Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

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31,440 views|23,121 comparisons
91% willing to recommend
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35,897 views|32,560 comparisons
95% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Mar 17, 2022

We performed a comparison between Oracle Linux and Ubuntu Linux based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Reviewers of both solutions found the initial installation and deployment to be a straightforward and fast process.

  • Features: Users of both products are satisfied with their performance and stability, but some reviewers mentioned the lack of integration with other systems. Several Oracle Linux users noted that the product was less secure than they desired. Ubuntu Linux reviewers reported that it is secure, scalable, and fast. Some users wrote that Ubuntu Linux is very user-friendly, however others felt the user interface could be improved.

  • Pricing: Most Oracle Linux users feel the price is reasonable. Ubuntu Linux is open source and free of charge.

  • Service and Support: Oracle Linux users have mixed reviews for its technical support. Some reviewers found it to be adequate, but others felt response time was slow. Ubuntu Linux does not offer technical support but has a large supportive online community.

Comparison Results: Ubuntu Linux comes out on top in this comparison. It is easy to install, scalable, and performs well. Above all, it is secure. While Oracle Linux is relatively low-cost, Ubuntu Linux is open source and free of charge. Ubuntu Linux does not have official technical support, but users are very satisfied with the available online community support.

To learn more, read our detailed Oracle Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux Report (Updated: March 2024).
768,924 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Q&A Highlights
Question: Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Answer: Oracle Linux is an Enterprise product with Server level features. Ubuntu is a Desktop platform not a mature product. only for small business developers applications. not much stable as oracle Linux. if you to run 3rd party server software Oracle Linux usually have better support than Ubuntu. Oracle Linux is a corporate world, But Ubuntu try to fill this gap but still lack of technology stack in server world
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"I like the product's stable distribution. The tool offered us very good experience since it was very stable.""We use Oracle Linux to test our software, and we also recommend Oracle Linux to our customers.""It's mostly reliable.""It is a good solution, and the performance is good.""The installation is straightforward.""I like that it's very stable and lightweight and that it requires very little resources.""It is a stable solution. We rarely face any issues with the machine.""The features that I have found to be the most valuable are the performance, stability, and support that Oracle offers for the solution."

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"It's faster than Windows.""I find the Linux community very valuable and the fact it is open source. So it's free and I use it without any problems.""Ubuntu has a good interface, it is easier to use than other distribution such as CentOS or Red Hat. It's suitable for beginners who want to start learning Linux. It has a simple interface and it's easy to use.""The solution is more secure than competitors such as Microsoft Windows.""More people should use this solution.""They have provided a new interface, which is great.""Of value is that the solution is stable, easy to use, has features that are easy to connect to other Linux systems and can be managed and administered.""What makes Ubuntu easy to use is the large set of applications and the interface. The graphical interface is user friendly."

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Cons
"What we found in moving from Oracle Linux 6 to Oracle Linux 7 was the whole interfacing with the application and the fact that operating had all changed, all the commands had changed. You need to be aware that there is some kind of training, some kind of handover required for your technical guys, understanding different ways of interacting with it. Bear that in mind.""It could be easier to reach a higher support level.""Pricing could be improved.""Oracle Linux, needs to support more packages.""Since it is a VM, it gets slow. It can be an area for improvement.""I would prefer to have the KDE Plasma Workspaces interface instead of GNOME.""The security could improve in the solution.""Most day-to-day applications are not native to this solution. You have to run an emulator or virtual machine, such as VMware to access these Windows applications."

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"Ubuntu could be improved with more container integration and orchestration of those containers. We are looking to have more cloud-based solutions, like Docker, and container-based solutions, or Kubernetes-based solutions integrated with Ubuntu. Instead of going for VMs, we would like to have more container-based solutions on top of Ubuntu.""Ubuntu Linux could improve by having better documentation because sometimes their documentation is not very good.""When you talk of some of the flexibility, like you want to install from scratch, Windows is more user-friendly compared to Linux.""The stability definitely can be improved. When we are implementing patches and new releases, it tends to fail.""It should be easier and lighter. I am more experienced in working with CentOS, and I find CentOS much easier to use than Ubuntu. Ubuntu is more complicated than CentOS. Ubuntu is also heavier for hardware than centOS.""At times, it can be complex when we are trying to integrate or when we are trying to set up some features.""There should be more integration with other operating systems applications.""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."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The pricing and licensing are good."
  • "Nowadays, Oracle is very open toward price negotiation; they negotiate well with their clients"
  • "This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
  • "The licensing is expensive."
  • "Oracle Linux is very cheap at this time."
  • "The solution is free."
  • "There is a license required for this solution and we are on an annual license."
  • "The licensing cost is expensive. It should be reduced by at least half."
  • More Oracle Linux Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "​Old equipment works for at least two or three years more, which means a significant savings.​"
  • "I use the free version, so I don't have any license fees."
  • "It's an open-source solution that can be used free of charge."
  • "It is not a very expensive solution."
  • "Ubuntu pricing is reasonable."
  • "It is open source, so it is free. There is no licensing fee."
  • "It is a free product."
  • "Ubuntu is an open-source Linux operating system that can be used free of charge."
  • More Ubuntu Linux Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Answers from the Community
    Netanya Carmi
    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be… more »
    Top Answer: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… more »
    Top Answer: It has a good support system for loading databases.
    Top Answer:Ubuntu Linux is good for one to two years. We can easily identify the line numbers and everything we could be able to see. Additionally, we have stable and standard paths for root directories, so we… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    31,440
    Comparisons
    23,121
    Reviews
    30
    Average Words per Review
    405
    Rating
    8.4
    Views
    35,897
    Comparisons
    32,560
    Reviews
    23
    Average Words per Review
    441
    Rating
    8.9
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Oracle Enterprise Linux
    Ubuntu
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    Canonical
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    Overview

    Oracle Linux is a stable, reliable, and scalable operating system primarily used for deploying and running Oracle databases. It is also suitable for various other functions, including managing operating systems and web servers, supporting traffic surveillance, and identity management. 

    Oracle Linux is highly valued for its stability, reliability, scalability, good technical support, and ease of use. It has helped organizations to achieve faster DNS queries, stable development environments, reduced vulnerability issues, good performance for Oracle applications, and improved ability to run test scenarios and parallel queries across massive databases.

    Oracle Linux Features

    Oracle Linux has many valuable key features. Some of the most useful ones include:

    • The software is 100% free (no cost) to use, distribute, and update
    • Ksplice allows for zero-downtime kernel and user-space upgrades
    • DTrace provides comprehensive kernel and application tracing
    • For Oracle Linux Support clients, Linux management and high availability are available at no additional cost
    • It's Oracle-optimized and works well with Oracle Database and Oracle Applications
    • New workload optimizations:
      • Enhanced memory performance by attempting to better locate a process near its memory and better placement of tasks that do not fit on a single NUMA node
      • SPECjbb's performance has been improved by up to 3.6 times thanks to optimizations that help reduce lock contention.
      • With bcache, it's simple to employ SSDs as a block cache for slower block devices. A new, scaled block layer subsystem supports many millions of IOps on NVM-Express and high-end PCI-E devices.
    • Oracle Linux has three deployment options:
    • Linux in the cloud: Oracle Linux Premier Support is included in all Oracle Cloud Infrastructure subscriptions at no additional cost.
    • Linux on premises: This is the industry's most comprehensive and open Linux distribution.
    • Embedded Linux design: Embedding a feature-rich Linux distribution is an optimized, cost-effective solution for your business.

     Oracle Linux Benefits

    There are many benefits to implementing Oracle Linux. Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

    • Save money by only paying for support for the systems you need
    • Improve security by applying patches faster and spending less time troubleshooting and updating
    • Improve Oracle software and hardware performance

    Reviews from Real Users

    Oracle Linux stands out among its competitors for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its stability and scalability. PeerSpot users take note of the advantages of these features in their reviews: 

    One PeerSpot reviewer, an IT Manager, reports, “I find the virtualization the most valuable.” He adds, “Oracle Linux is the best Linux operating system that I have ever known. It is very stable and strong.”

    An Enterprise Architect at a financial services firm writes of the solution, “You also don't have memory issues, especially when it is engineered with platforms like Exadata and Oracle Cluster. These give you the most throughput and performance.” He adds, “It is very scalable, especially on platforms like Oracle Cluster and Exadata.

    Ubuntu Linux is an powerful, easy-to-use, customizable, free, and safe open-source operating system. Some of the world’s top tech corporations, like Intel and Microsoft, rely on Ubuntu Linux to power their operations. It is an operating system that is so trusted by the tech community that it comes pre-installed on global computer vendors like HP and Dell. It is therefore little wonder that Ubuntu Desktop is the world’s most widely-used Linux workstation platform.

    Ubuntu Linux comes in a variety of derivatives that enable organizations to select the operating system type that will best meet their needs. There are four derivative types and a number of flavors. The derivative types are:

    1. Ubuntu Desktop. As indicated by the name, this derivative is specifically designed to run on laptops and desktops. That said, it is a solution that can be and is used to power other hardware-based systems, such as servers and data centers. However, without the addition of software that primes it to serve as a server program, it only functions on desktops and, as a result, only runs applications that are meant for general use. These can include applications like web browsers and multimedia programs. Users can install it through a prompt-driven process that plays out on their graphical user interfaces.

    2. Ubuntu Server. This version of Ubuntu differs from Ubuntu Desktop in a number of ways. The first is that, as suggested by the product name, it is designed for use on an organization’s servers. It is for this reason that Ubuntu Server supports applications that are more focused on the operations of the server and the network that it runs. This differs from Ubuntu Desktop in that Desktop is basically only concerned with the device that is running it. Their methods of installation also differ, as Ubuntu Server has no graphical user interface. Instead, it is installed by way of a process-driven menu.

    3. Ubuntu Core. Ubuntu Core is a stripped-down version of Linux that is specifically designed to handle embedded device projects.

    4. Ubuntu Cloud. The designers of Ubuntu Cloud focused on providing users with a highly secure and versatile operating system that they can run on the public cloud.

    Ubuntu Linux Benefits

    Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by deploying Ubuntu Linux’s open-source operating system include:

    • Ease of installation and use. Ubuntu Linux is simple for beginners to install and then use. Anyone who has some knowledge of computer systems should be able to deploy Ubuntu Linux. The user interface is as simple to use as those available to users of Windows or macOS.
    • Customization. Users of Ubuntu Linux have access to many different flavors of the operating system. This enables them to customize it so that it best meets their operational needs.
    • Operational flexibility. Users can install Ubuntu Linux onto a wide variety of device types. Windows and Mackintosh computers and devices are both fully compatible with this operating system.

    Ubuntu Linux Features

    • Data security. Ubuntu Linux employs various security practices and features that enable users to safeguard their data against malware attacks.
    • Applications. Users have access to a wide variety of applications that can easily be downloaded for use on Ubuntu.

    • Hardware autoconfiguration. The hardware drivers that users need in order to configure the hardware correctly so that Ubuntu Linux can be properly installed come built -in to the Ubuntu Linux operating system.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Ubuntu Linux is an operating system that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Two of its major advantages are the high level of security that it offers applications that run on it and the low level of maintenance that it actually requires system administrators to do once it has been deployed.

    Franco P., the founder and CEO of Applied Labs, writes, “When you have this relationship with Linux and you start working with very secure environments, there's less possibility of being directly attacked by a group of hackers. You will lose less data and you will have a more reliable ecosystem.”

    The principal cloud architect at a wholesaler and distributor writes, “With Ubuntu Linux, you can set it and forget it. It requires a low amount of administrative overhead.

    Sample Customers
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    Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Comms Service Provider12%
    Retailer10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Government10%
    Educational Organization9%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company19%
    Comms Service Provider15%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company13%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    Manufacturing Company9%
    Educational Organization9%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business32%
    Midsize Enterprise10%
    Large Enterprise58%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business23%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise62%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business49%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise37%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise60%
    Buyer's Guide
    Oracle Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    768,924 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Oracle Linux is ranked 3rd in Operating Systems (OS) for Business with 109 reviews while Ubuntu Linux is ranked 2nd in Operating Systems (OS) for Business with 133 reviews. Oracle Linux is rated 8.4, while Ubuntu Linux is rated 8.6. The top reviewer of Oracle Linux writes "The operational system is the best and is packed with free features like CapsLive". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Ubuntu Linux writes "Open-source with a great support community and seamless updating". Oracle Linux is most compared with CentOS, Rocky Linux, Oracle Solaris, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Windows Server, whereas Ubuntu Linux is most compared with Rocky Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise, Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and CentOS. See our Oracle Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux report.

    See our list of best Operating Systems (OS) for Business vendors.

    We monitor all Operating Systems (OS) for Business reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.