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Software · head to head

Asana vs Ubuntu

Asana logo

Asana

Software

Manage your team's work, projects, & tasks online

From
Free
Rated
-
Ubuntu logo

Ubuntu

Software

Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Asana the free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team; Ubuntu free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Asana and Ubuntu actually diverge.

Attributes where Asana and Ubuntu differ
AttributeAsanaUbuntu
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidDesktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Asana

  • Multiple project views
  • Task dependencies
  • Milestones
  • Portfolios
  • Goals & OKRs
  • Workflow automation
  • Resource management
  • Reporting dashboards

Only in Ubuntu

Nothing recorded that Asana does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Asana

  • Project planning & trackingnot Ubuntu
  • Campaign managementnot Ubuntu
  • Product launchesnot Ubuntu
  • Event planningnot Ubuntu
  • Agile & Scrum managementnot Ubuntu

Ubuntu

  • Individual developers and small teams using free Ubuntu for laptops and serversnot Asana
  • Cloud and data centre deployments requiring certified, supported Linux operating systemnot Asana
  • Organisations needing FIPS-certified or DISA-STIG-hardened Linux for government and regulated environmentsnot Asana
  • AI and machine learning teams using Ubuntu Desktop with pre-optimised toolchainsnot Asana
  • IoT and edge computing deployments using Ubuntu Corenot Asana

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Asana

  • The free Personal tier is capped at 2 users, so it does not cover a small team
  • Timeline and Gantt views, reporting dashboards and time tracking all require Starter at $10.99 per user per month
  • Portfolios, goals, workload management and approvals need Advanced at $24.99 per user per month
  • Salesforce, Tableau and Power BI integrations are Advanced or above
  • Monthly billing costs more, at $13.49 and $30.49 against the annual rates

Ubuntu

  • Free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
  • Ubuntu Pro required for enterprise compliance certifications (FIPS, DISA-STIG); free version does not include these
  • Ubuntu Pro pricing is proprietary and varies based on cloud deployment (AWS, Azure, GCP); no published per-machine or per-user pricing
  • Ubuntu Pro + Support adds 24/7 support costs on top of base subscription; total cost for enterprise-grade support not transparent
  • Personal/free tier limited to 5 machines; any larger deployment requires paid enterprise subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

Asana

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Asana review.

Ubuntu

Free
  • Ubuntu (Free)Free
    • Desktop, Server, Core and Cloud editions
    • Community support
    • Standard security updates (5 years LTS)
  • Ubuntu Pro (Personal)Free
    • Extended Security Maintenance (10 years)
    • Kernel Livepatch
    • Landscape management
  • Ubuntu Pro (Enterprise)$null/variable
    • 10 years Extended Security Maintenance
    • FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS compliance
    • Kernel Livepatch
  • Ubuntu Pro + Support$null/variable
    • All Ubuntu Pro features
    • 24/7 break-fix and bug-fix support
    • Expert assistance for infrastructure and applications

Which should you pick?

Choose Asana if

  • You need multiple project views.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want task dependencies.

Choose Ubuntu if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.

Questions people ask

Is Asana or Ubuntu better?
Neither clearly leads. Asana starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Asana or Ubuntu?
Asana starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free.
Does Asana or Ubuntu run on more platforms?
Asana runs on Web, iOS, Android. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Can I use Asana for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Asana best used for?
Asana is most often used for project planning & tracking, campaign management, product launches, event planning. Of those, project planning & tracking and campaign management are not what Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
What can Asana do that Ubuntu cannot?
Asana covers Multiple project views, Task dependencies, Milestones, Portfolios.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Asana: Does Asana have a free tier?

Yes. Asana offers a free Personal plan for up to 2 users, plus free trial access to paid plans.

Source
Ubuntu: Is Ubuntu free?

Yes. Ubuntu is free to download and use in all editions. Community support is also available at no cost. Ubuntu Pro subscriptions are optional and provide extended support and compliance tools.

Source
Asana: What is the starting price for Asana paid plans?

Asana Starter plan begins at $10.99 per user per month when billed annually, or $13.49 per user when billed monthly.

Source
Ubuntu: How long is Ubuntu LTS support?

Standard Ubuntu LTS releases receive 5 years of security maintenance. Ubuntu Pro extends this to 10 years, expandable to 15 years with the Legacy add-on.

Source
Asana: Does Asana integrate with other work tools?

Yes. Asana offers 200+ integrations including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Jira, and Zoom.

Source
Ubuntu: What compliance certifications does Ubuntu Pro provide?

Ubuntu Pro provides compliance tools for FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, FedRAMP and PCI-DSS standards.

Source

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