The first major difference between various Linux distributions is their target audiences and systems. For example, some distributions are customized for desktop systems, some distributions are customized for server systems, and some distributions are customized for old machines, and so on.

Why are there different Linux distributions?

Different Linux distributions are suited for different purposes. … People looking for a more stable, well-tested system may want to go with Debian, CentOS (a free version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux), or even Ubuntu LTS. There’s no one right distribution for everyone, although everyone has a favorite.

Why there are so many distributions of Linux and what mainly differentiates one from the other?

Two reasons are the software installed by default. Most use similar software but some might install Firefox and some chromium. Different distros also have different package managers (how you install software in the command line). Ubuntu/Debian use apt, Fedora/Red Hat use yum and Arch uses Pacman.