Difference between Windows and Ubuntu

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

1. Windows operating system is developed by Microsoft and it is developed in November 1985 and Windows 10 released on July 2015. It is a closed-source software so it is paid and needs a valid and authenticated license to use it. Support, it depends on Microsoft. As it is less secure than Ubuntu and does not give comparable performance to Ubuntu it is used by ordinary users and game players. Windows is very easy to learn and start with as compared to Ubuntu. It has a visual assistant called Cortana.

2. Ubuntu operating system is developed by Canonical Ltd and it is developed in October 2004. It is open-source software so it is free and do not a license to use it. For support, it depends on the open community through the internet. As it is more secure and faster it is used by the developer and tester community. Ubuntu is not easy to learn and start with as compared to windows as it mainly works with commands. It has no visual assistant like windows. It is certainly lighter than Windows operating system.

The difference between Windows and Ubuntu are as follows:

WINDOWS	UBUNTU
Windows operating system is developed by Microsoft.	Ubuntu operating system is developed by Canonical Ltd.
Windows is developed in November 1985 and Windows 10 released on July 2015.	Ubuntu is developed in October 2004.
Windows operating system belongs to Windows NT family.	Ubuntu operating system belongs to Linux family.
It is a closed source software.	It is an open source software.
Users need to have a valid and authenticated license to use it.	Users need not to have a license to use it.
Users can go through Ubuntu’s source code to learn and modify it.	Users can't go through window’s source code to learn and modify it.
Kernel type of Windows is Hybrid.	Kernel type of Ubuntu is Monolithic.
Windows uses more resources than Ubuntu.	Ubuntu uses less resources than Windows.
For gaming purpose windows is better than Ubuntu.	For gaming purpose ubuntu is not so good like Windows.
Default user interface is Windows Shell.	Default user interface is Ubuntu unity, GNOME.
Windows has less customizable options than Ubuntu.	Ubuntu has more customizable options than Windows.
Cost of this software is paid.	Cost of this software is free.
It is less than Ubuntu.	It is more secure than Windows.
It is less privacy-focused than Ubuntu.	It is more privacy-focused than Windows 10.
Its user community is ordinary user and game player.	Its user community professional developers.
Windows is very easy to learn and start with as compared to Ubuntu .	Ubuntu is not easy to learn and start with as compared to windows as it mainly works with commands.
Adobe and Photoshop are supported in Windows.	Adobe and Photoshop are not much supported in Ubuntu.
It is good option for entertainment purposes such as playing movies or songs.	Ubuntu is not built for entertainment purposes.
Programming is easy but not as easy as it is in Ubuntu.	Programming is quit easy in Ubuntu.
Virus attacks are very common is Windows.	Less chances of virus attacks.
It's performance is less than the performance of Ubuntu.	It's performance is better than Windows.

Both Windows and Ubuntu have their own advantag