Ubuntu Server, Debian and AlmaLinux are all free and stable, but they differ in support length, package family and cPanel compatibility. We compare them on facts checked at the source: end-of-support dates, RHEL compatibility, SELinux versus AppArmor and release cadence.
| Criterion | Ubuntu Server | Debian | AlmaLinux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference release | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | Debian 13 “trixie” | AlmaLinux 9 and 10 |
| Standard support | Until May 2029 | Security support until August 2028 | AlmaLinux 10: active until May 2030 |
| Extended support | Ubuntu Pro until May 2034 | Debian LTS until June 2030 | AlmaLinux 10: security until May 2035 |
| RHEL compatibility | No | No | Yes, binary compatible |
| cPanel | Yes, on 24.04 LTS | Not supported | Yes, on 8, 9 and 10 |
| Mandatory access control | AppArmor | AppArmor, enabled since Debian 10 | SELinux |
| Packages | apt and .deb, plus snap | apt and .deb, conservative versions | dnf and .rpm, plus EPEL |
| Release cadence | LTS every 2 years, in April | Stable release about every 2 years | Follows RHEL releases |
| Cost | Free, Pro free on 5 personal machines | Free | Free |
Ubuntu ships an LTS release every two years, in April. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS has standard support until May 2029, and Ubuntu Pro adds security maintenance until May 2034. Ubuntu Pro is free for personal use on up to five machines. Debian 13 “trixie” appeared on 9 August 2025: the security team covers it until August 2028, then Debian LTS takes over until June 2030. AlmaLinux 10 has active support until May 2030 and security updates until May 2035, while AlmaLinux 9 receives security updates until May 2032.
AlmaLinux declares itself binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, so software certified on RHEL, kernel modules included, also runs on AlmaLinux. The cPanel documentation lists AlmaLinux 8, 9 and 10, CloudLinux, Rocky Linux and Ubuntu. On Ubuntu, cPanel supports LTS releases only, currently 24.04. Debian is not on the cPanel list. If you plan a cPanel server, the choice therefore narrows to AlmaLinux or an Ubuntu LTS.
AlmaLinux uses SELinux, inherited from the RHEL family, with policies that label every file and process. Ubuntu and Debian use AppArmor, with per-application profiles that are easier to read. On Debian, AppArmor has been enabled by default since version 10. For packages, Ubuntu and Debian use apt and .deb files, while AlmaLinux uses dnf and .rpm, with the EPEL repository for extras. Debian ships more conservative versions, whereas Ubuntu brings newer ones with each LTS.
A Bucharest company runs a business application whose vendor supports only Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It installs AlmaLinux 9 on a dedicated server, keeps SELinux enabled and receives security updates until May 2032. Binary compatibility lets the application run unchanged, without paying for a RHEL licence on that server.
A small product team in Cluj-Napoca runs Docker-based APIs on a VPS. It picks Ubuntu 24.04 LTS for the volume of guides and the recent packages. Standard support lasts until May 2029, so no reinstall is needed for years.
An agency in Timisoara wants cPanel on its own dedicated server. Debian is ruled out because cPanel does not support it. That leaves AlmaLinux 10, with security updates until May 2035, and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The agency goes with AlmaLinux for SELinux.
cPanel supports AlmaLinux 8, 9 and 10, CloudLinux, Rocky Linux and Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Debian is not supported. AlmaLinux is the platform's traditional choice, and AlmaLinux 10 requires cPanel version 132 or newer.
Standard support lasts until May 2029. With Ubuntu Pro, security updates continue until May 2034. Ubuntu Pro is free for personal use on up to five machines, while for companies it is a Canonical subscription.
It is not the same product, but AlmaLinux declares itself binary compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Applications and kernel modules that work on RHEL run on AlmaLinux, without a Red Hat licence and without Red Hat's commercial support.
Ubuntu for the widest ecosystem and commercial support, Debian for lean stability, AlmaLinux for RHEL compatibility and ten years of security updates.
