Fedora Linux vs Ubuntu Server
| Fedora Linux | Ubuntu Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Paid from | Free | $2.08/mo |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux, self-hosted | Linux, self-hosted |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Device types | Desktop computers, laptops, servers, cloud virtual machines, IoT devices | servers, virtual machines, cloud instances, IoT/edge devices |
| CPU architectures | x86_64, aarch64; Fedora CoreOS also supports s390x | amd64, arm64, armhf, ppc64el, riscv64, s390x |
| Support lifecycle | Fedora Workstation versions are updated for approximately 13 months; each release is maintained until one month after two subsequent releases. | LTS: five years standard security maintenance; Ubuntu Pro extends coverage to 10 years, with Legacy add-on extending it to 15 years. |
| Built-in management | DNF package management; PackageKit update notifications; automatic update capability | Landscape centralized estate management; Kernel Livepatch; security updates and hardening |
| App compatibility | Install applications from Fedora repositories, Flathub, or other sources; RPM package management | Ubuntu package repositories (Main and Universe); cloud images; server ISO installation |
| Deployment models | Physical device installation, live USB testing, cloud images, and container base images | physical server, virtual machine, public/private/hybrid cloud, cloud image, IoT/edge device |
Both are listed in Best Operating Systems. On Everything Xiaomi, Ubuntu Server scores higher on our published basis.