Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Red Hat and Canonical are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Red Hat is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8, while Canonical is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.1. Red Hat holds a 6.7% mindshare in OSB, compared to Canonical’s 8.2% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Red Hat users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Canonical users who would recommend it.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Read 436 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) reviews

31,958 Views
30,999 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Ubuntu Linux

Read 152 Ubuntu Linux reviews

22,294 Views
20,733 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Ubuntu Linux

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 25, 2026

Ubuntu Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) compete in the Linux distribution category, each targeting different user bases. Ubuntu's focus on open-source flexibility and cost-effectiveness gives it an edge among users who value customization and a supportive community. On the other hand, RHEL holds an advantage in enterprise settings with its robust security features and comprehensive support services.

Features: Ubuntu Linux is known for its open-source nature, offering substantial flexibility and cost-effectiveness. It supports a wide range of hardware and provides extensive customization options. Additionally, Ubuntu is celebrated for its long-term stability, attributed to its LTS (Long-Term Support) releases that offer extended support periods. In contrast, RHEL excels in enterprise-level features, providing high security and robust system management tools. It ensures stability and performance across large infrastructures and integrates seamlessly with other Red Hat solutions, offering a cohesive ecosystem for enterprises.

Room for Improvement: Ubuntu Linux could enhance its ecosystem by offering better hardware compatibility and improved user-friendliness, especially for newcomers. Addressing issues like third-party integration and desktop performance would make it more inviting. RHEL, on the other hand, could benefit from improving its support communication and streamlining entry processes. Simplifying the licensing models and providing more accessible training for staff would help in better adoption and improve user experience.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Ubuntu Linux is lauded for its ease of deployment, supported by a large community that provides extensive troubleshooting resources, even though official support is quite limited. Conversely, RHEL offers extensive enterprise support and clear deployment guidelines, although its complex licensing and setup procedures may be daunting for smaller organizations without established infrastructure and support.

Pricing and ROI: Ubuntu Linux does not incur licensing fees, making it an attractive option for small businesses and individual users aiming for high ROI due to minimal financial investments. RHEL, with its enterprise-grade pricing, is justified by providing comprehensive support and robust functionalities, appealing to larger organizations willing to invest in stability and reliability, resulting in a higher cost of operation.

To learn more, read our detailed Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Ubuntu Linux Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Ubuntu Linux

September 2026

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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

6.3

RHEL offers ROI through stability, security, automation, and support, enhancing productivity while reducing costs and improving performance.

Sentiment score

6.1

Ubuntu Linux offers high ROI with zero licensing costs, saving up to 22%, enhancing stability, and extending hardware lifespan.

A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.

Troels Hansen

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.

Chris Perrault

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.

Suresh Babu Thatikonda

Associate Director at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

I have observed a clear return on investment, particularly in savings on license costs, as we have Ubuntu Linux LTS and do not depend on distributions such as Red Hat or SUSE, where we would indeed have to pay for a license.

Antonio Tirado Peña

Directo de TI at Instituto de Innovación Ciencia y Empresa

For more quotes and insights, download the Ubuntu Linux report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.3

RHEL customer service is praised for responsiveness and knowledge, though improvements are needed in response speed and critical issue handling.

Sentiment score

6.5

Ubuntu users prefer community and documentation for support, with quick responses valued despite occasional delays in urgent cases.

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.

Antoine Ragland

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.

Tucker Hewitt

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.

ChristianLopez

Team manager at Evertec

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

They responded well, understood that the issue was not on my end, and provided a patch within two days.

David Stevenson

Manging Director at Winworth UK

The community around Ubuntu Linux is beneficial, providing answers to questions and assisting with issues.

Thong Nguyen

Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences

Ubuntu Linux has a comprehensive knowledge base for self-help.

Prashanth D

Techincal Support Engineer at Ibits Tech Solutions

For more quotes and insights, download the Ubuntu Linux report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.3

RHEL efficiently handles scalability demands, integrates management tools, and simplifies resource management, though costs increase with usage.

Sentiment score

7.1

Ubuntu Linux excels in scalability and performance on various hardware, integrating seamlessly in on-premises and cloud environments.

Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.

Sean Doyle

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.

Sheldon Kroner

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.

reviewer2753943

Cloud Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Ubuntu Linux itself is a lightweight OS, so it's very convenient to scale it up to any form needed.

reviewer2728158

Associate Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

In a server environment, it can seamlessly adapt to increased customer demand.

Thong Nguyen

Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences

So far, I do not have any issues related to security in Ubuntu Linux.

Salim Ahmed

System Administrator at mmcytech

For more quotes and insights, download the Ubuntu Linux report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.9

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is praised for its exceptional stability, reliability, effective security, and support for mission-critical operations.

Sentiment score

7.9

Ubuntu Linux is praised for its stability, reliable performance, and minimal bugs, supporting large-scale server management efficiently.

It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.

reviewer2592627

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.

Jason Cummings

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.

ScottPalmer

Team Lead, Linux Systems & Tools at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

The system has been completely stable, which makes it deserve a perfect score.

PrashantSharma

BA at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

Ubuntu Linux is extremely stable and maintains uptime effectively.

David Stevenson

Manging Director at Winworth UK

If updates happen frequently, no system would be stable without tuning it every time there's an update.

reviewer2728158

Associate Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Ubuntu Linux report

Room For Improvement

Red Hat Enterprise Linux struggles with container support, high costs, complex transitions, and desires improvements in AI, UI, and security.

Ubuntu needs better Windows integration, hardware support, user-friendliness, game support, automation, security, and documentation improvements for non-tech users.

Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.

reviewer2592627

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.

reviewer2591346

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.

reviewer2620827

Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

There is a push towards integrating AI into software for various purposes like video and sound processing.

David Stevenson

Manging Director at Winworth UK

During a migration project that I was handling, Ubuntu Linux was not completely compatible for the migration process from one application to another. This is an area they could improve in migrating from minor versions to major versions.

reviewer2728158

Associate Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

Stability issues occur when integrating new components due to physical or technical challenges.

Thong Nguyen

Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences

For more quotes and insights, download the Ubuntu Linux report

Setup Cost

Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides robust support and security with a subscription model, appealing to large organizations despite cost concerns.

Ubuntu Linux is free and open-source with optional paid support, offering cost-effective solutions for businesses.

It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

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.

Syed Azhar

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.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

For an enterprise-wide scalable operating system with professional services, you can select Ubuntu Linux at a reasonable price.

Kadir Kokcu

Owner at a computer software company with 1-10 employees

Ubuntu Linux shows that it is free software, so the licensing cost is zero.

Antonio Tirado Peña

Directo de TI at Instituto de Innovación Ciencia y Empresa

The setup cost is free.

Kevin Haury

Head of mission at CapHornier

For more quotes and insights, download the Ubuntu Linux report

Valuable Features

Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers robust security, management, and customization, ensuring reliable performance and support for complex infrastructures.

Ubuntu Linux provides user-friendly, secure, open-source solutions with strong compatibility, community support, and enterprise-ready tools for efficient deployment.

It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

There is also no downtime.

Siphosethu Ndebele

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.

reviewer2641572

Technical Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Ubuntu Linux's open-source nature supports community contributions, bolstering its development and support ecosystem.

Thong Nguyen

Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences

Ubuntu Linux supports remote troubleshooting via SSH, allowing connection from anywhere, which is beneficial for troubleshooting server issues.

Prashanth D

Techincal Support Engineer at Ibits Tech Solutions

The updates in terms of security are very fast, and it is very easy to deploy.

Mohammad Rosli Sukri

manager at SSDU Innovations

For more quotes and insights, download the Ubuntu Linux report

Categories and Ranking

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

Ubuntu Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

152

Ranking in other categories

OpenStack (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 6.7%, down from 8.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 8.2%, down from 11.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	6.7%
Ubuntu Linux	8.2%
Other	85.1%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Gowtham Chettikam

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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reviewer2728158

Associate Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

Good compatibility and improvement needed in migration process

For long-term support, it has been good because in most enterprise environments, people still use Ubuntu Linux sixteen, which is quite obsolete now. Other enterprise versions do not support obsolete systems, so supportability is good in terms of Ubuntu Linux. For sustainability, it's quite a significant point of view for every organization. For us, Ubuntu Linux is the preferable way. For others, it might not be, so that is quite a subjective matter itself. The pinpoint of the problem is that they take time because they need specific information. We need to go to AWS first, and then they'll contact the Ubuntu Linux support team itself. This creates a two-way hop for us, which is why it's not that great. It's not really Ubuntu Linux's problem but rather the way we are accessing Ubuntu Linux. The migration part when migrating an application or one version of Ubuntu Linux to another is quite hectic. During the process, one or many applications might crash. That is something they could handle themselves, but I don't think that's something Ubuntu Linux will look into. During a migration project that I was handling, Ubuntu Linux was not completely compatible for the migration process from one application to another. This is an area they could improve in migrating from minor versions to major versions.

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Comparison Review

it_user281973

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…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

11%

Outsourcing Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Comms Service Provider

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	94
Midsize Enterprise	49
Large Enterprise	313

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	86
Midsize Enterprise	22
Large Enterprise	54

Questions from the Community

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...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

Regarding the pricing aspect of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I mostly use free resources and have not procured any license. I prefer to use open-source options and maintain my own set of rules....

See all answers

What needs improvement with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

I would like to see improvements in the CLI, making it somewhat easier instead of the complicated commands that are currently used. Keeping it simple and easy to remember would be beneficial.

See all answers

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...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?

My experience with the pricing, implementation costs, and licenses of Ubuntu Linux shows that it is free software, so the licensing cost is zero. Having the Ubuntu Pro licensing option, where you h...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Ubuntu Linux?

I think Ubuntu Linux could improve in the area of packages, as Snap packages are being imposed on us and we are migrating to certain versions where we are losing APT. To have a pure terminal experi...

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Comparisons

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

Windows Server vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 8% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 7% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 7% of the time

Debian vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 6% of the time

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Competitors

Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 22% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 7% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 5% of the time

Windows 11 vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 5% of the time

Windows Server vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 5% of the time

More Ubuntu Linux Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

September 2026

Download Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) product report

Buyer's Guide

Ubuntu Linux

September 2026

Download Ubuntu Linux product report

Also Known As

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for AWS

Ubuntu

Overview

Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers stability, security, and support for mission-critical applications with robust tools and scalable architecture, ideal for diverse environments and hybrid cloud compatibility.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides organizations with a reliable platform ideal for high-performance computing and virtualization. Known for its robust security and seamless network administration, it integrates well with OpenShift and Ansible, ensuring adaptability and scalability. Despite challenges with documentation, upgrade complexity, and cost, RHEL remains a formidable choice thanks to its comprehensive documentation and extensive community support.

What are the key features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Stability and Security: Maintains high stability and advanced security measures, critical for enterprise environments.
Extensive Support: Offers robust support through community and documentation, assisting with problem-solving and integration.
Automation with Ansible: Simplifies tasks and enhances efficiency, optimizing operations across the infrastructure.
Hybrid Cloud Compatibility: Supports cloud environments, enabling flexibility and strategic deployments.
Scalable Architecture: Adapts to different workloads, making it suitable for growing organizational demands.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Reliable Performance: Ensures consistent and secure operations across diverse environments, including cloud infrastructure.
Efficient Management: Centralized operations make it easy to manage enterprise workloads effectively.
Community and Documentation: Access to a strong community and comprehensive documentation aids in resolving issues.
Integration Capabilities: Easily integrates with technologies like OpenShift and SAP, enhancing operational versatility.
Adaptability: Supports a wide range of environments and technical requirements, improving strategic deployment.

Organizations across industries like financial services, telecommunications, and application hosting implement Red Hat Enterprise Linux for server and application management. Its compatibility with technologies such as SAP, Oracle, and Ansible supports functions including web, database, and enterprise solutions, ensuring stable and secure performance in high-pressure environments.

Red Hat

Ubuntu Linux is an open-source platform known for its robust security, ease of use, and rapid performance. Its lightweight design and comprehensive support system make it ideal for diverse IT environments, providing seamless management and scalability options.

Ubuntu Linux stands out with its open-source nature that allows extensive customization and access to a broad range of free software. It is widely praised for its stability and a vast package repository offering regular updates, enhancing its usefulness across different sectors. The platform is equipped with a lightweight design and excellent community support, making it scalable and easy to manage. While it could improve in areas like Windows software compatibility and user interface refinement, its benefits in enterprise management and development projects are undeniable. Improved documentation, better hardware integration, and enhanced third-party application compatibility are additional focal points to consider.

What are the key features of Ubuntu Linux?

Robust Security: Offers strong security protocols to protect user data.
Rapid Performance: Delivers fast and efficient processing speeds.
Open-source Customization: Provides extensive customization options.
Vast Package Repository: Features frequent updates and diverse software choices.
Lightweight Design: Ensures optimal performance even on limited resources.
Community Support: Backed by excellent community resources for assistance.

What benefits should be considered from reviews?

Resource Efficiency: Efficient utilization of system resources for enhanced performance.
Development Flexibility: Supports a wide range of programming and development tasks.
Enterprise Compatibility: Suited for large-scale enterprise solutions and cloud computing.
Scalability: Capable of managing and scaling across different environments.
Troubleshooting Support: Comprehensive community support for troubleshooting issues.

Ubuntu Linux is prominently implemented in industries for tasks such as server management, application deployment, and software development. Its resource efficiency and open-source tool compatibility make it a favorite for programming, research, and cybersecurity. Companies frequently use it for web hosting, cloud services, and managing multi-user enterprise solutions.

Canonical

Sample Customers

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

Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Ubuntu Linux

September 2026

Free Report: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Ubuntu Linux

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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