Ubuntu Server vs SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Ubuntu Server9.4Visit SUSE Linux Enterprise Server9.1Visit

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

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server #4 in Server Operating System 9.1/10 60-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit SUSE

• Ubuntu Server fits best

  Broad server deployments needing low-cost enterprise Linux

• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server fits best

  Enterprises needing supported, managed Linux infrastructure

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Side by side

Feature	Ubuntu Server 9.4/10 Visit ↗	SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.1
Ranking	#1 in Server Operating System	#4 in Server Operating System
Best for	Broad server deployments needing low-cost enterprise Linux	Enterprises needing supported, managed Linux infrastructure
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$25/device/yr	$54/unit/yr
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	30 days	60 days
Free trial length	30 days	60 days
Deployment	Self-hosted, Cloud	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux	Linux
Support	Docs, Community · 24/7	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets · 24/7
Compliance	PCI DSS	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Ubuntu Server 0/4 · SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 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.	Live patching applies security fixes without rebooting. Snapshots and rollback help recover from system changes. Runs across physical, virtualized, cloud, and edge environments.
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.	There is no free plan; subscriptions are paid. Standard support access is 12x5, not 24x7. Listed prices vary by architecture, sockets/IFLs, and entitlement.
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 →	SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is a commercial Linux operating system for organizations running business-critical server workloads. Its deployment options cover on-premises physical servers, virtual machines, public, private, hybrid, and… 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.

• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server — where it wins

  • Live patching applies security fixes without rebooting.
  • Snapshots and rollback help recover from system changes.
  • Runs across physical, virtualized, cloud, and edge environments.

  Where it doesn't

  • There is no free plan; subscriptions are paid.
  • Standard support access is 12x5, not 24x7.
  • Listed prices vary by architecture, sockets/IFLs, and entitlement.

• 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 →
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server9.1/10 · 60-day trial

  A supported Linux server OS with live patching, rollback, and multi-cloud deployment.

  Visit SUSEFull verdict →