Ubuntu Server delivers services reliably, predictably and economically. It is the perfect base on which to build your instances. Ubuntu is the world’s most popular Linux for cloud environments and is suitable for small to large-scale Linux operations. Ubuntu Server for Azure is designed by Canonical (the publishers of Ubuntu) and optimized for Azure. For more information, see Ubuntu on Azure.

Ubuntu is free and will always be, with the option to access additional security, management tools and technical support when you need it through additional commercial offerings from Canonical (for example Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS).

This offer supports both x86 and arm64 instances.

Why developers and devops choose Ubuntu Server for Azure

• Production ready: Ubuntu is the leading Linux in the public cloud with > 50% of Linux workloads
• Developer friendly: Ubuntu is the #1 Linux for developers offering the latest library and tools to innovate with the latest technologies
• No mandatory licenses: Ubuntu Server is freely available, with no mandatory licenses and unlimited VMs
• Non-stop security: Canonical publishes images on a daily basis, ensuring security is built-in from the moment an instance launches
• Optimized performance: Optimized kernel, with improved boot speed, outstanding runtime performance and advanced device support
• Portability: Ubuntu is available in all regions with content mirrors to avoid the need to go across regions or out to the Internet for updates
• 5-year security maintenance: Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS provides security maintenance until May 2025

For professional environments or applications where additional security and compliance would be beneficial, or where you might want to continue using the environment beyond May 2025, Canonical recommends Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS.