Ubuntu Pro is a version of Ubuntu that prioritizes uptime and security for enterprise businesses, offered as a subscription service. This specialized version offers enhanced security and maintenance services while minimizing critical downtime, making it ideal for use in public clouds and by large companies.



With features such as Kernel Livepatch service, FIPS 140 certified crypto modules and expanded security maintenance, Ubuntu Pro's subscription fee is recommended for companies that require uninterrupted server or desktop service. In contrast, casual Linux users may prefer the free version of Ubuntu without any subscription fee.

The cost for Ubuntu Pro varies between $500 to $3,400, depending on the enterprise's specific requirements. Overall, Ubuntu Pro provides greater security, stability and uptime, making it the perfect choice for big businesses who value these factors.

Ubuntu Pro includes Livepatch, a tool designed to fix critical vulnerabilities in the kernel runtime environment and minimize the need for sudden server reboots.

In addition, Ubuntu Pro is available on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud platforms for an hourly charge of approximately 3.5% of the average base cost of computing, making it accessible to a wide range of businesses.

For official Ubuntu community members, Ubuntu Pro grants access to up to 50 hosts for free. Subscribing to Ubuntu Pro for a workstation costs $25 per year, while subscribing for a server costs $500 annually. A 30-day free trial is also available for anyone interested in giving Ubuntu Pro a try.

Ubuntu Pro is a paid version of Ubuntu that comes with additional features and support for enterprise environments. It includes extended security maintenance, which provides longer support periods for critical security updates. It also includes a live kernel patching service that allows you to apply kernel updates without rebooting your system. In addition, Ubuntu Pro offers 24/7 support, with access to Canonical's support team for assistance with any issues you may encounter.

On the other hand, Free Ubuntu, also known as the community edition, is the standard version of Ubuntu that is freely available for anyone to use. It includes all the core features and benefits of Ubuntu but does not come with the extended support and additional services provided by Ubuntu Pro.

points to consider when comparing Ubuntu Pro and Free Ubuntu:

1. Extended Security Maintenance: Ubuntu Pro provides extended security maintenance, which means you get security updates and patches for a longer period compared to the community edition. This can be crucial in enterprise environments where system uptime and protection against vulnerabilities are critical.

2. Live Kernel Patching: One unique feature of Ubuntu Pro is its live kernel patching service. It allows you to apply important kernel updates without having to reboot your system, ensuring uninterrupted operation of your applications.

3. 24/7 Support: Ubuntu Pro subscribers have access to 24/7 support from Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. This can be valuable for businesses that require prompt assistance in case of technical issues or need guidance in using Ubuntu in their specific workflows.

4. Licensing and Usage: Free Ubuntu is released under an open-source license, allowing users to modify, distribute, and use it freely. On the other hand, Ubuntu Pro has a commercial license and is designed for businesses that want additional services and support.

5. Cost: While Free Ubuntu is available at no cost, Ubuntu Pro is a paid offering. The pricing depends on factors such as the number of systems, support level, and subscription length. The additional features and support provided by Ubuntu Pro come at a cost, so it's important to evaluate if these benefits justify the investment for your specific use case.

6. Certification and Compatibility: Ubuntu Pro is certified by various hardware and software vendors, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of systems and applications. This can be advantageous for enterprises that require specific certifications or compatibility guarantees.

7. Long-term Support (LTS) Releases: Both Ubuntu Pro and Free Ubuntu have LTS releases that provide long-term support and stability. However, Ubuntu Pro offers extended security maintenance beyond the standard LTS period, providing an additional level of support for critical environments.

8. Container Support: Ubuntu Pro includes features specifically targeted at containerized workloads, such as Kubernetes integration and optimized container runtime environments. This can be beneficial for organizations adopting containerization technologies.

9. Management Tools: Ubuntu Pro includes tools like Landscape, which is a management and monitoring service that allows for centralized control and visibility of Ubuntu deployments. This can simplify administration and scalability for enterprise environments.

10. Ecosystem and Community: While both Ubuntu Pro and Free Ubuntu are part of the larger Ubuntu ecosystem, the community edition benefits from a larger user base and community support. The community provides forums, documentation, and resources that can be valuable for resolving issues and finding solutions.

11. Patch Management: With Ubuntu Pro, you have access to the Canonical Livepatch service, which allows for automated patching of critical vulnerabilities without the need for system reboots. This can help in maintaining system uptime and reducing disruptions.

12. Legal Assurance: Ubuntu Pro provides additional legal assurance by including indemnification against intellectual property claims, which may be important for certain enterprise environments that require protection against potential legal issues.

13. Usage Scenarios: Ubuntu Pro is primarily designed for enterprise use cases where organizations require enhanced security, extended support, and commercial-grade services. Free Ubuntu, on the other hand, is well-suited for personal and community usage, as well as small-scale deployments that don't require extensive support or additional features.

14. Automation and Orchestration: Ubuntu Pro offers integration with tools like Juju and MAAS, which facilitate automation, orchestration, and deployment of complex infrastructure and application environments. This can be beneficial for organizations with large-scale deployments and complex infrastructure needs.

15. Updates and New Features: Both Ubuntu Pro and Free Ubuntu receive regular updates and new feature releases. However, Ubuntu Pro may have a slight advantage in terms of receiving some features and updates earlier due to its commercial nature and focus on enterprise needs.

16. Support for Cloud and Virtualization: Ubuntu Pro includes features and optimizations for cloud deployments and virtualization platforms like AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and VMware. This can be advantageous if you are running your infrastructure or applications in these environments.

17. Compliance and Security Audits: Ubuntu Pro provides additional tools and capabilities for compliance management and security audits. This can be important for businesses operating in regulated industries or those that need to meet specific security standards.

18. Integration with Other Canonical Products: Ubuntu Pro seamlessly integrates with other products and services from Canonical, such as Ubuntu Advantage, Landscape, and the Ubuntu Certified Hardware program. These integrations can provide comprehensive support and management options across your Ubuntu deployments.

19. Package Repository Access: Both Ubuntu Pro and Free Ubuntu have access to the same extensive package repository, which offers a wide range of software applications and libraries. Users of both versions can leverage the vast Ubuntu community and ecosystem for software support and troubleshooting.

20. Long-term Stability and Compatibility: Ubuntu Pro is designed to offer long-term stability, making it well-suited for environments where backward compatibility and system stability are crucial. This can be beneficial for enterprises that need to maintain compatibility with legacy systems or applications.

21. Customization and Configuration: Ubuntu Pro offers more options for customization and configuration compared to Free Ubuntu. This is particularly beneficial for organizations that require fine-grained control over their Ubuntu deployments, allowing them to tailor the system to their specific needs.

22. High Availability and Clustering: Ubuntu Pro includes features like high availability clustering, which allows for increased reliability and fault tolerance. This can be important for mission-critical systems that require continuous operation with minimal downtime.

23. Vendor Support and Partnerships: Ubuntu Pro benefits from partnerships and collaborations with hardware and software vendors, providing additional support and compatibility assurances. This can be advantageous for organizations that have specific hardware or software requirements.

24. Licensing Flexibility: While Free Ubuntu is released under an open-source license, Ubuntu Pro offers more licensing flexibility. This can be beneficial for businesses that necessitate specific licensing agreements or have requirements around intellectual property and copyright.

25. Easier Migration and Upgrades: Ubuntu Pro often provides smoother migration paths and easier upgrades compared to Free Ubuntu. This can be valuable when transitioning from older Ubuntu versions or when managing large-scale deployments that require seamless upgrades.

26. Commercial Applications and ISV Support: Ubuntu Pro includes additional support and features for the deployment and management of commercial applications. It offers enhanced compatibility and support for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), making it a suitable choice for organizations that rely on proprietary software solutions.

27. Performance Optimization: Ubuntu Pro may include performance optimizations, especially for specific workloads and enterprise environments. These optimizations can enhance system performance and efficiency, resulting in improved overall productivity and faster response times.

28. Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Ubuntu Pro comes with service level agreements (SLAs), which define the guaranteed response time and resolution time for support requests. This can be crucial for businesses that require prompt assistance and minimal downtime in case of critical issues.

29. Scalability and Enterprise Features: Ubuntu Pro often includes scalability features, such as load balancing, clustering, and advanced networking capabilities. These enterprise features can be valuable for organizations that operate at scale and require robust infrastructure to handle high loads and complex deployments.

30. Professional Services: Ubuntu Pro may offer professional services such as consulting, training, and workshops, providing additional guidance and expertise for organizations using Ubuntu in their environments. These services can help ensure successful implementation and optimal utilization of Ubuntu Pro.

31. Patch Management and Security Updates: Ubuntu Pro provides enhanced patch management and security updates, including extended support for critical security patches. This is particularly important for organizations that require a high level of security and want to mitigate vulnerabilities promptly.

32. Compliance and Regulatory Requirements: Ubuntu Pro may offer additional features and services to meet compliance and regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI DSS. This can be valuable for businesses that operate in regulated industries and need to comply with specific standards.

33. Performance Monitoring and Analytics: Ubuntu Pro may include performance monitoring and analytics tools, allowing organizations to gain insights into system performance, resource utilization, and application behavior. This can help optimize performance, troubleshoot issues, and plan capacity upgrades.

34. System Management and Administration Tools: Ubuntu Pro often includes advanced system management and administration tools, providing centralized control and streamlined operations. These tools can simplify tasks like software installation, configuration management, and system monitoring.

35. Infrastructure Automation: Ubuntu Pro may offer integration with automation tools like Ansible, Chef, or Puppet, enabling automated deployment, configuration, and management of infrastructure and applications. This can save time and effort for organizations with complex or dynamic environments.

36. Product Roadmap and Future Development: Ubuntu Pro often provides organizations with insights into the product roadmap and future development plans. This can be valuable for businesses that want to align their technology strategy with the direction of the Ubuntu platform.

37. Personalization and branding: Ubuntu Pro may offer customization options, allowing organizations to personalize their Ubuntu environment with custom branding, logos, and themes. This can be useful for businesses that want to maintain a consistent visual identity across their systems.

38. Priority Access to New Features: Ubuntu Pro subscribers often have priority access to new features and updates, ensuring they stay up to date with the latest advancements in the Ubuntu platform. This can be advantageous for organizations that want to leverage new capabilities as soon as they are available.

39. Commercial Software License Flexibility: Ubuntu Pro may provide flexibility in terms of commercial software licensing, enabling organizations to integrate proprietary software or access premium features that require separate licensing agreements. This can be important for businesses that rely on specific commercial applications.

40. Multi-cloud and Hybrid Cloud Capabilities: Ubuntu Pro is designed to seamlessly integrate with multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments, offering enhanced compatibility and functionality across different cloud platforms. This can be beneficial for organizations that operate in diverse cloud environments or adopt a hybrid cloud strategy.

41. Vendor-backed Certification and Support: Ubuntu Pro often includes vendor-backed certifications and support, providing assurance that your Ubuntu environment is certified and supported by Canonical. This can be valuable for organizations that require compliance with specific industry standards or need official support for their deployments.

42. Disaster Recovery and Backup Solutions: Ubuntu Pro may offer additional tools and services for disaster recovery and backup, ensuring that critical systems and data can be restored in case of unexpected outages or data loss. This can provide peace of mind and maintain business continuity.

Ubuntu Pro is here to save the day with its "enhanced" security features and "minimal" downtime. And by minimal, I mean you'll only experience downtime when you can't afford to pay the 500 to 3,400 subscription fee.
Canonical is just trying to milk the enterprise cash cow with this overpriced solution. But hey, if you're a big business with deep pockets, go ahead and throw your money at Ubuntu Pro.