I ignored Ubuntu Server for many years because of its Desktop counterpart's reputation, but it's better than I expected

Published Aug 12, 2026, 1:30 PM EDT Ayush Pande is a PC hardware and gaming writer. When he's not working on a new article, you can find him with his head stuck inside a PC or tinkering with a server operating system. Besides computing, his interests include spending hours in long RPGs, yelling at his friends in co-op games, and practicing guitar. Over the years, I’ve tinkered with all sorts of cool Linux distributions, and my distro-hopping tendencies only got worse after I encountered Proxmox. But if there’s one thing that my Linux tinkering misadventures have taught me, it’s that there are a lot of useful distros that don't get enough appreciation. And no, I’m not just talking about the obscure security and privacy kings, Qubes OS and Whonix, either. Ubuntu Server may be quite popular in the enterprise sector, but it's really underutilized by the average tinkerer, and the infamous nature of its Desktop variant has a lot to do with this trend. But after deciding to switch to it for a home lab experiment last year, I have to admit that Ubuntu Server doesn't have the same flaws as its clutter-laden Desktop sibling. Let’s face it: Ubuntu Desktop has some deal-breaking problems And its bloated nature is just one of them Since I began my descent into Linux with the Raspberry Pi OS and moved on to DietPi afterward, I was familiar with how this OS worked before I got into Ubuntu Desktop. Consequently, my first experience with Ubuntu Desktop wasn’t all that enjoyable, as many of its beginner-friendly tools appeared to be useless clutter. Credit where it’s due, Ubuntu is pretty accessible for first-time Linux users, especially for folks who want minimal terminal reliance for everyday tasks. However, I have to agree with the general sentiment that modern Ubuntu Desktop is a bloatware-riddled mess. Even if I were to use some of the apps that it ships, a large number of its built-in tools, services, and packages are useless for my needs. Ubuntu’s baseline system requirements have also gone up a lot over the years, to the point that Canonical recommends 6GB of RAM as the bare minimum on its 26.04 LTS version. That’s an insane amount of memory for a Linux distro, even more so when you factor the RAM shortage that’s still plaguing the PC market into the equation. If I were to try reviving the dinosaur PCs in my arsenal, Ubuntu Desktop would cause issues on their 4GB memory sticks. Plus, Canonical forcing Snap packages instead of good ol’ apt or other package managers isn’t something most Linux enthusiasts (including yours truly) appreciate. The Snap versions of most applications tend to be less optimized on the resource consumption front than their normal apt variants, and that's before I talk about their proprietary nature. This minimal distro doesn’t even ship with OpenSSH Server Although a lot of Ubuntu Desktop’s criticism is valid, its Server counterpart doesn’t deserve this infamy. For one, Ubuntu Server is extremely light, with its 26.04 LTS version requiring just 1.5GB of RAM. That’s a big difference from its Desktop counterpart, and it doesn’t include the GNOME desktop environment or any of the bloatware applications on its GUI-heavy sibling. In fact, when I tried using Ubuntu Server to build a makeshift NAS last year, I was surprised to see that it didn’t ship with OpenSSH Server, and there’s even a minimized version of this distro to further cut down its resource consumption. Since Ubuntu Server a minimal distro, I can even customize it into a lightweight GUI-powered daily driver by arming it with just the right number of packages. But personally, I use it significantly more for my tinkering projects… It’s incredible for DIY home lab nodes When I tried building a makeshift Network-Attached Storage server using an old system, a CLI-only Debian flavor was my first choice. But after looking more into this setup, I realized that Debian has issues with DKMS, which is necessary for ZFS pools. This prompted me to look into other distributions, and since Ubuntu Server was the one that checked all the boxes, I decided to give it a shot. As it turns out, Ubuntu Server doesn’t just have a tiny footprint; it also boasts solid compatibility with most home lab-centric services, which makes a lot more sense considering it's an enterprise-tier distribution. I’ve since used Ubuntu Server for everything from AI-hosting LXCs to simple self-hosting Docker VMs, and this minimal distro holds up well for all my tasks. Heck, combining Ubuntu Server with Canonical MicroCloud can turn any simple machine into an LXD-powered container and VM-hosting workstation. This underrated setup worked incredibly well for my Raspberry Pi when I tried finding a Proxmox alternative for my tiny tinkering companion. Don’t let Ubuntu Desktop’s reputation stop you from trying its minimal Server flavor Personally, I’ve grown weary of Ubuntu Desktop and its extremely cluttered design, which is why I doubt I’d be using it anytime soon to repurpose old Windows PCs or when building dev virtual machines for my projects. However, Ubuntu Server is something I still use for my Docker machines, and it has become my first choice for home lab experiments where I need a sleek CLI distro.