Linux Mint MATE carries the same Ubuntu LTS foundation and Mint tooling as the Cinnamon edition but swaps the desktop for MATE, the community continuation of the classic GNOME 2 interface. That gives it a menu-driven, panel-based workflow that predates modern desktop redesigns, plus a reputation for running smoothly where Cinnamon's compositing feels heavy. All the Mint essentials are present: the Software Manager, the Update Manager with its careful update logic, Timeshift snapshots, and the shared X-Apps, along with APT and Flatpak for packages and no Snap enabled by default. MATE's lighter footprint makes this edition a common pick for older hardware, virtual machines, and people who simply preferred how GNOME 2 worked. Compared with the Xfce edition, MATE offers a somewhat fuller set of integrated applets and panel options. Launching the MATE edition on OpenFactory makes the differences from Cinnamon easy to see directly.
Select a version of Linux Mint MATE to try online:
| Current: | |
|---|---|
| 22.3: | |
| 22.2: | |
| 22.1: | |
| 22: | |
| 21.3: | |
| 21.2: | |
| 21.1: | |
| 21: | |
| 20.3: | |
| 20.2: |
Compare Linux Mint editions before you install
Cinnamon is Mint's full flagship desktop, MATE keeps a classic and lighter GNOME 2-style workflow, and Xfce is the leanest official edition. Launch the editions side by side to compare menus, panels, bundled tools, and responsiveness without repartitioning your computer.
Need Linux Mint MATE for more than a quick browser preview?
The buttons above launch an ephemeral browser VM, perfect for kicking the tires. Paid plans unlock the things you'd actually use it for:
- ✓Persistent VMs you can SSH into and customize
- ✓Snapshots, your own packages, a downloadable ISO
- ✓Fleet deployment to your own machines (on-prem or cloud)