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Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 25, 2026

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
6.3
Red Hat Enterprise Linux boosts efficiency and reduces downtime, offering reliability, strong support, automation, and cost savings for organizations.
Sentiment score
6.6
Organizations achieve substantial savings and increased productivity with Ubuntu Linux, highlighting its cost-effectiveness, stability, and strong ROI.
A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.
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.
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.
Associate Director at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.3
Red Hat Enterprise Linux support is praised for its knowledgeable team, strong escalation process, and extensive, helpful knowledge base.
Sentiment score
6.5
Ubuntu's extensive online community and resources reduce the need for paid support, though it's effective for urgent issues.
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.
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.
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.
Team manager at Evertec
They responded well, understood that the issue was not on my end, and provided a patch within two days.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
The community around Ubuntu Linux is beneficial, providing answers to questions and assisting with issues.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Ubuntu Linux has a comprehensive knowledge base for self-help.
Techincal Support Engineer at Ibits Tech Solutions
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is valued for its scalability, reliability, and adaptability across diverse environments, despite potential cost concerns.
Sentiment score
7.2
Ubuntu Linux is praised for scalable adaptability in cloud and on-premises setups, supporting diverse industries with flexible architecture.
Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.
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.
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.
Cloud Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
In a server environment, it can seamlessly adapt to increased customer demand.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
From my perspective as a user, I would rate Linux at eight points for its high scalability and greater relevance and advantage in terms of adherence, cost-saving, desktop compatibility, cloud server dominance, and wide industry adoption.
Sr. Associate Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers high stability and reliability with minimal downtime and prompt support, suitable for critical applications.
Sentiment score
7.9
Ubuntu Linux is praised for its stability and reliability, though some issues occur with virtual machines or new hardware integration.
It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.
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.
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.
Team Lead, Linux Systems & Tools at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees
Ubuntu Linux is extremely stable and maintains uptime effectively.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
Ubuntu Linux is generally stable, though there can be occasional issues with new hardware integration.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Ubuntu Linux is very stable.
Product Assistant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Enhancing Red Hat includes better CLI, installation, pricing, AI features, compatibility, security updates, and user support.
Users seek improved Windows compatibility, user-friendliness, business app support, and better documentation, GUI, security, and integration for Ubuntu Linux.
Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.
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.
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.
Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
There is a push towards integrating AI into software for various purposes like video and sound processing.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
Stability issues occur when integrating new components due to physical or technical challenges.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Unlike CentOS, Ubuntu Linux lacks an easily accessible inbuilt repository where dependencies or packages are easily found.
Techincal Support Engineer at Ibits Tech Solutions
 

Setup Cost

RHEL pricing suits large enterprises with robust support, but smaller businesses find it costly despite flexible cloud scaling options.
Ubuntu Linux offers a cost-effective, open-source OS with free basic use, optional paid enterprise support, and scalable solutions.
It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.
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.
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.
Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
The setup cost is free.
Head of mission at CapHornier
Ubuntu Linux is open-source, leading to cost savings through its free availability.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
I always use the free version, so I never paid for any installations or support.
Systems Engineering - SigFox Paraguay at TEISA
 

Valuable Features

RHEL offers robust security, stability, and automation, ideal for enterprises managing hybrid infrastructures with efficiency and reliability.
Ubuntu Linux is stable, secure, easy to install, cost-effective, highly customizable, and ideal for developers and enterprises.
It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
There is also no downtime.
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.
Technical Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Ubuntu Linux's open-source nature supports community contributions, bolstering its development and support ecosystem.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Ubuntu Linux supports remote troubleshooting via SSH, allowing connection from anywhere, which is beneficial for troubleshooting server issues.
Techincal Support Engineer at Ibits Tech Solutions
In terms of security, I am satisfied with Ubuntu Linux and I can rely on its security features more than I can with Windows.
Solution Architect at TB
 

Categories and Ranking

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
1st
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
433
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
7.3
Number of Reviews
146
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 6.9%, down from 9.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 8.1%, down from 12.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)6.9%
Ubuntu Linux8.1%
Other85.0%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

CC
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.
reviewer2816721 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr. Associate Consultant at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Hosting websites and databases has become cost‑effective and supports long‑term cloud growth
The best feature of Ubuntu Linux is that it serves as a base for private cloud and public cloud VMs for AWS. It is very useful to use Ubuntu Linux with its GUI-based and CLI modes; the commands are very lightweight, and it is much more feasible for me with its long-term support. Ubuntu Linux provides business advisory consultancy for business purposes and enables the smooth running of my website hosting to meet all business purposes. My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is good because I am using the freeware version.
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908,834 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Comparison Review

it_user281973 - PeerSpot reviewer
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…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
7%
Construction Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
University
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business93
Midsize Enterprise49
Large Enterprise310
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business85
Midsize Enterprise22
Large Enterprise54
 

Questions from the Community

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)?
I would rate the price for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) quite high because in my part of the world, payments are made in dollars, and buying Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) comes at a significan...
What needs improvement with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) can improve the pricing a little bit, but nothing else comes to mind.
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 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?
The user experience on Ubuntu Linux is very good, so I believe there is no need for improvement.
 

Also Known As

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

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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
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 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.
908,834 professionals have used our research since 2012.