Market Statistics
DistroWatch Popularity Rankings
Bodhi Linux, as a lightweight and niche Ubuntu-based distribution, doesn’t have comprehensive market share data from major analytics firms like Statcounter or Gartner, due to its focus on enthusiasts rather than mainstream adoption. Instead, its “market presence” is best gauged through proxies like DistroWatch popularity rankings (based on page hits, which correlate with interest and downloads), user reviews, and community engagement metrics. For context, we’ll start with the broader Linux desktop market in 2026, where Linux overall has seen steady growth, reaching around 4–6% global share depending on the source. This growth benefits niche distros like Bodhi by increasing overall visibility in the open-source ecosystem.
All data is current as of January 2026, drawn from reliable sources like Statcounter, DistroWatch, and industry reports. Note: Exact user numbers for Bodhi are unavailable, but estimates from community forums and download trends suggest a dedicated base of 10,000–50,000 active users worldwide, primarily in North America and Europe.
Bodhi Linux-Specific Popularity Metrics
Bodhi ranks as a mid-tier distro in popularity, appealing to users seeking Enlightenment/Moksha desktops. DistroWatch, a leading indicator for distro interest (based on daily page views, which often proxy for downloads and trials), shows consistent but modest engagement. As of January 17, 2026:
- Current Rank: 82nd overall (out of hundreds of distros), with 181 hits per day.
- 12-Month Average: Rank 69th, 187 hits per day (indicating stable interest).
- Trends: Slight dip in shorter periods (e.g., 94th over 4 weeks at 175 hits/day), but overall steady in the 80–90 range since 2023. No major spikes in 2026 yet, but positive reviews keep it relevant.
Compared to top distros (12-month averages):
- Ubuntu: 8th rank, 1,067 hits/day
- Linux Mint: 2nd rank, 2,694 hits/day
- Bodhi: 69th rank, 187 hits/day (about 7% of Mint’s visibility).
Broader Linux Desktop Market Context
Linux desktops have continued their upward trajectory into 2026, driven by factors like Windows 10 end-of-support (in 2025), privacy concerns, and hardware compatibility improvements. Global market share varies by source:
- Statcounter (December 2025): Linux holds 3.86% of the worldwide desktop OS market, behind Windows (66.4%), Unknown (16%), macOS (7.74% + 4.75%), and others.
- CommandLinux Report (2025 Year-End): Linux desktop share reached 4.7% globally, a 70% increase from 2.76% in mid-2022, with 5.03% in the US.
- Analytics.USA.gov (Late 2025/Early 2026): Linux hits 6% share on US government-tracked sites, signaling stronger adoption in tech-savvy sectors.
- ZDNET Projection (2025): Linux crossed 5% in the US by mid-2025, with potential for 6–8% by end-2026 if trends continue.
Within Linux, distributions like Ubuntu dominate web-facing usage (e.g., 13.7% of Linux-powered sites), but lightweight distros like Bodhi appeal to a subset focused on older hardware revival and minimalism.
[8] [13] [22] [25]Specific Popularity Metrics
| Time Period | Rank | Average Hits Per Day | Change from Previous Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 12 Months | 69 | 187 | Stable |
| Last 6 Months | 82 | 181 | -3% |
| Last 3 Months | 83 | 185 | 2% |
| Last 4 Weeks | 94 | 175 | -5% |
| Last 1 Week | 81 | 186 | 6% |
User Rating
User Rating
Reviews Count
Active Users
User Ratings, Reviews, and Community Engagement
Bodhi’s strength lies in its high user satisfaction rather than sheer volume:
-
- DistroWatch User Rating: 9.2/10 based on 80 reviews (strong for a niche distro; compares to Ubuntu’s 8.5/10).
- Review Highlights: Users praise its low RAM footprint (awesome performance vs. Ubuntu) and Moksha desktop, though some note a learning curve.
- Community Size: Active forums (bodhilinux.com) with ~5,000–10,000 posts/year; Reddit mentions in r/linux and r/DistroHopping show niche enthusiasm. No formal download stats, but SourceForge mirrors suggest 50,000–100,000 downloads per major release.
- Market Niche: Bodhi captures ~0.1–0.5% of the Linux desktop market (estimated from DistroWatch shares), equating to 0.004–0.03% global desktops if Linux is at 4–6%.
User Ratings, Reviews, and Community Engagement
Bodhi’s strength lies in its high user satisfaction rather than sheer volume:
- DistroWatch User Rating: 9.2/10 based on 80 reviews (strong for a niche distro; compares to Ubuntu’s 8.5/10).
- Review Highlights: Users praise its low RAM footprint (awesome performance vs. Ubuntu) and Moksha desktop, though some note a learning curve.
- Community Size: Active forums with ~5,000–10,000 posts/year; Reddit mentions in r/linux and r/DistroHopping show niche enthusiasm. No formal download stats, but SourceForge mirrors suggest 50,000–100,000 downloads per major release.
- Market Niche: Bodhi captures ~0.1–0.5% of the Linux desktop market (estimated from DistroWatch shares), equating to 0.004–0.03% global desktops if Linux is at 4–6%.
