Ubuntu
The default answer to 'which Linux' for two decades: polite, documented, slightly pushy about snaps.
Facts
- Family
- ubuntu
- Based on
- Debian
- Release model
- LTS every two years, five years of support
- Current
- 26.04.1 LTS
- Init system
- systemd
- Default desktop
- GNOME 50
- NVIDIA
- Offered in the installer or through Additional Drivers.
- Systemd-free
- No
- 32-bit support
- No
- As of
- 2026-10-09
On the DistroWatch top 10
The default answer, with strong opinions included.
Ubuntu is Canonical's distribution, first released as 4.10 Warty Warthog on 2004-10-20. The current long-term release is 26.04.1, Resolute Raccoon, from August 2026, and the next, 26.10 Stonking Stingray, reached beta on 2026-10-01, which is why the entry expires when the final lands. The recommended hardware is 6 GB of RAM and 25 GB of disk. In July 2026 a Rust replacement for cp broke Ubuntu's own ISO builds, and GNU cp was restored. Nobody was harmed: a rewrite met a build pipeline and the pipeline won. Ubuntu is the answer most guides give, for reasons that include documentation, hardware support, and being the answer most guides give.
How the chooser scores it
Scores run from 1 to 5, and 5 is best for the user. They are opinion with a spreadsheet.
- StabilityStability: 4 out of 5
- Easy installEasy install: 5 out of 5
- Daily comfortDaily comfort: 4 out of 5
- Docs and helpDocs and help: 5 out of 5
- Fresh softwareFresh software: 3 out of 5
- GamingGaming: 4 out of 5
- DevelopmentDevelopment: 5 out of 5
- Old hardwareOld hardware: 2 out of 5
- ControlControl: 3 out of 5
- LightnessLightness: 2 out of 5
- NVIDIA, recent cardsNVIDIA, recent cards: 5 out of 5
- NVIDIA, older cardsNVIDIA, older cards: 4 out of 5
Caveats
- Several apps arrive as snaps whether you asked or not.
- Plan on about 6 GB of RAM to be comfortable, and expect the occasional Ubuntu Pro nudge.
Community
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