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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 May 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Oracle Linux is 10.2%, down from 15.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 7.1%, down from 8.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 13.4%, down from 22.0% 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.
Dominique Locksley - PeerSpot reviewer
Has good kernel modules and upgrades
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.
Kevin Haury - PeerSpot reviewer
Linux's advanced terminal empowers versatile usage and ongoing secure development
Initially, there was nothing complicated. It's easy since I have many years of experience with it. However, if I were a beginner with Linux, it could be completely disruptive compared to Windows. So, I would have to spend some time practicing with Linux to understand how it works and how I can accomplish the same tasks compared to Windows. Maybe one month, at least.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Oracle Linux for Oracle databases is the top. There's no doubt whatsoever."
"It is a good solution, and the performance is good."
"We find the consolidated support for this solution and other same vendor systems to be an extremely valuable feature. This allows for faster resolution of issues and consistency of support personnel."
"The solution's technical support team answers all our queries."
"The installation is straightforward and it did not take very long."
"The product is 99.99% stable."
"Ultimately, Oracle Linux as a product rates nine out of ten."
"Very stable."
"The most important feature is the automatic kernel lifecycle subscription, which is critical for us because the server cannot go down once we start offering any services on the cluster."
"The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes."
"From a functionality perspective, the suite is quite rich. We like that."
"The initial setup for most modern Linux distributions is normally straightforward. Most of the common distributions use an ncurses or GUI install."
"SUSE Linux's most valuable feature is the documentation - there is a lot of documentation about how to create custom servers."
"SUSE Linux Enterprise is scalable."
"Linux is easy to use. You have more control on a Unix system."
"Some of the functionalities I like the most are the security features. This includes security restrictions on specific folders and secure communication for SFTP. These features are more secure and reliable. The tool also makes compliance possible."
"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 stable."
"The solution is stable, fast and free."
"Ubuntu is free and stable."
"Ubuntu is good for machine learning. It's also a good option for any type of application, like multimedia and movies."
"The most valuable features of the solution are that it is a very free tool and serves as a very trustworthy product."
"They have provided a new interface, which is great."
"The initial setup is simple."
 

Cons

"They should increase security."
"Since it is a VM, it gets slow. It can be an area for improvement."
"The solution needs to improve there their capability with most of the applications."
"The download speed is not good. Oracle can improve their servers capacity, especially in Asia."
"Technical support slow to respond."
"The solution could improve by giving the client or customer more control."
"Some applications supported by other operating systems are not supported, which is a pain."
"The licensing price could be better."
"I would like to see better functionality for interacting with cloud-based systems."
"When working in a Department of Defense environment, Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) have to be followed. SLES is not really addressed directly here. It did make following security policy difficult."
"Sometimes it is a bit of work for developers to change the configurations."
"The product must improve its UI."
"I have not been overly impressed with their technical support."
"I would appreciate the product's future releases being lighter and operating more efficiently on smaller systems."
"The solution has to be fine-tuned with better documentation."
"They should provide chatbot support for customers to open the troubleshooting cases directly."
"Stability could be improved."
"One thing I've noticed is network connectivity issues where packets are sometimes lost."
"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."
"I would recommend they improve the network security, because it can be very difficult. I mentioned that when you upgrade Ubuntu, the network cut is always deactivated, so you have to restart the service to reactivate the network. It is important to improve this ability."
"You have to do a lot of configurations yourself. It is not very user friendly."
"When you upgrade the core of this operating system, it can crash. This is the only problem I had. It needs more stable upgrades."
"The product could be compatible with Microsoft."
"The solution is not user-friendly in comparison with Windows."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of Oracle Linux could be less expensive for those who are running a small freelance company, such as I do. We use the solution fully but the income that you're receiving is slow."
"The product's pricing is cheap. The tool's pricing is yearly."
"We are currently operating the solution using a license-based version. We get licenses per machine."
"The pricing and licensing are good."
"The price of Oracle Linux overall could be less expensive."
"The licensing for this solution is based on the number of calls running Oracle databases, and are purchased either annually, or every three years."
"The licensing is expensive."
"There is a license required for this solution and we are on an annual license."
"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."
"The price is reasonable."
"The license we pay is for Oracle. We make use of the community edition."
"The product's licensing options align well with the evolving landscape of Linux variants."
"Anyone can use Linux because it is open-source."
"As far as licensing goes, there is nothing unusual here. The price and model have worked fine for my organization."
"The tool is expensive compared to Red Hat. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."
"SUSE Linux Enterprise is reasonably priced compared to other operating systems. I find it's a much better option for us than Oracle, for example, because of the pricing structure. The pricing is easier to explain to clients and makes it easier to get clients' commitment. The licensing is also simpler to manage and keep track of. Their responsiveness is great - they give feedback very quickly when we ask questions about licensing or other aspects. This helps ensure we're always at the gold standard regarding licensing and everything related to SUSE Linux Enterprise."
"The main advantage of Unix is that it's free."
"Ubuntu Linux is free."
"Ubuntu Linux is an open-source product."
"It's an open source solution, but you can make donations if you'd like to."
"Ubuntu Linux is an open-source product that is free to use."
"There are no licensing fees, it's an open-source solution."
"It comes as free software, where there is an option for you to buy support licenses."
"The solution is free."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
8%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
11%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Educational Organization
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 needs improvement with Ubuntu Linux?
Linux sees improvements each year, with new releases introducing features to enhance functionality. While I do not fi...
 

Also Known As

Oracle Enterprise Linux
No data available
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: April 2025.
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