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Operating Systems · head to head

Red Hat Enterprise Linux vs Linux Mint

Red Hat Enterprise Linux logo

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Operating Systems

Commercial Linux distribution with long-term support

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Linux Mint logo

Linux Mint

Operating Systems

Ubuntu-based Linux distribution built for familiarity

From
Free
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: Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription cost per system is significant and scales with fleet size; Linux Mint based on Ubuntu LTS, so packages are deliberately older than rolling distributions
  • They diverge on capability: Red Hat Enterprise Linux covers Ten-year lifecycle, Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Linux Mint differ
AttributeRed Hat Enterprise LinuxLinux Mint
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer-system annual subscription; developer subscriptions available at no costOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLinux, Server, CloudLinux, Desktop

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 Red Hat Enterprise Linux

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

Only in Linux Mint

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

What people use each for

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

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

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

On request

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

Linux Mint

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

Which should you pick?

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Linux Mint better?
Neither clearly leads. Red Hat Enterprise Linux starts at On request and Linux Mint at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Linux Mint?
Linux Mint has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Free for Linux Mint.
Does Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Linux Mint run on more platforms?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux runs on Linux, Server, Cloud. Linux Mint runs on Linux, Desktop.
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 Red Hat Enterprise Linux best used for?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is most often used for regulated industries needing a contracted party accountable for security fixes, applications certified against a specific os that must not move for years, enterprises procuring against hardware and isv certification lists. Of those, regulated industries needing a contracted party accountable for security fixes and applications certified against a specific os that must not move for years are not what Linux Mint is typically brought in for.
What can Red Hat Enterprise Linux do that Linux Mint cannot?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux covers Ten-year lifecycle, Certified ecosystem, Commercial support, SELinux and compliance tooling. Linux Mint covers Cinnamon desktop, Codecs included, Ubuntu package base, Update manager.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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 free?

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

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: 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: 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.

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.

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