Debian is a rock-solid stable distribution that you can use on your old laptop. Here’s Best lightweight Debian based distro in 2023.
Lot of people struggle to setup Debian on their system so they use other distro that is based on Debian and give max performance. So, here’s best distro based on Debian for Old PC.
Best lightweight Debian based Distro
In Linux space we have major Distrubutions like Debian, Arch, Fedora and many more but most major famous distro based on Debian because of it’s so stable and you going to find every native package to install.
If you know about Ubuntu then you are using Debian operating system as base. so, here’s best lightweight Debian Based Distro.
Zorin OS

Zorin OS also comes with lightweight Xfce desktop Enviromint. With this edition you can achieve maximum performance form your system. Zorin OS comes with windows style and work great with Office work.
Minimum system requirements for Zorin OS lite:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- Storage: 10 GB (Lite), 24 GB (Education Lite), or 40 GB (Pro Lite)
- RAM: 1 GB
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
MX Linux
MX Linux team and antiX team made MX Linux based on Debian stable. MX Linux comes with MX’s Graphical tools with the help of that you can create Live USB, Snapshot and many more.

MX Linux-XFce is flagship iso from MX team. That can run any modern hardware and old hardware.
Minimum system requirements of MX Linux:
- 10 GB Hard disk space for installation.
- 2 GB Ram on any hardware for good performance.
- Any modern Processor.
Linux Mint

Linux Mint is fantastic distro if you are shifting from windows. Linux mint comes in two format one with Debian and second on Ubuntu base. So, if you want to try Debian based Linux mint then you can give a try.
Minimum System requirements for Linux Mint.
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- RAM: 1GB (2GB Recommended)
- Storage: 10 GB (Recommended 100GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
antiX
antiX is a Debian stable based fast and lightweight and systemd-free Linux operating system for your old hardware. antiX ISO is so low and you can install with your control so it’s not going to be bloated.
Minimum system requirements for antiX:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- RAM: 256MB (1GB Recommended)
- Storage: 5GB (Recommended 20GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
Kali Linux

If you heard about hacking and Penetration Testing then you heard about Kali Linux. With Kali Linux you get lot of useful Utilites so you can don your work easily.
Kali Linux comes with many desktops’ environment but XFCE environment is so less process hungry. and comes as default.
Minimum system requirements for Kali Linux:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- RAM: 512MB (2GB Recommended)
- Storage: 20GB (Recommended 25GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
Sparky Linux
Sparky Linux is a Debian stable based distro. Sparky is Best lightweight Debian based Distro for light uses. Sparky Linux comes with few versions for different tasks.
Sparky Linux comes with Xfce and Openbox window manager so you can be sure that your goanna gets maximum performance.
Minimum system requirement for Sparky Linux:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- RAM: 512MB (1GB Recommended)
- Storage: 20GB (Recommended 25GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
Peppermint OS
Peppermint OS is based on Debian/Devuan repository. With help of this you can pull testing branch so that experienced Linux take advantage.
Peppermint OS comes with minimal packages where you get xfce with nemo file manager by default and build your system from scratch.
Minimum system requirement for Peppermint OS:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD processor
- RAM: 1GB (4GB Recommended)
- Storage: 10GB (Recommended 32GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
Q4OS
Q4OS is a Debian based distro that provide dedicated utilities and optimization for productivity. Q4OS is Rock Stable and visually stanning with themes.
Minimum system requirements for Q4OS:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- RAM: 1GB (4GB Recommended)
- Storage: 20GB (Recommended 25GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
Tails
Tails OS is portable operating system that protects against surveillance and censorship. Tails OS is based on Debian Linux.
Minimum system requirements for Tails OS:
- USB Stick: 8GB Minimum
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit/32bit processor
- RAM: 2GB (4GB Recommended)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
Bodhi Linux

Bodhi Linux is best lightweight Debian based distro that comes with Moksha Desktop. Bodhi Linux is very friendly and active community so if you stuck anywhere, you goanna get help for sure.
Minimum System requirement for Bodhi Linux:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- RAM: 768MB (2GB Recommended)
- Storage: 10GB (Recommended 20GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
PureOS

Pure OS is a Gnome desktop based on Debian. so, it’s going to be little heavy but it’s worth it. Pure OS is Best Lightweight Debian Based Distro and I used it for long time that’s why I am recommending it.
Minimum system requirement for PureOS:
- CPU: 1 GHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor
- RAM: 4GB (8GB Recommended)
- Storage: 15GB (Recommended 20GB)
- Display: 800 × 600 resolution
Conclusion on Best Lightweight Debian Based Distro
Here in this post, I share some of best distro based on Debian for Old hardware. So, if you have any other distro in mind then you can suggest us.
these are some debian distro for old pc. and we going to update this post if we get more update on best lightweight debian based distro in 2023.
Also Read:
- best things to do after installing Fedora KDE.
- How to install Waydroid On Fedora 37.
- best things to do after installing KDE Neon.
- Installing Brave Browser on Fedora 37.
- Best Fedora Based Distro in 2022.
- How to Uninstall Applications in Fedora Linux.