The Ubuntu Linux-based operating system (OS) has spawned a number of official and non-official variants that generally differ from the main Ubuntu release in one or two small, but very specific, ways. Some of the more prominent Ubuntu variants include
- Kubuntu: Ubuntu with KDE as the graphical desktop instead of Gnome
- Macbuntu: Ubuntu with a Mac OS X-inspired desktop shell
- Lubuntu: Ubuntu with the LXDE desktop instead of Gnome
- Xubuntu: Ubuntu with the Xfce desktop instead of Gnome
- Mythbuntu: a Xubuntu-based, Xfce4 desktop OS variant with MythTV installed
- Edubuntu: an education-focused variant of Ubuntu
- Ubuntu Studio: a multimedia-focused variant of Ubuntu
- Gobuntu: an Ubuntu base previously developed for other free software platforms but no longer in development
There are also a number of Ubuntu variants customized and optimized for specific languages and regions, including:
- Runtu: an Ubuntu-based OS optimized for Russian users
- Cobuntu: an Ubuntu-based OS optimized for Korean users)
- Sabily: an Ubuntu-based OS optimized for Muslim users
