Rocky Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

Rocky Linux and Canonical are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Rocky Linux is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6, while Canonical is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.9. Rocky Linux holds a 14.3% mindshare in OSB, compared to Canonical’s 11.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Rocky Linux users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Canonical users who would recommend it.

Rocky Linux

Read 10 Rocky Linux reviews

12,000 Views
12,000 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Ubuntu Linux

Read 149 Ubuntu Linux reviews

13,939 Views
13,660 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Rocky Linux

Ubuntu Linux

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 16, 2025

Ubuntu Linux and Rocky Linux compete in the enterprise and server operating system category. Ubuntu holds an edge with its strong community support and flexibility, offering a broad software ecosystem and regular updates.

Features: Ubuntu Linux provides comprehensive features such as a vast software repository, advanced security models, and outstanding hardware support. It caters to both desktop and server environments, offering high flexibility and a large development community which enhances its functionality. Rocky Linux focuses on stability, offering a reliable long-term support model and maintaining high compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, appealing to businesses requiring consistency across deployments.

Room for Improvement: Ubuntu Linux could improve server support features more in line with enterprise needs, offer better integration with certain enterprise applications, and simplify complex deployment tasks for newcomers. Rocky Linux can benefit from extending its community support base, enhancing documentation to facilitate ease of use, and expanding its ecosystem of third-party applications to increase versatility.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Ubuntu Linux offers an accessible installation process supported by extensive community and professional resources, easing deployment. Its well-documented resources enhance the user-friendly deployment model. Rocky Linux, while still maturing, aligns its deployment strategies closely with RHEL, providing straightforward integration for enterprises transitioning from CentOS.

Pricing and ROI: Ubuntu Linux operates under a cost-effective model with optional paid support, enabling a flexible ROI strategy balancing free and enterprise support investments. The cost structure is competitive, offering scalability options. Rocky Linux, inherently open-source, doesn't require subscription fees, although enterprises can opt for paid support options to enhance ROI. Pricing strategies are aligned with stability and enterprise needs, offering a cost-efficient alternative with a focus on long-term consistency and reliability.

To learn more, read our detailed Rocky Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux

September 2025

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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:

Categories and Ranking

Rocky Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

4th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.3

Number of Reviews

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

149

Ranking in other categories

OpenStack (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Rocky Linux is 14.3%, up from 12.2% 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
Product	Market Share (%)
Ubuntu Linux	11.5%
Rocky Linux	14.3%
Other	74.2%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Massimiliano Adamo

Linux architect at European Commission

Has supported seamless migrations and enabled running complex data workloads securely

The best features Rocky Linux offers include clustering and all the packages from Red Hat.Rocky Linux has impacted my organization very positively because we migrated everything from CentOS and Windows servers to Rocky Linux. Everything is clear, with good packaging, and now it's version 9.6, which is very important for us due to security problems since we are in Europe. Rocky Linux is very good for security and other aspects. Since migrating to Rocky Linux, I've seen specific outcomes such as improved security because CentOS stopped the project, and security patches aren't being released. We need to maintain a system similar to Red Hat, which is very stable and has many features such as file system, topology, and containers.

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PrashantSharma

BA at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

Performs efficiently but requires overcoming a learning curve

There are many differences between Ubuntu Linux and Windows as they are totally different systems. You need to have more knowledge about Linux before using Ubuntu Linux. Although it is designed as a desktop system, basic knowledge is still required. Windows can be used by any layman, which is the main difference. I do not know much about security breaches or potential issues. The Wi-Fi and wireless capabilities work perfectly fine. Excluding the learning curve, I would rate it a 10. However, considering the learning curve, I would give it a six or seven. My advice would be to have patience. Overall rating: 10 out of 10.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Rocky Linux provides us with extended maintenance, security patches, and support lifecycle aligned with RHEL, making it highly reliable for critical systems."

"It helps us keep our workstations in sync and ensures consistent settings across most of our machines."

"The solution is free and open source."

"I haven't needed to use customer service or support, which speaks volumes about their product's reliability and ease of use."

"In my opinion, the best features Rocky Linux offers are stability, compatibility, and community support, all of which I think are extremely necessary and essential for the distribution, and I find that all three pillars are very supported by Rocky Linux."

"It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are."

"The custom install scripts streamline the setup process, making it straightforward."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is its stability."

More Rocky Linux pros

"It is easy to use, performs great, and is stable and scalable."

"The most valuable features of Ubuntu Linux is the reliability, the ease of package management, and the ease of upgrading from one version to the next."

"The solution is user-friendly."

"Overall, I rate this solution ten out of ten."

"If there is a virus going into the network, it has to pass through an Ubuntu server, which can't be infected by the virus. So, there are less viruses on our systems."

"I like this product much better than some other similar solutions."

"Ubuntu Linux is developer-oriented."

"The solution provides good security."

More Ubuntu Linux pros

Cons

"I have certain problems with the tool's DNS part, making it an area where improvements are required."

"In terms of improvement, Rocky Linux needs to clarify its identity and target audience."

"The solution's audio integration for virtual machines could be improved."

"The package versions can be quite older compared to other distributions such as Ubuntu."

"One of the potential issues is that if you don't pay for support, you may need to manage certain aspects on your own and rely on the community for assistance."

"Improved integration with Windows, particularly Active Directory, would be beneficial for the product. Currently, this aspect requires additional effort."

"Rocky Linux could be improved by having more integration with Kubernetes."

"I see some performance-related issues, but we are still checking on that, and we don't know if it is related to the OS or the resource; that is something still to be checked from our end."

"The documentation is very poor."

"The support team is not good and needs to be improved. The user community is excellent and helpful, but some questions are unanswered. Also, stability and scalability could be improved."

"The user interface needs to be more user-friendly."

"At times, it can be complex when we are trying to integrate or when we are trying to set up some features."

"The solution has a bit of a learning curve. It's not too high, however, you do need to understand the solution to deploy it and work with it effectively."

"If the user interface were further improved then it would be better because more people would be able to use it."

"There are certain shortcomings related to the product's frequency of updates. From an improvement perspective, my company expects the solution to offer less frequent updates."

"Ubuntu Linux could improve by having better documentation because sometimes their documentation is not very good."

More Ubuntu Linux cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is expensive. I rate the pricing a three."

"Compared to the market prices of other tools, the solution has a very competitive pricing."

"The solution is open source and its use is included in the monthly fees we pay."

"Ubuntu Linux is free."

"The solution is free."

"Ubuntu Linux is free to use."

"We don't pay any fees."

"The solution is open source and we do not need to pay for a license."

"It's an open-source solution that can be used free of charge."

"Ubuntu Linux is free for personal use, including business use."

More Ubuntu Linux pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

University

11%

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

13%

University

10%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	83
Midsize Enterprise	20
Large Enterprise	53

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Rocky Linux?

It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Rocky Linux?

If I find something which is strong with virtualization with Rocky Linux, it's an alternative that I can study and spend time learning about, trying it, making tests, validating, and perhaps ultima...

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What is your primary use case for Rocky Linux?

I am responsible for virtualization and networking, and other services related to the systems including Linux and Windows, but the security part is actually the responsibility of the French team in...

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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...

See all answers

What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?

It has a good support system for loading databases.

See all answers

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.

See all answers

Comparisons

Fedora Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 26% of the time

Debian vs Rocky Linux

Compared 17% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 11% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Rocky Linux

Compared 7% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Rocky Linux

Compared 7% of the time

More Rocky Linux Competitors

Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 14% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 10% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 10% of the time

Windows Server vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 9% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 7% of the time

More Ubuntu Linux Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux

September 2025

Download Rocky Linux product report

Buyer's Guide

Ubuntu Linux

September 2025

Download Ubuntu Linux product report

Also Known As

No data available

Ubuntu

Overview

Rocky Linux is a robust and secure enterprise-grade operating system designed as a drop-in replacement for CentOS. Its primary use case is to provide a stable and reliable platform for organizations to run their critical workloads and applications.

The most valuable functionality of Rocky Linux lies in its compatibility with CentOS, ensuring a seamless transition for organizations already using CentOS. It offers long-term support, regular security updates, and a predictable release cycle, providing stability and reliability for mission-critical systems.

Rocky Linux helps organizations by offering a free and open-source alternative to CentOS, which was discontinued by Red Hat. It allows businesses to continue using their existing CentOS-based infrastructure without the need for costly migrations or vendor lock-in. With its strong community support and active development, Rocky Linux ensures a sustainable and community-driven future for CentOS users.

Moreover, Rocky Linux is built with security in mind, providing robust features like SELinux and secure defaults. This helps organizations protect their data and systems from potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Rocky Linux

Ubuntu Linux is an open-source platform known for its robust security, ease of use, and rapid performance. Its lightweight design and comprehensive support system make it ideal for diverse IT environments, providing seamless management and scalability options.

Ubuntu Linux stands out with its open-source nature that allows extensive customization and access to a broad range of free software. It is widely praised for its stability and a vast package repository offering regular updates, enhancing its usefulness across different sectors. The platform is equipped with a lightweight design and excellent community support, making it scalable and easy to manage. While it could improve in areas like Windows software compatibility and user interface refinement, its benefits in enterprise management and development projects are undeniable. Improved documentation, better hardware integration, and enhanced third-party application compatibility are additional focal points to consider.

What are the key features of Ubuntu Linux?

Robust Security: Offers strong security protocols to protect user data.
Rapid Performance: Delivers fast and efficient processing speeds.
Open-source Customization: Provides extensive customization options.
Vast Package Repository: Features frequent updates and diverse software choices.
Lightweight Design: Ensures optimal performance even on limited resources.
Community Support: Backed by excellent community resources for assistance.

What benefits should be considered from reviews?

Resource Efficiency: Efficient utilization of system resources for enhanced performance.
Development Flexibility: Supports a wide range of programming and development tasks.
Enterprise Compatibility: Suited for large-scale enterprise solutions and cloud computing.
Scalability: Capable of managing and scaling across different environments.
Troubleshooting Support: Comprehensive community support for troubleshooting issues.

Ubuntu Linux is prominently implemented in industries for tasks such as server management, application deployment, and software development. Its resource efficiency and open-source tool compatibility make it a favorite for programming, research, and cybersecurity. Companies frequently use it for web hosting, cloud services, and managing multi-user enterprise solutions.

Canonical

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux

September 2025

Free Report: Rocky Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux

Find out what your peers are saying about Rocky Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

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