Is Linux Mint or Ubuntu better?

Neither clearly leads. Linux Mint 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, Linux Mint or Ubuntu?

Linux Mint starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free.

Does Linux Mint or Ubuntu run on more platforms?

Linux Mint runs on Linux, Desktop. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.

Can I use Linux Mint for free?

Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.

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 Ubuntu is typically brought in for.

What can Linux Mint do that Ubuntu cannot?

Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Codecs included, Ubuntu package base, Update manager.

Operating Systems · head to head

Linux Mint vs Ubuntu

Linux Mint

Operating Systems

Ubuntu-based Linux distribution built for familiarity

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

Ubuntu

Operating Systems

Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.

From: Free
Rated: -

Full review Website

The short version

Each has a real cost: Linux Mint based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions; Ubuntu free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Linux Mint and Ubuntu actually diverge.

Attributes where Linux Mint and Ubuntu differ
Attribute	Linux Mint	Ubuntu
Pricing model	Open source, no licence fee	freemium
Platforms	Linux, Desktop	Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Ubuntu

Nothing recorded that Linux Mint does not also cover.

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 Ubuntu
Reviving older hardware that struggles with current Windows releasesnot Ubuntu
Everyday desktop use where stability matters more than the newest packagesnot Ubuntu

Ubuntu

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

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

Linux Mint

Free

Linux MintFree
- Full operating system
- All updates
- Community support

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)$undefined/variable
- 10 years Extended Security Maintenance
- FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS compliance
- Kernel Livepatch
Ubuntu Pro + Support$undefined/variable
- All Ubuntu Pro features
- 24/7 break-fix and bug-fix support
- Expert assistance for infrastructure and applications

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 Ubuntu if

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

Ubuntu review

Questions people ask

Is Linux Mint or Ubuntu better?: Neither clearly leads. Linux Mint 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, Linux Mint or Ubuntu?: Linux Mint starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free.
Does Linux Mint or Ubuntu run on more platforms?: Linux Mint runs on Linux, Desktop. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Can I use Linux Mint for free?: Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
What can Linux Mint do that Ubuntu cannot?: Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Codecs included, Ubuntu package base, Update manager.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Linux Mint: Is Linux Mint free?

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Linux Mint vs Ubuntu

Linux Mint

Ubuntu

The short version

Where they differ

What each one covers

Only in Linux Mint

Only in Ubuntu

What people use each for

Linux Mint

Ubuntu

Where each one falls short

Linux Mint

Ubuntu

Pricing, plan by plan

Linux Mint

Ubuntu

Which should you pick?

Choose Linux Mint if

Choose Ubuntu if

Questions people ask

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Related pages

More on Linux Mint

More on Ubuntu

Keep looking

Other head to heads