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Ubuntu VS Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Compare Ubuntu VS Red Hat Enterprise Linux and see what are their differences

Ubuntu logo Ubuntu

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

Red Hat Enterprise Linux logo Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is an open source operating system that is certified on hundreds of clouds & with thousands of hardware & software vendors.
  • Ubuntu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-22

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.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux features and specs

  • Stability
    Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is known for its stability and reliability, making it suitable for critical business environments that require consistent performance.
  • Support
    RHEL offers comprehensive, professional support including security patches, regular updates, and incident resolution, which is crucial for enterprise operations.
  • Security
    RHEL includes robust security measures like SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux), which provides advanced access control policies to protect your environment.
  • Ecosystem
    RHEL is part of a large ecosystem of Red Hat products, allowing seamless integration with other enterprise tools and services, such as Ansible, OpenShift, and Satellite.
  • Certification and Compliance
    RHEL is certified for various industry standards and compliance requirements, making it a suitable choice for organizations with strict regulatory needs.
  • Long-term Support Lifecycle
    RHEL includes a long support lifecycle with extended support options, ensuring stability over many years with planned release cycles.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Red Hat offers thorough and well-maintained documentation that helps administrators and developers find solutions quickly.

Possible disadvantages of Red Hat Enterprise Linux

  • Cost
    RHEL's subscription model can be expensive, especially for small to medium-sized businesses or startups that may have limited budgets.
  • Complexity
    The extensive feature set and configuration options can be overwhelming, requiring significant expertise to manage effectively.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    RHEL's proprietary tools and services could lead to vendor lock-in, making it more challenging to switch to other platforms or solutions.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    While RHEL supports a wide range of hardware, there can be compatibility issues with some newer or less common hardware types.
  • Learning Curve
    Users new to RHEL or without prior Linux experience might face a steep learning curve due to the sheer amount of functionalities and configurations.
  • Community Support
    Though RHEL has a dedicated support team, community support is not as extensive or accessible compared to other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian.
  • Deployment Speed
    Due to its focus on stability and enterprise features, deploying and setting up a RHEL system can be a more time-consuming process than some other distributions.

Analysis of Ubuntu

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Ubuntu is generally considered a good operating system, particularly for those seeking a cost-effective, robust, and secure alternative to other operating systems like Windows or macOS.

Why this product is good

  • Ubuntu is a popular Linux distribution known for its user-friendliness, stability, and strong community support. It is a free open-source operating system that regularly receives updates and security patches, contributing to its reliability. Additionally, Ubuntu offers extensive documentation, making it accessible for beginners and versatile enough for advanced users.

Recommended for

  • Beginners looking to explore Linux due to its user-friendly graphical interface.
  • Developers and IT professionals preferring a stable and open-source environment.
  • Individuals and organizations seeking a secure OS for servers and cloud computing.
  • Users who require software tools available on a Linux platform and prefer regular updates.
  • Students and researchers needing access to scientific and development tools.

Analysis of Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Red Hat Enterprise Linux is widely regarded as a good choice for enterprises and organizations due to its stability, comprehensive support, and security features. While it may require a subscription, the value it provides in terms of support, updates, and security makes it a worthy investment, especially for businesses with critical operations.

Why this product is good

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is considered a robust and reliable operating system due to its stability, enterprise-grade support, and security features. It is built on a strong foundation of open-source software, ensuring regular updates and improvements. RHEL provides a comprehensive ecosystem with extensive documentation, tools for automation, and integration with other Red Hat products, which enhance its usability in complex IT environments. Its long-term support lifecycle makes it a preferred choice for enterprise projects and businesses seeking consistent performance and reduced downtime.

Recommended for

  • Enterprises requiring stable and secure operating systems
  • Organizations needing long-term support and maintenance
  • IT environments with critical workloads and applications
  • Businesses that benefit from comprehensive technical support and consulting services
  • Companies looking to integrate or leverage a broad ecosystem of open-source solutions

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

Red Hat Enterprise Linux videos

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 overview | security functionality and performance for IT environments

More videos:

  • Review - An Overview of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 #RedHat8

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise Linux)
Linux
91 91%
9% 9
Operating Systems
91 91%
9% 9
Linux Distribution
91 91%
9% 9
Security & Privacy
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 Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise Linux

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

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Reviews

Finding the Best Linux Distro for Your Organization
In the latest news, Red Hat’s recent move to restrict access to the source code of their Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) distribution has sparked significant attention. RHEL-compatible, alternative open source projects such as Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux were affected, and companies such as Oracle have voiced their perspectives and declared their commitment to maintaining...
The best Linux distributions (operating systems)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is the market leader among the enterprise Linux distributions. The operating system is suitable for desktop, server, cloud, and virtual machines and offers extensive and paid support. RHEL is stable and relies on long lifecycles. Usage is comparatively simple.
Source: www.ionos.com
Best Top 20 Ubuntu Linux Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
Fedora Linux is produced by the Fedora Project, a non-profit organization supported by Red Hat, an IBM subsidiary. Fedora is a free and open-source operating system that strives to be at the forefront of free technology. It is the upstream source of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Ubuntu seems to be more popular. 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.

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 / 18 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 / 5 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 / 6 months ago
View more

Red Hat Enterprise Linux mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux yet. Tracking of Red Hat Enterprise Linux recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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