shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use Ubuntu – Package Search (packages.ubuntu.com)?

Not disclosed - packages.ubuntu.com

Skip. This is a free reference website, not a product — no vendor, no support, and users report broken, outdated searches. If you can run 'apt search' or Synaptic, skip the site entirely.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~20 public sources, mostly community threads; no vendor docs beyond the site itself.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNo vendor or support channels exist.
  • Security postureNo site-specific security evidence reviewed.

Pricing

$0

Package search

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • One-off browser lookups in Ubuntu archives
  • Finding which package provides a file
  • Users without terminal access right now

Not for

  • Anyone who can run apt search — faster and current
  • Teams wanting vendor support or an SLA
  • Non-technical users expecting app-store polish
  • Anyone needing real-time, up-to-date archive data

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Reliability is spotty: searches have returned 500 errors; verify with apt before trusting results.

medium

Results can lag current archives; called 'severely outdated' by users since 2018.

medium

No paid tier means no vendor support or SLA when the site breaks.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Completely free; no account or signup required.
  • Searches package names, descriptions, source packages, and file contents.
  • Official Ubuntu project page covering the distribution's archives.

Cons

  • Users report 500 Internal Server Errors when searching.
  • Long-standing complaints that results are severely outdated.
  • Community steers users to apt search or Synaptic instead.

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/26/2026 - 10 sources - No known vulnerabilities in the search site itself; adjacent Ubuntu package advisories exist in the sources reviewed.

official x3review x5security x2
  • Ubuntu PackageKit privilege escalation (advisory 8195-1), Ubuntu reports a PackageKit vulnerability allowing local attackers elevated access; advisory issued.
  • Linux kernel use-after-free (CVE-2026-80521), Container escape vulnerability with public exploit available; kernel patch has arrived.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 10

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free public service; nothing to pay.
  • Ease of use: 2/5. Reported 500 errors; terminal search easier.
  • Feature depth: 3/5. Searches names, descriptions, sources, file contents.
  • Support quality. No vendor or support channels exist.
  • Security posture. No site-specific security evidence reviewed.
  • $0 Price Free public service, no account
  • Yes Free tier Entire site is free
  • 4.5/5 Ubuntu OS G2 rating 1,504 reviews (Ubuntu OS, not this site)
  • 500 errors Search reliability User-reported on Reddit

Pricing

Package search

$0

  • Search Ubuntu archives by name, description, contents
  • No account needed

Security

No known vulnerabilities in the search site itself; adjacent Ubuntu package advisories exist in the sources reviewed.

  • Ubuntu PackageKit privilege escalation (advisory 8195-1)Ubuntu reports a PackageKit vulnerability allowing local attackers elevated access; advisory issued.⁸
  • Linux kernel use-after-free (CVE-2026-80521)Container escape vulnerability with public exploit available; kernel patch has arrived.⁹

What users say

Users like the idea of a web archive search but report errors and staleness, pointing each other to apt, Synaptic, or Launchpad.

“I get an 500 Internal Server Error whenever I try to search for any package on https://packages.ubuntu.com/”
Reddit, r/linuxquestions
“You don't. apt search packagename. Or install a GUI package manager like gnome-software or synaptic.”
Reddit, r/linuxquestions
“Why is ubuntu package search severely outdated?”
AskUbuntu
Full analysis

Based on ~20 public sources, mostly community threads; no vendor docs beyond the site itself.

Free Ubuntu package search site; users report 500 errors and stale results — apt search is faster and current.

Methodology

Based on ~20 public sources, mostly community threads; no vendor docs beyond the site itself.

Sources

  1. Ubuntu Packages Searchpackages.ubuntu.com
    official
  2. Does the search on packages.ubuntu.com even work?reddit.com
    review
  3. Why is ubuntu package search severely outdated?askubuntu.com
    review
  4. How to package install with package search sites on ubuntu?reddit.com
    review
  5. How do I search for available packages from the command line?askubuntu.com
    review
  6. Search Ubuntu's packages - Launchpadlaunchpad.net
    official
  7. Ubuntu Reviews 2026 (subscribed.fyi)subscribed.fyi
    review
  8. Ubuntu 8195-1 PackageKit High Privilege Escalationlinuxsecurity.com
    security
  9. Ubuntu Container Escape Vulnerability Gets Public Exploitlinuxjournal.com
    security
  10. Product security pagepackages.ubuntu.com
    official

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