Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kubuntu VS Lubuntu

Compare Kubuntu VS Lubuntu and see what are their differences

Kubuntu logo Kubuntu

Linux operating system distribution derived from Ubuntu but with KDE environment.

Lubuntu logo Lubuntu

Lubuntu is a fast and lightweight operating system with a clean and easy-to-use user interface. The core of the system is based on Linux and Ubuntu. Lubuntu uses the minimal desktop LXDE, and a selection of light applications.
  • Kubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-21
  • Lubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17

Kubuntu features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Kubuntu features the KDE Plasma desktop environment, known for its modern, intuitive, and highly customizable user interface.
  • Performance
    Kubuntu is generally lightweight and fast, providing good performance even on older hardware. KDE Plasma has been optimized for efficiency.
  • Wide Software Availability
    Being a flavor of Ubuntu, Kubuntu benefits from the extensive Ubuntu repositories, making it easy to find and install a wide range of software.
  • Strong Community Support
    Kubuntu enjoys robust community support with plenty of tutorials, forums, and documentation available online, thanks to its ties to Ubuntu.
  • Regular Updates
    Kubuntu receives regular updates and security patches, ensuring that the system remains stable and secure.
  • Good for Newcomers
    Its user-friendly design and ample support resources make Kubuntu a good choice for users new to Linux.

Possible disadvantages of Kubuntu

  • Resource Usage
    Although KDE Plasma is optimized, the graphical environment can still be more resource-intensive compared to other lightweight desktop environments.
  • Potential Bugs
    Users may occasionally encounter bugs or stability issues, particularly when using the latest, cutting-edge features of KDE Plasma.
  • Slower Software Updates
    Compared to rolling release distributions like Arch Linux, software packages in Kubuntu may not always be the most up-to-date.
  • Learning Curve
    While Kubuntu is user-friendly, new users might still face a learning curve, especially if they are coming from a different operating system like Windows or macOS.
  • Customization Overhead
    Although the customization options are a strength, they may be overwhelming to some users who prefer a simpler, more out-of-the-box experience.

Lubuntu features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Lubuntu is designed to be lightweight, making it ideal for older or less powerful hardware.
  • Faster Performance
    Due to its minimal resource requirements, Lubuntu typically performs faster than more feature-rich operating systems.
  • User Friendly
    The LXQt desktop environment of Lubuntu provides a simple and intuitive user interface, making it easy for new users to adapt.
  • Good Community Support
    As an official Ubuntu derivative, Lubuntu benefits from the extensive support and resources available from the Ubuntu community.
  • Regular Updates
    Lubuntu receives regular updates and security patches, ensuring a more secure and stable system.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, Lubuntu is free to use, modify, and distribute.

Possible disadvantages of Lubuntu

  • Minimal Software
    Out of the box, Lubuntu comes with fewer pre-installed applications, requiring users to install additional software to meet their needs.
  • Less Eye Candy
    The LXQt desktop environment is more utilitarian and may lack the visual polish and extensive customization options found in heavier desktop environments.
  • Limited Features
    To maintain its lightweight nature, Lubuntu sacrifices some advanced features and functionalities that might be present in other, more resource-intensive distributions.
  • Hardware Compatibility Issues
    While generally compatible with a wide range of hardware, some very specific or very new hardware may require additional drivers or tweaks.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Customization
    Advanced customization and configuration might require more technical knowledge than what is needed for mainstream distributions.

Analysis of Kubuntu

Overall verdict

  • Kubuntu is generally considered a good distribution due to its balance of performance, usability, and visual appeal. It is especially praised for the flexibility and features offered by the KDE Plasma environment.

Why this product is good

  • Kubuntu is a popular Linux distribution that combines the KDE Plasma desktop environment with the underlying Ubuntu operating system. It offers the stability and reliability of Ubuntu, along with the customizability and aesthetic appeal of KDE Plasma. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface, comprehensive software support, and large community, making it a suitable choice for both beginners and advanced Linux users.

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer a visually appealing and highly customizable desktop.
  • Those who want the robustness and support of Ubuntu's ecosystem.
  • Individuals looking for a Linux distribution that balances ease of use with power features.
  • Users transitioning from other operating systems seeking a familiar and intuitive interface.

Analysis of Lubuntu

Overall verdict

  • Lubuntu is a good choice if you are looking for a fast, efficient, and low-resource operating system that comes with the backing of Canonical's support and the extensive Ubuntu community.

Why this product is good

  • Lubuntu is a lightweight variant of the official Ubuntu operating system provided by Canonical. It is designed to be resource-efficient, which makes it an excellent choice for older hardware or systems with limited resources. The LXQt desktop environment, which Lubuntu uses, is known for its simplicity and speed. Additionally, Lubuntu benefits from the larger Ubuntu ecosystem, providing access to a wide array of software, community support, and regular security updates.

Recommended for

    Lubuntu is particularly recommended for users who have older computers or devices with limited RAM and CPU capacity, users who prefer a minimalist and straightforward desktop environment, and those who want to extend the lifespan of their existing hardware without compromising on functionality.

Kubuntu videos

Kubuntu 20.04 Review - LTS all round

More videos:

  • Review - Kubuntu 20.04 LTS Review - An iterative and solid upgrade
  • Review - Kubuntu 19.10 Review - A little late to the party.

Lubuntu videos

Lubuntu 18.10 Review - Now with LXQt Desktop

More videos:

  • Review - Lubuntu 19.10 Look Around
  • Review - Lubuntu 19.04 overview | Lightweight, fast, easier.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kubuntu and Lubuntu)
Linux
47 47%
53% 53
Operating Systems
48 48%
52% 52
Linux Distribution
47 47%
53% 53
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

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

Kubuntu Reviews

The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Kubuntu is another Ubuntu derivative, based on KDE Plasma as a desktop environment. The lightweight solution runs games smoothly. It is also customizable and thus optimized for gaming. Numerous programs are available for Kubuntu.
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Kubuntu is an official Ubuntu flavor that uses the KDE Plasma Desktop instead of GNOME and shares the same underlying system as Ubuntu. Ubuntu’s repository is also used by Kubuntu and it releases packages on the same schedule.
13 Best Linux distros for gaming in 2022
Not just limited to our forums (itsfoss.community) but also some Reddit threads pointed at Kubuntu as their preferred choice just because they feel KDE desktop environment is easy on their system resources which improves their gaming experience.
9 Best Linux Gaming Distributions in 2021
Linux Mint also offers LTS releases similar to Ubuntu. Unlike some Ubuntu flavors (like Kubuntu & Lubuntu), which provides 3 years of system updates, Linux Mint offers 5 years of updates no matter what desktop environment you go for. You get the option to choose Xfce, MATE, or Cinnamon edition.
Source: itsfoss.com

Lubuntu Reviews

Top 9 Fastest Linux Distros in 2024
Lubuntu has become your go-to choice, right? It’s not necessarily the best at everything, but it ticks all the right boxes. Quick boot times, responsiveness, and the freedom to install whatever you want. Lubuntu’s got your back! Now, about that anonymous web browsing for political activism, you’re on the right track. Consider the Tor Browser, a trusty VPN, and some privacy...
Source: linuxsimply.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Lubuntu is a lightweight Linux system based on Ubuntu that utilizes LXQt instead of GNOME. Lubuntu claims to be lighter, less resource-hungry, and more energy-efficient. Lubuntu is a combination of LXQt and Ubuntu.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Kubuntu should be more popular than Lubuntu. It has been mentiond 73 times since March 2021. 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.

Kubuntu mentions (73)

  • Issues updating multiple flavors of Debian on one computer
    I got the .iso from kubuntu.org for Kubuntu 23.10, and tried installing it. I was then greeted with a new error before I could get to the disk partitioning screen:. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is setting up and dealing with WSL worth it if you don't NEED it?
    To those reading his comment: He tried to say Kubuntu. Seriously, head over to here and keep your sanity lol: https://kubuntu.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Questions I have about Linux, from someone who wants to switch from Windows 10
    KDE Plasma is developed by KDE, another international group of developers that make all sorts of cool software for Linux, macOS, Windows, and mobile platforms. Plasma is their flagship project. Their motto is "simple by default, powerful when needed". At first glance it may seem a copy of Windows, with a bottom panel sporting a start menu on the left and a system tray with a clock on the right, but don't get... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Linux - what flavor?
    Kubuntu - based on Ubuntu. Uses the KDE desktop environment. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Wanting to ditch windows 10 in favor of linux
    I recommend using Ventoy, and drag in the top general distro (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, Zorin, Manjaro) and the top distro for gaming (Nobara, PopOS, Garuda). If you want to have a user experience similar to SteamOS Desktop Mode, use the KDE version of the distro (Kubuntu, Nobara KDE, Manjaro KDE, Garuda Dragonfire). Source: about 2 years ago
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Lubuntu mentions (19)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (January 2025)
    Canonical | https://canonical.com/ | REMOTE | Software-Defined Networking Engineer We are particularly interested in candidates with deep understanding of Open vSwitch (OVS) and Open Virtual Network (OVN). https://canonical.com/careers/5163397 If you have a passion for networking technologies, deep familiarity with Linux networking and awareness of open source community best practices, then you will enjoy our... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • DevRel - Developer Relations - a scientific perspective
    Canonical: Engages with developer communities and ISVs to help them reach the Ubuntu ecosystem. Typically helps communities shape their snaps, charms, or Docker images based on Ubuntu and ensures Ubuntu is fully enabled in their CI/CD pipelines. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Running workloads at the edge with MicroK8s
    MicroK8s is a lightweight, batteries included Kubernetes distribution by Canonical designed for running edge workloads which also happens to be developer-friendly and a great choice for building your own homelab. The following lab covers how to install and run MicroK8s on your own edge node running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, deploy the NGINX web service and exposing your NGINX website to the Internet with SSL/TLS enabled... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Session manager Anbox
    Anbox Cloud as a solution developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, to bring Android at scale to any cloud with support for ultra low latency video streaming and recent Android versions. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Open Class - Distributing ROS2 Apps with Snaps
    In this open class, we will get hands-on with the new course Distributing ROS2 Apps with Snaps offered by Canonical - Developers of ubuntu), you’ll learn the basics of snap creation for ROS & ROS2 applications. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Kubuntu and Lubuntu, you can also consider the following products

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

Ubuntu - Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.

Manjaro - Manjaro Linux is a linux distribution which is based on arch linux. It uses the PACMAN package manager.

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.

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.

Debian - Debian is a free distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system.