Whenever a newcomer drops into the Linux world, he or she gets bombarded with hundreds of different flavors of Linux, known as distros. Ubuntu has been a raining champion for a while now but what about AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu? And so, Linux enthusiasts always create comparison guides on the go.
Contents
Today, we will see another distro battle between AlmaLinux and Ubuntu. We’ll see how each stacks in different metrics and give our final verdict. This will help you to select the best one for you.
We already compared AlmaLinux with Rocky Linux previously. However, let’s find out how AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu stacks up.
AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu – which is right for you?
AlmaLinux and Ubuntu are popular Linux distributions with unique features and target different users. AlmaLinux, based on RHEL, provides stability and support for enterprise environments.
Ubuntu, based on Debian, offers a user-friendly interface, extensive software support, and a large community. Both distributions have different package managers and software availability.
AlmaLinux inherits RHEL’s security features, while Ubuntu emphasizes user-centric features and regular updates. Both have active communities for support and resources. The choice depends on specific requirements and preferences.
Now, let’s look at some other factors in the AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu equation.
User-friendliness
AlmaLinux provides a guided installation process where you can simply choose a few settings before the installation starts. They have a software center, but you won’t get the best experience. There isn’t much software to choose from in the software center. Searching also doesn’t help find what you’re looking for. The general way to install and update packages is to use the terminal.
Ubuntu is targeted toward newbie Linux users. Hence, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly distros out there. Even if you have never installed Linux before, the guided installation wizard makes it a matter of making choices. The GUI is simple for anyone to get started. There’s a dedicated software center that makes installing software a breeze. Updating packages requires you only to press a button.
Software Availability – AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu
According to pkgs.org, AlmaLinux 9 AppStream repo contains about 6500 packages. The BaseOS repo contains over 1200 packages. It also has access to the Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) repo, which contains about 17000 packages.
The Ubuntu Universe repo contains about 59,000 packages, making Ubuntu one of the largest distros for available software.
Hardware Compatibility – AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu
You can install AlmaLinux on both BIOS and UEFI firmware interfaces. It supports four different architectures: Intel/AMD (x86_64), ARM64 (aarch64), IBM PowerPC (ppc64le), and IBM Z (s390x).
Ubuntu also supports various architectures, including Intel x86 (i386), AMD64 (x86_64), 64-bit ARM SoCs (System on Chip), IBM’s POWER8 (ppc64el), S390X (IBM Mainframe Systems)
System Resources Requirement – AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu
Here are the basic system requirements. This will help us to decide the light with OS that can run on your outdated computer hardware.
AlmaLinux requires you to have the following system:
- Disk space: 10GB minimum, 20GB recommended
- Minimum 1.5 GB RAM
- A USB flash drive of size 8GB as a minimum (12GB or more is recommended)
For Ubuntu, you will need:
- 2 GHz dual-core processor
- 4 GB RAM (system memory)
- 25 GB (8.6 GB for minimal) of hard-drive space (or USB stick, memory card, or external drive, but see LiveCD for an alternative approach)
- VGA capable of 1024×768 screen resolution
- Either a CD/DVD drive or a USB port for the installer media
- (Optional) Internet access
Community Support – AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu
The AlmaLinux community contains everything you need to get support. Well-structured documentation, a discourse group known as Forums, Mailing Lists, Mattermost Community Chat, IRC Real Time Chat, a Discord community, and a Reddit community of about 5k members are some of the options you can look forward to when you need help regarding this distro.
Ubuntu, being one of the most popular distros, has immense community support. The documentation is rich and extensive. You have IRC channels to join to ask about particular topics and get assistance. Ubuntu Discourse is another place for community discussion for current activities. For technical support, you can always visit Ubuntu Forums and AskUbuntu.
Update and Release Cycle – AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu
AlmaLinux publishes new updates whenever there’s a new update of RHEL is available. It can take up to 1 business day. Major releases and updates, however, may take a few weeks to a few months after RHEL does a major release. You get 10 years of support like RHEL.
Ubuntu has the traditional release cycle. They have mainly two release models. The first one is the Long-Term Support (LTS) version, which is released every two years. You get 5 years of support for the LTS version and an additional 5 years if you go for Ubuntu Pro. The other ones are interim releases coming out every six months between two LTS versions. These non-LTS versions receive support for 9 months.
Security – AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu
AlmaLinux provides frequent security updates and bug fixes. Moreover, they provide you with many security packages and tools, such as OpenSCAP, Errata, and public OVAL streams. You also get SCAP Workbench packages, such as the availability of the official CIS Benchmark for AlmaLinux. Another noteworthy mention is the Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) integration in their build pipeline.
Ubuntu has followed all security best practices since the beginning. Rapid security updates, out-of-the-box secure software packages, and hardening at scale all make Ubuntu a secure choice. The Canonical Livepatch service provides any major kernel issues fixes without needing to reboot your device.
Here is the video review of the Ubuntu desktop environment:
Default Desktop Environment – AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu
AlmaLinux 9 uses GNOME Shell as default. However, you can also easily switch to the Classic Mode. While logging in, you may choose Classic Mode from the settings on the bottom right corner of the screen. The desktop GUI is quite clean and modern looking.
Ubuntu has GNOME as its default desktop environment. GNOME is well-known for ease of use and for giving desktops a modern look and feel. This DE deeply focuses on productivity and accessibility.
Pre-installed Applications
AlmaLinux comes with only basic and bare minimum tools and utilities you’ll need to operate it. This includes monitoring tools, security tools, media players, document viewer, etc. Of course, you can choose your software stack during installation.
Ubuntu comes with the most common software you’ll need in any profession. So Ubuntu pre-installed them whether you’re a developer, a student, or need productivity tasks. Some apps include LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Transmission, and classical games.
Final Thoughts
And that ends our comparison of AlmaLinux vs Ubuntu. Both distros offer some unique features that cater to the target users.
Ubuntu is better suited to people new to Linux and needs a distro to get started. It’s better used for regular use on personal desktops and laptops.
AlmaLinux, on the other hand, is more suited for Enterprise environments. Thanks to its binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, it has gained fame quickly among organizations and companies.
