Looking to run Linux on ARM-powered devices? Whether you're working with a Raspberry Pi, building a low-power server, testing containers, or deploying IoT solutions — not every Linux distribution will treat your hardware the same. That’s why choosing the right distribution matters. Some are ultra-light and perfect for minimal systems, while others offer full-featured environments ready for development, networking, or edge computing.

In this guide, we’ve handpicked the most compatible, actively maintained, and purpose-driven Linux distros for ARM architecture, each matched with a practical use case and recommended hardware. From rock-solid servers to sleek desktop experiences on SBCs — you’ll find what truly fits your project.

Key Parameters to Consider When Choosing an ARM Linux Distro

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Ensure the distro supports your board’s SoC (System on Chip), peripherals, and GPU (e.g., Broadcom for Raspberry Pi, Allwinner, Rockchip, or Qualcomm).

✔ Architecture Support (32-bit vs 64-bit)
 Check if your hardware is armhf (32-bit) or aarch64/arm64 (64-bit), and pick a distro that matches it.

✔ Kernel and Driver Support
 Look for distros with updated kernels and actively maintained drivers for things like Wi-Fi, GPIO, and power management.

✔ Package Availability
 Make sure it has access to essential packages (e.g., Python, Docker, Node.js) in ARM builds — especially if using a minimal distro.

✔ Update & Maintenance Policy
 Choose a distro that offers regular updates and security patches, especially for critical infrastructure or IoT deployments.

✔ Community & Documentation
 A strong community means more tutorials, quicker help, and better tooling — important when things break on unique ARM hardware.

✔ Boot Method Support
 Verify if your board uses U-Boot, EFI, or another method — the distro should provide compatible images or instructions.

✔ Security Model
 For IoT and edge computing, pick distros like Ubuntu Core or Alpine that offer read-only roots, atomic updates, or rollback features.

check if the distro offers pre-built images for your board, not just generic ARM ISO files — it saves hours of debugging.

#1 Debian – Rock-solid base for ARM servers, embedded devices, and minimal systems

Debian is stable, lightweight, and widely supported across ARM devices, making it a go-to choice for servers, SBCs, and embedded systems.

✔ Broad Hardware Support
 Runs on Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone, Odroid, ARM servers, and custom boards.

✔ Multiple ARM Architectures
 Supports armel, armhf, and arm64 — covers old and new ARM chips.

✔ Minimal & Modular
 Starts small; install only what you need — perfect for custom or low-power setups.

✔ Use Cases
 Great for headless servers, IoT devices, network appliances, and DIY NAS.

✔ Long-Term Support
 Stable releases supported for 5+ years with regular security patches.

✔ Massive Package Availability
 Thousands of packages built and tested for ARM out of the box.

Debian is a stable, flexible, and well-maintained distro for ARM, trusted for both small and large-scale deployments — from simple Raspberry Pi projects to robust ARM servers.

#2 Ubuntu Server – LTS-grade performance for ARM cloud servers, VPS, and infrastructure

Ubuntu Server combines enterprise stability with modern tools, offering excellent support for ARM hardware across cloud, edge, and local deployments.

✔ ARM64 Native Support
 Fully optimized for 64-bit ARM (aarch64); runs smoothly on both SBCs and ARM servers.

✔ Broad Hardware Compatibility
 Supports Raspberry Pi 3/4/5, Ampere Altra, AWS Graviton, and RockPro64.

✔ Use Cases
 Ideal for web servers, cloud VMs, containers, and home labs on ARM.

✔ Long-Term Support
 LTS versions offer 5+ years of updates; reliable for production workloads.

✔ Full Software Availability
 Access to complete Ubuntu repositories for ARM — Docker, Kubernetes, NGINX, and more.

✔ Edge & Cloud Ready
 Prebuilt cloud images and support for automation tools like cloud-init and MAAS.

Ubuntu Server is a scalable, secure, and developer-friendly distro for ARM, perfect for serious server tasks on both cloud and physical hardware.

#3 Ubuntu Core – Secure, containerized OS for IoT and industrial ARM deployments

Ubuntu Core is a secure, minimal, and containerized Linux OS designed specifically for ARM-based IoT, embedded, and industrial devices.

✔ ARM Hardware Support
 Official images for Raspberry Pi 2/3/4/5, NVIDIA Jetson, and ARM IoT platforms.

✔ Use Cases
 Best suited for IoT gateways, industrial controllers, smart appliances, and robotics.

✔ Security by Design
 Immutable read-only root, full snap confinement, and cryptographic verification.

✔ Transactional Updates
 Automatic, fail-safe system updates with rollback support — ideal for remote deployments.

✔ Minimal Footprint
 Only runs core services and snap packages — perfect for low-resource ARM hardware.

✔ Scalable Management
 Supports centralized device control using tools like Snapcraft, MAAS, and Landscape.

Ubuntu Core is a lightweight, secure, and robust choice for ARM devices used in edge computing and IoT — offering predictable performance, OTA updates, and long-term maintainability.

#4 Arch Linux ARM – Rolling-release distro for advanced users on Raspberry Pi and SBCs

Arch Linux ARM offers a fast, minimal, and fully customizable experience, giving advanced users full control over ARM-powered devices.

✔ Wide ARM Architecture Support
 Supports armv5, armv6, armv7, and armv8 (aarch64) — covering everything from Raspberry Pi Zero to 64-bit SBCs.

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Runs on Raspberry Pi (all models), Odroid, RockPro64, Pine64, and other custom ARM boards.

✔ Use Cases
 Ideal for developers, tinkerers, lightweight desktops, and custom ARM servers.

✔ Rolling Release Model
 Always up to date — latest kernels, packages, and drivers available without waiting for major releases.

✔ Minimal & Lightweight
 Starts with a bare system — you install exactly what you need, nothing more.

✔ Pacman & AUR Support
 Full access to Arch’s package manager and community-driven AUR, even on ARM.

Arch Linux ARM is perfect for users who want total control, bleeding-edge updates, and lightweight performance on ARM hardware — ideal for custom builds, hobby projects, or development environments.

#5 Manjaro ARM – User-friendly Arch-based distro for ARM laptops and SBC desktops

Manjaro ARM brings the user-friendly power of Manjaro Linux to ARM devices, combining a polished desktop experience with rolling updates and excellent hardware support.

✔ ARM64 Support
 Built specifically for aarch64 (64-bit ARM) platforms with frequent updates.

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Official images for Raspberry Pi 3/4/5, Pinebook Pro, Odroid N2/N2+, Rock Pi, and more.

✔ Use Cases
 Designed for desktop usage on ARM, media centers, home servers, and portable laptops.

✔ Pre-configured Desktop Environments
 Offers XFCE, KDE Plasma, GNOME, and i3 — optimized for performance on ARM devices.

✔ Rolling Release with Stability
 Delivers up-to-date software with Manjaro’s signature testing layers for fewer breakages.

✔ Friendly Tools & UI
 Includes Pamac (GUI package manager), Manjaro Settings Manager, and other beginner-friendly utilities.

Manjaro ARM is an excellent choice if you want a full-featured, desktop-ready Linux experience on ARM hardware, combining Arch’s power with user-friendly polish — perfect for both newcomers and power users.

#6 Raspberry Pi OS – Optimized for Raspberry Pi with excellent GPIO and hardware support

Raspberry Pi OS is the official operating system for Raspberry Pi devices, designed specifically to deliver performance, compatibility, and ease of use on ARM-based hardware.

✔ Optimized for Raspberry Pi Hardware
 Built to run seamlessly on Raspberry Pi 1–5, Zero, and Compute Modules with full hardware acceleration.

✔ ARM Architecture Support
 Available in both 32-bit (armhf) and 64-bit (arm64) versions to match Pi hardware generations.

✔ Use Cases
 Ideal for education, retro gaming, coding, home automation, and lightweight desktops.

✔ Lightweight & Beginner-Friendly
 Comes preinstalled with useful apps like Chromium, Thonny, and LibreOffice, and has a clean, simple UI.

✔ GPIO and Peripheral Support
 Built-in tools for GPIO pin control, camera modules, HATs, and other Pi-specific hardware.

✔ Wide Community & Learning Resources
 Backed by Raspberry Pi Foundation with excellent documentation, forums, and tutorials.

Raspberry Pi OS is the most compatible and beginner-friendly Linux distro for ARM, especially on Raspberry Pi hardware — perfect for learning, tinkering, or building small, reliable ARM-based systems.

#7 Alpine Linux – Ultra-lightweight and secure OS for ARM containers and edge computing

Alpine Linux is an ultra-lightweight, security-focused distribution, perfect for ARM devices where minimal resource usage and tight control are essential.

✔ ARM Architecture Support
 Supports armv6, armv7, and arm64 (aarch64) — covering both older SBCs and modern ARM devices.

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Runs well on Raspberry Pi (all models), Odroid, RockPro64, cloud instances, and ARM-based routers/firewalls.

✔ Use Cases
 Best suited for containers, Docker hosts, firewalls, edge computing, and security appliances.

✔ Tiny Footprint
 Base image is just ~5 MB — ideal for devices with limited RAM and storage.

✔ Security by Default
 Uses musl libc and position-independent executables (PIE) with hardened defaults for security-critical environments.

✔ Package Management
 Uses apk, a fast and simple package manager with thousands of available packages for ARM.

Alpine Linux is a lean, fast, and secure distribution built for ARM systems where efficiency and control matter, making it perfect for servers, containers, and embedded ARM use cases.

#8 Fedora IoT – Red Hat-backed distribution tailored for ARM IoT and edge devices

Fedora IoT is a lightweight, secure, and container-friendly Linux OS designed specifically for ARM-based edge and IoT deployments — backed by Red Hat technologies and an open-source community.

✔ ARM64 Support
 Built for aarch64 (ARMv8) architecture — optimized for modern 64-bit ARM devices.

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Supports Raspberry Pi 3/4, Pine64, BeagleBone, and other popular ARM SBCs and industrial platforms.

✔ Use Cases
 Perfect for IoT gateways, edge servers, remote sensors, and automated deployments.

✔ Immutable OS Base
 Uses OSTree for atomic system updates, ensuring consistency and rollback capabilities — ideal for remote ARM devices.

✔ Container-Ready Design
 Pairs well with Podman, Toolbx, and other Red Hat-native container tools — great for ARM-based microservices.

✔ Security & SELinux
 Security-hardened by default, with SELinux and secure boot options designed for field deployments.

Fedora IoT is a robust and modern Linux OS for ARM-based edge and embedded environments, delivering secure updates, container-native tools, and full support for 64-bit ARM boards — perfect for industrial and connected applications.

#9 Fedora Server (ARM) – General-purpose server OS for aarch64 infrastructure

Fedora Server brings modern Linux technologies to ARM systems, offering a feature-rich, community-driven platform for servers, developers, and infrastructure builders.

✔ ARM64 Architecture Support
 Officially supports aarch64 (ARMv8) — suitable for modern 64-bit ARM hardware.

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Works on Raspberry Pi 3/4, Pine64, Odroid, Ampere Altra, and other ARM servers and SBCs.

✔ Use Cases
 Well-suited for ARM-based web servers, testing labs, cloud-native apps, and home labs.

✔ Cutting-Edge Stack
 Includes the latest versions of systemd, Cockpit, dnf, and SELinux — great for advanced users and developers.

✔ Frequent Releases
 Follows Fedora’s fast-paced release cycle with up-to-date kernels and packages — ideal for staying current on ARM systems.

✔ Modularity & Flexibility
 Lets you run minimal headless setups or build full-featured server environments with your choice of packages.

Fedora Server on ARM is a strong option for users who want a modern, feature-rich, and regularly updated Linux server OS — perfect for ARM developers, test environments, and powerful SBC-based infrastructure.

#10 OpenSUSE (Leap/Tumbleweed ARM) – Enterprise-level flexibility for servers and devboards

openSUSE brings enterprise-grade tools and rolling or stable release options to ARM systems — giving you flexibility whether you want stability (Leap) or bleeding-edge software (Tumbleweed).

✔ ARM64 Architecture Support
 Official support for aarch64 (ARMv8) across both Leap and Tumbleweed editions.

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Compatible with Raspberry Pi 3/4, Rock64, Pine64, HiFive Unmatched, and other ARM SBCs and servers.

✔ Use Cases
 Suitable for ARM-based servers, developer systems, SBC workstations, and testing environments.

✔ Leap vs. Tumbleweed
 Leap offers a stable, enterprise-style release model (based on SUSE Linux Enterprise).
 Tumbleweed provides rolling updates with the latest software and kernel — ideal for developers and testers.

✔ Enterprise-Grade Tools
 Includes YaST, zypper, Snapper, and Btrfs by default — great for advanced configuration and system management on ARM.

✔ Security & Maintenance
 Strong update policies, hardened kernel features, and solid documentation for ARM deployments.

openSUSE Leap and Tumbleweed offer a flexible, powerful Linux environment for ARM systems, blending stability, enterprise tools, and modern features — perfect for developers, testers, and small-scale ARM server setups.

#11 Armbian – Custom Debian/Ubuntu builds for over 150 ARM SBCs with optimized drivers

Armbian is a lightweight, optimized Linux distribution built specifically for ARM-based single-board computers, offering better performance, stability, and hardware support than most generic images.

✔ ARM-Specific Design
 Tailored for armhf (ARMv7) and aarch64 (ARMv8) — built from the ground up for ARM boards, not just ported from x86.

✔ Extensive Hardware Compatibility
  Supports 150+ ARM SBCs, including Banana Pi, Orange Pi, Odroid, NanoPi, Helios64, RockPro64, and more.

✔ Use Cases
 Perfect for headless servers, IoT nodes, media boxes, custom appliances, and lightweight desktops on ARM.

✔ Optimized Kernel & Drivers
 Custom kernels, patches, and board-specific tweaks deliver better hardware performance and thermal management.

✔ Minimal & Flexible
 Provides both CLI and minimal desktop images (XFCE), letting you build only what you need.

✔ Reliable Updates & Support Tools
 Comes with Armbian-config, automated updates, and active community maintenance for ARM users.

Armbian is a purpose-built, performance-tuned Linux distribution for ARM SBCs, offering superior stability, optimized hardware support, and out-of-the-box compatibility — making it an excellent choice for anyone deploying real-world ARM solutions.

#12 Kali Linux ARM – ARM-ready distro for portable ethical hacking and security testing

Kali Linux ARM brings advanced security and penetration testing tools to ARM-powered devices, offering a portable, lightweight solution for ethical hackers and cybersecurity professionals.

✔ ARM Architecture Support
 Supports both armhf (32-bit) and arm64 (64-bit) — optimized for ARM boards and portable hardware.

✔ Hardware Compatibility
 Official images available for Raspberry Pi (all models), Pinebook, Odroid, USB ARM keys, and ARM-based Chromebooks.

✔ Use Cases
 Ideal for on-the-go penetration testing, network audits, IoT device analysis, and cybersecurity labs on ARM.

✔ Preloaded Security Tools
 Includes Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, Aircrack-ng, and hundreds more — all working natively on ARM.

✔ Lightweight & Customizable
 Offers both full-feature and minimal builds to suit low-resource ARM boards.

✔ Portable & Offline-Ready
 Can run headless, from SD cards or USB, making it perfect for field testing on compact ARM hardware.

Kali Linux ARM is a focused, powerful distro for ethical hacking and cybersecurity tasks on ARM devices, combining portability with a complete set of penetration tools — perfect for field work and mobile labs.