Photon OS vs Ubuntu Touch
| Photon OS | Ubuntu Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Paid from | — | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux | Android |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Device types | Bare-metal systems, virtual machines, Raspberry Pi, cloud instances | Phones, tablets, desktop PCs, Raspberry Pi, Pinebook |
| CPU architectures | x86_64, ARM64/aarch64 | — |
| Support lifecycle | Security updates as needed; non-security package updates described in legacy FAQ as quarterly; no fixed duration verified | Regular OTA updates; no fixed support duration stated |
| Built-in management | tdnf package manager; Photon Management Daemon; RPM OSTree; Network Configuration Manager | OTA system updates; device installation via UBports Installer |
| App compatibility | Docker and other container formats; Kubernetes; RPM packages via tdnf; RPM OSTree | OpenStore native apps; Waydroid Android apps; Libertine desktop Linux apps |
| Deployment models | Bare metal; VMware hypervisors; ISO installation; OVA appliance; AWS AMI; Google GCE image; Azure VHD; Raspberry Pi image | Install on compatible physical devices; preinstalled devices; virtual development installation |
Both are listed in Best Operating Systems. On Samsung Mobile US Press, Ubuntu Touch scores higher on our published basis.