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Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 16, 2025

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
7.0
Oracle Linux reduces costs, saves time, boosts productivity, and offers reliability with seamless Oracle tools integration, enhancing business efficiency.
Sentiment score
6.8
Ubuntu Linux is free, extends older equipment lifespan, and efficiently manages tasks, offering significant cost savings over licensed systems.
Everything from Oracle tools to applications is well integrated within Oracle Linux.
Our team is comfortable using Oracle Linux as it integrates well with Oracle tools, making everything work seamlessly.
In terms of outcomes or benefits I've seen over the last year, we have more than 30 servers, and we only need to reboot one server while all other servers continue working fine, resulting in very low downtime, which is very helpful.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.6
Oracle Linux's customer service is reliable and effective, though some users report high costs and slow first-level support.
Sentiment score
6.4
Ubuntu users typically rely on community resources for support, with paid users satisfied by responsive customer service.
Not all support engineers at Oracle are the same, so sometimes I experience good support that resolves issues quickly, while other times, it loops.
Oracle's technical support is excellent.
It is not as helpful or friendly as their application support.
They responded well, understood that the issue was not on my end, and provided a patch within two days.
The community around Ubuntu Linux is beneficial, providing answers to questions and assisting with issues.
Ubuntu Linux has a comprehensive knowledge base for self-help.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.7
Oracle Linux offers high scalability and adaptability, though careful planning is needed, especially for non-Oracle platforms and new processors.
Sentiment score
7.1
Ubuntu Linux is scalable and adaptable, effectively supporting various deployment sizes with proper hardware and technical expertise.
It handles device performance well, automatically managing any issues that arise.
Oracle should make the process faster, as we sometimes have to use a previous processor model to ensure compatibility.
New processor models sometimes lack immediate compatibility with Oracle Linux, requiring the use of previous models until support is available.
In a server environment, it can seamlessly adapt to increased customer demand.
Any Linux is scalable in terms of capacity, and on a day-to-day basis, we use scalability options with the help of Kubernetes clusters.
So far, I do not have any issues related to security in Ubuntu Linux.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.7
Oracle Linux is praised for its stability and reliability, making it ideal for enterprise environments with minimal bugs.
Sentiment score
7.8
Ubuntu Linux is praised for stability, especially LTS versions, despite occasional concerns with specific environments or newer hardware.
Testing determines stability, as continuous Linux use and installations reveal more bugs.
Oracle Linux is very stable.
Our environment is locally deployed, and there are no performance issues or latency problems.
The system has been completely stable, which makes it deserve a perfect score.
Ubuntu Linux is extremely stable and maintains uptime effectively.
Ubuntu Linux is generally stable, though there can be occasional issues with new hardware integration.
 

Room For Improvement

Oracle Linux needs faster updates, better compatibility, improved usability, streamlined installation, enhanced documentation, and increased vendor certification.
Ubuntu Linux needs better Windows compatibility, user-friendliness, robust tools, support, and marketing to improve integration and reach.
Having a user interface would make tasks easier, saving time by avoiding the need to remember command-line instructions.
There are significant limitations as we are not able to customize the system, and we are forced to use standard features which are not suitable for our business.
Oracle Linux's outage management can be improved to better handle outages.
There is a push towards integrating AI into software for various purposes like video and sound processing.
Stability issues occur when integrating new components due to physical or technical challenges.
Unlike CentOS, Ubuntu Linux lacks an easily accessible inbuilt repository where dependencies or packages are easily found.
 

Setup Cost

Oracle Linux provides a free product with optional paid support, often more affordable than competitors, offering flexible licensing options.
Ubuntu Linux is an open-source, cost-effective operating system favored by enterprises, with minimal setup costs and optional paid support.
While ERP might be expensive, Oracle Linux and KVMs are not on the higher side.
The cost of Microsoft OS is pretty high, and switching to Oracle Linux, which is free, reduced our costs by about 20% to 25%.
Oracle Linux is affordable.
For an enterprise-wide scalable operating system with professional services, you can select Ubuntu Linux at a reasonable price.
The setup cost is free.
Ubuntu Linux is open-source, leading to cost savings through its free availability.
 

Valuable Features

Oracle Linux offers performance optimization, zero-downtime updates, robust security, and seamless Oracle Database integration with cost-effective alternatives.
Ubuntu Linux provides security, performance, customization, and ease of use, making it ideal for beginners and enterprises.
Since it's from the same vendor as Oracle applications, it's easier to manage issues, making not just the solution cost-effective but also streamlined in management.
The updates are applied instantly once a CVE is identified, which makes it highly beneficial.
Oracle Linux provides fast updates, and the best aspect is that we can update our server without interrupting our service, which is very important for business continuity.
Ubuntu Linux's open-source nature supports community contributions, bolstering its development and support ecosystem.
Ubuntu Linux supports remote troubleshooting via SSH, allowing connection from anywhere, which is beneficial for troubleshooting server issues.
In terms of security, I am satisfied with Ubuntu Linux and I can rely on its security features more than I can with Windows.
 

Categories and Ranking

Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
122
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
150
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Oracle Linux is 7.4%, down from 15.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 11.5%, down from 18.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Ubuntu Linux11.5%
Oracle Linux7.4%
Other81.1%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Q&A Highlights

NC
Nov 23, 2021
 

Featured Reviews

Badhon Islam - PeerSpot reviewer
Has improved security and reduced downtime through built-in tools and a reliable kernel
In my experience, the best features Oracle Linux offers include its unbreakable kernel system and security, along with reliability and stability. The unbreakable kernel and the security features stand out for me because, in big data, anyone from outside cannot break my kernel, and we have a lot of inbuilt security, which has helped me with different things. Oracle Linux provides many more features that I need to consider further. Oracle Linux has positively impacted my organization because of its numerous features. It's a stable version that I use in an inter-cloud network, so I don't need to regularly update anything, and I don't need to expose my OS to the outside world, making this very positive.
Salim Ahmed - PeerSpot reviewer
Has supported secure application hosting and reliable server management
I find the GUI to be good in Ubuntu Linux, and I appreciate the open SSH. The fact that it is free since it is open and open-source is why I appreciate it and feel it is secured. We have multiple different kinds of support related to Ubuntu Linux, including official support and other options. I am currently using laptops, desktops, and servers, and Ubuntu Linux supports all these devices. If I need it for Raspberry Pi or something similar, I can download another Linux distribution. Ubuntu Linux is scalable, especially for servers. We prefer using Ubuntu Linux Servers rather than Windows. The biggest advantage of Ubuntu Linux for me is that it is open-source, secured, and scalable.
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Answers from the Community

NC
Nov 23, 2021
Nov 23, 2021
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very appealing GUI that makes it very easy for users coming from a Windows ecosystem to understand. Ubuntu Linux makes for a really great, soft introduction to Linux. Ubuntu Linux has some very demanding syst...
See 2 answers
Nov 22, 2021
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very appealing GUI that makes it very easy for users coming from a Windows ecosystem to understand. Ubuntu Linux makes for a really great, soft introduction to Linux. Ubuntu Linux has some very demanding system requirements, though. There are many software applications that Ubuntu Linux does not support, which makes some collaborations difficult. It also has some reliability issues and can be a bit buggy. Oracle Linux is flexible, robust, reliable, and scales easily. Of the many offered features, we like Ksplice best, as it allows us to update the Kernal without a reboot. Oracle Linux offers regular updates and patches which help support great security. The GUI on Oracle Linux is not very attractive. The download speed is not good, and they could also improve their server capacity. Oracle Linux needs better integrations. It only works with Oracle products. It can also be a bit expensive to use. Conclusion: Ubunto is an African word that means “humanity to others” and also represents the expression “I am who I am because of who we all are.” Ubuntu Linux takes this meaning very seriously. It is free (they plan to keep it that way forever) and is very user-friendly, especially when compared to other Linux distributions, and offers excellent community support. If you are new to the Linux ecosystem, Ubunto Linux is a great place to start. Oracle Linux is very flexible and secure and is the best choice for enterprises already running on Oracle or planning to migrate to Oracle solutions.
Syed Abid  - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 23, 2021
Oracle Linux is an Enterprise product with Server level features. Ubuntu is a Desktop platform not a mature product. only for small business developers applications. not much stable as oracle Linux. if you to run 3rd party server software Oracle Linux usually have better support than Ubuntu. Oracle Linux is a corporate world, But Ubuntu try to fill this gap but still lack of technology stack in server world
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
10%
University
10%
Educational Organization
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business40
Midsize Enterprise17
Large Enterprise70
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business83
Midsize Enterprise21
Large Enterprise53
 

Questions from the Community

How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?
My experience with the pricing for Ubuntu Linux is that I always use the free version, so I never paid for any installations or support.
What needs improvement with Ubuntu Linux?
I always use just the LTS versions of Ubuntu Linux, but I found recently some software that needs the 20.04 version, which is out of the support lifecycle, and those systems are needed by us, causi...
 

Also Known As

Oracle Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

See here
Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.
869,785 professionals have used our research since 2012.