedora CoreOS when you need a minimal Linux host for containerized workloads across physical, virtual, or cloud infrastructure. Look elsewhere if your applications are not containerized, since its stated application compatibility centers on containers.
Visit Fedora CoreOSThe facts
| elementary OS | Fedora CoreOS | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux | Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | elementary.io | fedoraproject.org |
| On operating systems | #18 of 42 | #14 of 42 |
elementary OS: what it does well
- Free plan available
- Built-in apps for common tasks
- Pay-what-you-can AppCenter
- Supports Intel, AMD, and ARM 64-bit
- Permissions can be revoked
What to know first
- Virtual machines are not recommended
- Requires 32 GB free SSD space
- Some apps require third-party sharing
Fedora CoreOS: what it does well
- Free and open source within the Fedora ecosystem.
- Automatic operating system updates are built in.
- Ignition configuration is included.
- Supports bare metal, virtual machines, and cloud instances.
- Offers Stable, Testing, and Next release streams.
What to know first
- Application compatibility is centered on containerized applications and images.
- Image integrity checks are recommended as a separate step.
Alternatives to elementary OS Alternatives to Fedora CoreOS The whole list