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Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

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
7.7
Oracle Linux enhances efficiency with cost savings, zero downtime, reliable support, and strong integration, offering significant ROI benefits.
Sentiment score
7.2
Ubuntu Linux offers cost savings and extended hardware lifespan with no purchase or licensing fees, enhancing productivity and ROI.
Everything from Oracle tools to applications is well integrated within Oracle Linux.
Our team is comfortable using Oracle Linux as it integrates well with Oracle tools, making everything work seamlessly.
Oracle Linux contributed to reducing our operational costs by about ten percent by saving us from the operating system and license costs we would have had to pay Microsoft.
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.2
Oracle Linux users appreciate expert support with comprehensive resources, though concerns about response time and cost persist.
Sentiment score
6.5
Ubuntu Linux users rely on community resources for support, often finding them sufficient over direct technical assistance.
Not all support engineers at Oracle are the same, so sometimes I experience good support that resolves issues quickly, while other times, it loops.
Oracle's technical support is excellent.
It is not as helpful or friendly as their application support.
They responded well, understood that the issue was not on my end, and provided a patch within two days.
The community around Ubuntu Linux is beneficial, providing answers to questions and assisting with issues.
Ubuntu Linux has a comprehensive knowledge base for self-help.
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.2
Oracle Linux efficiently scales for diverse workloads, excelling in clusters or cloud setups, despite occasional hardware compatibility lags.
Sentiment score
7.1
Ubuntu Linux is scalable and flexible, ideal for diverse infrastructures, despite some documentation issues, due to its open-source nature.
It handles device performance well, automatically managing any issues that arise.
Oracle should make the process faster, as we sometimes have to use a previous processor model to ensure compatibility.
New processor models sometimes lack immediate compatibility with Oracle Linux, requiring the use of previous models until support is available.
In a server environment, it can seamlessly adapt to increased customer demand.
Any Linux is scalable in terms of capacity, and on a day-to-day basis, we use scalability options with the help of Kubernetes clusters.
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Oracle Linux is praised for stability, reliability, and integration with Oracle products, providing minimal downtime and a dependable experience.
Sentiment score
7.8
Ubuntu Linux is praised for stability and reliability, but issues may occur in virtual environments or with community software.
Testing determines stability, as continuous Linux use and installations reveal more bugs.
Oracle Linux is very stable.
Our environment is locally deployed, and there are no performance issues or latency problems.
The system has been completely stable, which makes it deserve a perfect score.
Ubuntu Linux is extremely stable and maintains uptime effectively.
Ubuntu Linux is generally stable, though there can be occasional issues with new hardware integration.
 

Room For Improvement

Oracle Linux users seek enhanced reporting, compatibility, security, frequent updates, improved UI, and better training, pricing, and support.
Users seek improved Ubuntu compatibility with Windows, better management tools, enhanced enterprise features, and modern interface support.
Having a user interface would make tasks easier, saving time by avoiding the need to remember command-line instructions.
There are significant limitations as we are not able to customize the system, and we are forced to use standard features which are not suitable for our business.
Oracle Linux's outage management can be improved to better handle outages.
There is a push towards integrating AI into software for various purposes like video and sound processing.
Stability issues occur when integrating new components due to physical or technical challenges.
Unlike CentOS, Ubuntu Linux lacks an easily accessible inbuilt repository where dependencies or packages are easily found.
 

Setup Cost

Oracle Linux provides cost-effective open-source solutions with lower support costs compared to Red Hat, starting at $500 annually.
Ubuntu Linux is cost-effective and flexible, appealing to businesses seeking low-cost server solutions with optional support services.
While ERP might be expensive, Oracle Linux and KVMs are not on the higher side.
The cost of Microsoft OS is pretty high, and switching to Oracle Linux, which is free, reduced our costs by about 20% to 25%.
Oracle Linux is affordable.
For an enterprise-wide scalable operating system with professional services, you can select Ubuntu Linux at a reasonable price.
The setup cost is free.
Ubuntu Linux is open-source, leading to cost savings through its free availability.
 

Valuable Features

Oracle Linux offers performance, compatibility, cost-effectiveness, and comprehensive support, ideal for enterprises using Oracle applications.
Ubuntu Linux is secure, customizable, lightweight, and user-friendly, with strong community support and versatility for various environments.
Since it's from the same vendor as Oracle applications, it's easier to manage issues, making not just the solution cost-effective but also streamlined in management.
Oracle Linux offers an unbreakable system.
Oracle Linux has American Standard levels of security, which I consider to be quite good.
Ubuntu Linux's open-source nature supports community contributions, bolstering its development and support ecosystem.
Ubuntu Linux supports remote troubleshooting via SSH, allowing connection from anywhere, which is beneficial for troubleshooting server issues.
In terms of security, I am satisfied with Ubuntu Linux and I can rely on its security features more than I can with Windows.
 

Categories and Ranking

Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
119
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
150
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Oracle Linux is 9.4%, down from 15.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 12.9%, down from 21.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Q&A Highlights

NC
Nov 23, 2021
 

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.
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.
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Answers from the Community

NC
Nov 23, 2021
Nov 23, 2021
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 appealing GUI that makes it very easy for users coming from a Windows ecosystem to understand. Ubuntu Linux makes for a really great, soft introduction to Linux. Ubuntu Linux has some very demanding syst...
See 2 answers
Nov 22, 2021
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 appealing GUI that makes it very easy for users coming from a Windows ecosystem to understand. Ubuntu Linux makes for a really great, soft introduction to Linux. Ubuntu Linux has some very demanding system requirements, though. There are many software applications that Ubuntu Linux does not support, which makes some collaborations difficult. It also has some reliability issues and can be a bit buggy. Oracle Linux is flexible, robust, reliable, and scales easily. Of the many offered features, we like Ksplice best, as it allows us to update the Kernal without a reboot. Oracle Linux offers regular updates and patches which help support great security. The GUI on Oracle Linux is not very attractive. The download speed is not good, and they could also improve their server capacity. Oracle Linux needs better integrations. It only works with Oracle products. It can also be a bit expensive to use. Conclusion: Ubunto is an African word that means “humanity to others” and also represents the expression “I am who I am because of who we all are.” Ubuntu Linux takes this meaning very seriously. It is free (they plan to keep it that way forever) and is very user-friendly, especially when compared to other Linux distributions, and offers excellent community support. If you are new to the Linux ecosystem, Ubunto Linux is a great place to start. Oracle Linux is very flexible and secure and is the best choice for enterprises already running on Oracle or planning to migrate to Oracle solutions.
Syed Abid  - PeerSpot reviewer
Nov 23, 2021
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
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
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 suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
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 support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
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, there are no issues. I do not think Ubuntu Linux has a robust documentation library.
 

Also Known As

Oracle Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

See here
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 Oracle Linux vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
859,579 professionals have used our research since 2012.