5 Linux Distributions That Look Like MacOS
Last updated January 9, 2020 By Abhishek Prakash 102 Comments
Brief: This article lists some macOS lookalike Linux distributions. The comparison here is based on similarity to macOS in looks and functioning.
There are several beautiful Linux distributions already present in the Linux world. But for some reason, people are fixated on the looks of Apple’s macOS.
Now, not everyone can afford or would want to buy a MacBook just to use macOS. You could go for a Hackintosh but that would mean ditching Linux, something a Linux lover like me wouldn’t do.
The good thing about Linux is that it has endless possibilities. When it comes to tweaking its looks, you can do wonders. Imagine making Ubuntu look like MacOS. It’s totally possible.
But why bother just tweaking when you have Linux distributions that imitate or take inspiration from the looks of macOS? Yes, there are several macOS lookalike Linux distributions, and in this article I’m going to list them for you.
This is the last in our series of look-specific Linux distributions. The others are:
Linux distributions that are inspired by MacOS
Before I show you the macOS-inspired Linux distributions, I’d like to mention Pear OS.
If you’ve been keeping up with Linux for the last 4 years, you might have heard of Pear OS. To put it simply, this was the macOS of the Linux world. Its logo was a bitten pear. It had its own Pear Cloud, Contacts, Music app, color profile, search, etc., everything along the same lines as Apple’s macOS.
But 3 years back, Pear OS suddenly announced its demise. Apparently, it was bought by an anonymous big enterprise.
Pear OS aside, we still have a few Linux distributions that are macOS lookalikes or inspired by macOS. Let’s see them.
Note: This list is not a ranking – it’s not in any particular order.
1. elementary OS
No matter how much the elementary OS team denies it, there are resemblances to macOS everywhere. It’s clearly inspired by macOS.
The bottom plank is not the only thing that you’ll recognize from macOS. Look at Geary, Photos, Scratch and the other apps. They have a Mac feel despite being so elementary-ish.
In fact, being inspired by macOS was kind of a boon for elementary OS. Do keep in mind that they’re not just putting a MacOS-looking theme on top of Ubuntu. They’re doing some serious work to give the entire OS an elementary feel.
As well as the Pantheon desktop environment that they developed from scratch, this effort is quite visible in the applications they’ve forked. It’s an ecosystem where everything is created aesthetically.
elementary OS is quite protective of their ecosystem and hence they have strict guidelines for app developers so they can designapps that would fit in well with the elementary OS environment.
Another plus point about elementary OS is that it’s a widely used distribution. This means that you won’t end up with a Linux spin that’s rather unknown and not be able to find support and help easily.
If you want a version of Linux that has a Mac feel but provides great community support, elementary OS should be your first choice.
2. Deepin Linux
After elementary OS, Deepin Linux could be the distro of your choice if you want your Linux to look like macOS.
Deepin Linux was initially based on Ubuntu but it now uses Debian as its base. They’ve created their own desktop environment along with a range of other Deepin-specific applications that blend perfectly to give you an aesthetic feel. As you can see in the video above, Deepin Linux is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Linux distributions ever.
The Deepin team is based in China and their primary target is a Chinese audience, so some of their applications are not available in other languages. This is an area where they can certainly improve.
3. BackSlash Linux
BackSlash Linux is a relatively new and unknown entrant to the Linux distribution world. If looks are the most important thing for you, BackSlash Linux does a marvelous job of imitating the looks of macOS.
It also provides icons similar to macOS. You can maybe even consider it a Linux clone of macOS.
It’s based on Ubuntu and follows a similar release cycle. While it’s available as a free download, you also have the option to buy support.
4. Gmac Linux
Gmac is short for GNOME + Mac. Unlike the above-mentioned macOS lookalike Linux distributions, Gmac is not a full-fledged distribution. It’s simply the GNOME desktop with a Mac theme.
That means you get Ubuntu Linux with a heavily customized GNOME desktop environment that looks a lot like macOS. It also means that you won’t have to do all the customization all by yourself to make Ubuntu look like MacOS. Gmac already does it for you. Plus you get to keep your Ubuntu distribution.
The one weird thing about Gmac Linux is that weird logo that’s a mix of the GNOME and Apple logos.
5. Trenta OS [Under Development]
There’s not enough information available about Trenta OS at this time. It’s under development and hasn’t even reached the beta stage.
From what I could surmise from their website, blog and social media accounts, it’s based on Ubuntu and uses the GNOME desktop environment.
The focus is on looks and UI. The Rainier icon theme that imitates macOS icons is the main USP here.
The terminal and some other regular applications are also tweaked to make it look like macOS.
I don’t have information on when the final version will be released, but you can follow them on their Twitter account to stay updated with developments. You can also watch the project on GitHub.
Of course, It’s FOSS will cover the news when the final version comes out 🙂
Macpup [Unsure of development]
While elementary OS is widely popular in the Linux world, not many people have heard of Macpup Linux. You might guess from its name that it’s a macOS spin based on Puppy Linux.
Puppy Linux is one of the best lightweight Linux distributions for older computers. This would make Macpup a good option for you if you have a 15-to-20-year-old computer.
There’s one problem with it, though. Its latest release is based on Precise Puppy 5.5.0, which is based on Ubuntu 12.04. In a few months, support for this version will end.
Moreover, I’m not sure if Macpup is being actively developed either. Their forum is an abandoned place and their website doesn’t seem to have been updated in over a year.
For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend that you use it. Additionally, I didn’t even find it that close to macOS in looks. Maybe back in 2012 it might have looked like macOS, but not anymore.
Apricity OS [Discontinued]
Apricity OS is one of my favorite Arch-based Linux distributions. You could maybe call it a cloud-centric Linux distribution. Though its first stable version was released only a few months ago, it’s already gathered a good userbase.
Apricity OS may not be exactly like macOS but it does have a slightly similar feel. Its GNOME based clean user interface and beautiful icon themes make it a stunning looking Linux distribution.
MacOS lookalike or not, if one day you want to switch to the ‘Arch domain’, do consider Apricity OS among your options.
Your pick?
While obsessing over the macOS look is one thing, you’ll have to accept that Apple does have a good sense of design. And somehow it influences other projects. To be honest, I feel that Ubuntu’s Unity desktop environment takes a lot of inspiration from macOS.
What do you think of Linux distributions that look like macOS? Are they pointless or are they simply trying to provide a good UI to end users? What’s your opinion on them?
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Make Linux Mint 19 Looks Like Mac OS X Mojave
It’s been a week I am using the new Linux Mint 19 on my laptop. So far, I am very satisfied with the performance of my Linux Mint 19 laptop. It is very fast, lightweight and also very beautiful. Overall I love the Cinnamon desktop even I do not like the Application menu. I prefer the Gnome style for the application menu. Also, I don’t like the default Linux Mint 19 theme and icon theme. It is not bad, it’s just not my style. I always use the Mac OS X theme on almost every Linux distribution I use. So, this article will be about how to make Linux Mint 19 looks like Mac OS X Mojave. before we go through the installation and modification, here are some screenshots of my Linux Mint 19 with Mac OS X theme.
If you like Mac OS X Mojave theme, you may follow my guide below to make your Linux Mint 19 looks like Mac OS X Mojave. There are some steps that requires typing some commands on Terminal. But even if you are new to Linux Mint, you should be able to follow my guide. This guide has been modified from the original and most popular MacBuntu 18.04 Transformation Pack by Noobslab Team. They provide a complete, almost perfect Mac OS X style for Ubuntu and derivatives. You should check their website.
If you like the dark version, it is also available.
Steps to make Linux Mint 19 Looks Like Mac OS X Mojave
Step 1. Install the Mac OS GTK3 Theme and Icon Theme
The easiest way to install the Mac OS X Theme and Icon Theme is by using the PPA provided by Nooblabs team. Open Terminal and then execute this command to install the required theme
The command will install the macbuntu icon theme and gtk3 theme. Once the installation completes, open System Settings and then go to Themes. Now change the Window borders, Icons, Control, Mouse Pointer and Desktop with the Macbuntu. There are several macbuntu theme versions. You are free to try and select which the best for you.
At this point, your window border now should looks like Mac OS X. But to make it even better, continue with the following steps
Step 2. Install Plank and Theme
Plank is a Mac style dock that usually appear at the bottom of the screen. Before we install this dock, we better move the default Linux Mint panel to the top. Watch the following animated picture to see how to move the panel. Click the image to see the full size.
Now let’s install plank
Now run Plank from the application menu. Now you should have Plank dock on your screen.
Change Plank Theme
Now, let’s install the Plank theme so it looks like the Mac OS X.
Now let’s change the Plank theme. Execute this command on Terminal to open the Plank’s preferences
Download Mac OS X Wallpaper
To make it more Mac OS X look alike, you can download the Mac OS X Wallpaper from this link. There are some great wallpaper in 5K that will make your Linux Mint looks like Mac OS X Mojave. As you can see, it’s better now.
Change the Linux Mint Custom Menu
On the picture above, you still can see the Linux Mint menu at the top left corner. Let’s change it to Mac icon. You can download the .PNG file from this link. And then right click the Menu at the top left corner and select Configure.
Install Mac Fonts
To install the Mac style fonts, use the following command to download and install the Mac fonts. These are not the official Mac fonts but at least it looks pretty similar.
Now let’s apply our new fonts. Open System Settings and click Fonts. Change the system fonts as you like. Here is my settings.
Install Slingscold Application Launcher
Slingscold is a Mac style application launcher. It is a full screen launcher that will change the way you access or open your installed applications. Here is the Slingscold in action. Pretty cool right?
To install the Slingscold, use the following command:
Now, this is a tricky part. To add Slingscold shortcut/icon to the Plank dock, you will need to manually drag and drop the Slingscold icon from the /usr/share/applications folder. See how I do it below
That’s it. I am pretty satisfied with the result I get here. My Linux Mint 19 now looks like Mac OS X Mojave. It’s not perfect but it’s pretty good. Thank you for reading, share the article if you like it and keep support us.