Yes, Ubuntu is free to download and use, and every LTS release comes with five years of free security and maintenance updates. Ubuntu Pro, which extends that support up to 15 years, is also free for personal use on up to 5 physical machines; businesses pay for it after a 30-day trial.
Ubuntu is the version of Linux I suggest most often to people who want to breathe new life into an old laptop or try Linux for the first time. The "is it free?" question usually comes from seeing the word "Pro" on Canonical's site and assuming the normal version is a cut-down trial. It isn't.
Ubuntu vs Ubuntu Pro: what's free
| Ubuntu (standard) | Ubuntu Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price for personal use | Free | Free on up to 5 physical machines |
| Price for businesses | Free | Paid, after a 30-day free trial |
| Security maintenance | 5 years of free security and maintenance updates on LTS releases | 10 years across the whole Ubuntu archive |
| Extra years | No | Up to 15 years with the Legacy add-on |
| Rebootless kernel patching (Livepatch) | No | Yes |
| Compliance tooling | No | Hardening for frameworks such as FIPS 140, CIS, PCI-DSS and Cyber Essentials |
What Ubuntu Pro adds, and why it matters
Here's the detail most people miss. Canonical's Ubuntu Pro page says a standard LTS release gets 5 years of security maintenance for the Main repository. Ubuntu Pro extends that to 10 years for the entire Ubuntu archive, Main and Universe. Universe is where a lot of the extra software people install comes from, so without Pro, some of the apps on your machine may not be getting the same security fixes.
Pro also includes Livepatch, which Canonical describes as rebootless patching for high and critical kernel vulnerabilities, and security hardening for compliance frameworks such as FIPS 140, DISA-STIG, CIS, PCI-DSS and Cyber Essentials.
Who gets Ubuntu Pro free
- Anyone, for personal use: Canonical says Ubuntu Pro is and always will be free for personal use on up to 5 physical machines.
- Official Ubuntu Community members: up to 50 machines.
- Enterprises: a 30-day free trial, then a paid subscription.
How to get Ubuntu and Ubuntu Pro free
- Check your computer has space. Canonical's download page lists 25 GB of free hard drive space for Ubuntu Desktop.
- Download the latest LTS. At the time of writing, Canonical's download page lists Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS for desktop PCs and laptops.
- Install it, or try it from a USB stick first.
- If you'd like the longer security cover, create a free Ubuntu Pro personal subscription and attach your machines, up to 5.
- Canonical says existing LTS systems can be upgraded in place to Ubuntu Pro without reinstalling, so you can add it later.
Free Ubuntu on an older laptop
A common reason people ask me about Ubuntu is an old laptop that struggles with a newer version of Windows or macOS. Ubuntu is a free way to keep it useful for browsing, email and documents, as long as it has the 25 GB of free disk space Canonical lists. Try it from a USB stick first, check your Wi-Fi, printer and webcam all work, and only then install it over the old system. Back up anything you care about before you do.
When a business should pay for Ubuntu Pro
If you run Ubuntu on company laptops or servers and you have customers asking about security standards, Pro is the paid part worth looking at. The compliance tooling and longer security window are aimed squarely at that. Canonical also offers Ubuntu Pro + Support, a separate tier with 24/7 support for infrastructure and applications.
For a one-person business running Ubuntu on a handful of machines, though, the free personal subscription covers you. If you're testing Ubuntu before you commit, you can run it inside one of these free virtual machine tools first. And if you're hosting a small site on Ubuntu, my guide to free web hosting covers the options.
Ubuntu LTS explained in plain English
LTS stands for long-term support. Canonical's download page says that means five years of free security and maintenance updates for an LTS release, extended up to 15 years with Ubuntu Pro. If you just want a computer that keeps getting security fixes without you thinking about it, always pick the LTS release rather than an interim one.
If you run Ubuntu in the cloud, Canonical says Ubuntu Pro is integrated with the leading public clouds, so you can switch on its security and compliance features through their marketplaces and be billed on your existing cloud bill. Check your cloud console before buying it separately.
My advice
Download Ubuntu LTS and use it free; there's no trial and no catch. Then take two minutes to switch on the free Ubuntu Pro personal subscription, because it extends security fixes to the wider software archive and adds Livepatch at no cost on up to 5 machines. Only a business with compliance needs or more machines than that needs to pay.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ubuntu free to use?
Yes. Ubuntu is free to download and use, and LTS releases come with five years of free security and maintenance updates.
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Is Ubuntu Pro free?
Yes for personal use. Canonical says Ubuntu Pro is free for personal use on up to 5 physical machines, or 50 machines for official Ubuntu Community members. Enterprises get a 30-day trial.
What does Ubuntu Pro add?
Ubuntu Pro extends security maintenance to 10 years across the whole Ubuntu archive, up to 15 years with the Legacy add-on, and adds Livepatch and compliance hardening.
Can I use Ubuntu for my business for free?
Yes. Standard Ubuntu is free for businesses too. Only Ubuntu Pro is paid for business use, after a 30-day free trial.
How much disk space does Ubuntu need?
Canonical's download page lists 25 GB of free hard drive space for Ubuntu Desktop.
What is Livepatch in Ubuntu Pro?
Canonical describes Livepatch as rebootless security patching for high and critical kernel vulnerabilities. It's included with Ubuntu Pro, which is free for personal use on up to 5 machines.
Can I add Ubuntu Pro to a machine I've already set up?
Yes. Canonical says existing Ubuntu LTS systems can be upgraded in place to Ubuntu Pro without redeployment.
What is the latest Ubuntu LTS?
At the time of writing, Canonical's download page lists Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS for desktop PCs and laptops.
How long is an Ubuntu LTS supported for free?
Canonical says LTS releases get five years of free security and maintenance updates, which Ubuntu Pro extends up to 15 years.
Is Ubuntu Pro free for businesses?
Not beyond a trial. Canonical says enterprises can try Ubuntu Pro free for 30 days. The free personal subscription covers up to 5 physical machines for personal use.
