Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu Server?

Introduction

Raspberry Pi OS vs Ubuntu Server—that’s the matchup you’re probably weighing right now. You’ve got the Pi sitting on your desk, maybe a 4 Model B or a Zero 2 W, and you’re wondering which OS won’t make you rip your hair out. That’s fair. They both boot, they both get the job done, and they both come with headaches.

Raspberry Pi OS is the Debian-derived operating system maintained specifically for Raspberry Pi hardware, while Ubuntu Server is Canonical’s general-purpose ARM64 server platform adapted to run on Raspberry Pi boards.

Raspberry Pi OS gives you that familiar Debian-style minimalism with some real perks like GPIO access and lighter memory usage. Ubuntu Server, built by Canonical, feels like the “grown-up” option with long-term support and better container performance. One’s lean and Pi-specific. The other’s heavy on features and works across ARM and x86 setups.

Not sure which one suits your project? You’re not alone. Let’s break it down without assuming you’ve got hours to dig through forums.

Key Takeaways

Raspberry Pi OS is ideal for GPIO, lightweight projects, education, and older hardware.
Ubuntu Server is better for container-heavy, 64-bit, and infrastructure deployments—if you can manage Snap and config tweaks.
Snap packages can cause more problems than they solve. Disable them where possible.
Don’t trust cloud-init or SD cards blindly—double-check your config and make regular backups.
Match the OS to your actual use case, not just what’s trending on forums.

What People Actually Run Into

Common complaints from folks using Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu Server

You don’t really know how weird things get until you deploy something and leave it running. Next thing you know, the network drops randomly, the Pi won’t boot after a power outage, or Snapd decides to eat your RAM. These aren’t flukes—they’re patterns.

Here’s what tends to pop up:

Slow boot times on Ubuntu Server, especially when the system waits for cloud-init or network services.
Memory creep, where background services (often Snap-related) just keep piling on.
SD card corruption when you don’t shut down cleanly—worse on older Pi OS versions with more write-heavy apps.
Update confusion, where people don’t know if apt or snap is controlling a service anymore.
Headless setup failure, usually caused by missing ssh file or bad Wi-Fi config.

User expectations vs. reality

A lot of folks assume Raspberry Pi OS is easier just because it’s “official.” That’s true until you try to run a Docker container for something with a lot of dependencies and realize half the packages are outdated. Then there’s Ubuntu Server, which sounds great until you try to access GPIO or boot off an SSD on a Pi Zero and realize it was never optimized for that hardware.

Case in point:

“I set up a Pi-hole on Ubuntu Server and it worked… until Snap updated itself and broke DNS resolution.” —someone on Reddit, every month.

You’ve probably run into one of these issues if you’ve done more than a single weekend project. Next up: what’s actually different under the hood that causes this stuff?

What’s Actually Different Under the Hood

Package management: APT vs Snap

Raspberry Pi OS uses plain old APT. It’s stable, fast, and doesn’t surprise you. Ubuntu Server adds Snap packages, which are… a mixed bag. You get some updated software, but also:

Slower startup times
Mounting delays
Confusing paths (/snap/bin anyone?)

Snap’s been known to auto-update and break services, which is fun if you’re into surprise outages.

Kernel differences and hardware support

Raspberry Pi OS uses a custom kernel maintained by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It’s built specifically for Broadcom chips, GPIO access, and the quirks of Raspberry Pi hardware. Ubuntu Server runs a more generic kernel for ARM64, and while it works most of the time, edge hardware like the Pi Zero or Pi 400 can choke.

Need camera module access or I2C? Raspberry Pi OS usually has the modules ready to load. Ubuntu might need manual config or custom kernel tweaks.

Update behavior

Raspberry Pi OS: Updates are manual unless you rig something up with cron. Less risk of surprise breakage.
Ubuntu Server: Auto-updates via unattended-upgrades, Snap background updates, and sometimes cloud-init stuff you didn’t even ask for.

You’ll want to know this before deploying anything headless or remote.

32-bit vs 64-bit

Raspberry Pi OS is still mostly 32-bit, although there’s a 64-bit beta.
Ubuntu Server defaults to 64-bit and drops some support for older models.

64-bit is great for newer boards and containers, but some drivers and software still expect 32-bit, especially GPIO-related stuff.

When Each OS Makes Sense (And When It Doesn’t)

Raspberry Pi OS: lightweight, hardware-friendly

Raspberry Pi OS is built for the hardware it runs on. That means better driver support, smoother GPIO access, and less overhead—especially on lower-spec models like the Pi Zero 2 W.

Use Raspberry Pi OS when:

You’re doing hardware projects using GPIO, I2C, or SPI
You need desktop access with the Pi’s official GUI
You’re in a classroom or education setting
You want something lightweight that won’t bog down a 1GB RAM board

Avoid Raspberry Pi OS if:

You need 64-bit support with full LTS
You plan to run a lot of modern Docker containers
You’re annoyed by slow or manual updates

Ubuntu Server: more powerful but more complex

Ubuntu Server feels more at home with folks already familiar with server environments. You get long-term support, predictable package versions, and strong Docker/Kubernetes compatibility.

Use Ubuntu Server when:

You’re building a home server or NAS
You’re running containers with Docker or K3s
You need 64-bit software stacks
You’re comfortable with Snap packages and can work around their quirks

Avoid Ubuntu Server if:

You need to interact with GPIO or camera modules
You’re running it on older Pis (especially with <2GB RAM)
You hate unexpected Snap behavior or cloud-init waiting on boot

Performance tradeoffs

Feature	Raspberry Pi OS	Ubuntu Server
Boot time	Faster	Slower (cloud-init delays)
Idle RAM usage	Lower (~100–150MB)	Higher (~250–300MB)
GPIO/camera support	Full, plug-and-play	Limited or manual setup
Update stability	Higher (manual)	Lower (auto + Snap issues)
Container support	Basic, but functional	Strong Docker/K3s support

How to Tell Which OS You’re Actually Running (And Why It Matters)

Command-line ways to verify

Let’s say you’re SSH’d into your Pi and forgot what OS image you flashed. Easy enough to check:

lsb_release -a

Shows if you’re on Debian (Pi OS) or Ubuntu, including version info.

uname -a

Reveals kernel details, including if it’s 64-bit or using the Pi Foundation’s custom build.

cat /etc/os-release

Another good one for grabbing OS name and version.

RAM usage, file system info, and performance

Some tools give you a deeper look at what’s going on:

htop

Shows memory usage and which services are hogging resources. Snap packages tend to stand out here on Ubuntu.

free -m

Quick summary of RAM, especially handy for low-spec boards.

df -h

Shows disk usage—handy for spotting Snap loopback mounts or a bloated /var folder.

Why you should care

Some folks assume “Linux is Linux” and forget to check this stuff until something breaks. Knowing if you’re on a 32-bit vs 64-bit OS affects:

Which packages you can install
Whether your Docker containers will run right
What drivers and firmware are even available

For instance, using a 64-bit image with an old GPIO-based Python script? That might just silently fail.

Things That Break (And Why)

Snap service failures

Ubuntu Server loves Snap. The feeling isn’t always mutual. A common issue is snapd stalling at boot or services like core and lxd not auto-starting. This breaks:

DNS tools like Pi-hole when they rely on Snap-managed dependencies
Containers that mount volumes tied to Snap services
Scheduled tasks that try to start before Snap is ready

HDMI output issues on Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit beta)

If you’re testing the 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS and can’t get video on boot—yep, that’s a known issue. Sometimes the bootloader defaults to the wrong display config, or kernel modules aren’t loaded properly. This happens more often on older HDMI monitors and Pi 400s.

SD card corruption

Let’s not pretend this isn’t a thing. Whether you’re running Ubuntu or Raspberry Pi OS, if you’re pulling the plug instead of shutting down, you’re asking for filesystem errors. Ubuntu tends to write more logs and system metadata, so the risk gets higher.

Network dropouts due to Avahi, DHCP, or misconfig

On Raspberry Pi OS, misconfigured dhcpcd.conf files can cause IP instability. On Ubuntu Server, cloud-init sometimes overwrites static IP configs during boot. Bonus: if you’re running Avahi (aka Bonjour), it might conflict with your router’s DNS if not set up cleanly.

Snapd’s unintentional storage hogging

Look under /var/lib/snapd/snaps/ and you’ll sometimes find multiple versions of the same Snap package still mounted. These eat up disk space and can eventually fill the root partition, especially on smaller SD cards.

Real-World Use Cases and What Worked

Home Assistant on Ubuntu Server

If you’re self-hosting Home Assistant, Ubuntu Server generally runs smoother. Docker support is cleaner, and you get 64-bit Python wheels without having to jump through hoops. The downside? Snap and cloud-init delays can mess with boot reliability, especially if you’ve got flaky power.

Tip: Disable Snap’s auto-updates and use a static IP to avoid headaches.

Pi-hole on Raspberry Pi OS

For a rock-solid DNS blocker, Raspberry Pi OS Lite wins. It uses less memory, boots quicker, and doesn’t throw Snap issues in your face. Pi-hole just wants a stable Debian base and low overhead. That’s what Pi OS delivers.

If you install it on Ubuntu, be ready to tweak AppArmor and clean up Snap conflicts.

NAS with Samba on Raspberry Pi OS

Trying to build a low-power file server? Pi OS handles Samba fine. Add a USB SSD, adjust /etc/fstab, and you’re good. One snag: Pi OS sometimes won’t auto-mount external drives reliably after a crash or reboot. Use systemd mount units or usbmount if you’re paranoid.

K3s cluster on Ubuntu Server

Want a Raspberry Pi Kubernetes cluster? Ubuntu Server is your friend. The 64-bit OS plays nicer with K3s, Helm charts, and network overlay tools. Just don’t expect blazing performance on anything with less than 2GB RAM.

Classroom GUI project with Raspberry Pi OS

Need a desktop for kids or a coding class? Ubuntu Server is a terrible pick. It doesn’t ship with a GUI, and adding one is painful. Raspberry Pi OS boots straight into a familiar desktop and supports Python, Scratch, and Chromium out of the box.

Actionable Pick: What You Should Use Based on Your Goal

Let’s cut through the noise. Here’s what to use and when, along with reasons and warnings.

Use Case	Recommended OS	Why It Works	Warnings
Home automation (Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT)	Ubuntu Server	Better Docker + 64-bit support	Disable Snap auto-updates
Pi-hole or DNS server	Raspberry Pi OS	Low resource use, no Snap issues	Avoid full GUI version
Kubernetes (K3s) cluster	Ubuntu Server	Solid ARM64 support, compatible with Helm	Needs at least 2GB RAM
File server (Samba/NAS)	Raspberry Pi OS	Simple setup, fewer services to manage	Handle external drive mount manually
IoT projects with GPIO	Raspberry Pi OS	Full GPIO module support, easier to configure	Ubuntu GPIO support limited
Education or coding classes	Raspberry Pi OS	GUI-ready, supports Scratch, Python, browsers	Ubuntu lacks GUI out of the box
Headless server with static IP	Ubuntu Server	Strong network config tools, better security defaults	Watch cloud-init behavior

Clear DOs

Use Raspberry Pi OS for any project involving GPIO, classroom setups, or if you need quick boot and low RAM use.
Use Ubuntu Server if you’re container-heavy or deploying infrastructure tools with 64-bit dependencies.

Clear DON’Ts

Don’t use Ubuntu Server if you’re not comfortable tweaking Snap or network configs.
Don’t assume Raspberry Pi OS will always be lighter—its desktop version adds a surprising load.

How to switch or reinstall safely

Always back up /etc/ config files and docker-compose.yml if you’re migrating.
Use Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher to flash the new OS.
Verify firmware is up to date using rpi-eeprom-update on Raspberry Pi OS before booting Ubuntu Server.

FAQ

Can I use both OSes on different SD cards?
Yep. Just flash Raspberry Pi OS on one and Ubuntu Server on another. Swap as needed. It’s a cheap way to test.

Is Ubuntu Server too heavy for Raspberry Pi?
For newer models (like the Pi 4 with 4GB+ RAM), not really. But it’s overkill on the Pi Zero or anything under 2GB.

Is 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS stable yet?
Mostly. It still feels like a side project, and not everything’s as polished as the 32-bit build.

Can I run Docker on Raspberry Pi OS?
Yes, but some containers may require 64-bit. Also, you’ll need to tweak cgroups and kernel modules yourself.

Which one is more secure out of the box?
Ubuntu Server has better defaults—like enforced SSH key auth if you set it up right. Raspberry Pi OS leans user-friendly but can be hardened.

References

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