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Operating Systems · head to head

openSUSE vs Ubuntu

openSUSE logo

openSUSE

Operating Systems

Two Linux distributions from one project: an automated-tested rolling release and a stable release built from SUSE Enterprise sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ubuntu logo

Ubuntu

Operating Systems

Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: openSUSE yaST is being retired in favour of Agama and Cockpit, so a decade of tutorials, scripts and administrator habits stop applying at Leap 16 and internal runbooks need rewriting.; Ubuntu free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which openSUSE and Ubuntu actually diverge.

Attributes where openSUSE and Ubuntu differ
AttributeopenSUSEUbuntu
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
Platformsx86-64, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x, RISC-V, Raspberry PiDesktop, 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 openSUSE

  • Snapper snapshots
  • openQA gating
  • Leap and SLE shared base
  • Zypper
  • Open Build Service
  • Immutable desktops

Only in Ubuntu

Nothing recorded that openSUSE does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

openSUSE

  • Workstations that need current packages but cannot tolerate an unrecoverable updatenot Ubuntu
  • Standardising development machines on the same base as a SUSE Linux Enterprise production fleetnot Ubuntu
  • Sites in Europe with existing SUSE relationships that want a free tier with a paid upgrade pathnot Ubuntu
  • Packaging software for several distributions at once through the Open Build Servicenot Ubuntu

Ubuntu

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

Where each one falls short

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

openSUSE

  • YaST is being retired in favour of Agama and Cockpit, so a decade of tutorials, scripts and administrator habits stop applying at Leap 16 and internal runbooks need rewriting.
  • Leap 16 follows SUSE Linux Enterprise 16 in requiring x86-64-v2, which strands older hardware on Leap 15 and forces a hardware decision alongside the upgrade.
  • Third-party vendors ship .deb packages and RPMs built for RHEL first, so openSUSE users regularly install from the Open Build Service or a community repository instead of a supported vendor package.
  • Patent policy keeps many media codecs out of the official repositories, so a usable desktop normally means adding the Packman repository and managing vendor changes between the two.
  • Tumbleweed publishes large update sets frequently, which is punishing on metered or slow connections and makes it a poor fit for machines that are offline for weeks at a time.

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

openSUSE

Free
  • openSUSEFree
    • Leap, Tumbleweed, Slowroll, Aeon and Kalpa at no cost
    • No registration or subscription
    • Community support via forums and mailing lists

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 openSUSE if

  • You need snapper snapshots.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on x86-64, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x, RISC-V, Raspberry Pi.
  • You also want openqa gating.
openSUSE 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 openSUSE or Ubuntu better?
Neither clearly leads. openSUSE 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, openSUSE or Ubuntu?
openSUSE starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free.
Does openSUSE or Ubuntu run on more platforms?
openSUSE runs on x86-64, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x, RISC-V, Raspberry Pi. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Can I use openSUSE for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is openSUSE best used for?
openSUSE is most often used for workstations that need current packages but cannot tolerate an unrecoverable update, standardising development machines on the same base as a suse linux enterprise production fleet, sites in europe with existing suse relationships that want a free tier with a paid upgrade path, packaging software for several distributions at once through the open build service. Of those, workstations that need current packages but cannot tolerate an unrecoverable update and standardising development machines on the same base as a suse linux enterprise production fleet are not what Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
What can openSUSE do that Ubuntu cannot?
openSUSE covers Snapper snapshots, openQA gating, Leap and SLE shared base, Zypper.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

openSUSE: Should I run Leap or Tumbleweed?

Tumbleweed for a workstation where you want current packages and will use snapshots. Leap for servers and for anything where you would rather patch quarterly than weekly.

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
openSUSE: Is Leap going away?

No, but it changed foundations. Leap 16 is built on SUSE Linux Enterprise 16, drops YaST and raises the CPU baseline. Plan the upgrade as a migration rather than a routine version bump.

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
openSUSE: Can I move from Leap to SUSE Linux Enterprise later?

Yes, SUSE supports an in-place migration from Leap to SLES, which is the main reason organisations standardise on Leap while they are still deciding whether to buy support.

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
openSUSE: How reliable is a rolling release for daily work?

More reliable here than elsewhere, because snapshots are gated by openQA and Snapper makes a bad update a boot-menu choice rather than a reinstall. It still requires you to read update notes.

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