Abstract This study experimentally investigates the performance of solar still coupled with a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) at different cooling rates based on energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and enviroeconomic standpoints. Different solar still systems are considered; conventional solar still (CSS), solar still with heat sink condenser (MSS) and coupled with PTSC (MSS + PTSC), MSS having an umbrella and coupled with PTSC (MSS + PTSC + U), MSS with PTSC and condenser forced air cooling (MSS + PTSC + FA), and MSS + PTSC with condenser forced water cooling (MSS + PTSC + FW). Experiments are conducted under hot climate conditions of Sohag city, Egypt. Results indicated that the freshwater yield of all studied systems in ascending order is as follow; CSS + PTSC, MSS + PTSC + U, MSS + PTSC, MSS + PTSC + FA, and MSS + PTSC + FW in summer with value of 7.74, 8.02, 8.68, 9.11, and 9.45 kg/m2, respectively. The maximum exergy efficiency of 1.34% in summer is achieved in case of MSS + PTSC + FW system. The economic analysis shows that distilled water cost is minimum for MSS + PTSC + FW (~0.02 $/L), while it is maximum for MSS + PTSC + U (~0.022 $/L). It can be concluded that high freshwater production and less distilled water cost are making the enhanced solar desalination system feasible and competitive. Minimum exergy efficiency occurs in case of CSS + PTC with a value of 1.197% and MSS has higher average daily exergy efficiency. MSS + PTSC achieves the best performance-based exergoeconomic approach. MSS + PTSC + FW is by far the best system in cutting down CO2 emissions.