Ubuntu Linux is an operating system and we use it for day-to-day operations.
Senior Cloud Architect and Team Lead at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Scalable, open-source, and quick installation
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is scalable, it is open-source, and can be developed. You are able to install it on many different systems."
- "Ubuntu Linux could improve by having more out-of-the-box functionality for common plug-and-play devices, such as printers. It's sometimes more difficult to plug-and-play printers with Ubuntu Linux. You need to work a bit and make some drivers work. They need to work a bit on plug-and-play devices."
What is our primary use case?
What needs improvement?
Ubuntu Linux could improve by having more out-of-the-box functionality for common plug-and-play devices, such as printers. It's sometimes more difficult to plug-and-play printers with Ubuntu Linux. You need to work a bit and make some drivers work. They need to work a bit on plug-and-play devices.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Ubuntu Linux for approximately a few years.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable, it is open-source, and can be developed. You are able to install it on many different systems.
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September 2025

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Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Debian and Microsoft Windows previously.
How was the initial setup?
The installation of the Ubuntu Linux tool is approximately 10 minutes.
What about the implementation team?
I did the implementation of the solution myself.
What other advice do I have?
I am very satisfied with Ubuntu Linux and I would recommend it to others.
I rate Ubuntu Linux a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

IP/MPLS Engineer at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
Secure and easy to deploy but there needs to easier to access online troubleshooting
Pros and Cons
- "It's great for security and it is very safe."
- "There aren't enough experts in my country to be able to help troubleshoot or to post answers to problems."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use it for our personal applications. We use it in our day-to-day work.
What is most valuable?
It's easy to deploy. We can deploy it whenever we want.
It's great to use with the Linux system. They work well together.
If you know what you want to program, they make it very easy to do so.
The solution is very stable. It's great for security and it is very safe.
The installation process is simple.
What needs improvement?
We don't have enough information about this system. When we run into problems, we'd like for it to be more clear what a valid solution might be. For example, if I try to deploy a certain technology, I have to look all over the internet to figure out how to accomplish this. There aren't enough experts in my country to be able to help troubleshoot or to post answers to problems. I'm not sure if there are enough domestic or regional experts who know enough about the solution.
The interface could be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used this solution for quite a long time. It's been more than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is quite stable. Its performance is good. There are no bugs or glitches. it doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I'm not sure if the product is scalable. I haven't attempted to scale it and therefore could not accurately comment on that aspect.
We have the solution in different departments and on different servers. In our department, maybe five or six people use it.
How are customer service and support?
We don't get technical support from people. If we need an answer to a problem, we need to seek it out online.
How was the initial setup?
I have found that the solution is
That said, it depends on the type of server that you are using. You need to ensure it has enough resources. The deployment is quick and we were able to do it in 30 minutes or so.
While we have a technical team of about 15 people in our department that can handle deployment and maintenance tasks, there are other departments and other people on different teams that can as well.
What about the implementation team?
I'm quite comfortable with the solution. I can handle the implementation process myself. I did not need the help of any integrators or consultants.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is free to use and free to explore. People can go ahead and discover it and experiment with it.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend the product to other users and other companies. It's a good solution in general.
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Ubuntu Linux
September 2025

Learn what your peers think about Ubuntu Linux. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: September 2025.
868,787 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Pre-sales Analyst at Algar Telecom
Dynamic solution with many applications and a user friendly interface
Pros and Cons
- "What makes Ubuntu easy to use is the large set of applications and the interface. The graphical interface is user friendly."
- "When installing software, an online interface has to be used and commands written to run the installation. The solution could be improved if it was possible to click twice in an icon for the installation process to begin."
What is most valuable?
What makes Ubuntu easy to use is the large set of applications and the interface. The graphical interface is user friendly.
What needs improvement?
When installing software, an online interface has to be used and commands written to run the installation. The solution could be improved if it was possible to click twice in an icon for the installation process to begin.
In the next release, I would like to be able to use Microsoft Office within Linux.
For how long have I used the solution?
.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Web Developer at doodleblue
Open-source, free of viruses, and easy to set up
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is free to use and open-source."
- "In general, Windows is easier to use and friendlier to deal with than Ubuntu."
What is our primary use case?
It's very helpful for development. I'm a software developer. Linux is very easy to install a couple of things from the terminal. We can do most of the things from the terminal. It's very useful, in terms of their application in the cloud server. We can install it in the server, in our community server. If I do something in my local machine in the terminal, I can do the same thing in the cloud server. That's why I'm using Linux Ubuntu.
A few years ago, maybe two years ago, we were affected by some kind of encryption virus, a malware virus. It affected most of the Windows system due to the fact that our system was connected with some LAN connection. However, the Linux-based systems were not affected as it's a different OS. In our office, we just removed the Windows thing and put everything over on the Linux OS.
What is most valuable?
It's stable.
The solution is free to use and open-source. There is no license needed, which is actually better, even though I like Windows.
Our cloud server's a Linux-based operating system. I need to deploy my software on our cloud server. I just use Linux on my local server. Whatever I do for my software in my local server, the same needs to happen in the cloud server. That part is easy. I can replicate that software in my cloud server. If I do it in Microsoft Windows in that local development, that is totally different from our cloud server. It will cause issues in our cloud server. That's why I am using Linux in my system.
Linux is virus-free.
The GUI in relation to the initial setup is very simple.
What needs improvement?
If you are in the middle of an update, and things are disrupted, it can cause issues. You need to wait for the update to complete before doing anything.
Windows we can handle by ourselves when it comes to troubleshooting, however, Ubuntu is a bit difficult. We need some other technical person to troubleshoot things for us. It's kind of difficult to maintain as compared to Windows.
In general, Windows is easier to use and friendlier to deal with than Ubuntu.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using the solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and does not get infected with viruses. It's very resilient and the performance is good. I haven't dealt with bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have about 150 people using the tool.
We do plan to increase usage in the future.
How are customer service and support?
Ubuntu has some community over the internet. There is an Ask Ubuntu community online. Whenever I have some problems, I can check through the website and get some solutions. Sometimes it can take a little longer to resolve things if the question doesn't have an answer online.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I'm also familiar with Windows. In many ways it is easier to use, however, it is more prone to viruses and malware, which can be an issue.
How was the initial setup?
This is an open tool. It's easy to install. From the GUI, we can just click next, next, next, and then install.
The process is very simple. It's not overly difficult.
In terms of maintenance and troubleshooting, we do require a more technical person.
What about the implementation team?
I can handle the initial setup myself. I do not need the assistance of any integrators or consultants.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is open-source. It doesn't cost anything to actually use it. You just download it from their website and you can start using it.
What other advice do I have?
Currently, I'm using Ubuntu 20 LTS, 20.04 long-term support.
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten. I tend to prefer Windows and would recommend it over Unbuntu.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Technical Content Writer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Safe and fast but needs a better user interface
Pros and Cons
- "It's offered as open-source, and therefore does not cost anything to use."
- "Linux does not provide a user-friendly interface."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution for running some applications and for various apps or software. It provides integration with operating systems.
What is most valuable?
The solution is stable.
The scalability is good.
In terms of deployment, it's a pretty quick process.
Ubuntu's safe and fast. People have migrated from Windows to Linux due to this.
It's offered as open-source, and therefore does not cost anything to use.
There is a strong community around it that can help with troubleshooting.
What needs improvement?
I don't have many technical insights about the product. I can't speak to what features are missing.
For user interfaces, there are other operating systems such as Windows and Mac that are more user-friendly. Linux does not provide a user-friendly interface.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using the solution for quite a while. It's been five years or so.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good overall. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's reliable. The performance is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution does not need to be scaled.
We have 30 to 35 users on the solution currently.
We might increase usage in the future. However, it's hard to say, as we have many Mac users as well. They would not migrate to Linux Ubuntu.
How are customer service and support?
We've never contacted technical support. It's open-source. There is a growing community around it. The tech support is only available through that community.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty straightforward. It's not too difficult or complex.
The deployment takes about 30 or 40 minutes. It's fairly quick.
What about the implementation team?
I can handle the implementation myself. I don't need the help of integrators or consultants.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is open-source. It's free to use. We don't have to pay for it.
What other advice do I have?
We're using the latest version of the solution.
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten.
This solution is ideal for people who want to build safer applications or if their goal is to quickly do their development. Those types of users should definitely try this system.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System Administrator at Maxar Technologies
You get most of the packages you need and all the latest updates very fast
Pros and Cons
- "Ubuntu is great because you get most of the packages or software you need. You get the latest updates and stuff fairly fast."
- "We don't have any support, so we search for answers online. However, it can sometimes be a little messy to find the information if you have a highly specific question or a strange problem. It would be nice if finding information were a little simpler. Maybe they could have some portal that could point you to where you can find information."
What is our primary use case?
We use Ubuntu Linux for software development to create a desktop environment for our developers, and we also have some VMs running Ubuntu-based services.
What is most valuable?
Ubuntu is great because you get most of the packages or software you need. You get the latest updates and stuff fairly fast.
What needs improvement?
We don't have any support, so we search for answers online. However, it can sometimes be a little messy to find the information if you have a highly specific question or a strange problem. It would be nice if finding information were a little simpler. Maybe they could have some portal that could point you to where you can find information. I think that's more of a general issue with open-source stuff. That's how it works.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using Ubuntu for three or four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
For desktop usage, we find Ubuntu is quite stable. We seldom have a problem with it even running on laptops. I think it's one of the better Linux distributions for running on laptops, and it supports various kinds of laptop hardware.
How are customer service and support?
We don't have any paid support. We use open-source knowledge bases or forums. We're used to that, so that works fine actually. We haven't tried any professional services for support because we manage the clients ourselves.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We use different Linux distributions depending on our needs. Ubuntu is good for our desktop workstations, but Red Hat is server based, and it's more stable over time, so we use that on the server for backend stuff. It depends on where it's going to run. We use Ubuntu for workstations and Red Hat or CentOS on the server side.
Ubuntu might have some room for improvement on the server side. But then again, we haven't used it much for that use case, so I don't know. It's easier for me to say what Red Hat or CentOS are missing on the desktop side. Nothing comes to mind that Ubuntu is missing in terms of desktop deployments.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up Ubuntu is fairly simple. It's just a workstation, so that's a relatively straightforward setup.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We have special workstations with Ubuntu preloaded because it was the best for artificial intelligence within the hardware. We got the whole system, including the hardware, software, and setup. We have support with the total package, but that's the only thing we have to pay for, and we haven't needed to use that support. In general, we don't have any license costs for Linux systems. Some of the Red Hat systems have license costs, but most are open-source or free versions.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Ubuntu eight out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director, CTO, Co-Founder at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Stable, scalable and well-priced with an easy and straightforward initial setup and good security
Pros and Cons
- "We use Ubuntu Linux because it is scalable, stable and developer-friendly."
- "It would be nice to see more compatibility with certain Microsoft solutions, such as OneDrive."
What is our primary use case?
I have used versions 16, 18 and 20, mainly the first two.
We mostly use the solution for development purposes and also test it on products before and after their release.
What is most valuable?
The solution has a unique flavor. It is difficult to hack. It has good security features and, from a developer's point of view, provides greater control, including in respect of the processes, internals, networking and IO and voice usage, everything really.
What needs improvement?
While there are not many features which need to be added, we sometimes are forced to resort to Google Drive sync or OneDrive sync, owing to the lack of availability of certain Microsoft solutions. The team is disparately comprised nowadays, some of whom may be using Microsoft. This would, in turn, require one to use Microsoft himself and there is some compatibility which is simply lacking. Generally speaking, it's okay. Nowadays, everything is moving to the cloud, making browser-based usage easy.
It would be nice to see more compatibility with certain Microsoft solutions, such as OneDrive. One would want to sync OneDrive, in which case, when the client makes the data available there, we would have easy access to it. These kind of syncing features are not fast.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Ubuntu Linux for more than three or four years. I have been using it for 20.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
When it comes to the stability of Ubuntu Linux versus that of Windows, the former, in respect of developer machines, is less energy consuming, which translates into a longer shelf life.
The stability is one of the reasons that we use the solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable and easy when it comes to the storage RAM. There is no need to do anything extra.
One of the reasons we use the solution is for its scalability.
How are customer service and support?
We have not required canonical support. There is a good online community for support issues which may arise and, as things are easy and straightforward, I generally rely on Google.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In the past we used RHC Fuse, SUSE and Unix, as Ubuntu was not an option.
Nowadays, SUSE is considered antiquaited and Linux Ubuntu new.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and very quick.
What about the implementation team?
I do not believe we have required any staff for the deployment and maintenance as of yet. So far, everything has been straightforward and easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The main advantage of Unix is that it's free.
Windows Unix and Ubuntu provide a free license and one need just pay for the hardware. Mac is costly. Ubuntu provides a cheaper and better option.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There are those who prefer Windows for its UI features, but I am not one of them.
When it comes to the stability of Ubuntu Linux versus that of Windows, the former, in respect of developer machines, is less energy consuming, which translates into a longer shelf life.
We prefer both Mac and Unix.
The main advantage of Unix is that it's free.
Windows Unix and Ubuntu provide a free license and one need just pay for the hardware. Mac is costly. Ubuntu provides a cheaper and better option.
However, the price criteria is not why we use Ubuntu Linux, but because it is scalable, stable and developer-friendly.
What other advice do I have?
Around 50 to 70 percent of our staff make use of Unix and Mac, because we are all developers and like these solutions.
The salespeople make use of Recruitment HR. They use Windows, as do some of the junior staff. However, most of the developers and all of the senior ones use Unix, Ubuntu and Linux.
I cannot think of any particular advice I would impart to others looking into implementing the solution.
As I cannot think of any issues I have with Ubuntu Linux, I rate it as a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Co-Founder at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Developer-friendly and easily accessible
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature is that it's developer-friendly and easily accessible. Like any other Linux operating system, you have access to open sources, all the necessary tooling, and anything that helps developers do their work. I'm no Linux guru, but Ubuntu offers packages that I find easy to use. There are other options for people who are very skilled with Linux, but this solution has the perfect balance of having enough technical requirements to meet your needs while still being usable. It doesn't require you to be so technically proficient that you need to recompile kernels or anything like that. It's a Linux operating system for normal people."
- "The only improvement I would suggest is to switching back to Aptitude. They switched a lot of the packages that used to be running in Aptitude to Snap. I don't find them as usable when they are in Snap. The most obvious instance of this is that it's caused me to have issues with Chrome. Starting Chrome took a couple of seconds before it was up and running, which wasn't pleasant. Back when it used to run packaging in Aptitude, I didn't have this problem. I know they're familiar with these issues because a lot of other people have experienced them too."
What is our primary use case?
My primary use case is for office work and developing software.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature is that it's developer-friendly and easily accessible. Like any other Linux operating system, you have access to open sources, all the necessary tooling, and anything that helps developers do their work. I'm no Linux guru, but Ubuntu offers packages that I find easy to use. There are other options for people who are very skilled with Linux, but this solution has the perfect balance of having enough technical requirements to meet your needs while still being usable. It doesn't require you to be so technically proficient that you need to recompile kernels or anything like that. It's a Linux operating system for normal people.
What needs improvement?
The only improvement I would suggest is to switching back to Aptitude. They switched a lot of the packages that used to be running in Aptitude to Snap. I don't find them as usable when they are in Snap. The most obvious instance of this is that it's caused me to have issues with Chrome. Starting Chrome took a couple of seconds before it was up and running, which wasn't pleasant. Back when it used to run packaging in Aptitude, I didn't have this problem. I know they're familiar with these issues because a lot of other people have experienced them too.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This solution is stable.
How are customer service and support?
I have never contacted technical support, but I probably will in the future. They offer very good services.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I use Windows 10 because I have to, due to the programs I have that came with it, but I use Ubuntu on top of that.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was very quick. It is easy to install.
What about the implementation team?
I implemented myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm aware of the paid services that they offer and provide technical support for, which are very good. Down the road, I will use some of them, specifically the service that automatically patches the central core of the operating system because it seems useful. Another service they used to have is a paid networking service. The services they offer are useful, but they depend on your particular situation and requirements. I would consider paying for them when a situation calls for them, but I don't need them right now.
You don't need to pay for licensing.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Some of my colleagues use Mint, but it's a matter of preference and specific to each person.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend Ubuntu Linux, specifically for developers.
I would rate Ubuntu Linux a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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