Confused on Steam Play and Proton? Be sure to check out our guide.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Update: This data has not yet actually been verified by Netmarketshare. When I first took the shot, it wasn't noted, but it's been pointed out in our comments they do now have a link at the top to say so. I fully expect this to be revised down to the current level.

Take this with a rather large bag of suspicion! Netmarketshare is reporting that Linux had 6.91% market share, which is higher than Mac for the first time.

Not only that, but it seems even FreeBSD actually registered on it this time too.

Honestly, it seems far too good to be true. Hold the partying and champagne popping for now. Other sites like StatCounter separate Chrome OS (which uses the Linux kernel), but I believe Netmarketshare does not. StatCounter also shows Linux overall at far less than what Netmarketshare shows.

With that said, both websites have reported Linux growth over the past year. It may not be as large as we want it to be, but it seems multiple sites statistics do report Linux market share is growing and that's the important thing here.

What do you think? A nonsense blip, or Linux really making gains?

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Misc
16 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
106 comments
Page: «7/11»
  Go to:

TheSHEEEP Oct 2, 2017
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: Alm888Meanwhile, on Steam Linux continues its journey down…
That survey is pretty bonkers, though. I was surveyed twice in my entire Steam life, each time I was on Windows :/
Besides, it shows Windows 10 at -5% and Windows 7 at +5% for Sept. 2017.
That's just nuts, something can't be quite right there ;)
rkfg Oct 2, 2017
Could it be that the hw survey only includes you if you actually bought something this month? I suspect it could be true because the devs always say their sales are close to what the survey shows. And if you use Linux but didn't buy anything last month you're not interesting to the audience the survey is intended for... Just my guess of course.

I rarely buy more than one game a month these days because that's a plenty of games available and I haven't yet played some interesting titles I already have. At the Steam for Linux launch there were few and people were buying everything they saw, each and every new game + there was a number of huge AAA title releases quite often. Hence 1%+ share.
Alm888 Oct 2, 2017
Quoting: TheSHEEEPBesides, it shows Windows 10 at -5% and Windows 7 at +5% for Sept. 2017.
That's just nuts, something can't be quite right there ;)
Yeah! Damn hipsters! :D
baccilus Oct 2, 2017
Quoting: GrazenHere's a worthwhile mental check (though admittedly anecdotal). Go to a local coffee shop. Look around. How many people are on Windows? How many on OSX or iOS? How many on Linux? Now, ChromeOS might bump it up a bit if it's counted as a Linux distro, but if Linux has surpassed OSX, the evidence would be all around us.

In a coffee shop, I would use a laptop with the best battery life. If I had a Mac, a Linux and a Windows laptop, I would probably carry the Mac.
Kuduzkehpan Oct 2, 2017
Quote. In a coffee shop, I would use a laptop with the best battery life. If I had a Mac, a Linux and a Windows laptop, I would probably carry the Mac.
if you are smart that way and curious about security in a public network where sniffers may be active you would go with Linux.
STiAT Oct 2, 2017
Enjoy the picture. That will have to be reviewed and will change. The percentages off for the windows versions is as well way off, and I don't see 5 % of Win10 users migrating back to Win7. There wasn't any real issue with Win10 the past month which could have triggered that.

I'm guessing they fucked up either their data or report and have to review it now.
Power-Metal-Games Oct 2, 2017
It's funny how people say that in few mouths Google can sell more laptops that there are Linux users in the world :D
Areso Oct 2, 2017
Guys (and girls), don't drink too much!
They just count my spider, that's it...
Grazen Oct 2, 2017
Quoting: Nonjuffo
Quoting: GrazenHere's a worthwhile mental check (though admittedly anecdotal). Go to a local coffee shop. Look around. How many people are on Windows? How many on OSX or iOS? How many on Linux? Now, ChromeOS might bump it up a bit if it's counted as a Linux distro, but if Linux has surpassed OSX, the evidence would be all around us.

I would think that most of the laptops seen in coffee shops are company issued (=Mac/Windows). I find it hard to imagine that someone would lug around home laptops in public places when more portable options for casual use exist. Then again my imagination can be very limited.

I was in a coffee shop yesterday with my son (we have a weekend homework club) and I'd say 90% were OSX, 9.999% Windows me on my Ubuntu Budgie and my son on his Samsung Plus Chromebook.
Areso Oct 2, 2017
Quoting: neowiz73china has been wanting to get rid of Microsoft for a number of years now, but of course their are pirated copies of windows going around everywhere there. but now with ChromeOS, Android and various distributions of Linux like Kylin and Deepin (and the untold variations within China, that we don't see open sourced). it's no surprise to see something start to happen with the marketshare.
But it's always good to see things in a positive direction. :)
All of these were there for years! Not for a few months. They all existent years ago.


Last edited by Areso on 2 October 2017 at 2:09 pm UTC
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.