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Ubuntu Linux vs Windows 11 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
6.6
Organizations achieve substantial savings and increased productivity with Ubuntu Linux, highlighting its cost-effectiveness, stability, and strong ROI.
Sentiment score
5.1
Windows 11 offers user-friendliness, stability, and cost-effective upgrades, enhancing efficiency and ROI for many companies.
It has definitely saved time and generated a return on investment as well.
Presales Engineer at Crayon AS
I believe we have seen a return on investment from using Windows 11 since our company is primarily a software house where most costs stem from salaries and licenses.
Software Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.5
Ubuntu's extensive online community and resources reduce the need for paid support, though it's effective for urgent issues.
Sentiment score
5.2
Windows 11 support experiences vary, with some appreciating efficient assistance and others encountering delays or using internal resources.
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
The technical support team’s response time is very slow.
Senior Technical Manager at Peristent Systems
We have an internal team that supports all the Microsoft issues within the system.
Chief Executive Officer at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.2
Ubuntu Linux is praised for scalable adaptability in cloud and on-premises setups, supporting diverse industries with flexible architecture.
Sentiment score
6.3
Windows 11 offers scalable solutions for enterprises, excelling in vertical scaling while requiring Windows Server for horizontal expansion.
The beauty of this hybrid approach is that because everything runs Ubuntu Linux, we have consistency across all environments.
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
In a server environment, it can seamlessly adapt to increased customer demand.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
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.
Associate Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
We faced challenges integrating it in multi-app environments, requiring complex API setups.
Associate Vice President at Rishabh Software
The solution's scalability is good because it allows you to run a large number of virtual machines.
Senior Technical Manager at Peristent Systems
It scales well vertically, so a single machine can be very powerful without reaching its limits.
Software Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Ubuntu Linux is praised for its stability and reliability, though some issues occur with virtual machines or new hardware integration.
Sentiment score
6.7
Windows 11 is praised for stability and performance, though some users face update issues and prefer Windows 10.
The system has been completely stable, which makes it deserve a perfect score.
BA at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Ubuntu Linux is extremely stable and maintains uptime effectively.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
Our servers continuously run, and we rarely ever have to restart them due to a crash or system failure.
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
The solution's high level of stability ensures that the machine doesn't go down multiple times.
Senior Technical Manager at Peristent Systems
The stability can be influenced by the status and specifications of our company PCs.
IT Specialist at EMA
Regarding stability, I would say the Slack issue which I found; other than that, I think all of the other things are pretty smooth.
S QA Engineer at 7Vals
 

Room For Improvement

Users seek improved Windows compatibility, user-friendliness, business app support, and better documentation, GUI, security, and integration for Ubuntu Linux.
Windows 11 needs better integration, security, performance, and AI features while addressing stability, compatibility, and cost issues.
There is a push towards integrating AI into software for various purposes like video and sound processing.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
Another thing is enterprise solution integration. Some enterprise tools that businesses commonly use, such as certain ERP systems or CRM platforms, either do not have a Linux version, or their Linux versions are not as feature-rich or well-maintained as the Windows counterparts.
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Stability issues occur when integrating new components due to physical or technical challenges.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
For a better experience, Windows 11 should be improved to take fewer resources.
Delivery Manager at Ford Motor Company
The needed improvements in Windows 11 include that the Copilot integration needs a better user interface experience with rich features, alongside making a very simple UI experience as well.
Presales Engineer at Crayon AS
It still feels more oriented toward consumer use rather than enterprise use, and the company is forced to maintain extensive backward compatibility, which creates technical debt.
Software Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
 

Setup Cost

Ubuntu Linux offers a cost-effective, open-source OS with free basic use, optional paid enterprise support, and scalable solutions.
Enterprise feedback on Windows 11 pricing varies, with opinions split between seeing it as costly and reasonably priced.
For an enterprise-wide scalable operating system with professional services, you can select Ubuntu Linux at a reasonable price.
Owner at a computer software company with 1-10 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 have a university license, so I do not pay anything for Windows 11.
Associate Professor at a educational organization with 501-1,000 employees
The licensing is expensive, but it's value for money.
Associate Vice President at Rishabh Software
We use a cracked version of Windows, so there are no licensing costs.
IT Specialist at EMA
 

Valuable Features

Ubuntu Linux is stable, secure, easy to install, cost-effective, highly customizable, and ideal for developers and enterprises.
Windows 11 enhances productivity with features like snap layouts, improved security, seamless multitasking, and development tools integration.
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
The solution is fast, doesn't get hung, and minimizes operational issues, which improves the end user's productivity.
Senior Technical Manager at Peristent Systems
We use it for the validation of our data and code, or even code generation.
VP & GM, Client Storage at Micron Technology
It has good security features, providing strong protection against platform viruses and vulnerabilities, which secures my resources.
IT Specialist at EMA
 

Categories and Ranking

Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
152
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
Windows 11
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
6th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.1
Number of Reviews
52
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 8.0%, down from 12.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 11 is 7.6%, up from 6.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Ubuntu Linux8.0%
Windows 117.6%
Other84.4%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Garima Vyas Purohit - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Unified environments have streamlined our development workflows and reduced deployment issues
There are a few areas where I think Ubuntu Linux could be improved. The first one is hardware compatibility. Sometimes when we get a new machine, certain hardware like Wi-Fi cards, graphics cards, or printers do not work straight away out of the box. You have to manually find and install drivers, which can be frustrating, especially for people who are not very technical. Another area is the graphical user interface, or GUI, and desktop experience. While Ubuntu Linux has improved a lot in this area, it still does not feel as polished or as smooth as Windows or macOS for non-technical users. If Ubuntu Linux wants to attract more everyday users, that is an area they need to keep improving.On the software compatibility side, one of our biggest frustrations is that some industry-standard tools simply do not have native Linux versions. For example, tools such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and some specialized enterprise software just do not run natively on Ubuntu Linux. We have to use workarounds such as running Windows in a virtual machine or using a web-based alternative, which is not always ideal. Additionally, when it comes to vendor support, sometimes when we reach out to third-party software vendors for technical support, they do not officially support Linux. We are kind of on our own figuring things out. That can be really frustrating when you are dealing with a critical issue and the vendor just says they do not support Linux. Another thing is enterprise solution integration. Some enterprise tools that businesses commonly use, such as certain ERP systems or CRM platforms, either do not have a Linux version, or their Linux versions are not as feature-rich or well-maintained as the Windows counterparts.
Naveenkumar Lakshman - PeerSpot reviewer
Presales Engineer at Crayon AS
Daily work has become smoother and organized as I manage calls, notes, and files efficiently
The best features that Windows 11 offers in my opinion are Notepad++ and the integration, as I could use Microsoft 365 on it and I could also run many applications. If I want to use Linux, then I could use Windows Subsystem for Linux as well. Most of the industry-wide applications are easily installable on Windows 11 and user-friendly as well. Windows 11 has definitely impacted my organization positively because you could see that all the day-to-day activities, most of our professionals would use a Windows system itself. In terms of productivity, Windows 11 has made a positive difference as we use a mail inbox with its links and Microsoft Teams, which is available. Windows 11 is natively installable and very friendly with the compatible operating system, and alongside, we have other applications that are available. Edge browser, which is the default browser for Windows 11, is also a good browser and a very decent option. Additionally, we have other features available for the day-to-day activities. You can see it gives you a basic calendar, calculator, and camera options, and you have the File Explorer. You get a pretty decent operating system for a layman to work on a day-to-day basis. While there are certain tasks that consume a certain amount of time, Windows 11 reduces the time. The usability and architecture, how it is built, makes a user get into a state where they don't need to spend excessive effort on the task to be done. You can get everything through a UI-based interface, and everything is sorted and very simple. Over the period of time, the operating system evolution by Microsoft is good for the individual workspace.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
9%
Comms Service Provider
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business85
Midsize Enterprise22
Large Enterprise55
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business14
Midsize Enterprise12
Large Enterprise27
 

Questions from the Community

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?
There are a few areas where I think Ubuntu Linux could be improved. The first one is hardware compatibility. Sometimes when we get a new machine, certain hardware like Wi-Fi cards, graphics cards, ...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Windows 11?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Windows 11 is not something I can share, as I am not the one responsible for that; it falls to other colleagues in my company.
What needs improvement with Windows 11?
Until now, I have not paid much attention to the areas for improvement in Windows 11, but in the settings bar, I can say that in the notification center, which shifts and changes sometimes. Notific...
What is your primary use case for Windows 11?
From Windows 7, my use cases for Windows 11 feel quite similar to the Mac users because the toolbar and the bay at the bottom of the toolbar look similar to the MacBook. With how it is displayed on...
 

Also Known As

Ubuntu
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Ubuntu Linux vs. Windows 11 and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.
900,644 professionals have used our research since 2012.