In this video I made a Linux distro tier list that’s actually about you, not about crowning a single “best distro.” I ranked 28 distros across three separate tier lists based on where they fit in your Linux journey: your first distro (beginner), your “level up” distro (intermediate), and then advanced/specialized distros (security, privacy/anonymity, DIY customization, business, and other weird-but-cool use cases). I kept the tiers simple (S/A/B/Avoid) because, honestly, most tier lists get way too nitpicky. For beginners, I’m looking for distros that just work, have huge community support, and don’t force you to learn packaging quirks on day one. That’s why I put Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, and Zorin OS in S tier, with Elementary OS as a strong A. Fedora is a “love it and hate it” B tier for me—great security defaults and modern software, but DNF and software availability can be annoying (my Signal Flatpak rant still stands). For leveling up, I think Arch-based distros (and OpenSUSE Tumbleweed) really shine if you want bleeding-edge software, customization, and that “okay, I’m actually learning Linux now” feeling. Finally, I break out the truly specialized stuff: Qubes OS for compartmentalized security, Tails for disposable anonymity, Kali for pentesting, and atomic/immutable distros like Fedora Silverblue (and Bazzite) for stability and security tradeoffs. Use Linux however you want—anything open source is generally a move in the right direction—but pick the distro that matches your goals and tolerance for tinkering.