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Operating Systems · head to head

Linux Mint vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Linux Mint logo

Linux Mint

Operating Systems

Ubuntu-based Linux distribution built for familiarity

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Red Hat Enterprise Linux logo

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Operating Systems

Commercial Linux distribution with long-term support

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Linux Mint has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Linux Mint based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions; Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription cost per system is significant and scales with fleet size
  • They diverge on capability: Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Red Hat Enterprise Linux covers Ten-year lifecycle.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Linux Mint and Red Hat Enterprise Linux actually diverge.

Attributes where Linux Mint and Red Hat Enterprise Linux differ
AttributeLinux MintRed Hat Enterprise Linux
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer-system annual subscription; developer subscriptions available at no cost
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, DesktopLinux, Server, Cloud

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Operating Systems).

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 Linux Mint

  • Cinnamon desktop
  • Codecs included
  • Ubuntu package base
  • Update manager

Only in Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  • Ten-year lifecycle
  • Certified ecosystem
  • Commercial support
  • SELinux and compliance tooling

What people use each for

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

Linux Mint

  • Moving a desktop or laptop off Windows with minimal retrainingnot Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Reviving older hardware that struggles with current Windows releasesnot Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Everyday desktop use where stability matters more than the newest packagesnot Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  • Regulated industries needing a contracted party accountable for security fixesnot Linux Mint
  • Applications certified against a specific OS that must not move for yearsnot Linux Mint
  • Enterprises procuring against hardware and ISV certification listsnot Linux Mint

Where each one falls short

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

Linux Mint

  • Based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions
  • Cinnamon is less polished on fractional scaling and multi-monitor setups than GNOME or KDE
  • Smaller team than Ubuntu or Fedora, which shows in the pace of security response for its own components
  • Wayland support has lagged behind the major desktops

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  • Subscription cost per system is significant and scales with fleet size
  • Packages are deliberately older than current upstream, which frustrates developers wanting recent toolchains
  • The 2023 source availability changes strained relations with downstream rebuilds and remain contentious
  • Considerable overkill for workloads with no compliance or support requirement

Pricing, plan by plan

Linux Mint

Free
  • Linux MintFree
    • Full operating system
    • All updates
    • Community support

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Red Hat Enterprise Linux review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Linux Mint if

  • You need cinnamon desktop.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Desktop.
  • You also want codecs included.
Linux Mint review

Choose Red Hat Enterprise Linux if

  • You need ten-year lifecycle.
  • You work on Linux, Server, Cloud.
  • You also want certified ecosystem.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux review

Questions people ask

Is Linux Mint or Red Hat Enterprise Linux better?
Neither clearly leads. Linux Mint starts at Free and Red Hat Enterprise Linux at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Linux Mint or Red Hat Enterprise Linux?
Linux Mint has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Linux Mint and On request for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
Does Linux Mint or Red Hat Enterprise Linux run on more platforms?
Linux Mint runs on Linux, Desktop. Red Hat Enterprise Linux runs on Linux, Server, Cloud.
Can I use Linux Mint for free?
Yes. Linux Mint has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Red Hat Enterprise Linux starts at On request.
What is Linux Mint best used for?
Linux Mint is most often used for moving a desktop or laptop off windows with minimal retraining, reviving older hardware that struggles with current windows releases, everyday desktop use where stability matters more than the newest packages. Of those, moving a desktop or laptop off windows with minimal retraining and reviving older hardware that struggles with current windows releases are not what Red Hat Enterprise Linux is typically brought in for.
What can Linux Mint do that Red Hat Enterprise Linux cannot?
Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Codecs included, Ubuntu package base, Update manager. Red Hat Enterprise Linux covers Ten-year lifecycle, Certified ecosystem, Commercial support, SELinux and compliance tooling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint free?

Yes, entirely free and open source, funded by donations and sponsors.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Is Red Hat Enterprise Linux free?

The software is open source but the product is sold as a per-system subscription. Red Hat offers no-cost developer subscriptions for individual development use.

Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint good for beginners?

It is one of the most commonly recommended distributions for people leaving Windows, because the desktop layout is conventional and media codecs are installed by default.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux: What does the subscription actually buy?

Support, security backports over a ten-year lifecycle, and hardware and software certifications. Not the code, which is open.

Linux Mint: Can I run Ubuntu software on Linux Mint?

Yes. Mint is built on Ubuntu and uses its repositories, so nearly all Ubuntu packages and instructions apply.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux: Why do enterprises pay for Linux?

Accountability and lifecycle. A contracted vendor answering for a CVE, and an OS that stays supported long enough to avoid re-certifying applications every two years.

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