Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Android VS Ubuntu

Compare Android VS Ubuntu and see what are their differences

Android logo Android

Android is an open source mobile operating system initially released by Google in 2008 and has since become of the most widely used operating systems on any platform.

Ubuntu logo Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.
  • Android Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14
  • Ubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

Android features and specs

  • Customization
    Android offers extensive customization options, allowing users to personalize their device appearance and functionality.
  • Diverse Hardware Options
    Android is available on a wide range of devices from various manufacturers, giving users numerous choices in terms of size, design, and price.
  • Google Services Integration
    Android provides seamless integration with Google services like Google Search, Maps, Gmail, and Google Assistant.
  • Open Source
    Android is based on an open-source platform, encouraging innovation and allowing developers to modify and improve the system.
  • App Variety
    The Google Play Store offers a vast selection of apps and games, often with a greater variety than other platforms.
  • Multi-Tasking
    Android supports robust multi-tasking capabilities, letting users switch between apps and use them simultaneously with features like split-screen.

Possible disadvantages of Android

  • Fragmentation
    Due to the diversity of devices and manufacturer customizations, Android fragmentation can lead to inconsistent performance and delayed software updates.
  • Security Risks
    The open-source nature of Android can make it more vulnerable to malware and security breaches if users download applications from untrusted sources.
  • Bloatware
    Many Android devices come with pre-installed applications (bloatware) that can be difficult to remove and consume storage and resources.
  • Inconsistent User Experience
    The user experience may vary significantly across different devices and manufacturers, leading to inconsistency in performance and features.
  • Ads and In-App Purchases
    Many free Android apps rely heavily on advertisements and in-app purchases, which can sometimes diminish the user experience.
  • Battery Life
    Some Android devices may suffer from poor battery optimization, leading to shorter battery life compared to other platforms.

Ubuntu features and specs

  • Open Source
    Ubuntu is an open-source operating system, meaning it's free to use, distribute, and modify. This allows users to customize their system to their liking and contributes to a large community of developers constantly improving the system.
  • Security
    Ubuntu places significant emphasis on security, providing regular updates and including a built-in firewall and virus protection. Its Unix-based kernel design adds an additional layer of security.
  • User-Friendly
    Ubuntu is designed to be user-friendly with an intuitive interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users. The Ubuntu Software Center simplifies the installation of applications.
  • Community Support
    An active and vast community of users and developers helps to solve issues and improve the OS. There are numerous forums, guides, and documentation available.
  • Performance
    Ubuntu tends to have better performance than some other operating systems on older hardware. It is less resource-intensive, leading to faster performance on a range of devices.

Possible disadvantages of Ubuntu

  • Software Compatibility
    Some software and applications, particularly those designed for Windows or macOS, may not be available or fully compatible with Ubuntu. Users might need to find alternatives or use compatibility layers like Wine.
  • Gaming
    While gaming on Linux, including Ubuntu, has improved, it still lags behind Windows in terms of the availability and performance of games. Many popular titles do not have native Linux support.
  • Learning Curve
    Although user-friendly, transitioning to Ubuntu from another OS can involve a learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with Linux commands and terminal operations.
  • Driver Support
    Users might face issues with hardware compatibility, as some device manufacturers do not provide Linux drivers. This can affect peripherals like printers, graphics cards, and network adapters.
  • Professional Software
    Certain professional-grade software in fields like video editing, graphic design, or specialized industry applications may not have Linux versions or equivalents. Professionals might need to dual-boot or use another OS for specific tasks.

Android videos

Android 10 Review: This is Android in 2020! [Android Q]

More videos:

  • Review - Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL review: the best Android experience
  • Review - iPhone User Spends 17 Days on Android | Galaxy S10 Plus Review

Ubuntu videos

Ubuntu 19.10 Review | The Best GNOME Desktop, Yet?

More videos:

  • Review - Review: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine"
  • Review - Ubuntu 19.04, My Review (And Why Most Users Should Avoid It)
  • Review - Ubuntu 24.04: An Excellent Linux Distro
  • Review - Ubuntu's Decline
  • Review - Ubuntu 24.04 Review: Why It's Time to Change Ubuntu's Release Cycle

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Android and Ubuntu)
Mobile OS
100 100%
0% 0
Linux
0 0%
100% 100
Mobile SDK
100 100%
0% 0
Operating Systems
13 13%
87% 87

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Android and Ubuntu

Android Reviews

Top 5 Mobile Operating Systems 2023 (Alternatives to Android)
Planned essentially for touch-screen phones and tablets, Android is first created by Android Inc. that Google purchased later in the year 2005. Android Operating System was revealed in the year 2007, and then the first Android device was launched in September 2008.
Best Open Source Android Alternative OS for Smartphones
As most of the trade and technology-loving persons already heard about the US-China Trade War and Huawei-Google fight. Now, so many Huawei device users and Android enthusiasts are wondering what will be the next Android alternative OS (Operating System) for smartphones. Without Google and its services, the Android platform is difficult to run properly on a smartphone. But we...
Android Alternative: Top 12 Mobile Operating Systems
Android has become the de-facto operating system for smartphones, IoT devices, cars, TVs, and other electronic devices. The open-source project is being deployed almost everywhere because of the vast app support, lightweight profile, compatibility with a variety of hardware, huge developer support, etc. Apple’s iOS is putting up a good fight, but it’s nowhere close to...
Source: beebom.com
12 Best Android Custom ROMs For 2020 That You Must Try
Well, say hello to one of the top tier customization Kings of the Android Custom ROM World. Resurrection Remix has been around for almost the same time as any of the ROMs we’ve mentioned below. Starting its development in the early days of Android 4.0, RR has never failed to impress me with its feature-packed settings menu to tailor the Android smartphone to your heart’s...
Source: fossbytes.com
Open Source Mobile OS Alternatives To Android
It’s no exaggeration to say that open source operating systems rule the world of mobile devices. Android is still an open source project, after all. But, due to the bundle of proprietary software that comes along with Android on consumer devices, many people don’t consider it an open source operating system.
Source: itsfoss.com

Ubuntu Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
Ubuntu and Mint are both based on Debian and share many similarities. However, some differences may impact performances in certain use cases. For example, Ubuntu tends to be more resource-heavy than Mint, especially the GNOME desktop environment, on the other hand, is known for its lightweight Cinnamon desktop environment, which can be more responsive & faster.
Source: linuxsimply.com
10 Most Popular Linux Distros of the Year 2023
Ubuntu also has some lightweight games like chess and Sudoku. GNOME Files, formerly known as Nautilus, is the default file manager. It is recognized for its strong community support, regular releases, and focus on user experience. There are several Ubuntu flavors available as well per the demand of users such as Ubuntu Studio for users who need the best multimedia-supported...
12 Best Linux Distros You Should Use
Ubuntu uses Snaps for package management, and the latter is the reason the Linux community has started repelling it. They completely dropped out-of-the-box support for Flatpaks, as we mentioned in our Ubuntu 23.04 features list. Although it’s a good starting point for a complete beginner, we would argue there are better Linux distros to try than Ubuntu.
Source: beebom.com
Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Based on the open source Ubuntu community, Canonical provides commercial support and services for Ubuntu Enterprise deployments. Ubuntu Enterprise is known for its ease of use, regular updates, and compatibility with cloud environments. Commercial versions include Ubuntu Desktop, Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu for IoT, and Ubuntu Cloud -- all optimized versions for their...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Around since 2004, Ubuntu is a classic Linux distribution. The operating system is aimed at different user groups and simplifies the first steps for beginners. On the one hand, Ubuntu is customizable, but also offers numerous technical tools to simplify installation and configuration. Many programs are pre-installed, and additional packages can be conveniently added. Ubuntu...
Source: www.ionos.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ubuntu seems to be a lot more popular than Android. While we know about 236 links to Ubuntu, we've tracked only 11 mentions of Android. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Android mentions (11)

  • What is the best wearos watch according to google? :)
    Of course it's the Watch 5 Pro. Go to android.com it's even used in a promote video lol. Pixel Watch is just a joke. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Surface Duo 2 November Update Build 2022.817.23
    I've been running with it for a short-while now. Need to go to android.com and see what fixes they made. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Jetpack Compose: Horrifically slow in text input?
    As a follow-up, if jetpack can be used to build real and performant apps, does anyone have a good recommendation for a tutorial? I was trying to follow the demos linked of android.com, but it seemed as if there were vast differences between what they were saying to do, and what was in a newly bootstrapped project and the gradle files. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Anyone else having Malwarebytes say Google.com is malware?
    This seems to be effecting all of Google's products. I can't get into any of my G-Suite sites, GMail accounts, google.com, android.com, etc. From any device that has Malwarebytes installed. The constant popups from Malwarebytes are annoying, but on a positive note, it is letting me see just how many apps on my computer phone in to Google. NZXT is the biggest offender, and seems to be constantly hitting up... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why do none of the major distros have KDE Plasma as default?
    I wish I could go to android.com download the latest ROM and install it myself, like I do with Linux, I hate waiting for phone manufacturers to release OS updates and security fixes. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Ubuntu mentions (236)

  • How to Check PC Specs without Logging into Windows 11?
    For a quick and easy process, I am using Puppy Linux, an extremely light-weight Linux Distribution. I will download the latest Puppy Linux ISO File (I am going with Slackware Base S15Pup64 as it is lighter) and then create a bootable USB using Rufus. If you want a safe and hassle-free process, you can stick with Ubuntu Distribution. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Top 33 Ubuntu Linux Commands Every User Should Know (with Outputs)
    User@ubuntu:~ $ curl http://ubuntu.com User@ubuntu:~ $ curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"name": "user", "age": 30}' http://example.com/api # -X POST: Specifies the request type as POST. # -H: Sets the request header, here specifying JSON content. # -d: Sends data with the request. User@ubuntu:~ $ curl -u username:password -O http://example.com/protectedfile.zip. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How to Get Started with Bash Scripting for Automation
    Install a Linux distribution: Ubuntu, CentOS, or any preferred distro. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • How to use WSL 2 to Install Ubuntu on Windows 11?
    The system will list all the available Linux Distros. Popular Distros including but not limited to Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE, SUSE Linux Enterprise and more will be displayed. Choose your distro accordingly. In this article, I am going to Install Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Long Term Support). - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • How to Setup Users and User Groups on Linux
    A Virtual machine - VM running on Linux environment, I recommend Ubuntu. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Android and Ubuntu, you can also consider the following products

LineageOS - Operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, based on the Android

Linux Mint - Linux Mint is one of the most popular desktop Linux distributions and used by millions of people.

GrapheneOS - GrapheneOS is an open source privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

Fedora - Fedora creates an innovative, free, and open source platform for hardware, clouds, and containers that enables software developers and community members to build tailored solutions for their users.

Ubuntu Touch - Read more about Ubuntu Touch. Our free and open source mobile OS is made and maintained by UBports! We care about your freedom and privacy.

Arch Linux - You've reached the website for Arch Linux, a lightweight and flexible Linux® distribution that tries to Keep It Simple. Currently we have official packages optimized for the x86-64 architecture.