In this article, we will be comparing Ubuntu vs Opensuse and will see which one is best suited for you. Deciding which is the best Linux distro completely depends on the user’s needs.
Ubuntu vs Opensuse
Ubuntu is a free and open-source operating system suitable for both beginners and advanced users. It was released in 2004 by Canonical Ltd. It is a very popular distro as it is very user-friendly and its long-term support. It has three editions:-
- Ubuntu Desktop
- Ubuntu Server
- Ubuntu Core
OpenSUSE is an Open-source operating system developed by OpenSUSE Project and was released in 2005. OpenSUSE is also called ‘The Maker’s choice’ for system admins, desktop users, and developers. OpenSUSE has two versions:
- OpenSUSE Leap
- OpenSUSE Tumbleweed
Let’s discuss the differences between Ubuntu and OpenSUSE on the following factors:
1. Installation – Ubuntu vs Opensuse
Ubuntu is very easy to install, even for beginners. It comes with a graphical installer and the process is quite straightforward. It is called ‘Linux for Human Beings’. For users who are switching to Linux from Windows or Mac, Ubuntu is the best option.
As compared to Ubuntu, OpenSUSE is a bit complicated in the case of installation. While partitioning disks, it gives an option to choose from a list of plans for partitioning and that makes it too confusing.
2. Desktop Environment – Ubuntu vs Opensuse
Ubuntu comes with GNOME installed by default. However, It supports many other desktop environments like Budgie, LXDE, Cinnamon, Mate, Xfce, etc. You can install other Desktop environments manually if you want. GNOME is a very good desktop environment used by many Linux distros. Though, It does not have a lot of customization but gives a good look and feel.
OpenSUSE also uses the GNOME desktop environment by default. During installation, you have to choose from GNOME and KDE. It also supports other desktop environments like Cinnamon, Mate, Xfce, etc. You need to install them manually. Both use the same desktop environment so it depends on you which gives you a better feel.
3. Package Manager – Ubuntu vs Opensuse
Ubuntu is based on Debian so it mainly works with the .DEB packages. It has many package managers. First, Snap and APT are the two package managers used for installing, managing, and removing the packages. It also uses Synaptics which comes with a great UI that does not require writing any command to install packages.
OpenSUSE, on the other hand, comes with RPM and Zypper that are command-line package managers to handle basic package management. YaST is another package manager used by OpenSUSE. It is mainly used for OS installation. It gives a very good feeling, especially for beginners who are not so familiar with command lines.
4. Release Cycle – Ubuntu vs Opensuse
Ubuntu rolls out its ‘Long Term Support’ (LTS) releases every two years in April. The latest Long Term Support version is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. It also rolls out its interim releases every six months but they don’t get long-term support.
OpenSUSE has two variants: OpenSUSE Leap and OpenSUSE Tumbleweed.
- OpenSUSE Leap has a rolling release that always remains updated to the latest release.
- OpenSUSE Tumbleweed rolls out its releases every 12 months (minor release) and every 36-48 months (major release).
Both Ubuntu and OpenSUSE are stable, reliable and gives better performance though OpenSUSE is more stable and also very lightweight for servers.
5. System Requirements – Ubuntu vs Opensuse
Ubuntu is compatible with almost all devices and has modest system requirements. It recommends a minimum of 2GB RAM, 25GB Storage, and a 2GHz dual-core processor. If you have an old device with low hardware, You can install Xubuntu or LUbuntu which are lightweight desktop systems.
OpenSUSE is not so popular as it should be, It still has many users. It requires a minimum of 1GB RAM (However, 2GB RAM is recommended), 10GB storage for minimal installation and 16GB storage is recommended for Graphical installation, and Pentium 4.1GHz processor ( or AMD64 or Intel64 processor).
6. Community Support – Ubuntu vs Opensuse
Ubuntu has very large community support, It provides various sources like Ubuntu Wiki, Ubuntu Forums, and Ask Ubuntu. There are many other community forums so no need to worry if you are stuck somewhere.
OpenSUSE also has a very active user community and forums. It offers official documentation, Support, OpenSUSE community, OpenSUSE Forums. Both Ubuntu and OpenSUSE have very active community support.
Conclusion
We have discussed the key differences between Ubuntu and OpenSUSE on various factors. Now, It completely depends on your requirements that which is best suited for you. If you have a home computer or you are a beginner, Ubuntu is the best option. OpenSUSE is quite hard to learn as compared to Ubuntu. However, both are the best Linux distributions among all the Linux distros.