Before you start
- The distribution only matters for how you install and update software. Your apps (nginx, MariaDB, Docker, game servers) run on all of them.
- Check what your software officially supports. If its documentation lists only Ubuntu, or only RHEL, choose that family.
- You pick the OS when you set up your VPS. Changing it later means a reinstall.
Ubuntu Server: best for beginners
Ubuntu LTS (long-term support) releases come out every two years in April and get five years of standard security maintenance (Ubuntu release cycle). Most server tutorials and third-party install scripts are written for Ubuntu first. Ubuntu Server also installs security updates automatically by default. Choose it if you are new to Linux, follow online tutorials, or use Docker, Node.js, Python or common control panels.Debian: best for a lean, stable server
Debian is the base Ubuntu is built on, with fewer extras and very conservative updates. Debian 13 “trixie” was released on 9 August 2025. Each stable release gets five years of support: three years of full support and two years of LTS (Debian releases). Choose it if you want a small, predictable system and are comfortable installing what you need yourself.AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux: best for RHEL compatibility
Both are free rebuilds of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), created after CentOS Linux ended. Software certified for RHEL, such as many commercial and enterprise applications, runs on them. Each major version gets about ten years of updates:- AlmaLinux 9: active support to 31 May 2027, security support to 31 May 2032. AlmaLinux 10: 31 May 2030 and 31 May 2035 (AlmaLinux release notes).
- Rocky Linux 9: general support to 31 May 2027, end of life 31 May 2032. Rocky Linux 10: 31 May 2030 and 31 May 2035 (Rocky Linux releases).
What about the other distributions?
Which releases should I avoid?
Never start a new server on a release without security updates: Ubuntu 18.04 or 20.04, Debian 10 or 11, CentOS 7 or CentOS Stream 8, openSUSE Leap 15. If you run one today, plan a move to a supported release: see upgrade Ubuntu or upgrade Debian 12 to 13.How to check which distribution you are running
Frequently asked questions
Ubuntu or Debian for a VPS?
Both are excellent. Ubuntu has more ready-made guides and automatic security updates out of the box; Debian is leaner and changes less. Commands in our guides are the same for both unless a tab says otherwise.AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux?
They target the same goal and behave almost identically. Choose the one your software vendor names, or either if it doesn’t matter.Which distro is best for game servers?
Ubuntu or Debian. Most game server tools, such as LinuxGSM, Pterodactyl and SteamCMD, document these first.Which distro is best for Docker?
Ubuntu 24.04 or Debian 13 are the most common choices and are supported by Docker’s official packages. See install Docker.Related guides
VPS and dedicated server guides
Every guide in this section.
Linux or Windows?
Choose the operating system family.
First 10 things on a Linux VPS
Set up your new server.
Update Linux packages
apt and dnf.
Rebuild your VPS
Switch distributions.
Checked against the official Ubuntu release cycle, Debian releases, AlmaLinux release notes and Rocky Linux releases on 4 November 2026;
/etc/os-release output from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Support dates are set by each project and can change.Need Extra Help?
If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:- Live Chat: Quick assistance via our website.
- Support Ticket: Open a Ticket
- Discord: Join our Community
- Email: support@freakhosting.com
Last Updated: November 2026