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Docker on Ubuntu vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 3, 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
4.4
Docker on Ubuntu enhances ROI by streamlining CI/CD, reducing complexity, saving time, and optimizing resources for increased efficiency.
Sentiment score
6.3
RHEL offers ROI through stability, security, automation, and support, enhancing productivity while reducing costs and improving performance.
The main return is time-saving, as it provides less setup time, fewer errors, and improved developer productivity.
DevOps at Chill Flow
You need some type of operating system and a container engine, and these two are best in class.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
There is a pipeline for it, and the time saving occurs because whenever a developer pushes anything, that goes into the Docker container and builds it.
Senior Dev Ops Engineer at 11 East Capital
A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.
Architect at KnowIT
Being able to transform common manual tasks that previously took all day into processes that take an hour, half an hour, or even less, demonstrates clear value.
Systems administrator at a retailer with 501-1,000 employees
I invest effort and money in RHEL 8, expecting the system to be secure and reliable when serving my clients.
Associate Director at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.0
Docker on Ubuntu is well-regarded for its documentation and community, with minimal need for direct support engagement.
Sentiment score
7.3
RHEL customer service is praised for responsiveness and knowledge, though improvements are needed in response speed and critical issue handling.
The customer service for Docker on Ubuntu and their technical support are pretty good, especially since the documentation is pretty robust.
Founder at Asynka
Amazon's customer support is brilliant, with very quick response times.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The documentation is good, especially when using AI tools that utilize Docker's information for support.
Chief Technology Officer at ML Cloud LLC
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) support is great, as they go beyond their duty to help resolve issues and provide solutions even for third-party software such as XRDP.
Senior Infrastructure Systems Administrator at a healthcare company with 1,001-5,000 employees
When we do contact customer service, they are generally very knowledgeable and well-versed in our size.
Solutions Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Usually, I send the information, and they have something for me within hours, sometimes even minutes.
Team manager at Evertec
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
5.7
Docker on Ubuntu scales reliably, especially with Kubernetes, though complex applications may need additional orchestration tools.
Sentiment score
7.3
RHEL efficiently handles scalability demands, integrates management tools, and simplifies resource management, though costs increase with usage.
In some cases, Docker on Ubuntu is not enough for all the complexity of the applications, and I have to go to the next level with Kubernetes.
Founder at Asynka
Ubuntu is very stable as an operating system, and Docker scales well when used properly across projects and environments.
DevOps at Chill Flow
Using Docker on Ubuntu together is a common configuration, and you can deploy it directly on server hardware using virtual machines or in the cloud, scaling however you wish.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.
Solutions Architect at a transportation company with 10,001+ employees
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) scales very well with the growing needs of our company.
Director, DevOps at Lightedge Solutions
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) handles increases in users, applications, or data smoothly, which is why we use it for all our projects, as it provides us with confidence.
Cloud Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.1
Docker on Ubuntu is stable and reliable with no major issues, offering smooth operation and no security concerns.
Sentiment score
7.9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is praised for its exceptional stability, reliability, effective security, and support for mission-critical operations.
Docker on Ubuntu is very stable.
Software Engineer at INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
Docker is continually optimized by the Docker company, and Ubuntu is also continually optimized.
Cloud Ops Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Docker on Ubuntu is very much stable; it is one of the most stable solutions that you can find.
Senior Dev Ops Engineer at 11 East Capital
It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.
Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
It just works, and that's really the key factor; I can't remember the last time we had a system go down and had to restore it due to a bad patch.
Senior software engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
We've not had a service outage with Red Hat in six years.
Team Lead, Linux Systems & Tools at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Docker on Ubuntu needs user interface improvements, better Kubernetes integration, enhanced security, and more user-friendly documentation and setup.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux struggles with container support, high costs, complex transitions, and desires improvements in AI, UI, and security.
Code sharing ability exists in GitHub and other tools, but in Docker on Ubuntu, other users we are sharing with do not have options like edit and update the code.
Software Engineer at INSTITUTE OF AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
While Docker itself has no cost, the Docker repository and Docker Hub could improve their pricing, especially for startup companies.
Chief Technology Officer at ML Cloud LLC
It is completely complex to understand the networking in Docker on Ubuntu and Kubernetes clusters, as well as the ephemeral nature of the network and storage.
Founder at Asynka
Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.
Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
The built-in security features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux were insufficient for our needs, necessitating the implementation of supplementary security measures.
IT Infrastructure Engineer at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
By providing pre-installed, native automation tools within the operating system, Red Hat would streamline processes and improve user efficiency.
Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
 

Setup Cost

Docker on Ubuntu is free, but costs include skilled engineers and possible server expenses, generally satisfying users.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides robust support and security with a subscription model, appealing to large organizations despite cost concerns.
99.9% of people will be happy with the open source version, which is open source and free.
SRE II at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees
I find the pricing for Docker on Ubuntu is not expensive because basically, it is zero.
Founder at Asynka
Docker does not have licensing.
Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 51-200 employees
It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Its pricing has room for improvement because it's more expensive in the local market due to purchasing power parity in India.
Cloud engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Windows Servers base their cost on the number of users and have high licensing fees, while Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers free versions alongside its paid, supported versions.
Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
 

Valuable Features

Docker on Ubuntu offers process isolation, Kubernetes integration, cloud compatibility, and enhanced CI/CD efficiency with strong community support.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers robust security, management, and customization, ensuring reliable performance and support for complex infrastructures.
Docker is the heart of many AI tools that are used, and I have an AI workstation that uses Docker to package up certain capabilities for AI engineering.
Chief Technology Officer at ML Cloud LLC
The best features that Docker on Ubuntu offers are container isolation, fast startup time, portability, and strong integration with the Ubuntu Linux ecosystem, making it easy to package applications with their dependencies and run them consistently across systems.
embedded software engineer at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Docker on Ubuntu has positively impacted my organization by making our CI/CD pipeline faster because of the multi-stage build, multi-arch build, and the strategy of layering.
Senior Dev Ops Engineer at 11 East Capital
It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
There is also no downtime.
Linux/DevOps Engineer at Ekwantu Consulting
The operating system allows for the simple addition of kernels, modules, and other applications, making it highly adaptable to various needs.
Technical Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
 

Categories and Ranking

Docker on Ubuntu
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
16th
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.7
Number of Reviews
17
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
1st
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
436
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Docker on Ubuntu is 0.9%, up from 0.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 6.7%, down from 9.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)6.7%
Docker on Ubuntu0.9%
Other92.4%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

AnilKumar13 - PeerSpot reviewer
Devops Engineer at EDAG
Containerization has streamlined testing workflows and reduces server resources for our builds
The best features that Docker on Ubuntu offers in my experience are ease of usability and performance. Ease of usability and performance with Docker on Ubuntu have helped me because Ubuntu is a Debian-based OS that can operate in both server and desktop modes, so when using Docker on Ubuntu on a server base, I need to install a few packages to convert the machine to GUI mode, making Docker on Ubuntu easy to use. While I think security is not a standout feature, ease of usability and performance remain the main highlights for me since it's only environment-specific and involves local testing along with monitoring only internal servers. Docker on Ubuntu has positively impacted my organization through resource savings, as for our NOC server, we are using a dedicated 30-core server with 256 GB of RAM, but with the help of Docker on Ubuntu, we can run multiple containers on the same server. In terms of resource savings, we reduced the number of servers from around 100 to 70 after using Docker on Ubuntu within our private cloud, where we have numerous servers located in multiple locations in the US.
CC
Vice President at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Automation has transformed daily operations and supports secure, continuous infrastructure
When considering improvements to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I see one primary area. Within your portal, if you provided more study material along with demonstrations similar to the sessions we are attending, which feature a user-friendly guide, you could incorporate this into your Red Hat console. When I want to install an agent or something else, typing in the console should provide me with clear step-by-step instructions. Throughout the years, installation steps have been available, but regarding AI agents or Ansible automation, I need to verify whether clear information exists. Including this information would be beneficial. Additionally, if you add the sessions that have occurred to your portal or another location, this would help us review them multiple times to gain better understanding. Time is limited, and many sessions occur simultaneously, making it impossible to attend everything. Making these sessions available on your website would be very helpful.
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Comparison Review

it_user281973 - PeerSpot reviewer
Storage and VMware Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees
Aug 24, 2017
It's improved our company's system environments that run Oracle databases.
Red Hat is mission critical to our environment Red Hat has improved the mission critical environments running Oracle databases, while CentOS has improved our web environment and MySQL. Oracle and SAP Environment and all HPC environments. 10 years No issues Very stable i don´t find any problem…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Construction Company
19%
Comms Service Provider
12%
Healthcare Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Outsourcing Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business11
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise11
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business94
Midsize Enterprise49
Large Enterprise313
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Docker on Ubuntu?
Since we have everything in-house, we are using self-managed solutions. We are using this operating system for deployment purposes. Docker on Ubuntu and the Kubernetes cluster provide deployment sp...
What is your primary use case for Docker on Ubuntu?
Docker on Ubuntu is installed on our Linux-based Ubuntu operating system. Our infrastructure is running on a Linux-based operating system where Docker on Ubuntu and Kubernetes are working because w...
What advice do you have for others considering Docker on Ubuntu?
I would like to suggest to people who are going to be in Docker on Ubuntu-based applications that since it is lightweight, it does not cause any trouble to use or any performance level or any kinds...
Which would you choose - RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) or CentOS?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is fantastic. It is an inexpensive solution that has excellent security, performance, and stability, and also lots of features. I specifically like that the solution has fe...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?
From my perspective, the licensing of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is well-suited for enterprise environments because it includes access to updates, security patches, and Red Hat support. The in...
What needs improvement with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a very mature platform, but I think it could improve in a few areas. The subscription and licensing model can be a bit complex for new users, and some enterprise ...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Red Hat Enterprise Linux, RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for AWS
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Travel Channel, Mohawk Industries, Hilti, Molecular Health, Exolgan, Hotelplan Group, Emory University, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, HCA Healthcare, Paychex, UPS, Intermountain Healthcare, Brinker International, TransUnion, Union Bank, CA Technologies
Find out what your peers are saying about Docker on Ubuntu vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.
914,351 professionals have used our research since 2012.