Could Linux Actually SAVE You Money?

Switching to Linux might actually keep a bit of cash in your wallet

Photo by Cassidy Mills on Unsplash

When I switched from Windows to Linux at the end of 2025, saving money wasn’t really on my mind. I was sick of the dumpster fire that Windows 11 had become, and I needed something that worked with me. Not against me.

But as I used it more and more, I started to realize just how far Linux has come even in the last few years. More so than I would have thought. And now? Now I think it’s actually to a point that it can actually save people money.

Save money? Yep. Quite literally.

Sound crazy? Too much? Just Linux bro hype? I don’t think so. Let me explain.

How can Linux keep more money in your wallet? Let’s discuss.

Linux’s superpower: running on a potato

Because of everything Microsoft has thrown into Windows over the past decade, it’s become a bloated mess. It might run on lower powered hardware, but not well.

You take a system with 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD and try to run Windows 11 on that, and you’re not going to have a great experience.

You’re just not.

Linux on the other hand is famous for being able to work in just about anything. Even systems that are 15+ years old.

You put a distro of Linux, like Linux Mint for example, on that same machine with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage, and it’ll feel impressively snappy.

Why? No bloat.

It’s not that the system can’t be fast. It’s that Windows is so bloated that it makes otherwise capable hardware feel even worse than it needs to.

You don’t need the newest laptop

“So how does that save me money, Michael?” you ask.

Hardware is expensive right now. The laptop market is crazy. And if you’re going for something brand new, you’re going to be paying a pretty penny.

But what if you just need a decent laptop to use for basic tasks and don’t need Windows?

You might consider picking up a second hand ThinkPad from eBay, even one with slightly lower specs, and run Linux on it. You’ll save money and still have a perfectly fast computer.

You’re not going to get a super fast, latest-gen CPU or the best graphics, but if all you need is a decent laptop for general use, you honestly don’t need that. Really.

Going for an older system, you’re going to save good money but still get something that will work really well for your needs.

A while back, I rescued a ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 from the recycling pile at work. It’s not the newest machine, and it doesn’t have the greatest specs. But I installed a copy of Ubuntu on it, and it flies.

It will run Windows 11 and do okay, but running Linux on it is a much more enjoyable experience.

No, I’m not going to try rendering my next wallpaper pack on it, but for general use? It’s fantastic. And that’s due in no small part to the fact that Linux as a rule is not the bloated mess that Windows is.

[embed]This Laptop Was FREE, and That’s a Problem to Me Why are we like this?medium.com

Bottom line? If you need a system and don’t want to spend new computer money, even and older system with lower specs can be a great option with Linux.

Or if you have an older laptop and have been considering an upgrade, you could easily give it some extra life by switching it over to Linux. Odds are, it’ll run faster than it’s run in years.

Building a computer? Linux has you covered

When I was preparing to build my main Blender rendering computer, one of the first things I bought for it while on the way to pick up the parts was a license of Windows 11 Pro.

That license cost me just over $200 with tax. Ouch.

Screenshot from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-11-pro/dg7gmgf0d8h4

Now, I was expecting that cost, so it wasn’t a shock. But it still hurt. I would much rather have put that $200 toward getting even more powerful hardware for my build.

But now that I’ve used Linux for these past six months or so, I feel very comfortable skipping the Windows license altogether and just skipping right to Linux for my next build.

Linux renders just as fast in Blender, and in some cases even faster. I can remote into my Linux systems very easily. And I can even use tools like Dropbox.

Why would I pay for a license of Windows when Linux will do just as well? (Especially right now, considering the absurd cost of memory and storage.)

If you’re thinking about building a new rig for gaming or design, seriously consider holding off on the Windows license. Try out something like Fedora, CachyOS or Zorin OS.

You might find Linux to be the perfect alternative, and you will have saved yourself a good chunk of money. If not, you can always get a copy of Windows later, right?

The next time I build a system, and I’m likely going to be adding a third rendering system in the near future, I’m going to skip buying Windows altogether. Why would I spend $200 on a license of Windows 11 Pro when I can use Fedora and do everything I need?

And yes. Gaming works too.

[embed]You’ve Been LIED To About Linux How about a dose of reality?medium.com

What about prebuilt systems?

Unfortunately, skipping Windows isn’t usually an option if you’re buying or have already bought a prebuilt system. If I drove to my local Costco and picked up a prebuilt system, what would I be getting?

A moderately specced system already licensed for Windows.

By the same token, if I buy a new PC laptop online, odds are I’m getting a copy of Windows with it.

A few manufacturers will sell you a system without a license of Windows or with a distro of Linux preinstalled, but those are few and far between.

So Linux isn’t likely to save you money there. But, it’s certainly an option to look for when you’re planning your next purchase.

(Incidentally, this is one of the many reasons I’m a huge fan of Framework computers. You can buy any of their systems with Windows preinstalled or with no OS at all so you can bring your own without having to pay the Windows tax.)

Framework lets users choose to buy a copy of Windows or have the machine shipped with no OS and save money. Screenshot from https://frame.work/products/laptop13pro-diy-intel-ultra-3/configuration/new

When my Framework Laptop 13 Pro laptop arrives this Fall, I’ll be running Linux on it. Not Windows. By not purchasing a Windows license, I saved money which I could allocate to more memory.

Linux as a free and open operating system

The more I use Linux, the more I appreciate it for what it is. I love the philosophy behind it, being open source and free to anyone.

When I switched to it from Windows, cost wasn’t really on my mind. I already had licenses for Windows 11, so it’s not as though moving to Linux was going to save me money going forward. But that’s absolutely a big argument in its favor.

If you already have a computer you like and already have a copy of Windows, switching won’t save you any money. But if you’ve been considering replacing an aging system or are considering building something new, it definitely could.

Most distros of Linux are completely free to download and use personal or commercial use. Ubuntu, Fedora, CachyOS, Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, and any of literally hundreds of others are available for you to download and use for free. Forever.

That means no licensing costs. No subscription fees. Just free software. Forever.

In a world that seems to get more expensive by the day and with subscription costs that only seem to be going one direction, it’s nice that we still have something that’s free forever and actually great at the same time.

That’s not to say that it’s right for everyone, of course. And there is a time investment involved if you’re not already familiar with Linux and how it works. Depending on your needs, you might be better off with something else (in which case you can ignore everything I said above, I suppose.)

[embed]Considering a Switch to Linux? Here’s the Hard Truth Save yourself some pain.medium.com

Or you might find, like I did, that Linux not only checks a lot of the right boxes in terms of performance and capabilities. But the fact that it’s free, works on even older hardware (potentially saving you from a premature upgrade or making an even cheaper system work for you), and can actually replace Windows (and thus the need to buy a Windows license, is hard to hate.