Differences Between macOS and Linux: A Comprehensive Guide

We often compare Linux and Windows🔗 itsfoss.com, so what are the differences between macOS and Linux?

The differences between Linux and Windows are quite obvious, but many people see similarities between Linux and macOS.

Both can run Unix commands in the command line and provide a vastly different experience from what users have in Windows. Moreover, not all applications and games available on Windows can run on macOS and Linux.

This is why some people think that Apple’s macOS is a system based on Linux. But that is not the case. Despite their similarities, macOS is not Linux.

These two Unix-like operating systems have many differences, and I will point out the similarities and differences between them in this article.

Let’s compare apples and oranges penguins.

Origins

macOS has a fascinating history. Its foundation was developed by Steve Jobs’ NeXT computer company when he was not working at Apple. Technically, it is based on the Mach kernel🔗 en.wikipedia.org and Unix-derived BSD.

At that time, NeXT developed the NeXTSTEP🔗 en.wikipedia.org operating system to drive the devices and computers it designed. Although it garnered some attention, it did not achieve great success. Later, Apple regained Jobs’ seat on the board, and as part of the deal, acquired NeXT, making the NeXTSTEP operating system the foundation of macOS.

This is why macOS is an operating system that combines Unix components with Apple’s proprietary technology.

In contrast, Linux (the kernel) is a free and open-source alternative to Unix.

Linux is not an operating system; it requires some components, such as a desktop environment🔗 itsfoss.com, to become an operating system. There are many Linux-based operating systems🔗 itsfoss.com, referred to as distributions.

For simplicity, we will refer to these operating systems as Linux operating systems rather than specific distributions.

macOS Kernel vs. Linux Kernel

The official name of macOS’s kernel is XNU. The abbreviation🔗 github.com stands for “XNU is Not Unix(XNU is Not Unix)” (a typical GNU-style backronym). According to Apple’s GitHub page🔗 github.com, XNU is “a hybrid kernel that combines the Mach kernel developed at Carnegie Mellon University, components from FreeBSD, and a C++ API for writing drivers.” The BSD subsystem part of its code is “typically implemented as user-space servers in microkernel systems”🔗 osxbook.com. The Mach part is responsible for low-level work such as multitasking, protected memory, virtual memory management, kernel debugging support, and console I/O.

The macOS kernel combines features of the microkernel(micro kernel) (Mach🔗 en.wikipedia.org) and monolithic kernel(monolithic kernel) (BSD🔗 en.wikipedia.org), whereas Linux is just a monolithic kernel. The monolithic kernel🔗 www.howtogeek.com is responsible for managing the CPU, memory, inter-process communication, device drivers, file systems, and system calls.

Commonalities

macOS leverages Unix components, while Linux is built as an alternative to Unix. So, what do they have in common?

Both can use Unix commands, bash/zsh, and other shells. Perhaps the default shell🔗 linuxhandbook.com might differ, but you can set it according to your preference. Besides that, I can’t think of any other similarities between them.

About ten years ago, we could say that the applications offered by Linux/macOS were relatively few. But times have changed. Over the years, the software ecosystem and game support for both have been constantly evolving, which we will discuss later in this article.

Codebase: Closed Source vs. Open Source

open source proprietary illustration

macOS is a closed-source operating system, meaning you cannot see the complete source code of the operating system.

Of course, you can obtain the source code of some macOS libraries (mostly GNU)🔗 opensource.apple.com. There is also the XNU kernel code🔗 github.com used to develop macOS and iOS operating systems. However, you can’t just use these codes to build a clone of macOS🔗 www.techrepublic.com and install it on any hardware.

Lack of source code is not the end of the world, but you will gain less transparency due to Apple’s claims and practices to protect and enhance your computer experience.

Some people believe it should remain closed-source for security reasons. However, both open-source and closed-source face security threats.

The difference is that open-source software tends to get fixed quickly due to the many developers in the open-source community, compared to Apple, which has limited staff.

Unless you fully trust Apple, the open-source model of Linux is superior.

Purpose and Use Cases

macOS is designed for use on desktops and laptops. It is ideal for video editing, graphic design, and audio editing.

When it comes to Linux, you can do a lot of things. You can use Linux for:

Of course, the experience of using it on various platforms differs, but Linux can run for various use cases.

So, if you like Linux, you can choose to use Linux on other platforms for a comfortable experience.

User Experience

When it comes to user experience, it depends on personal preference.

macOS provides a delightful user interface. Detailed animations and high-resolution wallpapers and icons are visually appealing.

macOS Monterey

You can expect a smooth and seamless experience across the platform.

With Linux, you can also achieve a similarly delightful and easy-to-use user interface.

Zorin OS 16 Pro

Unfortunately, the user experience varies with the desktop environment installed on different distributions.

You can check the best desktop environments🔗 itsfoss.com list. You can even choose Linux distributions that resemble macOS🔗 itsfoss.com.

For example, if you use Pop!_OS, Ubuntu, Zorin OS, or elementary OS, you will have a fantastic experience.

Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS

If you use distributions like MX Linux or others, the user experience may not compare to macOS.

MX Linux

Overall, the out-of-the-box experience of Linux is inconsistent, but if you know what you’re doing, it’s sufficient.

If you previously used Windows, you might find the interface of Linux confusing at first.

Customizability

customizability

If you want an operating system that allows you to modify every aspect, then macOS is not for you.

While Apple’s design is often aesthetically pleasing, not everyone likes it.

If you want personalization, control, and extensive customization of the operating system’s specifics, Linux should be the perfect choice.

You can choose a custom user interface as needed, using various different elements and expressing your preferences. Check out our KDE customization🔗 itsfoss.com guide to explore the possibilities.

While this is great, customizing things on Linux can sometimes backfire and make it messy. Therefore, you need to learn and explore what you want to customize.

Hardware Requirements

hardware illustration

Hardware is where macOS suffers a “heavy blow”.

If you want to get macOS and have a good experience, you need to buy expensive Apple hardware.

For example, the basic configuration for a laptop that supports macOS starts from 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, costing $1200 or more.

Unless you plan to use swap space for multitasking often and already have cloud storage, buying Apple devices is a bad idea.

In contrast, if you don’t want to spend much but still want to configure a decent setup for your system (PC/laptop), it’s easy to buy a device with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD for around $800 to run Linux.

Personal note: I am used to 32 GB of RAM + 500 GB of SSD storage. To get this multitasking space (without using swap space), I would have to pay a premium to Apple.

Some skilled “hackers” try to run macOS on non-Apple hardware. Such systems are called Hackintosh🔗 www.freecodecamp.org(Hackintosh), but they certainly do not provide the comfort of running Linux on a regular computer.

Software Ecosystem

With proprietary applications or tools made by Apple for macOS, you can enjoy a first-class native experience on macOS.

Yes, you might have to purchase these applications. However, unlike some subscription options, you can get one-time purchase options through macOS.

Final Cut Pro on macOS

For users who want to design, edit videos, edit photos, and be creative, if you don’t mind investing, the software suite on macOS should be a good choice.

Free Apple tools (like iMovie, Keynote, etc.) are good on their own. Combining them with premium tools like Final Cut Pro, Affinity Designer, etc., you will get a world-class editing experience. Don’t forget, you can also use creative tools like Adobe on macOS.

Additionally, Apple has strict guidelines for applications on its platform to enhance the native experience of third-party applications (free or paid).

This is why many designers and editors prefer to use macOS over other operating systems.

For the Linux platform, you can use great free and open-source software to replace some applications that are exclusive to macOS. Unless you particularly like or have experience using specific macOS applications, you should not encounter issues using software available for Linux.

kdenlive editor

The native application experience depends on the Linux distribution you are using.

Planner (To-do list app for Linux)

It may not be as perfect as macOS, but if you are not a professional-level video or graphic editor, you should have no issues.

Gaming on Linux and macOS

gaming illustration

While Apple has made good progress in making its new M1/M2 chips as powerful as possible, macOS currently has poor support for gaming.

Only a few games work well, and most are not officially supported. To be honest, buying a Mac for gaming is not its purpose.

Regarding Linux, many AAA and indie games run well. Of course, some games have issues. However, with Valve pushing for official support for games on Steam Deck, even the latest versions like Spider-Man: Remastered have been recognized on Steam Deck.

Ultimately, this will help improve gaming support on the Linux platform.

Additionally, considering that the PC graphics card market is nearly back to normal (close to or below suggested retail price), you can get a decent PC version or laptop without worrying about performance bottlenecks.

Would you rather spend over $1800 on a Mac with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD, or buy a PC/laptop with 32 GB of RAM (or more) and at least 1 TB SSD (or more)?

That is up to you.

Package Management

package manager illustration new

Package managers allow you to quickly find, install, or uninstall software in your operating system.

Compared to any existing system, Linux has always excelled in package management.

You can get out-of-the-box options like Flatpak🔗 itsfoss.com, Snap🔗 itsfoss.com, Synaptic🔗 itsfoss.com, etc.

However, by default, Mac users have no reliable package manager. Fortunately, options like Homebrew🔗 itsfoss.com greatly facilitate macOS users.

Of course, it also supports Linux. So you can use it to simplify operations on multiple devices.

System Upgrades

software update illustration

Apple does not release a specific schedule for its operating system updates.

For instance, macOS Ventura (set for version upgrade at the time of writing) suddenly dropped support for all Mac devices before 2017.

Interestingly, previous versions of the operating system averaged about seven years of support, but with changes in updates, it now seems to be around five years.

For Apple-designed chips, this might not be a straightforward answer. However, at least 4 to 5 years of software support is safe.

Linux offers you choices. If you want a stable operating system without feature upgrades, focusing only on maintenance and security, the LTS versions🔗 itsfoss.com of Linux distributions can provide you with five years of updates for free. This mainly applies to Ubuntu🔗 itsfoss.com or Ubuntu-based distributions like Linux Mint.

Moreover, there is an Ubuntu subscription project that allows you to receive security updates for ten years.

And that’s not all, you can also choose rolling release versions🔗 itsfoss.com to get continuous cutting-edge updates with no end time. As long as your hardware can handle it, you should be able to update the operating system without issues.

macOS vs. Linux: Which One Should You Choose?

If you need it, macOS can be said to be worth it.

It is not recommended for users who only need to browse the web, send emails, and perform tasks that can be done on any platform to buy macOS.

macOS remains a niche choice.

However, with the improvements in Linux, it has become a useful option for former Windows/macOS users, computer science students, developers, creative professionals (like us), and a wide range of potential users.

There are many reasons to choose Linux over macOS (and not the other way around), but this is my perspective.

What are your thoughts on macOS vs. Linux? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

• To permanently modify kernel-related configurations.