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SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 3, 2025

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

SUSE Linux Enterprise
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
32
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 July 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 6.9%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 12.5%, down from 20.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Naveen Venugopal - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient IT management with crucial automatic updates but needs developer-friendly configuration
Sometimes it is a bit of work for developers to change the configurations. Some kernels will not fit with some packages, and this aspect could be improved. Furthermore, the system's rigidity when updating packages and services needs improvement. Additionally, there should be more loosely bound functionalities to improve developer experience.
PrashantSharma - PeerSpot reviewer
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.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"From a functionality perspective, the suite is quite rich. We like that."
"The initial setup for most modern Linux distributions is normally straightforward. Most of the common distributions use an ncurses or GUI install."
"The solution is easy to use, secure and allows for simple manipulation."
"Some of the functionalities I like the most are the security features. This includes security restrictions on specific folders and secure communication for SFTP. These features are more secure and reliable. The tool also makes compliance possible."
"Out-of-the-box SLES supported all of our HBAs and hardware specific components."
"SUSE Linux had a clean user interface, which was a valuable feature for me."
"The initial setup is very straightforward."
"The most valuable feature is that there is an inbuilt HANA firewall."
"The solution is stable, fast and free."
"The initial setup is very easy."
"It's faster than Windows."
"More people should use this solution."
"The solution is scalable, it is open-source, and can be developed. You are able to install it on many different systems."
"The solution is more secure than competitors such as Microsoft Windows."
"There is value in the long-time supported distribution LPS."
"It is stable and quite easy to use as compared to other Linux operating systems. They have created a system like Windows. It is simple and without any problems."
 

Cons

"They should improve their educational portal."
"The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu."
"All distributions of Linux could use some improvement."
"In the next release it would be nice to see more integration and better automation of processses."
"When working in a Department of Defense environment, Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) have to be followed. SLES is not really addressed directly here. It did make following security policy difficult."
"I don't like the frequency of updates, especially if they're only from the vendor."
"They should provide chatbot support for customers to open the troubleshooting cases directly."
"Compared with the competition, of late actually, the solution has increased its pricing tremendously."
"The product could be compatible with Microsoft."
"In general, Windows is easier to use and friendlier to deal with than Ubuntu."
"People with a Windows background may not find the solution's user interface user-friendly."
"The product should provide more automation."
"The product must provide integrated security solutions."
"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, causing a problem when I tried to upgrade. The systems stopped working and it was a disaster, as they support the LTS but the old ones, and when I need to update some packages, they are out of the support system support cycle."
"There are some drivers that are not there encoded, however, I thought that was pretty normal. They could be more comprehensive."
"The solution must provide more integrations."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could be cheaper. Other solutions, such as"
"I would advise others to download the free or strictly open source versions, then test them in their environment before committing to a purchase. This will allow for testing suitability for applications that they want to run."
"Regarding pricing, everybody would want it to be cheaper."
"SUSE Linux Enterprise is reasonably priced compared to other operating systems. I find it's a much better option for us than Oracle, for example, because of the pricing structure. The pricing is easier to explain to clients and makes it easier to get clients' commitment. The licensing is also simpler to manage and keep track of. Their responsiveness is great - they give feedback very quickly when we ask questions about licensing or other aspects. This helps ensure we're always at the gold standard regarding licensing and everything related to SUSE Linux Enterprise."
"As far as licensing goes, there is nothing unusual here. The price and model have worked fine for my organization."
"When we first implemented this product, we had licenses for support."
"The tool is expensive compared to Red Hat. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."
"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."
"Ubuntu Linux is more affordable than its competitors."
"​Old equipment works for at least two or three years more, which means a significant savings.​"
"Ubuntu Linux has a free version, especially if you don't require support."
"The use of the solution is inexpensive and the hardware it needs to operate can be priced very low. There is not a license for the solution but there is for the hardware."
"It is not a very expensive solution."
"It is open source, so it is free. There is no licensing fee."
"The product is cheap compared to Windows."
"It is free."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
13%
University
10%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about SUSE Linux Enterprise?
The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SUSE Linux Enterprise?
I used the open-source version, so there were no setup costs.
What needs improvement with SUSE Linux Enterprise?
The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu. The software manager was different, making it challenging to install certain applications. Additionally, I encounter...
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?
The cost is not much, and I am not sure about the licensing cost because a separate team handles it.
 

Also Known As

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Air India, Akademicki Szpital Kliniczny (ASK), Allone, Altran, Apollo, ARCHIVA, Asia Innovatory Management School, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, AutoData Norge AS, Baldor Electric, Business Connexion, CASIO, Ciclum Farma, Delta Lloyd, Edumate , HPE,  SAP SE,  Lenovo, BMW, T-Systems, UCX, Turners & Growers, Shenzhen Development Bank, Bosch Group, JK Tyres & Industries, IOCL, European Space Agency, Daimler AG, China Minsheng Banking Corp, Café Coffee Day, Unisys,  Petrochina Company Ltd, Fitch Ratings, ABeam Consulting Co Ltd, Tyro Payments, Rackspace, Pacific Textiles, ...
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 SUSE Linux Enterprise vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
860,168 professionals have used our research since 2012.