You just bought a Raspberry Pi. Maybe it’s the shiny new Pi 5 with its fancy PCIe lane, or perhaps you dug an old Model 3B out of a dusty drawer. Now comes the part where most people freeze. You go to the imaging tool, look at the dropdown menu, and realize there are dozens of options. Which os for raspberry pi actually makes sense for what you’re trying to do?
Choosing wrong is a headache. Trust me. I’ve spent way too many hours wondering why my video playback is stuttering or why a simple Python script won't run, only to realize I picked a 64-bit OS for a board that really handles 32-bit better, or vice versa.
The "best" one doesn't exist. There is only the best one for your specific project.
The Default Choice: Why Raspberry Pi OS is Hard to Beat
Most people should start with the official os for raspberry pi, formerly known as Raspbian. It’s based on Debian, which is basically the "old reliable" of the Linux world.
It works. It just works. The engineers at Raspberry Pi Ltd. spend their entire lives tuning this specific kernel to the Broadcom chips on these boards. If there’s a new firmware update that squeezes 5% more performance out of the GPU, you’ll get it here first.
But here is the catch. You have to choose between the Desktop version and the Lite version. If you are running a server—maybe a Pi-hole to block ads or a Home Assistant hub—don't waste your RAM on the Desktop version. The Lite version has no "GUI" (Graphical User Interface). It’s just a black screen with white text. It feels intimidating at first, but it saves hundreds of megabytes of memory.
What about 32-bit vs 64-bit?
This is where people trip up. If you have a Raspberry Pi 4, 400, or 5, go 64-bit. It’s faster. It handles memory better. But if you’re on an older Pi Zero or a Pi 2, stick to 32-bit. Using a 64-bit os for raspberry pi on older hardware is like trying to put a truck engine inside a lawnmower. It might fit, but everything is going to shake apart.
Ubuntu: The Professional's Playground
If you’re coming from a Windows or Mac background and you want something that feels "pro," Ubuntu is the heavy hitter. Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu) has put massive effort into making their os for raspberry pi feel like a real computer.
It’s polished.
When you use Ubuntu Desktop on a Pi 5, you almost forget you’re working on a credit-card-sized computer. It’s great for developers who want the same environment on their Pi as they have on their cloud servers. However, it’s "heavy." It eats resources. If you try to run Ubuntu Desktop on a Pi with only 2GB of RAM, you’re going to have a bad time.
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Honestly, I only recommend Ubuntu if you specifically need a certain library that is easier to install on Ubuntu than Debian, or if you really love the GNOME desktop environment.
Turning Your Pi Into a Console: RetroPie and Beyond
Let’s be real. Half of us bought a Pi just to play Super Mario World or Street Fighter II. For that, you aren't looking for a general-purpose os for raspberry pi. You want an emulation powerhouse.
RetroPie is the king here. It’s built on top of Raspberry Pi OS, so you can still drop into the terminal if you need to fix something. But when it boots, it goes straight into EmulationStation.
There are competitors, though. Lakka is a very "light" alternative. It’s built on LibreELEC, so it only runs what it needs to run the games. It feels more like a Sony PSP menu. Then there’s Recalbox, which is famously easy to set up. If you hate fiddling with settings and just want to play, Recalbox is probably your best bet.
The Media Center Route: OSMC and LibreELEC
If your Pi is going to live behind your TV, stop looking at desktop operating systems. You need something that runs Kodi.
- LibreELEC: This is the "Just Enough OS" philosophy. It boots straight into Kodi. You can't really install other software on it easily because the system is "read-only" for stability. It is rock solid.
- OSMC (Open Source Media Center): This one is more flexible. It’s based on Debian, so you can still install a web server or a torrent client in the background while your movies play.
I’ve found that LibreELEC is faster on older hardware, but OSMC feels more like a "real" computer if you like to tinker under the hood.
The Weird Stuff: Why You Might Want DietPi or Alpine
Sometimes, you need to go fast. I mean really fast.
DietPi is a highly optimized, extremely lightweight os for raspberry pi. It has a text-based menu system that lets you install software with one click. It’s famous for being "light." It minimizes disk writes, which helps your SD card live longer.
Then there’s Alpine Linux. This is for the hardcore users. It runs entirely in RAM. It’s incredibly secure and used heavily in the world of Docker and "containers." If you don't know what a "container" is, stay away from Alpine for now. It’s a steep learning curve.
Specialized OS Options for Specific Needs
There is a world of niche operating systems that do one thing and do it perfectly.
- Kali Linux: This is for cybersecurity. It comes pre-loaded with tools for "penetration testing." In plain English? It’s for hacking (the legal kind, hopefully). Using Kali as a daily desktop is a terrible idea, but as a portable security tool, it's brilliant.
- Volumio: This is for the audiophiles. It turns your Pi into a high-end music streamer. It supports high-res audio and can be controlled from your phone. It sounds significantly better than just playing Spotify through a browser.
- Home Assistant OS: If you want a smart home that doesn't rely on Google or Amazon's servers, this is it. It’s a dedicated os for raspberry pi that manages your lights, locks, and sensors.
The SD Card Problem: A Warning
No matter which os for raspberry pi you pick, your biggest enemy is the microSD card. These cards were designed for cameras, not for running operating systems. They die. Often.
If you’re running something important—like a home security system or a database—get a "High Endurance" card or, better yet, boot from a USB SSD. The Pi 4 and Pi 5 support booting from USB natively. It’s a game-changer for speed.
How to Actually Choose
Stop overthinking it.
If you are a beginner, just use Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit). It is the gold standard for a reason. You will find a million tutorials online for it. If you hit a bug, someone else has already solved it.
If you want a "real" PC feel and have a Pi 5, try Ubuntu.
If you want to play games, go RetroPie.
If you want to build a server that never crashes, look at DietPi.
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Download the Raspberry Pi Imager: Don't use third-party "flashing" tools if you don't have to. The official imager is excellent and lets you pre-configure your Wi-Fi and SSH settings before you even plug the card into the Pi.
- Pick your hardware-matched version: Check if your Pi is ARMv7 or ARMv8. Match the OS architecture (32 vs 64) to that.
- Use a good power supply: Half of the "bugs" people blame on the os for raspberry pi are actually just the power supply undervolting the board. Get the official one.
- Flash and Boot: Put the card in, plug in the power, and wait. The first boot always takes longer because it’s resizing the partitions. Don't pull the plug!
The beauty of the Pi is that you can just buy five different SD cards for $20 and swap them out. You aren't married to an OS. Try one, break it, wipe it, and try another. That is the whole point of the platform.