DesktopBSD was a Unix-derived, desktop-oriented operating system based on FreeBSD.

Its goal was to combine the stability of FreeBSD with the ease of use of K Desktop Environment 3, the default graphical user interface.

It was based on FreeBSD's latest stable branch, incorporating customized, preinstalled software such as KDE and DesktopBSD utilities and configuration files.

DesktopBSD was not intended to compete with TrueOS as a BSD-based desktop distribution, although they were similar in structure and goals.

Neither project intended to rival the other, and they had independent, distinctive features and intended outcomes; DesktopBSD used ports and packages for additional software installation, and PC-BSD introduced PBIs.