Users with good programming skills prefer swapping from Windows to Linux OS for their work as Linux is considered more flexible and functional than Windows. These two Linux operating systems- Linux Mint vs Ubuntu are currently the most popular among the myriad range of Linux distro provided by the Linux community as both of them provide user-friendly interfaces that are actually helpful to the novice Linux users.
Both Linux Mint and Ubuntu are welcomed by their enthusiasts, but deciding which one is better is a matter of discussion. So, let’s find out which one would be the best option to work with. But before indulging into the comparison of Linux Mint vs Ubuntu, let’s get aware of some facts about them.
Linux Distro: Linux Mint Vs Ubuntu
Linux Mint Operating System
- Linux Mint OS is an open-source, free, and community-driven application, based on Ubuntu and Debian.
- It has been developed by Clement Lefebvre, Jamie Boo Birse, Kendall Weaver, and their community was initially released on 27th August 2006.
- The latest version of Linux Mint has been released on 27th June 2020 and this Linux Mint 20 is named as “Ulyana“.
- The default user-interfaces offered by Linux Mint are 1.0: KDE, 2.0-12: GNOME, 13-18.3: Cinnamon / MATE / KDE SC 4 / Xfce, 19-20: Cinnamon / MATE / Xfce.
- Get the latest version of Linux Mint.
Ubuntu Operating System
- Ubuntu Linux distro is a Linux OS, mostly comprises of free and open-source software and is based on Debian’s architecture and infrastructure.
- It has been developed by Canonical Limited and was released initially on 20th October 2004.
- Officially, it was released in three different editions: Server, Desktop, and Core for the Internet of things(IoT) devices and robots.
- The latest version of Ubuntu has been released on 23rd April 2020 and this Ubuntu 20.04 has been named “Focal Fossa“.
- The default user-interface provided by Ubuntu Linux distro is “GNOME“.
- Get the latest version of Ubuntu Linux OS.
Linux Mint vs Ubuntu- What’s The Difference?
So far we have seen some of the facts about both Linux Mint and Ubuntu which mainly comprise of the basic points such as who developed them, their release dates, default interfaces provided by them, and some of their key features.
Now, it’s time to explore more about them by comparing both, on different factors in detail so that you become capable of selecting the Linux OS that best suits your needs.
Linux Mint | Factors | Ubuntu |
| Linux Mint can run on a wide range of devices as its system requirement is minimal. The requirements are so less, that even an ancient or old hardware system could handle it. | System Requirements | Ubuntu can also run on a myriad range of devices but due to its default GNOME user-interface, it requires a bit more power and resources as compared to Linux Mint. |
| The Linux Mint installation process is quite similar to the Ubuntu installation process. It offers support for both the Ubiquity installer method and UEFI. | System Installation Process | Its installation process is the same as the Linux Mint installation process and also provides support for both the Ubiquity installer method and UEFI. |
| Various flavors of Linux Mint are available in the market, some of them are Cinnamon, KDE, Xfce, and MATE. The Fluxbox, GNOME, and LXDE versions of Linux Mint still have to be developed. | Software Flavours | Different flavors of Ubuntu such as Ubuntu GNOME, Kubuntu (KDE), Xubuntu (Xfce), Lubuntu (LXDE), and Ubuntu MATE are available in the market along with original Ubuntu that comes with Unity. |
| Linux Mint is a bit old-fashioned still it runs faster on newer as well as older hardware commendably. | Performance | Ubuntu default OS version runs faster on the current high-end hardware system but not recommended to be used on older devices. For ancient hardware, it will be better to use Lubuntu or Xubuntu flavors of Ubuntu. |
| The Software Management System of Linux Mint is quick, fast, and straightforward and provides software under different categories to choose from. | Software Management System | The Software Management System of Ubuntu OS is slower as compared to Linux Mint and also take considerable time and resources to get loaded. The System Manager of Ubuntu also provides the software for different categories to choose the right one easily. |
| Linux Mint comes with Software source tools or manager, is much better as compared to Ubuntu’s one, and also provides more usability options for newbies than Ubuntu. These software source tools help newbies in resetting the PPAs repositories to its default state when they end-up messing the repositories while installing third-party software. It also helps in the automatic fixing of various common updates that come under the maintenance tab. | Software Source Tools or Manager | Ubuntu also comes with a software source tools or manager but it lacks all those new features such as resetting of PPA repository, automatic fixing of updates come under maintenance tab, and so on. |
| VLC and GIMP are some pre-installed software that Linux Mint provides. | Pre-installed Software | Ubuntu doesn’t provide VLC and GIMP as pre-installed software, so for using them, you need to first install them. |
| Linux Mint comes with Cinnamon as its default GUI which is very much similar to windows GUI. The software’s icon appears on the bottom panel of the desktop along with the launcher menus on the bottom left and system icons on the right. | Default Interface | Ubuntu comes with Gnome as its default IDE in which the global menu and notification area appear on the top panel whereas some applications that are available in the dock can be launched directly from the Dash, by clicking on the existing icons on the left side of the screen. |
| Different settings provided by Linux Mint allows you to twist everything down to the very precise details of your interface. | System Customization | As in the latest version of Ubuntu, most of the customization that users used to do is already done, so twisting of features in its latest version is quite limited. |
| Linux Mint depends on individual users and companies to act as donors, sponsors, or partners to run the development of any upcoming versions. | Support | Since Ubuntu has been developed by software company Canonical, it always supports Ubuntu to run the development of its upcoming versions. |
| Linux Mint is highly recommended for beginners but can also be used by experienced and professional users. | Usability | Ubuntu is recommended for professionals having good programming knowledge so it is mostly preferred by developers. |
| Linux Mint requires lesser memory space as compared to Ubuntu OS. | Memory Usage | Ubuntu needs more memory space. |
Pros And Cons: Linux Mint Vs Ubuntu
As of now, we have seen the comparison of Linux Mint vs Ubuntu based on different aspects, let’s have a look over the advantages and disadvantages of using Linux Mint vs Ubuntu now as it will also clear your doubts of choosing a perfect OS to some extent.
Linux Mint OS
Pros Of Linux Mint:
- Linux Mint has earned a very strong package ecosystem that includes more than 30,000 packages from the Debian repositories along with a software manager of Debian.
- It is immensely easy to use and also provides full support for multimedia through its pre-installed VLC and GIMP software.
- It is absolutely community-driven as in this, users are encouraged to send feedback to the projects so that their ideas can be used to improve Linux Mint.
- Linux Mint is reliable and safe to use and due to its conservative approach to software updates, its robust architecture, and its unique Update Manager, it requires the least maintenance.
- However, it provides support to proprietary software such as Chrome, Skype, TeamViewer, etc still, it maintains the environment of free software.
Cons Of Linux Mint:
- Linux Mint doesn’t have a device manager.
- Since Linux Mint has a conservative approach to the new technologies and their software updates, so it will be better to use Linux distro like Fedora instead of it, if you want to use the latest technologies and the flashy desktops.
- However, Linux Mint is built on Ubuntu architecture still, it is quite different from its siblings. So, everything that runs on Ubuntu might not be able to run on Linux Mint as well in the same manner.
- Since the size of Linux Mint is too large so logically it will need more memory space along with a large capacity machine to run it effectively. That’s why if your system hardware is old enough and can’t be upgraded then it will be better to go for some other Linux distro instead of Linux Mint.
- Linux Mint does not have PPA (Personal Package Archive) pre-installed, so being newbies there may be a chance that while installing software from PPAs repositories, you may end up messing the repository.
Ubuntu Linux OS
Pros Of Ubuntu:
- Whenever you would need any help Ubuntu Linux distribution has a myriad range of online sources to support you. Some of them are the Ask Ubuntu Stack Exchange site, the Ubuntu Wiki, Ubuntu Forums, and so on.
- Since Ubuntu is designed and developed to be used by everyday people, its developers have tried very hard to keep its interface pleasant, clean, and user-friendly.
- Ubuntu is a free, open-source, and highly secured operating system defined with the highest level of security as compared to any other OS.
- Ubuntu’s PPA repositories allow you to install the latest version of the required software by keeping the rest of the OS in its stable state.
- Since Ubuntu has been developed by software company Canonical, so the Ubuntu system must have to run well otherwise the company may lose its money.
Cons Of Ubuntu:
- New versions of Ubuntu are released twice in a year, still, a few security updates and minor bug fixes are only received by all the Software during the span of 1 year.
- The default Gnome IDE of Ubuntu requires more power and resources such as hardware-accelerated graphics rendering in order to run the software smoothly. These system requirements make Ubuntu irrelevant for the low-end hardware system.
- Advertisers pay to the company for installing adware software or the links of such software in the dock. Amazon is an example of such types of software.
- Since Ubuntu has a conservative approach towards the new technologies and their latest updates, so if you want to use the latest versions of the software, it will be better to use some other Linux distro instead of it.
- Due to the poor quality of graphics cards, playing modern games on Ubuntu OS is not possible.
Which One Is Better?: Linux Mint vs Ubuntu
Now we have come a long way by comparing Linux Mint vs Ubuntu but deciding which Linux distro is better is still a difficult task, as both of them work perfectly in their respective areas.
But to consolidate, we can say now that if you are a newbie and want to try your hands on Linux OS then Linux Mint is the better option for you to choose. And if you are an expert or professional and have some experience in using Linux OS then choosing Ubuntu rather than Linux Mint will be the much better option for you.
The Final Verdict- Linux Mint vs Ubuntu
Since, at present Linux Mint vs Ubuntu, both are the most popular, free, and open-source Linux distros, so using any of them would not affect your work much as both of them work perfectly in their specific areas.
But after comparing Linux Mint vs Ubuntu on the basis of different factors, here is what we can conclude:
- If you are a novice and want to try your hands on Linux distros for the first time or if you are shifting your ways from Windows operating system to Linux operating system, Linux Mint will be the best option to choose.
- If you are an experienced professional and have commendable programming knowledge or if you want to use Linux for development purposes then choosing Ubuntu Linux distro will be the better option for you.
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