Here I’ll show you different desktop environments for Ubuntu OS.

Desktop environments

Different Desktops environments for Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS OS.
You can see the memory RAM consumed for each Desktop Environment.

Ubuntu + Unity

Unity is the desktop environment by default for ubuntu OS.

Lubuntu = Ubuntu + LXDE

Lubuntu is an OS Ubuntu derivative with LXDE desktop environment by default, but is easily install on Ubuntu and configure the OS.

• Installing LXDE:

  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get install lxde
  

• Result:

Kubuntu = Ubuntu + KDE

Kubuntu is an OS Ubuntu derivative with KDE desktop environment by default, but is easily install on Ubuntu and configure the OS.

• Installing KDE:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
  

• Result:

Xubuntu = Ubuntu + XFCE

Xubuntu is an OS Ubuntu derivative with XFCE desktop environment by default, but is easily install on Ubuntu and configure the OS.

• Installing XFCE:

  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get install xfce4 xfce4-goodies
  

• Result:

Ubuntu MATE = Ubuntu + MATE

Ubuntu MATE is an OS Ubuntu derivative with MATE desktop environment by default, but is easily install on Ubuntu and configure the OS.

• Installing MATE Desktop environment:

  sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-mate-dev/xenial-mate
  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get install mate 
  

• Result:

Ubuntu GNOME = Ubuntu + GNOME

Ubuntu GNOME is an OS Ubuntu derivative with GNOME desktop environment by default, but is easily install on Ubuntu and configure the OS.

• Installing GNOME Desktop environment:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging
  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3
  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install gnome gnome-shell
  

• Result:

Ubuntu Budgie = Ubuntu + Budgie

Ubuntu Budgie is an OS Ubuntu derivative with Budgie desktop environment by default, but is easily install on Ubuntu and configure the OS.

• Installing Budgie DE:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:budgie-remix/ppa
  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install budgie-desktop-environment
  

• Result:

Linux Mint = Ubuntu + Cinnamon

Linux Mint is an OS Ubuntu derivative with Cinnamon desktop environment by default, but is easily install on Ubuntu and configure the OS.

• Installing Cinnamon Desktop environment:

  sudo add-apt-repository ppa:embrosyn/cinnamon
  sudo apt-get update
  sudo apt-get install cinnamon cinnamon-core
  

• Result: