18/07/2025 5:32 am
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I’m trying to decide between Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, and DietPi for my Raspberry Pi, and I’d like to know which one is better overall or more suitable for different use cases.
I’m mainly looking for:
1. Good performance (especially on lower-end models like Pi 3 or Zero)
2. Stability and long-term reliability
3. Ease of setup and use
4. Software compatibility and community support
If you've tried more than one of these, which OS do you prefer and why? Are there specific situations where one clearly stands out over the others?
Any insights or personal experiences would be really helpful.
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21/07/2025 5:17 am
I’ve tested all three — Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, and DietPi — and honestly, each one has its strengths depending on what you’re trying to do.
If you're using a lower-end model like the Pi 3 or Zero, DietPi is a beast in terms of performance. It's super lightweight and boots fast, with very minimal background processes. Great for headless or server-style setups.
Raspberry Pi OS is the most balanced in my opinion. It’s stable, well-supported, and has excellent compatibility with GPIO, camera modules, and most accessories. Plus, it’s officially maintained by the Pi Foundation, so updates and long-term support are pretty solid.
Ubuntu (especially Server) is decent, but I’ve found it to be a bit heavier on Pi 3 and not ideal for Zero. It works better on Pi 4, and is nice if you're already used to Ubuntu on desktops or other servers. That said, sometimes peripherals or GPIO need extra tweaks to work smoothly.
In terms of ease of use — Pi OS with Desktop is very beginner-friendly. DietPi is command-line based but has a great first-boot installer that lets you choose only what you need, so it’s pretty efficient. Ubuntu is more for those who are already comfortable with Linux.
For community and support, Pi OS is the winner. Tons of tutorials, help forums, and guides tailored specifically to the Pi. DietPi and Ubuntu both have good communities too, but they’re a bit more general.
My personal picks:
- For simple or GPIO-heavy projects → Raspberry Pi OS
- For lightweight, headless, or server projects → DietPi
- For more advanced server use on Pi 4 → Ubuntu Server
Hope that helps — happy to share more if you’ve got a specific use case in mind!
