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ZDNET key takeaways
The Linux desktop has continued its slow growth.
Windows blunders have helped Linux make gains.
People are finally figuring out Linux is easy to use.
Believe it or not, according to StatCounter, a web analytics company that's been tracking end-user operating systems since 1999, desktop Linux has now reached an all-time high of 10.65% in the North American market. Take that, Microsoft!
But it's important to take StatCounter's numbers with a grain of salt. The firm's numbers are derived from just over a million websites. When someone visits one of its sites, StatCounter records every page view and collects such data as the visitor's browser, operating system, and whether it's from a PC, tablet, or smartphone. However, the company doesn't count traffic from such popular websites as Google, Facebook, or Wikipedia.
Also: How to try out over 85 Linux distros, no installation required - with DistroSea
Still, even with those caveats, Linux's market share growth has been impressive. The last time I looked at the numbers in 2025, Statcounter only showed a high of just over 5%. Linux doubling its market share in just over a year should get everyone's attention.
If you look closer, you'll also see Chrome OS, which is a Linux distro that uses Google's Chrome web browser for its interface, has a 2.07% share of its own. Add that in, and Linux owns 12.72%.
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