Operating Systems · head to head
Red Hat Enterprise Linux vs Ubuntu
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Operating Systems
Commercial Linux distribution with long-term support
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Ubuntu
Operating Systems
Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Ubuntu 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; Ubuntu free version supported only by community; no official Canonical support without Pro subscription
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ubuntu actually diverge.
| Attribute | Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Ubuntu |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | Per-system annual subscription; developer subscriptions available at no cost | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Linux, Server, Cloud | Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL |
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 Ubuntu
Nothing recorded that Red Hat Enterprise Linux does not also cover.
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 Ubuntu
- Applications certified against a specific OS that must not move for yearsnot Ubuntu
- Enterprises procuring against hardware and ISV certification listsnot Ubuntu
Ubuntu
- Individual developers and small teams using free Ubuntu for laptops and serversnot Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Cloud and data centre deployments requiring certified, supported Linux operating systemnot Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Organisations needing FIPS-certified or DISA-STIG-hardened Linux for government and regulated environmentsnot Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- AI and machine learning teams using Ubuntu Desktop with pre-optimised toolchainsnot Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- IoT and edge computing deployments using Ubuntu Corenot 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
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
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 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)$undefined/variable
- 10 years Extended Security Maintenance
- FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS compliance
- Kernel Livepatch
- Ubuntu Pro + Support$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 Red Hat Enterprise Linux if
- You need ten-year lifecycle.
- You work on Linux, Server, Cloud.
- You also want certified ecosystem.
Choose Ubuntu if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Questions people ask
- Is Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Ubuntu better?
- Neither clearly leads. Red Hat Enterprise Linux starts at On request and Ubuntu 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 Ubuntu?
- Ubuntu has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Free for Ubuntu.
- Does Red Hat Enterprise Linux or Ubuntu run on more platforms?
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux runs on Linux, Server, Cloud. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
- Can I use Ubuntu for free?
- Yes. Ubuntu 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 Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
- What can Red Hat Enterprise Linux do that Ubuntu cannot?
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux covers Ten-year lifecycle, Certified ecosystem, Commercial support, SELinux and compliance tooling.
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.
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.
SourceRed 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.
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.
SourceRed 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.
Ubuntu: What compliance certifications does Ubuntu Pro provide?
Ubuntu Pro provides compliance tools for FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, FedRAMP and PCI-DSS standards.
SourceRelated pages
More on Red Hat Enterprise Linux
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