iDeal is an MX Linux-based distribution, with various privacy and security settings enabled by default. Privacy and security are the main stated goal of the project, offering to surf, shop, trade and bank online with peace of mind, without advertisements, tracking, logging, bugs, viruses or unwanted disclosure of personal information. iDeal OS was formerly available in two editions, "Emerald" and "Diamond", but these were merged into a single product in 2026, with the extra features of the "Diamond" edition now only available to users who contribute financially to the project.
To compare the software in this project to the software available in other distributions, please see our Compare Packages page.
Notes: In case where multiple versions of a package are shipped with a distribution, only the default version appears in the table. For indication about the GNOME version, please check the "nautilus" and "gnome-shell" packages. The Apache web server is listed as "httpd" and the Linux kernel is listed as "linux". The KDE desktop is represented by the "plasma-desktop" package and the Xfce desktop by the "xfdesktop" package.
Colour scheme:green text = latest stable version, red text = development or beta version. The function determining beta versions is not 100% reliable due to a wide variety of versioning schemes.
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An Outstanding Discovery: iDeal OS – The Ultimate Linux Distribution for Privacy and Performance!
As a long-time Linux user, I was on the hunt for a distribution that prioritizes privacy out-of-the-box without sacrificing usability. iDeal OS absolutely blew me away! Based on MX Linux and Debian, this distro delivers everything you could want and more. I installed it on my old iMac, and it breathed new life into the machine – smooth, stable, and resource-efficient, like it was brand new!
First off, privacy: iDeal OS is the best choice for privacy right out of the box. With the built-in iDeal DNS Switcher, you can switch between secure DNS providers with one click, including a leak test – no tracking, no ads, no logs. Browsing, shopping, and banking finally feel truly secure without any tinkering required. Simply brilliant!
The desktop is KDE Plasma 6, and Wayland runs flawlessly – buttery smooth and modern. Gaming? No issues at all! I installed Steam, and thanks to Proton, even demanding titles run seamlessly. No crashes, great performance, even on older hardware. Finally, a distro that takes gaming seriously without hours of optimization.
Another huge plus: No bloated systemd! Instead, iDeal OS uses the proven sysVinit, keeping the system lightweight and straightforward. No unnecessary complexities – just efficient and reliable.
Installation was a breeze, and the pre-installed tools (like LibreOffice, GIMP, and MX Tools) make it ready to go right away. There are two editions (Emerald and Diamond), and with a small donation, you unlock pro features – fair and worth supporting.
Overall: 10/10! iDeal OS is a revolution for anyone seeking security, performance, and simplicity. Give it a try – especially on older Macs. Thanks to the developers for this gem!
MX Linux with both KDE and Xfce desktops have been my go-to distributions for many years, so whenever a spin pops up i like to see what's cooking. The very first thing that strikes home is how iDeal manages to get wrong what has otherwise been one of the easiest and fasted installation sequences of all distributions I've come across. Despite setting localisation for the keyboard and location from the first installation screen, unlike MX Linux which correctly uses the settings throughout the process and sets the completed installation accordingly, iDeal seems to disregard them completely. I believe I what saw was in German, but I could be wrong, in any event it was certainly not what was expected. There's more instances throughout the completed install where chosen localisation seems have been ignored too, all easily fixed I know but it's not encouraging to see basic fundamentals gotten wrong like this. Overall, I found iDeal to be somewhat less than ideal, but interesting enough to keep an eye open for future releases. The addition of things like the DNS tweaker might swing it for some, but so far I'm unconvinced.
English (Canada) :
No, it's no, I don't recommend it at all. What's this junk,... Frankly, those who think and say that it's better than the original MX Linux, well they say anything.
I know it well the official and original Linux MX, I have been using it since 2021.
And this iDeal version is no better than the original, it's even worse than the original, go put the KDE plasma desktop on it is a very bad idea. This iDeal version consumes 4 GB of RAM.
While the original as 1.2 GB with the XFCE interface.
By installing the KDE Plasma interface, they have degraded performance, it's heavy, it's slow.
for those who are looking for something light and efficient, do not imstall this version all the.
French (Canada) :
Non, c"est non, je ne le recomande pas du tous. C'est quoi cette cochonnerie la....Franchement, ceux qui pense et dise que c'est mieux que le MX Linux original, et bien ils disent n'importe quoi.
Moi je le connais bien le MX Linux officiel et original, je l'utilse depuis 2021.
Et cette version iDeal, c'est pas mieux que l'original, c'est encore pire que l'original, allez mettre le bureau KDE plasma la dessus c'est une très mauvaise idée. Cette version iDeal consomme 4 Go de mémoire RAM.
Alors que l'original comme 1,2 Go avec l'interface XFCE.
En installant l'interface KDE Plasma, ils ont dégradé les performances, c'est lourd, c'est lent.
pour ceux qui cherche de quoi de léger et performant, n'imstaller sourtout pas cette version la.