ChromeOS vs Kubuntu
ChromeOS
chromeos.googleKubuntu
kubuntu.orgSide by side
| Figure | ChromeOS | Kubuntu |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2.08/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Operating Systems | 8.1 (#9) | 7.6 (#27) |
| Intended users | Google presents ChromeOS for business, education, frontline, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, kiosk, and signage use cases. | The 26.04 LTS release page names home users, schools and businesses among the users it is intended to serve. |
| What it is | ChromeOS is Google's operating system and the core of Chromebooks. | Kubuntu is a community-developed official Ubuntu flavour combining Ubuntu with KDE Plasma and KDE applications. |
Plans
ChromeOS
- Kiosk & Signage Upgrade$2.08 a month
- ChromeOS Enterprise Upgrade (Standalone)$4.17 a month
- ChromeOS Enterprise Upgrade (Bundled)Price not published
In their own words
ChromeOS
ChromeOS is Google’s operating system and the core software for Chromebooks, Chromeboxes, Chromebases, and Chromebits. ChromeOS Flex can install on certified existing PCs and Macs, including through USB or remote cloud deployment, and is described as available at no cost. Google presents ChromeOS for business, education, frontline, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, kiosk, and signage use. The Admin console manages devices, apps, extensions, updates, and Google Workspace. Built-in protections include verified boot, a read-only operating system, blocked executable files, encryption, and sandboxing; administrators can remotely wipe devices and require re-enrollment. Supported apps include Zoom, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, and Teams, with Citrix and VMware for virtualized Windows and legacy apps. Updates arrive every four weeks, and devices receive ten years from platform release. Managed Google Play apps are unavailable on ChromeOS Flex.