Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Rocky Linux VS Ubuntu

Compare Rocky Linux VS Ubuntu and see what are their differences

Rocky Linux logo Rocky Linux

A new enterprise ready OS to carry the torch after the recent CentOS announcement.

Ubuntu logo Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Debian Linux-based open source operating system for desktop computers.
  • Rocky Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06
  • Ubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

Rocky Linux features and specs

  • Community-Driven Development
    Rocky Linux is led by a community-driven development model, ensuring that decisions are made in the interest of users rather than influenced by corporate interests.
  • Enterprise-Grade Stability
    Designed as a downstream, binary-compatible release of RHEL, Rocky Linux provides the same level of stability and reliability expected from enterprise-grade operating systems.
  • Long-Term Support
    Rocky Linux offers long-term support, ensuring continuous updates and security patches, which are crucial for enterprise environments.
  • Compatibility with RHEL
    Rocky Linux maintains binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, allowing easy migration for users who need a reliable and stable RHEL alternative.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source operating system, Rocky Linux provides transparency and the ability for anyone to audit, modify, or contribute to the code base.

Possible disadvantages of Rocky Linux

  • Younger Ecosystem
    Being relatively new compared to other enterprise Linux distributions, Rocky Linux has a smaller ecosystem and community, which may affect the availability of community resources and support.
  • Transition Challenges
    Organizations moving from CentOS or other Linux distributions may face challenges during the transition, especially if they rely on specific applications or scripts tied to their previous OS environment.
  • Limited Vendor Support
    Some enterprise software vendors may not officially support Rocky Linux, potentially complicating its use in certain enterprise environments where vendor support is crucial.

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.

Rocky Linux videos

Rocky Linux Review

More videos:

  • Review - Rocky Linux 8.3 RC Installation & how it came to be
  • Review - Rocky Linux 8.4 Review | DistroDelves S3:E2

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 Rocky Linux and Ubuntu)
Linux
8 8%
92% 92
Linux Distribution
8 8%
92% 92
Operating Systems
7 7%
93% 93
Open Source
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 Rocky Linux and Ubuntu

Rocky Linux Reviews

Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
Rocky Linux is a community-driven, enterprise-grade Linux distro designed to serve as a free and open alternative to CentOS Linux. It was created in response to the EOL announcement for CentOS. With a promise of bug-for-bug compatible to RHEL, Rocky Linux aims to provide a stable, reliable, and compatible platform for organizations and users who were previously relying on...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
The same applies to Rocky Linux, which is binary-compatible with RHEL. Rocky Linux is suitable for cloud and HPC and has only been available since 2021. Secure Boot provides the necessary security and stability.
Source: www.ionos.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 should be more popular than Rocky Linux. It has been mentiond 237 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.

Rocky Linux mentions (49)

  • CentOS Linux 7 will reach EOL on Sunday
    Some people have actually had good luck with Oracle Linux but that’s very much an individual (or corporate) choice to consider. Aside from that, Rocky Linux also seems like a great choice for many: https://rockylinux.org/ Some also say that AlmaLinux is pretty good: https://almalinux.org/ Personally, I found RPM distros to be quite stable but have largely moved over to Ubuntu LTS for servers (technically Debian... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • June 30th, 2024, will bring the End of Life (EOL) of CentOS Linux
    Rocky Linux is a fine successor to CentOS and was created by the original founder of CentOS, Gregory Kurtzer. https://rockylinux.org/ https://rockylinux.org/about/ If you need enterprise support RHEL tends to be a default choice. If you cannot afford RHEL or do not need enterprise support, Rocky Linux fills the role that CentOS once did. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • free download
    Also you can use Rocky Linux, it's very close! https://rockylinux.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • [Rant] On the stability of a Linux desktop
    Arch Linux is pretty solid on my end, gnome is a little buggy, nothing like fedora but if you're like my mother and don't want to set anything up I get it. There is Rocky linux if you want a RHEL experience and don't need the latest packages. I don't like Ubuntu but you could go that route. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Which Linux version should I instal for Houdini and nuke usage
    If you run into anny problems ask chat gpt. Https://rockylinux.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

Ubuntu mentions (237)

  • I Installed Omakub Five Times So You Can Do It Just Once
    Linux is a great system. Ubuntu is a fantastic distribution to start with because of its ease to install and setup. It's also intuitive and easy to use, especially when coming from Windows or MacOS. It is a free (as in speech) and open-source system that keeps you out of the grips of Microsoft or Apple. In particular, it's great for developers and especially for web development -- since your web app is likely also... - Source: dev.to / 7 days ago
  • 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 / 3 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
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

AlmaLinux - An open-source RHEL fork built by the team at CloudLinux, inspired by the community.

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.

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

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