Pop!_OS vs Ubuntu Server
| Pop!_OS | Ubuntu Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Paid from | — | $2.08/mo |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux | Linux, self-hosted |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Device types | Computers, laptops, desktops, workstations; ARM computers | servers, virtual machines, cloud instances, IoT/edge devices |
| CPU architectures | 64-bit x86; ARM64 | amd64, arm64, armhf, ppc64el, riscv64, s390x |
| Support lifecycle | LTS release; the vendor describes Pop!_OS updates as continuous but does not state a specific support duration on the cited product pages. | 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 | COSMIC Store app updates; OS Upgrade & Recovery; terminal package updates and upgrades; Repoman repository management | Landscape centralized estate management; Kernel Livepatch; security updates and hardening |
| App compatibility | Flatpak; .deb packages via apt/dpkg; Ubuntu-compatible software | Ubuntu package repositories (Main and Universe); cloud images; server ISO installation |
| Deployment models | Install on physical computers from ISO/USB; live USB environment | 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.