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Oracle Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Ubuntu Linux 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:
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Oracle Linux is 8.8%, down from 15.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 6.9%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 12.5%, down from 20.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Thomas Waltair - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides outstanding performance and resource savings with effective customer service
The solution works closely with the operating system kernel, which gives better performance in terms of multi-threading and a distributed database. We work based on Oracle specifications, and whenever there are critical patches and vulnerability tests, we update with the latest security patches. The collaboration with Oracle WebLogic and other Oracle tools enhances performance as well.
Naveen Venugopal - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient IT management with crucial automatic updates but needs developer-friendly configuration
Sometimes it is a bit of work for developers to change the configurations. Some kernels will not fit with some packages, and this aspect could be improved. Furthermore, the system's rigidity when updating packages and services needs improvement. Additionally, there should be more loosely bound functionalities to improve developer experience.
PrashantSharma - PeerSpot reviewer
Performs efficiently but requires overcoming a learning curve
There are many differences between Ubuntu Linux and Windows as they are totally different systems. You need to have more knowledge about Linux before using Ubuntu Linux. Although it is designed as a desktop system, basic knowledge is still required. Windows can be used by any layman, which is the main difference. I do not know much about security breaches or potential issues. The Wi-Fi and wireless capabilities work perfectly fine. Excluding the learning curve, I would rate it a 10. However, considering the learning curve, I would give it a six or seven. My advice would be to have patience. Overall rating: 10 out of 10.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"If we use Linux, Solaris, or some other operating systems, we have to build a lot of packages using RPMs (the packet manager). That's a difficult task. With Oracle Linux, we use a single command to update from the Oracle website."
"Overall, I rate this solution as the best solution at nine out of ten."
"The solution has zero downtime and is easy to optimize right out of the box."
"There is full compatibility with RedHat-based operating systems, in particular Centos, which we widely deployed before Oracle Linux (OL)."
"The product is 99.99% stable."
"Oracle Linux is secure, and we have end-to-end support from Oracle, from the operating system to applications and ERP."
"I like that it's very stable and lightweight and that it requires very little resources."
"It is very compatible because it's from the same product family, so it makes the work very easy."
"It is very easy to maintain, migrate and upgrade."
"The most valuable feature is that there is an inbuilt HANA firewall."
"I like how the tool handles kernel modules and upgrades - we rarely have issues after upgrades, unlike with other Linux distributions like Oracle Linux or Ubuntu. The kernel module management is excellent. Changes made in one version typically work the same in other versions too, which isn't always the case with other distributions. There's also lots of information and community support available if you run into any problems, both on the official website and in forums and user groups. I know many people who use it specifically, so it's easy to get independent support if needed. I've been working with the tool for a long time, since 2003, before they became SUSE Linux Enterprise. It's always been one of the most admin-friendly Linux versions."
"The tool’s idempotency ensures all configurations are in place at all times."
"SUSE Linux was stable for me. I did not experience any problems with its stability."
"From a functionality perspective, the suite is quite rich. We like that."
"SUSE Linux had a clean user interface, which was a valuable feature for me."
"It's easy to set up."
"The integration with other solutions like Apache is valuable."
"The initial setup is very easy."
"It is a widely used and stable solution. Community members can offer support and technical guidance."
"The GUI is user-friendly."
"The solution is stable."
"The solution has high fantastic performance."
"My total rating for Ubuntu Linux is ten out of ten."
"If there is a virus going into the network, it has to pass through an Ubuntu server, which can't be infected by the virus. So, there are less viruses on our systems."
 

Cons

"The area of Oracle Linux that needs improvement is related to updates. If they have updates, it should update itself without logging out your services."
"The documentation has room for improvement."
"I feel that Oracle Linux should improve to have a graphical interface that would be much more user-friendly, similar to Ubuntu, so that people who want to interface with the Oracle servers can have Oracle Linux desktop on their personal laptops as well."
"Pricing could be improved."
"We'd like it if it was a bit more secure."
"They should increase security."
"Managing upgrades, especially moving from one version of Oracle Linux to another, can be challenging."
"It could also have a more user-friendly interface."
"SUSE Linux could provide more information about cost and the details of how clustering works."
"The free version sometimes has security holes."
"They should improve their educational portal."
"They should provide chatbot support for customers to open the troubleshooting cases directly."
"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could improve, it is too expensive."
"The solution has to be fine-tuned with better documentation."
"Compared with the competition, of late actually, the solution has increased its pricing tremendously."
"We have had trouble integrating Autodesk with the SUSE manager."
"More security features are needed to protect the current file system to prevent attacks."
"Ubuntu is putting great efforts into making their platform a great hosting platform for Kubernetes and other related tools, but they are not addressing the challenges with what it takes to run Ubuntu in a large Windows-based environment."
"The solution could improve by being more user-friendly."
"The product must provide integrated security solutions."
"There are some drivers that are not there encoded, however, I thought that was pretty normal. They could be more comprehensive."
"After only a week of using the solution, we haven't really found any limitations or missing features."
"The solution could improve by being more secure."
"Ubuntu Linux needs to improve its stability. I would like it to show the battery percentage at the screen top."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing and licensing are good."
"We pay an annual subscription."
"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
"The solution is free to use with a support subscription rather than having to buy licenses."
"The solution is less expensive than Solaris and allows for use of existing hardware."
"The cost is relatively affordable."
"Oracle Linux is very cheap at this time."
"Nowadays, Oracle is very open toward price negotiation; they negotiate well with their clients"
"I rate the product price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."
"When we first implemented this product, we had licenses for support."
"The platform is affordable."
"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."
"Regarding pricing, everybody would want it to be cheaper."
"The license we pay is for Oracle. We make use of the community edition."
"I have to pay for a license in order to get support."
"There is no license for this solution, there is only a subscription of support available."
"Ubuntu Linux is an open-source operating system."
"The product is cheap compared to Windows."
"There are no licensing fees, it's an open-source solution."
"The use of the solution is inexpensive and the hardware it needs to operate can be priced very low. There is not a license for the solution but there is for the hardware."
"Ubuntu Linux is more affordable than its competitors."
"There are no payments to be made towards any licensing costs attached to the solution."
"Ubuntu Linux is free."
"It is also manageable and financially affordable."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
8%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
13%
University
10%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suita...
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 suppo...
What do you like most about SUSE Linux Enterprise?
The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take f...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SUSE Linux Enterprise?
I used the open-source version, so there were no setup costs.
What needs improvement with SUSE Linux Enterprise?
The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu. The software manager was different, ...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?
The cost is not much, and I am not sure about the licensing cost because a separate team handles it.
What needs improvement with Ubuntu Linux?
There were some initial issues with logging into the system, but I do not remember much about them now. Currently, th...
 

Also Known As

Oracle Enterprise Linux
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

See here
Air India, Akademicki Szpital Kliniczny (ASK), Allone, Altran, Apollo, ARCHIVA, Asia Innovatory Management School, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, AutoData Norge AS, Baldor Electric, Business Connexion, CASIO, Ciclum Farma, Delta Lloyd, Edumate , HPE,  SAP SE,  Lenovo, BMW, T-Systems, UCX, Turners & Growers, Shenzhen Development Bank, Bosch Group, JK Tyres & Industries, IOCL, European Space Agency, Daimler AG, China Minsheng Banking Corp, Café Coffee Day, Unisys,  Petrochina Company Ltd, Fitch Ratings, ABeam Consulting Co Ltd, Tyro Payments, Rackspace, Pacific Textiles, ...
Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Canonical, Oracle and others in Operating Systems (OS) for Business. Updated: June 2025.
860,168 professionals have used our research since 2012.