When is it appropriate to use Ubuntu's "LTS," and what exactly is it?
Summary
On the other hand, non-LTS versions of Ubuntu only receive updates for a period of nine months, while LTS versions receive updates for a period of five years.
On the other hand, LTS versions prioritize stability despite having old software. Releases that are not LTS offer more recent features but also require more frequent system upgrades.
The Long-Term Support (LTS) version is your best bet if you are looking for long-term stability and the majority of users. The versions that do not support LTS are designed for hobbyists.
Do you find it difficult to choose between the long-term support (LTS) and non-LTS versions of Ubuntu to download? You can discover more about their distinctions, the reasons behind their existence, and which version is best for you by reading this article.
What is Ubuntu LTS exactly?
There are two versions of Ubuntu available for download on the official website: one with the LTS label and another without. The question is, what does this actually mean?
The acronym LTS refers to "Long Term Support." The Long-Term Support (LTS) versions of Ubuntu receive support for a period of five years, beginning from the date of its release, and receive routine updates for both security and maintenance. After five years, you’ll either need to upgrade to a new Ubuntu version, or you can buy Ubuntu Pro to obtain five extra years of maintenance and upgrades. There’s also a Legacy Support program as a component of Ubuntu Pro, which provides two more years of support, extending the entire support duration to 12 years for an LTS version.
In contrast, the non-LTS versions are only supported for nine months, at which point you’ll need to move to a new version of Ubuntu as you stop receiving security and maintenance updates.
It’s worth remembering that Ubuntu versions follow a year.month number scheme with new releases coming out every six months, in April and November. The LTS versions come out every two years in April of even-numbered years.
For example, at the time of writing, the current LTS version is Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which was published in April 2024. The newest non-LTS version, Ubuntu 24.10, came out in October 2024. Following this plan, we'll see two more non-LTS versions—Ubuntu 25.04 and Ubuntu 25.10. The next LTS release occurs in April 2026: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.
If Ubuntu LTS Exists, Why Use Non-LTS?
You might be thinking at this point, if LTS versions receive so much more support, why would anyone acquire the non-LTS release? What’s the point of it even existing?
Well, when we say LTS versions are supported for five years, we mean they receive security and maintenance updates for five years. However, the key components of the distribution—like system programs and the desktop environments—remain locked and aren’t upgraded to newer versions. This design choice provides stability but means the system can feel antiquated with time.
For example, Ubuntu utilizes a customized version of GNOME as its desktop environment. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ships with GNOME 46 and will stay on this version throughout its existence. Even as newer versions like GNOME 47 come out, LTS users won't receive these improvements unless they upgrade to the next LTS release in April 2026.
Now, theoretically, you may forcibly update GNOME 46 to GNOME 47 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. However, this isn’t suggested as it can generate conflicts with other components, leading to problems and general system instability.
So, if you want to use GNOME 47 right now, you're better off using Ubuntu 24.10—a non-LTS release, where all its components are prepared to operate with the latest GNOME version, lowering your possibility of issues. This is exactly the usefulness of non-LTS versions: they allow you a chance to use newer software without waiting for two years. The only caveat is that you’ll need to upgrade your distro to newer editions every six to nine months to keep receiving security patches.
Why Doesn’t Ubuntu LTS Update the Core Components?
Think about Ubuntu as a difficult puzzle where all the pieces need to fit exactly together for it to work. The problem is that these bits come from diverse sources. The Debian base, the underlying Linux kernel, and the GNOME desktop environment, among others, all follow their own development cycle, releasing new versions independently.
When Canonical (Ubuntu's parent company) releases a new Ubuntu version, they carefully select precise versions of all these elements that operate well together, rigorously test them, and release them as a complete package. Now, when enough essential pieces have substantial new versions available, Canonical will again bundle them together into a complete new Ubuntu release. This is why you see new Ubuntu versions every six months, as that's how long it takes them to test and validate that all the newer bits are working seamlessly together.
That said, if a single piece receives a substantial update and we replace its old version with the new one, it could not fit precisely with the other older parts. This discrepancy can potentially cause system instability and crashes. To circumvent this issue, Ubuntu only sends the following sorts of maintenance updates to supported versions:
Security patches for known vulnerabilities.
Bug fixes and stability improvements.
Hardware Enablement (HWE) updates to ensure smooth interoperability with newly released hardware (unique to Ubuntu LTS versions).
If you are using an LTS version, you will receive these updates for five years, for free. If you are using a non-LTS version, you will receive these updates for only nine months.
How Snaps and Flatpaks Can Help
Major version updates are not simply restricted to the core system components but extend to many of the apps you run, like Firefox, LibreOffice, etc. If you install these apps from the usual Ubuntu repository using the APT command, you’ll likely wind up with older packages.
However, you can access the newest significant new releases of this software by installing it using Snaps or Flatpaks. Since Flatpak and Snap programs are sandboxed and have very little interaction with the core system, it’s quite unlikely that you’ll witness any system problems, no matter what version of the apps you use.
Should You Use Ubuntu LTS?
The LTS release is often recommended for enterprises, work computers, and servers because of its long-term stability and security updates. As such, you might presume that the non-LTS releases must be targeted for home desktop computers. However, the reality is a bit more subtle!
Non-LTS releases generally cater to IT aficionados who want their hands on fresh, cutting-edge software—and these users do choose to install Ubuntu on their own PCs. However, there are other IT enthusiasts who like to customize their PC and despise regular system updates that can disrupt their configurations. If you fall into this latter group, even though you're using Ubuntu on a personal system, the LTS version is the best choice.
For example, let's imagine you decide to customize your Ubuntu PC with its massive collection of GNOME extensions and themes. You can use these to add new capabilities and entirely change how your system looks and feels. Unfortunately, there’s a significant possibility that these tweaks may break when you upgrade to a new Ubuntu edition.
This means that with every upgrade, you’ll need to reconfigure your systems, reinstall your preferred themes and extensions, and change all your settings anew. Being compelled to do this every six (or nine) months can get tiring, which is why I personally prefer and also advocate utilizing the LTS version. Any adjustments and modifications you make are there to stay for at least five years.
That said, if you utilize the usual GNOME setup and mostly run Snap programs, the non-LTS releases might make more sense. The upgrades are significantly smoother when there's less specific configuration to potentially break, and you'll receive access to newer features every six months.