Following are the
GNU/Linux distributions I know of which have a firm policy commitment to only include and only propose free software. They reject non-free applications, non-free programming platforms, non-free drivers, or non-free firmware “blobs”. If by mistake they do include any, they remove it. To learn more about what makes for a free GNU/Linux distribution, see
Guidelines for Free System Distributions.
Some distributions are making efforts to move toward a completely free system. We thank them for their ongoing work to achieve that goal, and hope to list them here some day.
Information about
individual GNU packages (most of which are included in the free distros here) is available separately.
All of the distributions that follow are installable to a computer's hard drive and most can be run live. They are listed in alphabetical order.
Distribution | Description |
| BLAG Linux and GNU, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Fedora. |
| Dragora, an independent GNU/Linux distribution based on concepts of simplicity. |
| Dynebolic, a GNU/Linux distribution with special emphasis on audio and video editing. |
| gNewSense, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian and Ubuntu, with sponsorship from the FSF. |
| Musix, a GNU+Linux distribution based on Knoppix, with special emphasis on audio production. |
| Parabola GNU/Linux, a distribution based on Arch that prioritizes simple package and system management. |
| Trisquel, a GNU/Linux distribution oriented toward small enterprises, domestic users and educational centers. |
| Ututo, a GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo. It was the first fully free GNU/Linux system recognized by the GNU Project. |
| Venenux, a GNU/Linux distribution built around the KDE desktop. |
Free GNU-Linux distributions