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Operating Systems · head to head

Rocky Linux vs Ubuntu

Rocky Linux logo

Rocky Linux

Operating Systems

Community rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux that still targets bug-for-bug binary compatibility

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: Rocky Linux source access depends on routes Red Hat has not yet closed, so no procurement team can obtain a contractual guarantee that one-to-one parity will still exist in three years.; 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 Rocky Linux and Ubuntu actually diverge.

Attributes where Rocky Linux and Ubuntu differ
AttributeRocky LinuxUbuntu
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefreemium
Platformsx86-64, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x, Cloud images, ContainersDesktop, 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 Rocky Linux

  • Binary compatibility
  • Ten-year lifecycle
  • Peridot build system
  • migrate2rocky
  • Secure Boot
  • Special interest groups

Only in Ubuntu

Nothing recorded that Rocky Linux does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Rocky Linux

  • Replacing CentOS 7 or CentOS 8 fleets without moving to a per-socket subscriptionnot Ubuntu
  • HPC and research clusters where node counts make commercial licensing impracticalnot Ubuntu
  • Hosting and managed service providers who need a RHEL-shaped platform at zero licence costnot Ubuntu
  • Development and test tiers that must match a RHEL production tier exactlynot Ubuntu

Ubuntu

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

Where each one falls short

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

Rocky Linux

  • Source access depends on routes Red Hat has not yet closed, so no procurement team can obtain a contractual guarantee that one-to-one parity will still exist in three years.
  • Errata are published after Red Hat, so for critical fixes there is usually a short window, and for point releases a longer one, where a patch is public upstream and not yet available to you.
  • No ISV certification: your Oracle, SAP or storage vendor contract names RHEL, and support staff can legitimately refuse to reproduce a fault on Rocky.
  • Governance and the main commercial sponsor share leadership, which buyers who compare it against AlmaLinux's elected board find harder to assess for independence.
  • There is no SLA and no phone number in the free product, so an outage escalation ends in community chat unless a CIQ contract is already in place.

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

Rocky Linux

Free
  • Rocky LinuxFree
    • No subscription or registration
    • Unlimited installations
    • All architectures and images

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 Rocky Linux if

  • You need binary compatibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on x86-64, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x, Cloud images, Containers.
  • You also want ten-year lifecycle.
Rocky Linux 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 Rocky Linux or Ubuntu better?
Neither clearly leads. Rocky Linux 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, Rocky Linux or Ubuntu?
Rocky Linux starts at Free and Ubuntu at Free.
Does Rocky Linux or Ubuntu run on more platforms?
Rocky Linux runs on x86-64, ARM64, ppc64le, s390x, Cloud images, Containers. Ubuntu runs on Desktop, Server, Cloud, IoT, Edge, WSL.
Can I use Rocky Linux for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Rocky Linux best used for?
Rocky Linux is most often used for replacing centos 7 or centos 8 fleets without moving to a per-socket subscription, hpc and research clusters where node counts make commercial licensing impractical, hosting and managed service providers who need a rhel-shaped platform at zero licence cost, development and test tiers that must match a rhel production tier exactly. Of those, replacing centos 7 or centos 8 fleets without moving to a per-socket subscription and hpc and research clusters where node counts make commercial licensing impractical are not what Ubuntu is typically brought in for.
What can Rocky Linux do that Ubuntu cannot?
Rocky Linux covers Binary compatibility, Ten-year lifecycle, Peridot build system, migrate2rocky.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Rocky Linux: Is Rocky Linux still binary compatible with RHEL after the 2023 source restrictions?

Yes, that remains the stated goal and the reason it takes sources from UBI containers and cloud instances instead of the customer portal. It is a goal maintained by effort, not by agreement, which is the risk you are accepting.

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
Rocky Linux: Can I move a CentOS 7 machine to Rocky in place?

Not directly to Rocky 9. The usual path is the ELevate project, which is maintained by AlmaLinux and can upgrade CentOS 7 to Rocky 8, then migrate2rocky and a second major upgrade from there. Many teams rebuild instead.

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
Rocky Linux: What does support cost?

Nothing for the distribution. Commercial support is sold by CIQ under separate contract, and pricing is quoted rather than published.

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
Rocky Linux: How does it differ from CentOS Stream?

CentOS Stream sits ahead of RHEL and receives changes before they ship in a RHEL release. Rocky sits behind it and reproduces what already shipped, which is what most CentOS users actually wanted.

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