Ubuntu Server vs Amazon Linux

Ubuntu Server9.4Visit Amazon Linux8.9Visit

Higher score Ubuntu Server #1 in Server Operating System 9.4/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Ubuntu Server

vs

Amazon Linux #6 in Server Operating System 8.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit AWS

• Ubuntu Server fits best

  Broad server deployments needing low-cost enterprise Linux

• Amazon Linux fits best

  AWS-native EC2 and container workloads

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Side by side

Feature	Ubuntu Server 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Amazon Linux 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.9
Ranking	#1 in Server Operating System	#6 in Server Operating System
Best for	Broad server deployments needing low-cost enterprise Linux	AWS-native EC2 and container workloads
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	$25/device/yr	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Self-hosted, Cloud	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux	Linux
Support	Docs, Community · 24/7	Tickets, Community
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Ubuntu Server 0/4 · Amazon Linux 0/4
Long-term support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Live kernel patching	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Container tooling	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Commercial support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
License model	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Architecture support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Management interface	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free LTS releases include five years of standard security maintenance. Supports six architectures and physical, virtual, cloud and edge deployments. Pro adds Landscape management, Livepatch and wider package security maintenance.	Free to run, with EC2 AMIs and Docker-compatible container images Versioned repositories support deterministic package updates Systems Manager supports fleet kernel update management
Cons	Standard LTS security maintenance lasts five years without Ubuntu Pro. Ubuntu Pro Server with unlimited VMs costs $500 per machine per year. Landscape and Livepatch are part of the Pro offering, not the free OS.	Its strongest fit is AWS, not heterogeneous infrastructure AWS Support Plans do not cover AL2023 images used outside AWS EC2 and other AWS services still incur charges
Our verdict	Ubuntu Server is an open-source Linux operating system for running workloads on physical servers, virtual machines, cloud instances and IoT or edge devices. Its deployment options include a server ISO and cloud images, and it supports… Read the review →	Amazon Linux 2023 (AL2023) is a general-purpose, RPM-based Linux distribution designed for workloads on AWS. It suits teams running Amazon EC2 instances or Docker container workloads, including local development, who want an operating… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Ubuntu Server — where it wins

  • Free LTS releases include five years of standard security maintenance.
  • Supports six architectures and physical, virtual, cloud and edge deployments.
  • Pro adds Landscape management, Livepatch and wider package security maintenance.

  Where it doesn't

  • Standard LTS security maintenance lasts five years without Ubuntu Pro.
  • Ubuntu Pro Server with unlimited VMs costs $500 per machine per year.
  • Landscape and Livepatch are part of the Pro offering, not the free OS.

• Amazon Linux — where it wins

  • Free to run, with EC2 AMIs and Docker-compatible container images
  • Versioned repositories support deterministic package updates
  • Systems Manager supports fleet kernel update management

  Where it doesn't

  • Its strongest fit is AWS, not heterogeneous infrastructure
  • AWS Support Plans do not cover AL2023 images used outside AWS
  • EC2 and other AWS services still incur charges

• Ubuntu Server9.4/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  Free, multi-architecture Linux with five years of LTS maintenance and optional Pro services.

  Visit Ubuntu ServerFull verdict →
• Amazon Linux8.9/10 · Free plan

  A free, AWS-focused Linux distribution with controlled updates and EC2 and container images.

  Visit AWSFull verdict →