this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2026
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Strong agree. I use a derivative that blocks snaps instead of direct Kubuntu now, and it wasn't Just because of the snaps.
Without Ubuntu Pro subscription the entire Universe repository does not receive any security updates by Canonical:
https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-pro-enhanced-security-and-manageability-for-linux-desktop
You should consider switching to an entirely independent distribution that does not lock security updates behind a paywall, perhaps something based directly on Debian or Fedora.
Update: Correction. While you do get five years of security updates for Universe on an Ubuntu LTS, those are updates done by the ubuntu community, not canonical. To get Universe security updates from Canonical, you do have to sign up to Ubuntu pro, which can be done without any payment, but as I describe in my original comment, does require creating an account.
While Canonical deserves the criticisms leveled by op (that I agree with), it's also incorrect to say that they lock security updated behind a paywall.
Anyone that does use Ubuntu gets security updated until they stop supporting that particular release version, which iirc is for six years (I may be wrong, thus is from memory).
If you want extended security updates for a specific version of the os, you can elect to sign up to Ubuntu pro without paying any money. You do have to make an account, and if you so choose you can populate the account info with garbage info and a disposable email, and you'll get extended security updates for that release version.
The updates available through Ubuntu Pro wouldn’t have normally been available prior to Pro. It’s an added service, not something that was previously available that is now locked behind a paywall. There are plenty of reasons to not like Canonical but this isn’t one.
Ubuntu Pro is free for personal use on up to five machines.
Also note that Universe is the community-maintained repository, sort of like the AUR but the community also reviews package creations. The Main repository is maintained by the Ubuntu Project and has always had free security updates.
What's a better alternative that uses apt and KDE and has relatively up-to-date packages (other than Debian testing)?
It's not KDE, but I think Linux Mint Cinnamon is a no-brainer for somebody who really just wants to use ubuntu.
However, as a long time Mint fan I recently had reason to switch to Debian 13 w/ KDE Plasma and it is pretty great.
May I ask why you seem to be married to the use of
apt?~~Just couldn't pass up on the opportunity to insert this banger.~~
Isn't apt still better at resolving the dependency tree than other managers? (Idk if it is, but vaguely heard so.)
IIRC, historically, it was (one of) the first to do so. It took a significant time for (most^[Slackware, famously, continues to not have a dependency resolver. Though, they got their reasons.]) others to catch up.
Maybe. I honestly don't know either.
Linux mint Debian Edition, and just install KDE yourself ig, otherwise MX linux KDE
Debian Sid!
What's wrong with Debian?
Its objective superiority puts others off.
I already know about it, so there's no need to tell me.
Fair enough.
There's also Pop and Mint, though I don't know if their update model differs from Ubuntu at all.
But if you're already familiar with Debian, why not use it? It's widely recommended for a reason, it's hard to beat.
Saying this is like screaming "I don't know anything about Ubuntu except that I hate it!!!!"
Novel got Suse pretty stable now too. I'm still a Fedora fan but it's an option.
Maybe it was just me, but Kubuntu was also the least stable distro I've tried on my gaming laptop. Constant crashes and random reboots.
I've had zero issues with Mint.
I started out with Ubuntu a little over a year ago. Then came an update that removed the ability to change the brightness of my desktop's monitor. Felt like an Apple move, so I gave Mint another go. Have really enjoyed it (though I'm starting to eye CachyOS since Mint has seemingly decided to comply in advance with the CA age-verification law--haven't added anything yet, but say they will)