Maybe you're checking out Ubuntu for the first time, and you're looking for a version that doesn't seem quite so unfamiliar. You've looked around online and seem to be torn in two directions: Do you go with Ubuntu MATE or Linux Mint?

Many of the people who love these two Linux operating systems (also known as Linux "distributions") do so for similar reasons. But at the end of the day, each provides a very different experience. Let's figure out which one is better for you.

MATE or Mint?

Ubuntu is the backbone of both Ubuntu MATE and Linux Mint. It is a Linux distribution, what you get when someone packages the Linux kernel with all the free and open source software you need to have a functional operating system. A company called Canonical released Ubuntu in 2004, and it has since become the most popular version of Linux for PCs.

Linux Mint came around in 2006. It differentiated itself from Ubuntu and most other Linux distributions by installing commonly-used proprietary software with the rest of the operating system. Rather than having to download Adobe Flash or MP3 codecs separately, Linux Mint long came with these things already working. This changed with the release of version 18 in 2016. Now this software is optional, but you can still install it during installation.

Ubuntu MATE is an official spin of Ubuntu. It uses the MATE interface, which was born out of an effort to keep the GNOME 2 series alive after the release of GNOME 3. As a result, using Ubuntu MATE is a lot like using Ubuntu a decade ago.

Ubuntu MATE is a way to move forward by keeping what worked in the past. That means Ubuntu MATE is running software originally designed to run on older machines. As a result, it runs pretty well on aging or underpowered PCs.

MATE wasn't the only interface born after the release of GNOME 3. Linux Mint's default desktop, known as Cinnamon, responded to the situation in a different way: taking the GNOME 3 code and combining it with a more traditional interface. The result is that both Ubuntu MATE and Linux Mint are both for people who aren't comfortable using the GNOME Shell, which has since become Ubuntu's default interface.

System Requirements

You're thinking about one of these operating systems, but which is more suited to your PC or laptop hardware? Let's take a look at the system requirements of each.

Ubuntu MATE

  • 1GB RAM (2GB recommended)
  • 9GB of disk space (16GB recommended)
  • 1024 x 768 screen resolution

Linux Mint

  • 1GB RAM (2GB recommended)
  • 15GB of disk space (20GB recommended)
  • 1024 x 768 screen resolution

Ubuntu MATE and Linux Mint have very similar system requirements. This is due to both being Ubuntu underneath. Both distros need a DVD drive or USB port for installation.

Installation

Ubuntu MATE and Linux Mint both use the Ubiquity installer. If you know how to install one, you can install the other. The experience isn't exactly the same, but it's very similar.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

The two distributions may support different hardware. That largely depends on which version of the Linux kernel each one features. Ubuntu MATE 17.10 comes with version 4.13. Meanwhile, Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu 16.04, so it comes with version 4.4 of the Linux kernel.

Linux Mint and Ubuntu MATE both support UEFI. Note that Linux Mint is not certified by Microsoft, so remember to disable Secure Boot before attempting installation. With Ubuntu MATE, you can leave Secure Boot enabled.

The User Interface

Unlike Windows or Mac, Ubuntu MATE starts with not one panel, but two. There's one across both the bottom and the top of the screen. The top panel shows menus for launching apps, opening folders, and configuring your system. It also displays the time and system indicators. The bottom bar shows your open applications.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

Ubuntu MATE uses a black theme similar to that seen in Ubuntu 10.10. But instead of standard Ubuntu's purple and orange backgrounds, the MATE spin goes with green.

Linux Mint uses the Cinnamon interface. It should look familiar to anyone who is comfortable with Windows. A single panel stretches across the bottom of the screen. An app menu sits in the bottom left, a clock and system indicators sit in the bottom right, and open windows appear in between.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

Both interfaces are customizable. You can adjust their appearance by changing a theme or extend functionality by adding applets to a panel. Here Cinnamon has the advantage of being newer, as people are still creating extensions for the desktop. On MATE, you're largely using whichever applets were available before GNOME 3 appeared.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

Which interface you prefer is largely a matter of personal preference. Cinnamon is newer and sees more active development. On the other hand, MATE is tried, tested, and stable. And if you like Linux Mint but prefer the MATE interface over Cinnamon, you're in luck: there's a MATE version of Linux Mint! It provides a MATE experience similar to the Cinnamon layout.

Software

Like Ubuntu MATE, Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. Whereas Ubuntu MATE is an official spin, Linux Mint is a distinct distribution. The Linux Mint team has no affiliation with Canonical, and has simply built a different experience on top of an Ubuntu core. People working with free and open source software are free to do this.

This shared Ubuntu core means that Ubuntu MATE and Linux Mint can run the same software. That aside, they still provide a different set of default applications.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

MATE uses forked and renamed versions of GNOME 2 apps. These apps haven't changed much aesthetically, but developers do address bugs and occasionally add in new features.

The Cinnamon team has made an effort to adapt newer GNOME apps to better integrate with Cinnamon and other desktop environments. While GNOME 3 apps look out of place anywhere other than GNOME, X-Apps are desktop agnostic. They use traditional elements such as title bars and menu bars. They look just as at home on MATE as they do on Linux Mint.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

While there are many app stores available on Linux, Ubuntu MATE uses its own, called Software Boutique. It organizes and presents apps in a way intended to feel welcoming to new users. Some pages show which popular commercial apps an app can replace. For example, Blender is shown as an alternative to Adobe After Effects and Autodesk 3ds Max.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

Linux Mint has its own Software Manager. This app store isn't as simple as Ubuntu MATE's, but it does have ratings, user reviews, and screenshots. It's a more advanced tool, with elements of a package manager that more experienced Linux users may appreciate.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

Ubuntu MATE helps newcomers learn about their new system and get involved with the community. The app that launches immediately after installation tells you more about this.

ubuntu mate or linux mint which one is better

Ubuntu MATE vs. Linux Mint: Which Will You Choose?

Neither Ubuntu MATE nor Linux Mint is particularly hard to figure out. Each takes a traditional approach to computing, one that Linux newcomers will likely find easy to grasp. Both will (probably) run on whatever machine you throw at them, as long as the computer isn't brand spanking new.

Go with Ubuntu MATE if you want a little less clutter and more simplicity. Go with Linux Mint if you want more software preinstalled, saving you the effort of having to discover these programs on your own.

I'm not the target for either distribution. I was very happy to leave GNOME 2 behind for GNOME 3, and nothing about Ubuntu MATE or Linux Mint makes me want to look back. But there are many of you who feel differently, and I'd love to hear from you.

Do you prefer Ubuntu MATE or Linux Mint? What attracted you to one versus the other? Which would you recommend to new Linux users? Old-timers? See you in the comments!