# elementary OS privacy rating

An Ubuntu-based Linux distribution with its own Pantheon desktop and apps, and AppCenter, a store for pay-what-you-want apps and Flatpaks.

## Summary

elementary OS scores 80 out of 100 (grade B) on the desktop operating systems criteria. It meets 3 of 4 criteria: open source, no trackers or telemetry and no ads or data sales. It does not meet independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.

- Website: https://elementary.io
- Source code: https://github.com/elementary
- Jurisdiction: United States. Five Eyes member. Subject to the US CLOUD Act.
- Platforms: Linux
- Home page trackers: Cloudflare Web Analytics (cookieless analytics), Plausible (cookieless analytics)
- Category: [Desktop operating systems](https://privacyratings.com/desktop-operating-systems/)
- Grade: B (80/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | Yes | The elementary OS platform is entirely open source and built on free and open source software. | https://elementary.io/open-source |
| No trackers or telemetry | Yes | No third-party trackers, and the operating system collects no data. The website's Plausible analytics are cookieless and aggregate-only. | https://elementary.io/privacy |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | Funded by users paying what they want for the OS and AppCenter apps, with no ads. | https://elementary.io/privacy |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/desktop-operating-systems/elementary-os/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/desktop-operating-systems/elementary-os.md