Are you a loyal Ubuntu user? If so, there’s good news for you. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, offers a subscription called Ubuntu Pro that extends the security and maintenance coverage of your favorite operating system. This is not a new operating system, but rather a set of premium services that run on top of an existing Ubuntu LTS (Long-Term Support) installation and the best part is, it’s free for personal use.
Ubuntu Pro is designed to provide an enterprise-grade layer of security and support for all users, extending the lifecycle of your software and giving you peace of mind.
Why Do You Need Ubuntu Pro?
You might ask, "If Ubuntu is already free and secure, why do I need Pro?" The answer lies in its comprehensive long-term security guarantees and the advanced features it offers.
- 10-Year Security Support for All Repositories: The standard Ubuntu LTS version provides 5 years of security updates for packages in the "Main" repository. Ubuntu Pro dramatically extends this support to 10 years and, most importantly, also includes the "Universe" repository. The Universe repository contains more than 23,000 community-maintained software packages such as Python, WordPress, Docker, and many more. This means that nearly all software you install will continue to receive security patches for critical, high, and medium vulnerabilities.
- Kernel Livepatch: This is a standout and highly valuable feature. With Livepatch, you can apply the most critical kernel security updates without needing to reboot your system. This is especially useful for keeping servers online or for those who do not want to interrupt their desktop workflow just for an update.
- Compliance & System Hardening: For IT professionals, developers, and organizations, Ubuntu Pro provides access to scripts and tools for system hardening based on industry standards such as CIS and DISA-STIG. The service also includes compliance certifications like FIPS 140-2, which are essential in highly regulated environments.
- Free for Personal and Community Use: Canonical provides Ubuntu Pro for free for personal use on up to 5 machines. If you are an official Ubuntu Community member, this limit increases to 50 machines. For commercial and enterprise use, paid subscriptions are available with optional 24/7 technical support via phone and ticketing.
How to Get Ubuntu Pro for Free
The process of enabling Ubuntu Pro on your system is very simple and only takes a few minutes.
Prerequisites:
- You are using Ubuntu LTS version 16.04 or newer (e.g., 20.04, 22.04, 24.04).
- An active internet connection.
- An Ubuntu One account (if you don’t have one, you can create it for free).
Step 1: Get Your Ubuntu Pro Token
- Visit the site ubuntu.com/pro and click the button to register ("Get your free personal token").
- You will be prompted to log in or create an Ubuntu One account.
- After logging in, you will be directed to your personal Ubuntu Pro dashboard. There, you will find your "token." Copy this token, as it is the unique key to activate the service on your machine.
Step 2: Open Terminal and Update the System
Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T. Before attaching the token, make sure your system and ubuntu-advantage-tools (the Pro client) are up to date.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradeStep 3: Attach the Token to the System
Now, use the token you copied to connect your Ubuntu system to the Pro subscription. Replace TOKEN_ANDA with your actual token.
sudo pro attach TOKEN_ANDAPress Enter and enter your password. The system will communicate with Canonical’s servers. Once successful, several services such as ESM Infra and Livepatch will be automatically enabled.
Step 4: Verify and Enable Additional Services
To ensure the Pro services are active, run the following command:
pro statusYou will see a list of services and their status. Pay attention to the esm-apps service, which covers the Universe repository. If its status is disabled, enable it manually with the command:
sudo pro enable esm-appsAfter that, run sudo apt update again to fetch the package list from the newly enabled Pro repositories.
Conclusion
Congratulations! Your Ubuntu system has now been upgraded with enterprise-grade security and maintenance from Ubuntu Pro. You now benefit from broader security updates for a full decade, the ability to patch the kernel without downtime, and access to professional compliance tools. By making it free for personal use, Canonical has provided a highly valuable tool for developers, students, and open-source enthusiasts to keep their systems secure, reliable, and up to date for the long term.
