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Ubuntu
Enterprise Linux distribution with 15-year support options.
As of 29 August 2026, Ubuntu is free to use. Ubuntu is an open-source Linux distribution from Canonical available for desktop, server and cloud. Softwr lists it under Operating Systems. Ubuntu is available on Windows, macOS, Web, Browser extension.
Overview
What Ubuntu does
Ubuntu is an open-source Linux distribution built by Canonical and one of the world's most widely deployed operating systems. The distribution is available in multiple editions: Desktop (optimised for AI/ML development and cloud operations), Server (for data centre and hyperscale deployments), Core (embedded Linux with transactional updates for IoT and edge devices), Cloud (the leading cloud guest OS), and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Alternative flavours with different applications and desktop environments are also available. All editions are free to download and use. Canonical positions Ubuntu as 'Loved by developers and trusted by enterprises', citing 66% of experienced developers choosing it as their preferred operating system. The platform emphasises 'authentic open source', secure-by-design architecture, and a predictable release cadence with long-term support. For enterprise users, Canonical offers Ubuntu Pro, a subscription service providing extended security maintenance covering 10 years of vulnerability fixes (expandable to 15 years with a Legacy add-on), Kernel Livepatch for rebootless security patching, and compliance certifications including FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, FedRAMP and PCI-DSS. The service includes Landscape for centralised management of large Ubuntu estates, coverage for 200+ open-source applications, and an optional Ubuntu Pro + Support tier offering 24/7 expert assistance. Ubuntu Pro is free for personal use (up to 5 physical machines) and available on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud marketplaces.
What people use it for
- Individual developers and small teams using free Ubuntu for laptops and servers
- Cloud and data centre deployments requiring certified, supported Linux operating system
- Organisations needing FIPS-certified or DISA-STIG-hardened Linux for government and regulated environments
- AI and machine learning teams using Ubuntu Desktop with pre-optimised toolchains
- IoT and edge computing deployments using Ubuntu Core
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about 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
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of Ubuntu
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- UbuntuvsDebian
Debian: Community-maintained Linux distribution and universal computing platform
- UbuntuvsFedora
Fedora: Community Linux distribution with cutting-edge upstream software
- UbuntuvsKeycloak
Keycloak: Open-source identity and access management server
Pricing
What Ubuntu costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Ubuntu (Free)
Free
- Desktop, Server, Core and Cloud editions
- Community support
- Standard security updates (5 years LTS)
- Unlimited machines
- No licensing fees
Ubuntu Pro (Personal)
Free
- Extended Security Maintenance (10 years)
- Kernel Livepatch
- Landscape management
- Up to 5 physical machines (50 for Ubuntu Community members)
Ubuntu Pro (Enterprise)
On request
- 10 years Extended Security Maintenance
- FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS compliance
- Kernel Livepatch
- Landscape centralised management
- 30-day free trial available
Ubuntu Pro + Support
On request
- All Ubuntu Pro features
- 24/7 break-fix and bug-fix support
- Expert assistance for infrastructure and applications
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
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.
SourceHow 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.
SourceWhat compliance certifications does Ubuntu Pro provide?
Ubuntu Pro provides compliance tools for FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, FedRAMP and PCI-DSS standards.
SourceKeep looking
Where to go from Ubuntu
- Ubuntu alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- Ubuntu pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- Ubuntu badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Operating Systems softwareThe full category
- Best Operating Systems softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Operating Systems software for
Compare Ubuntu with
- Pop!_OS
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux
- Linux Mint
- Debian
- Fedora
- Qubes OS
- Arch Linux
- FreeBSD
- AlmaLinux
- NixOS
- Rocky Linux
- Alpine Linux
- Pop!_OS
- Qubes OS
- Rocky Linux
Other Operating Systems software
Ubuntu-based Linux distribution tuned for developers and GPU work
Open source9 researched notesCommunity-maintained Linux distribution and universal computing platform.
Free plan12 researched notesSecurity-focused operating system that runs each activity in its own virtual machine
Open source12 researched notesRHEL-compatible Linux from a non-profit foundation that chose interface compatibility over an exact rebuild
Open source12 researched notesLinux distribution where the whole machine is defined in one declarative configuration and every change can be rolled back
Open source12 researched notesCommunity rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux that still targets bug-for-bug binary compatibility
Open source12 researched notesMinimal Linux distribution built on musl libc and BusyBox for containers and appliances
Open source9 researched notesUbuntu-based Linux distribution tuned for developers and GPU work
Open source9 researched notesSecurity-focused operating system that runs each activity in its own virtual machine
Open source12 researched notesCommunity rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux that still targets bug-for-bug binary compatibility
Open source12 researched notes
Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Ubuntu, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on Ubuntu
Ubuntu alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
Ubuntu pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare Ubuntu
Put it head to head with anything we hold
Ubuntu badge
Its rating, and an embed for your own site
Best Operating Systems software alternatives
Community rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux that still targets bug-for-bug binary compatibility
Open source, no licence feeRHEL-compatible Linux from a non-profit foundation that chose interface compatibility over an exact rebuild
Open source, no licence feeSecurity-focused operating system that runs each activity in its own virtual machine
Open source, no licence fee
Linux firmware replacement for routers and embedded network devices, with a package manager and writable filesystem
Open source, no licence feeLinux distribution where the whole machine is defined in one declarative configuration and every change can be rolled back
Open source, no licence fee
Two Linux distributions from one project: an automated-tested rolling release and a stable release built from SUSE Enterprise sources
Open source, no licence feeMinimal Linux distribution built on musl libc and BusyBox for containers and appliances
Open source, no licence fee