I have installed Ubuntu Desktop on my personal laptop.
Systems Architect at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
You can do everything with a browse
Pros and Cons
- "You can do everything you need to do with a browser."
- "If people are scared of Linux machines they don't need to be, it is as simple as Windows."
- "Could be even more light weight than it currently is."
- "I would like to see an even more lightweight version because I believe it is possible."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Nowadays, you can do everything with a browser, meaning you don't need a vulnerable, fancy solution like Windows for example.
What needs improvement?
I am aware that they package some versions that are lightweight and are not so process or memory-intensive however, I would like to see an even more lightweight version because I believe it is possible.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have using Ubuntu for about 15 years and intend to increase my usage.
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June 2026
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ubuntu is very stable, I have zero issues.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used Windows for a very long time, however my specialty has been on Unix systems.
How was the initial setup?
I did the initial setup on my own. It takes about two hours, unattended, as it takes time to update and download.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I do not pay a licensing fee for this operating system.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend Ubuntu Linux. If people are scared of Linux machines they don't need to be, it is as simple as Windows. Don't be scared of the fact that it says Linux on the box, it's a desktop in itself.
I would rate Ubuntu Linux an 8 out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Director, CTO, Co-Founder at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Stable, scalable and well-priced with an easy and straightforward initial setup and good security
Pros and Cons
- "Ubuntu provides a cheaper and better option, and we use Ubuntu Linux because it is scalable, stable and developer-friendly."
- "It would be nice to see more compatibility with certain Microsoft solutions, such as OneDrive."
What is our primary use case?
I have used versions 16, 18 and 20, mainly the first two.
We mostly use the solution for development purposes and also test it on products before and after their release.
What is most valuable?
The solution has a unique flavor. It is difficult to hack. It has good security features and, from a developer's point of view, provides greater control, including in respect of the processes, internals, networking and IO and voice usage, everything really.
What needs improvement?
While there are not many features which need to be added, we sometimes are forced to resort to Google Drive sync or OneDrive sync, owing to the lack of availability of certain Microsoft solutions. The team is disparately comprised nowadays, some of whom may be using Microsoft. This would, in turn, require one to use Microsoft himself and there is some compatibility which is simply lacking. Generally speaking, it's okay. Nowadays, everything is moving to the cloud, making browser-based usage easy.
It would be nice to see more compatibility with certain Microsoft solutions, such as OneDrive. One would want to sync OneDrive, in which case, when the client makes the data available there, we would have easy access to it. These kind of syncing features are not fast.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using Ubuntu Linux for more than three or four years. I have been using it for 20.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
When it comes to the stability of Ubuntu Linux versus that of Windows, the former, in respect of developer machines, is less energy consuming, which translates into a longer shelf life.
The stability is one of the reasons that we use the solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable and easy when it comes to the storage RAM. There is no need to do anything extra.
One of the reasons we use the solution is for its scalability.
How are customer service and support?
We have not required canonical support. There is a good online community for support issues which may arise and, as things are easy and straightforward, I generally rely on Google.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
In the past we used RHC Fuse, SUSE and Unix, as Ubuntu was not an option.
Nowadays, SUSE is considered antiquaited and Linux Ubuntu new.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and very quick.
What about the implementation team?
I do not believe we have required any staff for the deployment and maintenance as of yet. So far, everything has been straightforward and easy.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The main advantage of Unix is that it's free.
Windows Unix and Ubuntu provide a free license and one need just pay for the hardware. Mac is costly. Ubuntu provides a cheaper and better option.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
There are those who prefer Windows for its UI features, but I am not one of them.
When it comes to the stability of Ubuntu Linux versus that of Windows, the former, in respect of developer machines, is less energy consuming, which translates into a longer shelf life.
We prefer both Mac and Unix.
The main advantage of Unix is that it's free.
Windows Unix and Ubuntu provide a free license and one need just pay for the hardware. Mac is costly. Ubuntu provides a cheaper and better option.
However, the price criteria is not why we use Ubuntu Linux, but because it is scalable, stable and developer-friendly.
What other advice do I have?
Around 50 to 70 percent of our staff make use of Unix and Mac, because we are all developers and like these solutions.
The salespeople make use of Recruitment HR. They use Windows, as do some of the junior staff. However, most of the developers and all of the senior ones use Unix, Ubuntu and Linux.
I cannot think of any particular advice I would impart to others looking into implementing the solution.
As I cannot think of any issues I have with Ubuntu Linux, I rate it as a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Ubuntu Linux
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Ubuntu Linux. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
903,118 professionals have used our research since 2012.
ITOM Solution Consultant at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Great alternative to proprietary operating systems; could be more user friendly
Pros and Cons
- "Ubuntu is rather stable, simple to deploy, stable, and well supported by an open-source community."
- "I think Ubuntu's performance is fine and so is its user interface. However, the latter is not as fancy as Microsoft Windows. It could be a bit fancier and easier to use."
What is our primary use case?
I use Ubuntu mostly for private purposes.
What needs improvement?
I think Ubuntu's performance is fine and so is its user interface. However, the latter is not as fancy as Microsoft Windows. It could be a bit fancier and easier to use.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Ubuntu only occasionally. I am not an experienced user.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ubuntu is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Ubuntu is a scalable solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is absolutely straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There are no costs associated with Ubuntu.
What other advice do I have?
Ubuntu is rather stable, simple to deploy, stable, and well supported by an open-source community. I would recommend it as a possible alternative to Windows for those looking to avoid the cost associated with that operating system. It is definitely a cost-effective alternative for private usage.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Information Technology System Administrator at a outsourcing company with 201-500 employees
Easy to manage and has easier installation than Windows
Pros and Cons
- "I feel the graphical interface to be very user friendly, as is first time installation."
- "I feel Debian have a more stable operating system than Ubuntu Linux."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution as a desktop appliance.
What is most valuable?
I like that the solution is stable and easy to manage.
What needs improvement?
As I use Debian with KDE and love it more than Ubuntu, I choose to rate Ubuntu Linux as a nine out of ten, whereas I rank Debian as a ten. This is because I feel Debian have a more stable operating system than Ubuntu Linux. This is my sole reason for this rating.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Ubuntu Linux for five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable, although I feel Debian, which I use with KDE, to have a more stable operating system than Ubuntu Linux.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
While the scalability can vary, I do feel the solution to be scalable.
How are customer service and support?
Canonical does not provide us with technical support for the solution.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I make use of Debian with KDE and feel Debian's operating system to offer more stability than Ubuntu Linux.
How was the initial setup?
First time installation is very user friendly. It is very easy, even more so than Windows.
What other advice do I have?
We make use of the solution for our in-house use.
I feel the graphical interface to be very user friendly, as is first time installation.
I also work in the private sector and have my own company for implementing surveys for reviews and clients. My first suggestion would be to go with open source. We use Proxima and also use uni version in the domain control of it. We use Ubuntu Linux on the client side. So, I strongly recommend using open source and not spending too much money on the licensing with Microsoft.
As all of the applications are usually now on the database, what else does one need? A single operating system consisting of scalability and speed means the person will not have to deal with all the dump stuff that happens behind. Of primary importance is to have a good internet connection and Chrome. For these small jobs, I see no need for use of Windows or Mac. Apple or Microsoft should be used for designing other things. I am referring to Ubuntu and Linux use.
I rate Ubuntu Linux as a nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
MIS Specialist at a agriculture with 201-500 employees
Beneficial online documentation, scalable, and free to use
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is scalable."
- "We plan to increase the usage of Ubuntu Linux."
- "The solution could improve by being more secure."
- "Ubuntu Linux could be more stable."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Ubuntu Linux as a file management solution.
What needs improvement?
The solution could improve by being more secure.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Ubuntu Linux for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ubuntu Linux could be more stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
We plan to increase the usage of Ubuntu Linux.
How are customer service and support?
Our engineers have received all the commands for the command prompt they needed by using the online support you can find by using Google.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have used Microsoft Windows solutions.
How was the initial setup?
The installation took us approximately two hours.
What about the implementation team?
We have a team of approximately five engineers that do the implementation and maintenance of the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are not using the licensed version of the solution, we are using the free version.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Ubuntu Linux an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
System Architect at CGI
LPS distribution is a great feature as is the reliability and user friendly stability
Pros and Cons
- "There is value in the long-time supported LPS distribution and there is an updated version that has recently become available."
- "I'd like to see some improvement with the installer in terms of the encryption of the partition regarding software systems."
What is our primary use case?
I use this product on my desktop, it's a basic system for developing applications. Our company is based in the Czech Republic. I'm a systems architect and customer of Ubuntu.
What is most valuable?
There is value in the long-time supported LPS distribution and there is an updated version that has recently become available.
What needs improvement?
I'd like to see some improvement with the installer in terms of the encryption of the partition regarding software systems. I also had an issue with the swap file when I implemented and that took some time to deploy.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and doesn't take much time. I had one issue with the encryption of the application and that took additional time. We have around eight users in the company and we carried out the integration ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I'm using the non-supported version which is free.
What other advice do I have?
I highly recommend this product and rate it 10 out of 10.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
IT Security Specialist & Data Protection Officer at a retailer with 501-1,000 employees
It's free and stable but not very secure
Pros and Cons
- "Ubuntu is free and stable."
- "I've been using Ubuntu for 10 years or more."
- "I think Ubuntu is not that secure."
What is our primary use case?
I use Ubuntu for running personal applications.
What is most valuable?
Ubuntu is free and stable.
What needs improvement?
I think Ubuntu is not that secure.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Ubuntu for 10 years or more.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ubuntu isn't as stable as some solutions.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I've used Windows and macOS before, but I have not switched. I'm trying out Ubuntu right now.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up Ubuntu was relatively easy. It takes about 15 minutes, and I can do it myself.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Machine Learning Engineer at ALSO Finland Oy
A stable option for machine learning
Pros and Cons
- "Ubuntu is good for machine learning. It's also a good option for any type of application, like multimedia and movies."
- "Ubuntu could add some additional hardware support."
What is our primary use case?
Machine learning -- create models with Anaconda
What is most valuable?
Ubuntu is good for machine learning. It's also a good option for any type of application development. Ubuntu has improved a lot over the years in terms of ease of use as well.
What needs improvement?
Ubuntu could add some additional hardware support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Ubuntu for about six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ubuntu's performance and stability have always been good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I was using macOS previously but I switched to Ubuntu because it's more flexible with hardware (GPU support). You can run Ubuntu on everything
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Ubuntu nine out of 10. If you are thinking of implementing it, I recommend long-term support LTS versions
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Software Trainee at Eidiko
Refreshes automatically and works well
Pros and Cons
- "Windows needs a refresh option to refresh its screen, but Ubuntu doesn't need that. It refreshes automatically and works well."
- "Ubuntu is quite flexible."
- "It could be better for working with software at a high resolution."
What is our primary use case?
We have 250 to 300 users in our organization working with Ubuntu, including about 50 engineers.
What is most valuable?
Ubuntu is quite flexible. It is a direct software, where we can work directly on its OS. It works to its maximum capacity. Windows needs a refresh option to refresh its screen, but Ubuntu doesn't need that. It refreshes automatically and works well.
What needs improvement?
But it could be better for working with software at a high resolution.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Ubuntu for about a year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ubuntu is stable.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Ubuntu an eight out of 10. It could be easier to learn and have better documentation. With Windows, it is quite easy to learn from a particular guide or manual.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Information Technology Infrastructure Manager at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
High performance, easy to install, and reliable
Pros and Cons
- "The solution has high fantastic performance."
- "We are saving money from not having to pay for an operating system that costs our company money because Ubuntu Linux is free to use."
- "Ubuntu Linux could improve by having better documentation because sometimes their documentation is not very good."
What is our primary use case?
We use Ubuntu Linux as an operating system for daily use. We use it for many purposes, for example, supporting, developing, configuring, and scripting.
What is most valuable?
The solution has high fantastic performance.
What needs improvement?
Ubuntu Linux could improve by having better documentation because sometimes their documentation is not very good.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Ubuntu Linux for approximately 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Ubuntu Linux is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have 200 people using this solution in my organization.
How was the initial setup?
Ubuntu Linux is easy to install. We already configured it to auto-install for other Linux servers. The process takes not more than 15 minutes.
What about the implementation team?
For the implementation and maintenance of the solution, we have approximately six people.
What was our ROI?
We are saving money from not having to pay for an operating system that costs our company money because Ubuntu Linux is free to use.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are using the free and open-sourced version of the solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others because it is free and you can save licensing costs.
I rate Ubuntu Linux a ten out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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