Fedora vs Ubuntu
Fedora draws more interest (#7 vs #9).
you like KDE Plasma and lots of settings.
you're new to Linux.
| Fedora #7 · RPM | Ubuntu #9 · Debian | |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity rank (12 months) | 7 | 9 |
| Rank last month | 3 | 7 |
| Index | 297 | 296 |
| Family | RPM | Debian |
| Based on | - | Debian |
| First released | 2003 | 2004 |
| Latest release | 45 | 26.10 |
| Supported until | Dec 2027 | Jul 2027 |
| GitHub stars | 1,383 | - |
| Commits, last 30 days | 6 | - |
| Telemetry (OS default) | Anonymous count, on by default | Off unless you opt in |
Pros and cons
Fedora
Good
- Recent software on a predictable six-month cycle
- Close to upstream GNOME and KDE
- Early adopter of new Linux tech (Wayland, PipeWire, Btrfs)
Trade-offs
- Each release is supported for only about 13 months
- Patented media codecs need extra setup
- Version upgrades twice a year
Ubuntu
Good
- The most documented desktop Linux
- LTS releases supported for years
- Widely supported by commercial software and hardware vendors
Trade-offs
- Snap packages are the default for some apps, which some users dislike
- Stock GNOME is customised in ways that differ from upstream
- LTS software ages between releases
Questions
Is Fedora or Ubuntu more popular?
Fedora draws more interest over the last 12 months (#7 vs #9 in our popularity ranking). That measures interest, not installs.
Which is better for beginners, Fedora or Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is the easier start: it's aimed at people new to Linux. Fedora expects some Linux experience.
Does Fedora or Ubuntu collect telemetry?
Fedora sends an anonymous count by default (you can turn it off). Ubuntu: off unless you opt in. Apps you install have their own settings.
Rankings from our composite index: English Wikipedia article views, DistroWatch page hits, GitHub stars and views on this site, built 2026-11-12. All of these measure interest, not installs. Repository activity from GitHub. Ratings come from signed-in LinuxStatistics users. "Pick if", pros and cons are LinuxStatistics editorial notes based on each project's own documentation. Release dates and support from endoflife.date (CC BY-SA 4.0).