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Raspbian VS Ubuntu

Compare Raspbian VS Ubuntu and see what are their differences

Raspbian logo Raspbian

Welcome to Raspbian. Raspbian is a free operating system based on Debian optimized for the Raspberry Pi hardware. An operating system is the set of basic programs and utilities that make your Raspberry Pi run.

Ubuntu logo Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.
  • Raspbian Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • Ubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

Raspbian features and specs

  • Optimized for Raspberry Pi
    Raspbian is specifically designed and optimized for Raspberry Pi devices, ensuring maximum performance and compatibility with the hardware.
  • Large Community Support
    With a large user base and community, Raspbian benefits from extensive support and resources, making it easier for users to find help and tutorials.
  • Pre-installed Software
    Raspbian comes with a wide range of pre-installed software, including educational tools, programming languages, and utilities, which are useful for various projects.
  • Free and Open Source
    Raspbian is free to download and use, and being open source, it allows users to inspect, modify, and enhance the source code as per their needs.
  • Lightweight and Efficient
    Designed to run on the limited resources of Raspberry Pi, Raspbian is lightweight and provides a snappy response even with lower hardware configurations.

Possible disadvantages of Raspbian

  • Limited to ARM Architecture
    Raspbian is built specifically for ARM architecture, which means it cannot be used on other common desktop or server hardware without modifications.
  • Basic User Interface
    The default desktop environment on Raspbian, LXDE, is quite basic compared to more modern interfaces, and may not appeal to users accustomed to more advanced GUIs.
  • Hardware Limitations
    Since Raspbian is designed for low-power devices like the Raspberry Pi, it may not support high-end applications and intensive tasks efficiently compared to more powerful systems.
  • Dependency on Raspberry Pi
    Raspbian's features and optimizations are tied closely with Raspberry Pi hardware. Users with other hardware may not benefit similarly from its optimizations.
  • Update Frequency
    The update cycle for Raspbian may not be as rapid as some users would like, potentially leading to outdated software compared to rolling-release distributions.

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.

Raspbian videos

Raspberry Pi 4 & Raspbian OS Review

More videos:

  • Review - Raspberry Pi 3B Review - Is Raspbian Linux a real, practial desktop computer?
  • Review - Raspbian OS for the Raspberry Pi 4 8GB 64 Bit OS Full 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 Raspbian and Ubuntu)
Linux
4 4%
96% 96
Operating Systems
4 4%
96% 96
Linux Distribution
4 4%
96% 96
Mobile OS
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 Raspbian and Ubuntu

Raspbian Reviews

11 Best Linux Distros For Programming And Developers [2020 Edition]
Distros like Ubuntu and Debian have managed to establish themselves as the top picks when it comes to the best Linux distro for developers. Some of the other great choices are openSUSE, Arch Linux, etc. If you intend to buy a credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi, Linux-based Raspbian is also a perfect way to start.
Source: fossbytes.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 Raspbian. While we know about 236 links to Ubuntu, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Raspbian. 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.

Raspbian mentions (4)

  • need help with image taking using a usb webcam
    Are you sure as normally folk use Raspberry Pi OS (Raspbian comes from here and not the Pi Foundation site here) ? Do you mean Raspberry PI OS and if so 32bit or 64bit and how up to date is it (i.e. Have you recently run apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade)? Source: about 2 years ago
  • Issues loading lightshowpi
    Yeah raspbian.org or something you download PiOS there and they have all the instructions. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Im trying to make a list of how to pronounce MOST Linux distros.
    Raspbian still exists at https://raspbian.org. Source: about 4 years ago
  • EE - Stuff to learn (during Freetime)
    Linux - Sooner or later you may be confronted with Linux. A free operating system, which is not like Windows or this thing with the fruit. It is used so many times, especially in the embedded field. It is not easy to get into it at the beginning, but an easy start is with Raspbian(and a Raspberry Pi, because it's optimised for that) or for Notebooks/PCs Ubuntu. There are plenty of distributions and you... Source: about 4 years ago

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 Raspbian and Ubuntu, you can also consider the following products

Windows 10 - Windows 10 unveils new innovations & is better than ever. Shop for Windows 10 laptops, PCs, tablets, apps & more. Learn about new upcoming features.

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

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.

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.

CentOS - CentOS is a community-supported, free and open source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise...

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