Docker on Ubuntu vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) comparison

Docker on Ubuntu vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

April 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

4.6

Organizations save time and costs with Docker on Ubuntu, experiencing easier management and improved deployment efficiency without needing extensive engineers.

Sentiment score

6.3

RHEL offers high ROI with strong security, reduced costs, automation, uptime, and support, enhancing operational efficiency and compliance.

The main return is time-saving, as it provides less setup time, fewer errors, and improved developer productivity.

Cfigueroasanche Tagetto

DevOps at Chill Flow

You need some type of operating system and a container engine, and these two are best in class.

For more quotes and insights, download the Docker on Ubuntu report

Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

There is a pipeline for it, and the time saving occurs because whenever a developer pushes anything, that goes into the Docker container and builds it.

Manas Kashyap

Senior Dev Ops Engineer at 11 East Capital

A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.

Troels Hansen

Architect at KnowIT

Being able to transform common manual tasks that previously took all day into processes that take an hour, half an hour, or even less, demonstrates clear value.

Chris Perrault

Systems administrator at a retailer with 501-1,000 employees

I invest effort and money in RHEL 8, expecting the system to be secure and reliable when serving my clients.

Suresh Babu Thatikonda

Associate Director at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

5.9

Docker on Ubuntu offers strong community support and documentation, reducing the need for direct customer service interactions.

Sentiment score

7.3

RHEL customers value responsive support and account management, though some note delays and suggest streamlined processes for complex issues.

The customer service for Docker on Ubuntu and their technical support are pretty good, especially since the documentation is pretty robust.

Founder at Asynka

Amazon's customer support is brilliant, with very quick response times.

For more quotes and insights, download the Docker on Ubuntu report

Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

The documentation is good, especially when using AI tools that utilize Docker's information for support.

Steven Lord

Chief Technology Officer at ML Cloud LLC

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) support is great, as they go beyond their duty to help resolve issues and provide solutions even for third-party software such as XRDP.

Antoine Ragland

Senior Infrastructure Systems Administrator at a healthcare company with 1,001-5,000 employees

When we do contact customer service, they are generally very knowledgeable and well-versed in our size.

Tucker Hewitt

Solutions Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

Usually, I send the information, and they have something for me within hours, sometimes even minutes.

ChristianLopez

Team manager at Evertec

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

5.6

Docker on Ubuntu offers scalable deployment, reduces dependencies, integrates with CI, but presents challenges with complex applications and costs.

Sentiment score

7.3

Red Hat Enterprise Linux excels in scalability and performance, seamlessly integrating with cloud environments to manage diverse workloads.

In some cases, Docker on Ubuntu is not enough for all the complexity of the applications, and I have to go to the next level with Kubernetes.

Founder at Asynka

Ubuntu is very stable as an operating system, and Docker scales well when used properly across projects and environments.

Cfigueroasanche Tagetto

DevOps at Chill Flow

Using Docker on Ubuntu together is a common configuration, and you can deploy it directly on server hardware using virtual machines or in the cloud, scaling however you wish.

For more quotes and insights, download the Docker on Ubuntu report

Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.

Sean Doyle

Solutions Architect at a transportation company with 10,001+ employees

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) scales very well with the growing needs of our company.

Sheldon Kroner

Director, DevOps at Lightedge Solutions

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) handles increases in users, applications, or data smoothly, which is why we use it for all our projects, as it provides us with confidence.

reviewer2753943

Cloud Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.1

Docker on Ubuntu is praised for stable, reliable performance, with minor issues overshadowed by its consistent operation.

Sentiment score

7.9

RHEL is praised for its stability, reliability, and minimal downtime, making it ideal for business-critical applications in enterprises.

Docker on Ubuntu is very stable.

Deva Rugved

Software Engineer at INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Docker is continually optimized by the Docker company, and Ubuntu is also continually optimized.

For more quotes and insights, download the Docker on Ubuntu report

Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Docker on Ubuntu is very much stable; it is one of the most stable solutions that you can find.

Manas Kashyap

Senior Dev Ops Engineer at 11 East Capital

It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

It just works, and that's really the key factor; I can't remember the last time we had a system go down and had to restore it due to a bad patch.

Jason Cummings

Senior software engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

We've not had a service outage with Red Hat in six years.

ScottPalmer

Team Lead, Linux Systems & Tools at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Room For Improvement

Docker on Ubuntu requires better documentation, security integration, and orchestration tools to overcome networking challenges and performance issues.

RHEL requires improved CLI integration, security, cloud features, automation, user interfaces, and better pricing for wider adoption.

Code sharing ability exists in GitHub and other tools, but in Docker on Ubuntu, other users we are sharing with do not have options like edit and update the code.

Deva Rugved

Software Engineer at INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

While Docker itself has no cost, the Docker repository and Docker Hub could improve their pricing, especially for startup companies.

Steven Lord

Chief Technology Officer at ML Cloud LLC

It is completely complex to understand the networking in Docker on Ubuntu and Kubernetes clusters, as well as the ephemeral nature of the network and storage.

For more quotes and insights, download the Docker on Ubuntu report

Founder at Asynka

Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

The built-in security features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux were insufficient for our needs, necessitating the implementation of supplementary security measures.

reviewer2591346

IT Infrastructure Engineer at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees

By providing pre-installed, native automation tools within the operating system, Red Hat would streamline processes and improve user efficiency.

reviewer2620827

Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Setup Cost

Docker on Ubuntu is cost-effective, focusing expenses on infrastructure while benefiting from its free, open-source nature.

RHEL is costlier but valued for support and features, offering flexible plans for different business needs and environments.

99.9% of people will be happy with the open source version, which is open source and free.

reviewer2801481

Site Reliability Engineer Ii at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees

I find the pricing for Docker on Ubuntu is not expensive because basically, it is zero.

For more quotes and insights, download the Docker on Ubuntu report

Founder at Asynka

Docker does not have licensing.

HarshalJethwa

Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees

It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

Its pricing has room for improvement because it's more expensive in the local market due to purchasing power parity in India.

Syed Azhar

Cloud engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees

Windows Servers base their cost on the number of users and have high licensing fees, while Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers free versions alongside its paid, supported versions.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Valuable Features

Docker on Ubuntu offers container isolation, streamlined deployments, scalability, application consistency, cloud integration, and strong community support for development.

RHEL offers robust security, automation, and integration, enhancing enterprise application efficiency with strong support and reliable performance.

Docker is the heart of many AI tools that are used, and I have an AI workstation that uses Docker to package up certain capabilities for AI engineering.

Steven Lord

Chief Technology Officer at ML Cloud LLC

The best features that Docker on Ubuntu offers are container isolation, fast startup time, portability, and strong integration with the Ubuntu Linux ecosystem, making it easy to package applications with their dependencies and run them consistently across systems.

Badal Shrivastav

Embedded Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree

Docker on Ubuntu has positively impacted my organization by making our CI/CD pipeline faster because of the multi-stage build, multi-arch build, and the strategy of layering.

Manas Kashyap

Senior Dev Ops Engineer at 11 East Capital

For more quotes and insights, download the Docker on Ubuntu report

It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

There is also no downtime.

Siphosethu Ndebele

Linux/DevOps Engineer at Ekwantu Consulting

The operating system allows for the simple addition of kernels, modules, and other applications, making it highly adaptable to various needs.

reviewer2641572

Technical Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Categories and Ranking

Docker on Ubuntu

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

16th

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

5.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

1st

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

431

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Docker on Ubuntu is 0.6%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 7.1%, down from 9.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	7.1%
Docker on Ubuntu	0.6%
Other	92.3%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

AnilKumar13

Devops Engineer at EDAG

Containerization has streamlined testing workflows and reduces server resources for our builds

The best features that Docker on Ubuntu offers in my experience are ease of usability and performance. Ease of usability and performance with Docker on Ubuntu have helped me because Ubuntu is a Debian-based OS that can operate in both server and desktop modes, so when using Docker on Ubuntu on a server base, I need to install a few packages to convert the machine to GUI mode, making Docker on Ubuntu easy to use. While I think security is not a standout feature, ease of usability and performance remain the main highlights for me since it's only environment-specific and involves local testing along with monitoring only internal servers. Docker on Ubuntu has positively impacted my organization through resource savings, as for our NOC server, we are using a dedicated 30-core server with 256 GB of RAM, but with the help of Docker on Ubuntu, we can run multiple containers on the same server. In terms of resource savings, we reduced the number of servers from around 100 to 70 after using Docker on Ubuntu within our private cloud, where we have numerous servers located in multiple locations in the US.

Read full review

Gowtham Chettikam

Vice President at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Automation has transformed daily operations and supports secure, continuous infrastructure

When considering improvements to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I see one primary area. Within your portal, if you provided more study material along with demonstrations similar to the sessions we are attending, which feature a user-friendly guide, you could incorporate this into your Red Hat console. When I want to install an agent or something else, typing in the console should provide me with clear step-by-step instructions. Throughout the years, installation steps have been available, but regarding AI agents or Ansible automation, I need to verify whether clear information exists. Including this information would be beneficial. Additionally, if you add the sessions that have occurred to your portal or another location, this would help us review them multiple times to gain better understanding. Time is limited, and many sessions occur simultaneously, making it impossible to attend everything. Making these sessions available on your website would be very helpful.

Read full review

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Comparison Review

it_user281973

Storage and VMware Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

Aug 24, 2017

It's improved our company's system environments that run Oracle databases.

Red Hat is mission critical to our environment Red Hat has improved the mission critical environments running Oracle databases, while CentOS has improved our web environment and MySQL. Oracle and SAP Environment and all HPC environments. 10 years No issues Very stable i don´t find any problem…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

24%

Construction Company

22%

Comms Service Provider

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	10

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	92
Midsize Enterprise	50
Large Enterprise	307

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Docker on Ubuntu?

One area where Docker on Ubuntu can be improved is networking, as sometimes the containers don't have network access or experience network-related issues, which definitely needs to be addressed. Ot...

What is your primary use case for Docker on Ubuntu?

My main use case for Docker on Ubuntu is that I'm working at a product-based company that has its own app, so we have to check and deploy this app on a containerized base system using Ubuntu as a b...

What advice do you have for others considering Docker on Ubuntu?

I would rate Docker on Ubuntu an eight overall. I chose 8 out of 10 because Docker includes a service and a daemon that require specific configurations, similar to other services such as httpd; it'...

Which would you choose - RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) or CentOS?

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is fantastic. It is an inexpensive solution that has excellent security, performance, and stability, and also lots of features. I specifically like that the solution has fe...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

My experience with the pricing, the setup cost, and the licensing of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has been pretty good. I have no complaints.

What needs improvement with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

I've never really thought about how Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) could be improved, but the only thing I wish they had that I've asked Red Hat for so far is something resembling managed service ...

Fedora Linux vs Docker on Ubuntu

Comparisons

Compared 39% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Docker on Ubuntu

Compared 27% of the time

Amazon Linux AMI vs Docker on Ubuntu

Compared 9% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Docker on Ubuntu

Compared 9% of the time

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SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 10% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

Windows Server vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 7% of the time

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Competitors

Product Reports

Download Docker on Ubuntu product report

Docker on Ubuntu

May 2026

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

May 2026

Download Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) product report

Also Known As

No data available

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for AWS

Overview

Docker on Ubuntu provides powerful solutions for containerization with features like portability and ease of deployment. It integrates seamlessly with CI pipelines, optimizing application delivery. The platform simplifies microservices management and aligns well with diverse tech stacks due to its strong compatibility with Ubuntu.

Docker on Ubuntu stands out for its ability to streamline the deployment process across different environments. It facilitates containerization, ensuring resource isolation and stability. Its integration with continuous delivery systems accelerates application updates, reducing deployment time significantly. While the command line can be challenging for some, Docker's setup is straightforward, supporting developers in managing microservices efficiently. The platform manages multiple operating systems effectively, boosting productivity. Compatibility with Ubuntu enhances flexibility, supports tech stack diversity, and lowers infrastructure costs. Despite networking challenges in Kubernetes clusters, Docker remains a go-to for web app development, scaling, and cloud integration.

What are the essential features of Docker on Ubuntu?

Portability: Streamlines operations across different operating systems, enhancing consistency.
Integration: Seamlessly fits with CI/CD pipelines to improve application delivery.
Microservices Support: Simplifies microservices containerization, ensuring stability across environments.
Resource Isolation: Maintains stability by isolating containers, preventing interference between applications.
Ubuntu Compatibility: Supports diverse tech stacks with robust integration for Linux-based systems.

What benefits should users consider when evaluating Docker on Ubuntu?

Productivity: Improves deployment speed with streamlined processes, enhancing efficiency.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces infrastructure expenses through effective resource utilization.
Scalability: Supports seamless scalability, accommodating growing application demands.
Infrastructure Compatibility: Ensures smooth integration within existing Linux-based ecosystems.
Support: Broad community and vendor support for troubleshooting and development needs.

Docker on Ubuntu is widely adopted for automating deployments and enhancing efficiency in industries such as financial services, e-commerce, and software development. It allows organizations to rapidly develop and deploy scalable applications while optimizing cloud resource usage. Its cost-effectiveness and compatibility make it attractive, especially for enterprises focusing on automation and collaborative development within Linux ecosystems.

Supported Images

Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers stability, security, and support for mission-critical applications with robust tools and scalable architecture, ideal for diverse environments and hybrid cloud compatibility.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides organizations with a reliable platform ideal for high-performance computing and virtualization. Known for its robust security and seamless network administration, it integrates well with OpenShift and Ansible, ensuring adaptability and scalability. Despite challenges with documentation, upgrade complexity, and cost, RHEL remains a formidable choice thanks to its comprehensive documentation and extensive community support.

What are the key features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Stability and Security: Maintains high stability and advanced security measures, critical for enterprise environments.
Extensive Support: Offers robust support through community and documentation, assisting with problem-solving and integration.
Automation with Ansible: Simplifies tasks and enhances efficiency, optimizing operations across the infrastructure.
Hybrid Cloud Compatibility: Supports cloud environments, enabling flexibility and strategic deployments.
Scalable Architecture: Adapts to different workloads, making it suitable for growing organizational demands.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Reliable Performance: Ensures consistent and secure operations across diverse environments, including cloud infrastructure.
Efficient Management: Centralized operations make it easy to manage enterprise workloads effectively.
Community and Documentation: Access to a strong community and comprehensive documentation aids in resolving issues.
Integration Capabilities: Easily integrates with technologies like OpenShift and SAP, enhancing operational versatility.
Adaptability: Supports a wide range of environments and technical requirements, improving strategic deployment.

Organizations across industries like financial services, telecommunications, and application hosting implement Red Hat Enterprise Linux for server and application management. Its compatibility with technologies such as SAP, Oracle, and Ansible supports functions including web, database, and enterprise solutions, ensuring stable and secure performance in high-pressure environments.

Red Hat

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Travel Channel, Mohawk Industries, Hilti, Molecular Health, Exolgan, Hotelplan Group, Emory University, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, HCA Healthcare, Paychex, UPS, Intermountain Healthcare, Brinker International, TransUnion, Union Bank, CA Technologies