Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu Server: Free, multi-architecture Linux with five years of LTS maintenance and optional Pro services. Ranked #1 of 29 in Server Operating System by our editors (9.4/10); pricing: Free plan · 30-day trial; best for broad server deployments needing low-cost enterprise Linux.
At a glance
- Editor score9.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 30-day trial
- Best forBroad server deployments needing low-cost enterprise Linux
- Free planYes
- Paid from$25/device/yr
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
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.
Our verdict on Ubuntu Server
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 amd64, arm64, armhf, ppc64el, riscv64 and s390x. That breadth makes it a fit for teams that want a common server OS across varied infrastructure, from smaller environments to data centers. The standard Ubuntu Server plan is free and includes five years of security and maintenance updates for LTS releases.
The main distinction is between the free OS and Ubuntu Pro subscriptions. According to the published plan details, Ubuntu Pro Workstation costs $25 per machine per year, while Ubuntu Pro Server with unlimited VMs costs $500 per machine per year. The Server plan adds an Ubuntu Pro subscription for a server with unlimited VMs; Pro also adds security maintenance for a wider open-source package stack, security hardening and compliance profiles. Free Ubuntu Pro Personal and Community subscriptions are also listed, for personal use and active Ubuntu community members respectively. Ubuntu Pro and its plan names should be checked against the intended server deployment before budgeting, since the $25 starting price is for the Workstation subscription, not the unlimited-VM Server plan.
For ongoing administration, Landscape provides centralized estate monitoring and management, while Kernel Livepatch applies kernel security patches while the system is running. Ubuntu Pro extends LTS security coverage to 10 years, with a Legacy add-on extending it to 15 years. These are useful additions for teams managing fleets or seeking longer maintenance and compliance options, but they are separate from the core free OS. Choose Ubuntu Server if free access, broad architecture support and deployment flexibility are central; consider another fit if the requirement is for a single included service level with extended maintenance and fleet tools at no subscription cost.
Your product? Our editors can test Ubuntu Server in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Ubuntu Server pricing
All 5 Ubuntu Server plans and prices →
Ubuntu Server fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $25/device/yr |
| License model | Not verified |
| Architecture support | Not verified |
| Management interface | Not verified |
| Long-term support | Not verified |
| Live kernel patching | Not verified |
| Container tooling | Not verified |
| Commercial support | Not verified |
| Free trial | 30 days |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Cloud |
| Platforms | Linux |
| Compliance & security | PCI DSS |
| Support | Docs, Community · 24/7 |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan · 30-day trial (source) |
| Website | ubuntu.com |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Ubuntu Server
- DebianA stable, broadly compatible server OS with APT, security updates and cloud images.9.3
- AlmaLinux OSA free RHEL-compatible Linux distribution for servers, cloud, containers and more.9.2
- SUSE Linux Enterprise ServerA supported Linux server OS with live patching, rollback, and multi-cloud deployment.9.1
See all Ubuntu Server alternatives →
Ubuntu Server vs the competition
- Ubuntu Server vs Debian
- Ubuntu Server vs AlmaLinux OS
- Ubuntu Server vs SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
- Ubuntu Server vs Rocky Linux
- Ubuntu Server vs Amazon Linux
- Ubuntu Server vs CentOS Stream
Compare Ubuntu Server with any tool side by side →
Used Ubuntu Server? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Ubuntu Server for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Ubuntu Server is listed in our Server Operating System directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/ubuntu-server/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/ubuntu-server.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update