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Docker on Ubuntu vs Windows Server comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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
3.7
Organizations use Docker on Ubuntu to enhance productivity, reduce setup time, and streamline operations, boosting overall efficiency and financial benefits.
Sentiment score
5.0
Windows Server enhances efficiency, reducing support costs by 10-70%, valued for virtualization, integration, security, and operational stability.
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.
Enterprise Cloud Operations 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 DevOps engineer at Elevenxcapital
Windows Server offers excellent value for money, particularly when compared to alternatives.
Security Engineer at ProVision
The tool supports many applications.
Agile Consultant at MSOLdigi
You get a standard platform that is very secure and stable.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.3
Docker on Ubuntu benefits from strong documentation and community support, often alleviating the need for direct technical assistance.
Sentiment score
6.3
Windows Server support is praised for expertise and responsiveness but experiences vary, with some users finding delays and inconsistencies.
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.
Enterprise Cloud Operations 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
Microsoft's technical support for Windows Server has been lacking, with rare responses even with premium support.
Security Engineer at ProVision
They resolved our problems within the defined SLA.
Relationship Manager at Cognizant
When I had an issue with Hyper-V, the support was excellent.
Systems technician. IT Office at LNU
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.0
Docker on Ubuntu offers scalability and flexibility, but Kubernetes may be preferred for complex applications with unexpected cloud costs.
Sentiment score
7.4
Windows Server efficiently scales from small to large user bases, supporting resource adjustments for smooth organizational growth.
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.
Enterprise Cloud Operations Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
I've worked in companies with 20,000 to 100,000 users, and it scales beautifully without issues.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
The solution is used extensively in our organization, and we have plans to increase the usage.
Project Engineer at CDAC
We use it everywhere, and it serves approximately two thousand users in our company as a backend service.
System Engineer at Alnajat charity
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Docker on Ubuntu is highly stable, with minimal technical issues, no security concerns, and seamless operation, especially on AWS.
Sentiment score
7.4
Windows Server is praised for its stability, with recent versions highly reliable despite occasional update challenges.
Docker on Ubuntu is very stable.
Software Engineer at Bounteous
Docker is continually optimized by the Docker company, and Ubuntu is also continually optimized.
Enterprise Cloud Operations 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 DevOps engineer at Elevenxcapital
We have experienced no blue screens or crashes and often achieved an uptime of 2,000 to 3,000 days without any issues whatsoever.
Security Engineer at ProVision
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
Manager at Accenture company
I rate the stability a 9 out of 10.
Connectivity Platform Cyber Security Specialist at BASF Business Services GmbH
 

Room For Improvement

Users recommend enhancing Docker on Ubuntu by improving UI, simplifying configurations, providing better documentation, and addressing resource and scaling issues.
Windows Server users cite security, performance, integration issues, setup complexity, high cost, and frequent maintenance as key concerns.
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 Bounteous
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
Deploying antivirus and firewall software on the server is advisable, but having an external firewall adds an extra layer of security.
Project and Service Delivery Manager Cloud at MANAPPURAM COMPTECH AND CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Windows Server needs to improve its speed and stability.
Oracle business analyst at Sensience
People don't want to know about complex commands and want everything to be available in just a few clicks on the dashboard, where they can see the top trends, what commands are being used, how many logins, and other such related information.
Senior Manager - SBR Technical Services at Reliance Industries Ltd
 

Setup Cost

Docker on Ubuntu is cost-effective, but managing requires skilled professionals, potentially increasing indirect costs for enterprises.
Windows Server licensing is complex and costly, but it's popular for its features despite pricing concerns compared to alternatives.
I find the pricing for Docker on Ubuntu is not expensive because basically, it is zero.
Founder at Asynka
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Docker on Ubuntu is that it was free to use.
Automations Engineer at Ad Up
I do not have a problem with the pricing for Docker on Ubuntu because I do not pay for that; my boss does.
DevOps at Chill Flow
Previously, a Windows Server with two processors cost around two 154 euros annually, but now it is estimated to be around 3,000 to 4,000 euros for the same configuration.
Security Engineer at ProVision
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most expensive, I rate it ten out of ten.
Manager, IT Security at Averis Sdn Bhd
Microsoft offers product pricing with licenses per processor and CAL licenses for accessing.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
 

Valuable Features

Docker on Ubuntu streamlines deployment and management with containerization, enhancing CI/CD efficiency and scalability across systems.
Windows Server excels with Active Directory, Hyper-V, integration, security, and usability, making it ideal for enterprise solutions.
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 Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree
Docker on Ubuntu has positively impacted my workflow primarily through low infrastructure cost, better cloud compatibility, and faster DevOps workflows.
Software Developer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
The IP directory is the most valuable feature.
Connectivity Platform Cyber Security Specialist at BASF Business Services GmbH
I can manage the firewalls on the server easily, open or close ports to manage security traffic, and use encryption on the hard disk to keep data secure.
Systems technician. IT Office at LNU
When we deploy this operating system, we're primarily focused on managing virtual environments.
Project and Service Delivery Manager Cloud at MANAPPURAM COMPTECH AND CONSULTANTS LIMITED
 

Categories and Ranking

Docker on Ubuntu
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
12th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
5.7
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Windows Server
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
5th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
196
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Featured Reviews

reviewer2795433 - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Cloud Operations Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Built a reliable cloud foundation that has supported flexible web applications and smooth scaling
Docker on Ubuntu can be improved because Ubuntu is not minimalist at all; it comes with a lot of software by default. This has led some individuals, including myself, to try using Alpine, which is more lightweight, allowing the container to run on a more lightweight operating system that potentially uses fewer resources and reduces costs. If Ubuntu were a little more minimalist, that would be good, but it's not really aiming for that since it intends to be the baseline. Also, Ubuntu moves very fast, possibly faster than other operating systems like Debian, which could demand operational heavy upgrades to major versions every couple of years if there are many applications running.
GS
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
Long-standing experience improves reliability and security, making it a trusted platform
It's difficult to see improvements when using it daily. They improved compatibility with other platforms, such as Linux. One improvement I was thinking about some years ago was the ability to manage an on-premises server from Azure. Now, they have created Azure Arc, and we are using it as a very good way of managing on-premises servers. What can be improved is on the Azure side. With Active Directory on the server side and Entra ID on the Azure side in our hybrid environment, we find issues with data syncing to Entra ID. In Entra ID, Microsoft omitted some parameters. In Active Directory, you can put an expiring date to an account, but you cannot do that in Entra ID. We have other means of doing that, but it's common to have consultants working for six months, requiring account expiration or renewal processes. The Entra ID Connect syncing tool could be improved. Though they moved the service to Azure and use an agent instead of having a dedicated server, it remains cumbersome to set up due to the differences between Entra ID and Active Directory.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
45%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Outsourcing Company
6%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Comms Service Provider
11%
Computer Software Company
9%
University
8%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business5
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business78
Midsize Enterprise41
Large Enterprise89
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Docker on Ubuntu?
Docker on Ubuntu could be improved by making networking and storage configuration simpler, specifically for teams new to containers. Better built-in tooling or clearer documentation for debugging c...
What is your primary use case for Docker on Ubuntu?
I use Docker on Ubuntu primarily for containerizing applications and development environments, creating consistent runtime environments across development and testing, reducing dependency issues, a...
What advice do you have for others considering Docker on Ubuntu?
I have deployed Docker on our private server. We primarily use Docker on on-premises systems and, in some cases, in hybrid setups where development and testing may run on cloud-based environments w...
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
The user interface of Windows Server needs improvement, especially when working with users, user accounts, and groups. There are multiple ways to accomplish tasks that do not align completely, so t...
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
I integrated Windows Server in my infrastructure. We use Hyper-V technology extensively, as it is very important for us, and it functions quite well.
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about Docker on Ubuntu vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: January 2026.
881,733 professionals have used our research since 2012.