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SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 16, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

SUSE Linux Enterprise
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
32
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 July 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 7.0%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 12.4%, down from 20.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

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

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is stable."
"The initial setup for most modern Linux distributions is normally straightforward. Most of the common distributions use an ncurses or GUI install."
"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."
"The operating system is efficient in terms of security."
"Out-of-the-box SLES supported all of our HBAs and hardware specific components."
"SUSE Linux Enterprise is easy to configure for those who are not hardcore command-line driven."
"The return on investment has been significant, especially considering its cost-effectiveness compared to other solutions."
"The technical support services are good."
"For us, OpenStack is awesome. We want something that will be much simpler than a broad and complicated solution."
"I like that everything is in the command line. It is really helpful."
"Some of the main features of this solution are it is less prone to viruses since most viruses are written for Microsoft software, and it is easy to use."
"I strongly recommend Ubuntu Linux to most customers."
"Windows needs a refresh option to refresh its screen, but Ubuntu doesn't need that. It refreshes automatically and works well."
"The solution is scalable, it is open-source, and can be developed. You are able to install it on many different systems."
"Open source with a fast OS."
"The setup is fairly easy."
 

Cons

"The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu."
"SUSE Linux could provide more information about cost and the details of how clustering works."
"The only stability issues that I can recall encountering with SUSE would be with KDE. However, that is limited to just the desktop environment as I have not had stability issues with ​most server functions."
"SUSE could make more APIs available."
"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."
"The quality of support offered by SUSE Linux Enterprise is not that great, making it an area where improvements are required."
"Additionally, error handling needs improvement. The system should be more transparent when there's an error, rather than just declaring a generic error. It would be helpful if it could provide more specific information about the problem on that particular system. As it stands, you can waste a lot of time trying to troubleshoot these vague errors."
"They should provide chatbot support for customers to open the troubleshooting cases directly."
"I find the solution could be easier to use, more flexible, user-friendly, and have a better UI."
"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."
"The product could be easier to manage."
"More drivers for hardware such as different network adapters should be developed."
"It could be easier for beginners and the user interface could be more user-friendly."
"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."
"There are some drivers that are not there encoded, however, I thought that was pretty normal. They could be more comprehensive."
"They can improve the interface and give it an appearance similar to the Windows 11 operating system."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"When we first implemented this product, we had licenses for support."
"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."
"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could be cheaper. Other solutions, such as"
"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 price is reasonable."
"The license we pay is for Oracle. We make use of the community edition."
"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."
"There is not a license needed for the solution. You only have to pay for technical support."
"Ubuntu is a free product."
"Ubuntu Linux is an open-source product."
"This solution is free."
"Ubuntu Linux is free, but you can pay for a supported version that is better."
"It comes as free software, where there is an option for you to buy support licenses."
"The solution is free."
"Ubuntu pricing is reasonable."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Government
7%
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

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 four minutes.
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, making it challenging to install certain applications. Additionally, I encounter...
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?
My experience with the pricing for Ubuntu Linux is that I always use the free version, so I never paid for any installations or support.
 

Also Known As

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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 SUSE Linux Enterprise vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.
863,901 professionals have used our research since 2012.