An operating system (OS) is the heart of an intelligent electronic device, fundamental to its functioning. Between cell phones and computers, there are many options for the user to choose from, but some stand out due to the immense base of people who use them every day.
Do you have any idea which OS is the most used nowadays? And which software complete the top 3 podium? A small spoiler: Microsoft, Apple and Google are among the companies with the most popular solutions in the world.
A survey carried out by StatCounter, considered one of the largest technology data collection companies in the world, presented data referring to July 2022, so something may have changed from then on, but the positions in the ranking are unlikely to change in such a time. shortly.
List of the most used operating systems in the world
- 6. Linux (1,02% of the market)
A darling of developers, Linux and its thousands of variants barely surpass the 1% market share. It is worth remembering that this count only considers distributions, not including Android and Chrome OS, both based on the open source system, but kept as products with their own development.
This list included famous operating systems such as Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, OpenSuse and Debian, as well as others less known to the general public. Linux also serves as the basis for servers and databases, hence its popularity in the technological environment.
- 5. Unknown/other (2,29%)
The “unknown” other category encompasses all software not listed here. It would be impossible to carry out a survey that contained all the OS in the world, after all, many are born and die every month, either due to lack of investment, users or the will of the developer.
These are systems that do not have a base built on Linux solutions or paid companies like Microsoft and Apple. Examples of systems that go in here include FreeBSD, Solaris, DOS, and KolibriOS, as well as systems designed for home appliances, industrial machines, and other professional uses.
- 4. macOS (5,37%)
With the popularity of iPhones, Apple has become even more famous in the desktop and notebook computer segment. Macbooks, as they are called, come standard with the macOS operating system, the fourth most popular on the planet.
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The advantage of macOS is the integration with other Apple products and services, which facilitates the exchange of information and files between different devices. In addition, there is a great variety of applications and games that can be downloaded, an incentive for those who want to adopt Apple for good.
- 3. iOS (17,85%)
Even with just one manufacturer, Apple's operating system is a bronze medalist when it comes to popularity. Apple's proprietary software has been embedded in the company's mobile phones since the first iPhone and today already occupies more than 17% of the market.
iOS is ahead of Android in some countries and is extremely popular in the United States, which has the largest install base. In Europe, the fight is a little more fierce, but some countries in the Old Continent also have a great affinity with Apple software.
- 2. Windows (27,92%)
Windows is by far the king of operating systems for computers, but it is second only when you also consider mobile phones and tablets. The rise of Apple and Google is something that bothers Microsoft, mainly because the company has nothing to compete with in the mobile market.
The list considers all available versions of the system created by Bill Gates, such as Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7 and even older ones, such as XP and Vista, still present on some machines. Much of the success of the OS comes from its tradition in the market, embedded in most computers since the 1980s.
Although it is a software released in time cycles, with the need for users to acquire licenses, Windows remains the darling of the market. The system was and still is very affected by piracy, but it also values its lightness, two of the reasons that reinforce its popularity.
- 1. Android (44,66%)
The first position is occupied by Google's operating system for mobile phones and tablets. Android, another system built on the Linux kernel, passed all rivals a few years ago and has since remained unshakable at the top, more than 18 percentage points ahead of second place Windows.
Android operates on an open source basis, which allows users and developers to make modifications to deliver a customized interface with unique features. In general, mobile phone manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola and Xiaomi make their own alternatives to pure Android.
One of the advantages is the lightness of the system, which makes it run on practically any device. The most modern versions are created with new features that demand more from mobile phones, but still require few technical requirements to function, which is why most manufacturers use Android embedded in their devices.
