Pick Linux Mint if you're coming from Windows and want a desktop that works out of the box; pick Ubuntu if you want long, dated support windows and the option of Ubuntu Pro security cover.
Both are free, both run on ordinary laptops and desktops, and Linux Mint is built on top of Ubuntu (and Debian), so you're choosing between two close relatives, not two strangers. As of Nov 2026, the latest Linux Mint is 22.3, codenamed Zena, and the newest Ubuntu LTS is 26.04.
Who builds each one is part of the difference: Linux Mint is a community-developed Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, while Ubuntu Desktop pitches itself at professional developers and organisations. Start with the quiz. It'll get you most of the way.
Quick quiz: which one are you?
- You're leaving Windows and want things to feel familiar. Linux Mint. Its own site says most of its users come from Windows, and the Cinnamon edition is its most popular version.
- Your laptop is old or short on memory. Linux Mint's Xfce edition. Mint describes Xfce as lightweight and lighter on resource usage than Cinnamon, though it doesn't support as many features.
- You want to know exactly how long you'll get security updates. Ubuntu. Its release cycle page lists dates for every version.
- You run a few machines and want extra security cover. Ubuntu. Anyone can use Ubuntu Pro for free on up to 5 machines.
- You hate being asked questions by your computer. Linux Mint. Its pitch is that everything works out of the box without configuring anything or installing extra apps.
- You've got brand-new hardware that won't boot the usual installer. Linux Mint has an EDGE ISO for the Cinnamon edition with a newer kernel for the latest chipsets.
If you ticked mostly Mint, read the editions section and stop there. If you ticked mostly Ubuntu, the release table is the bit that matters.
Release and support cycle, side by side
This is where the two differ most. Ubuntu publishes exact dates for standard security maintenance, and for expanded maintenance with Ubuntu Pro. Here's what Ubuntu's release cycle page lists for recent desktop releases:
| Ubuntu version | Released | Standard security maintenance until | With Ubuntu Pro until |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.10 | Oct 2026 | Jul 2027 | Not applicable |
| 26.04 LTS | Apr 2026 | May 2031 | May 2036 |
| 24.04 LTS | Apr 2024 | May 2029 | May 2034 |
| 22.04 LTS | Apr 2022 | May 2027 | May 2032 |
| 20.04 LTS | Apr 2020 | May 2025 | May 2030 |
Read that table and the pattern's clear. The LTS releases come out in April and get standard updates for roughly five years, then a further stretch with Ubuntu Pro. The in-between release (26.10 here) gets a much shorter run. Ubuntu Pro Desktop is free for personal use and, Ubuntu says, gives up to 15 years of security coverage. Enterprises can try it free for 30 days.
And Linux Mint? Its home and download pages give you the current version (22.3) and the other version on offer (LMDE 7), but they don't list support end dates. That's the catch: if a dated support promise matters to you, Ubuntu shows its working and Mint's front pages don't. Check Mint's release notes before you commit a work machine to it.
Linux Mint's editions
Ubuntu Desktop is one main download. Linux Mint asks you to pick a flavour first:
| Mint edition | What Mint says about it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | The most popular version; primarily developed for and by Linux Mint | Most people, especially Windows switchers |
| Xfce | Lightweight; fewer features than Cinnamon but lighter on resources | Older or low-powered machines |
| MATE | Classic; the continuation of GNOME 2 | People who like a traditional desktop |
| Cinnamon EDGE ISO | Ships with a newer kernel for the latest chipsets | New hardware that won't boot the regular editions |
Mint also says you can run it from a live USB stick to make sure everything works before installing anything, and that you can keep Windows alongside it, with a menu asking which one to use when you start the computer. That's the low-risk way to try it.
What you get out of the box
Linux Mint leans hard on being ready to go. Its home page lists LibreOffice for documents, spreadsheets and presentations, Firefox for the web, Blender, Gimp and Inkscape for design, and access to more than 7,800 games through Steam, plus more than 60,000 software packages. It also says plainly: we don't collect data. If you're also swapping out your media apps, our round-up of free media players is a useful next read.
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Ubuntu's desktop page pitches itself at professional developers and organisations, with regular updates, built-in security features and certified hardware from makers including Dell, HP and Lenovo. Canonical offers 24/7 support for business deployments. Ubuntu says it has always been free to download, use and share.
What neither source covers
This comparison doesn't cover minimum hardware requirements for either system, and Mint's support end dates aren't on its home or download pages. Don't guess on either. Check them on the day you install.
My verdict
For a business owner or anyone leaving Windows, I'd start with Linux Mint Cinnamon on a live USB. It's built to work out of the box and it tells you up front it won't collect your data. If you're running machines where a dated security promise matters, or you're a developer, go Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and switch on the free personal Ubuntu Pro cover. And if cost is the deciding factor, my answer to is Ubuntu free covers what you do and don't pay for.
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Quick answers
Is Linux Mint based on Ubuntu?
Yes. Linux Mint says it's based on Debian and Ubuntu.
Is Linux Mint or Ubuntu better for beginners?
Linux Mint is built for people coming from Windows and works out of the box, so it's the easier start for most beginners.
How long is Ubuntu 26.04 LTS supported?
Ubuntu lists standard security maintenance until May 2031, and until May 2036 with Ubuntu Pro.
Are Linux Mint and Ubuntu free?
Yes. Linux Mint is completely free of charge, and Ubuntu has always been free to download, use and share.
