> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Best Linux Distro for a Server: Ubuntu, Debian or AlmaLinux? > Best Linux distro for a server: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS for beginners, Debian 13 for a lean base, AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux 9/10 for RHEL compatibility and long support. For most servers, pick Ubuntu 24.04 LTS if you are new to Linux: it has the most tutorials and five years of standard security updates. Pick Debian 13 for a minimal, very stable system. Pick AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux 9 or 10 if your software targets Red Hat Enterprise Linux or you want about ten years of updates from one release. All three are free and well suited to a VPS or dedicated server. | Distribution | Package manager | Firewall tool | Security support (vendor) | Best for | | - | - | - | - | - | | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | `apt` | `ufw` | Standard until May 2029 (ESM to 2034 with Ubuntu Pro) | Beginners, most tutorials, Docker, web stacks | | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | `apt` | `ufw` | Standard until May 2027 | Existing servers; plan the upgrade | | Debian 13 "trixie" | `apt` | `ufw` or `nftables` | Five-year cycle from August 2025 (3 years full + 2 years LTS) | Lean, stable servers | | Debian 12 "bookworm" | `apt` | `ufw` or `nftables` | LTS until 30 June 2028 | Existing servers; plan the upgrade | | AlmaLinux 10 / Rocky Linux 10 | `dnf` | `firewalld` | Security until 31 May 2035 | RHEL-compatible software, long life | | AlmaLinux 9 / Rocky Linux 9 | `dnf` | `firewalld` | Security until 31 May 2032 | RHEL-compatible software | ## 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](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-set-up-your-new-vps.md). Changing it later means a [reinstall](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-rebuild-and-reinstall-your-vps.md). ## 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](https://ubuntu.com/about/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](https://www.debian.org/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](https://wiki.almalinux.org/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](https://docs.rockylinux.org/releases/)). AlmaLinux and Rocky are very similar day to day. Pick either; switching between them later is possible but rarely needed. SELinux is enabled by default, which adds protection but sometimes needs extra steps. See [SELinux on AlmaLinux and Rocky](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-use-selinux-on-almalinux-and-rocky.md). ## What about the other distributions? | Distribution | Notes | | - | - | | Oracle Linux 8 / 9 | RHEL-compatible. Premier Support to July 2029 (8) and June 2032 (9) ([Oracle lifetime support policy](https://www.oracle.com/a/ocom/docs/elsp-lifetime-069338.pdf)). | | CentOS Stream 9 | Tracks just ahead of RHEL. End of life 31 May 2027 ([CentOS](https://www.centos.org/download/)). Not a replacement for the old CentOS Linux. | | Fedora | Newest software, short support per release. Good for testing, less so for a server you want to leave alone. | | Arch Linux | Rolling release: always the latest packages, frequent updates. For experienced users. | | Alpine Linux | Very small, uses `apk` and musl instead of glibc. Popular for containers; some software needs extra work. | | openSUSE Leap 15 | Leap 15.6 reached end of life on 30 April 2026. Don't use it for new servers. | | FreeBSD 14 | Not Linux. A separate Unix-like OS with its own tools; our Linux guides don't apply. | ## 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](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-upgrade-ubuntu-to-a-new-release.md) or [upgrade Debian 12 to 13](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-upgrade-debian-12-to-debian-13.md). ## How to check which distribution you are running ```bash theme={null} cat /etc/os-release ``` ```text theme={null} PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 24.04.5 LTS" NAME="Ubuntu" VERSION_ID="24.04" ``` More in [check your Linux version](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-check-your-linux-version-and-system-info.md). ## 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](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-host-game-servers-with-linuxgsm.md), [Pterodactyl](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-install-pterodactyl-panel-on-a-vps.md) 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](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-install-docker.md). ## Related guides > [card] [VPS and dedicated server guides](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/vps-and-dedicated-server-guides.md) > > Every guide in this section. > [card] [Linux or Windows?](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/which-operating-system-should-i-choose-for-my-vps.md) > > Choose the operating system family. > [card] [First 10 things on a Linux VPS](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/first-10-things-to-do-on-a-new-linux-vps.md) > > Set up your new server. > [card] [Update Linux packages](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-update-linux-packages.md) > > apt and dnf. > [card] [Rebuild your VPS](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-rebuild-and-reinstall-your-vps.md) > > Switch distributions. *** > [!NOTE] > > **Checked against the official [Ubuntu release cycle](https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle), [Debian releases](https://www.debian.org/releases/), [AlmaLinux release notes](https://wiki.almalinux.org/release-notes/) and [Rocky Linux releases](https://docs.rockylinux.org/releases/)** on 4 November 2026; `/etc/os-release` output from Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Support dates are set by each project and can change. > [!NOTE] > > ### 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](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) > * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting) > * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com) > [!TIP] > > ### Save on Your Hosting > > Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order! *** **Last Updated:** November 2026 This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.