Canonical Group Ltd Canonical USA Inc. Canonical China Ltd (Chinese:科能（上海）软件科技有限公司) Canonical Brasil Ltda Canonical Canada Ltd Canonical Ltd Taiwan Br. (Chinese:英屬曼島商肯諾有限公司臺灣分公司)
Canonical Ltd. has created and continues to back several projects. Principally these arefree andopen-source software (FOSS) or tools designed to improve collaboration between free software developers and contributors. Some projects require aContributor License Agreement to be signed.
cloud-init, thede facto standard for the initial setup of virtual machines in the cloud
U1DB, a cross-platform, cross-device, and syncable databaseapplication programming interface (API), allowing for applications to storeJSON documents and synchronize them between machines and devices[10][11]
Snap, a package management system forUbuntu and otherLinux operating systems
Snapcraft, a Python-based tool for packaging software
Launchpad,[13][14] a centralised website containing several component web applications designed to make collaboration betweenfree software projects easier:
Landscape,[15] a proprietary web service for centralized management of Ubuntu Linux systems
Ubuntu One, a discontinued service since 2014 for file synchronization and other uses
Ubuntu Pro, a commercial support service that covers Ubuntu and other Canonical products
Multipass,[16][17] launched in 2019, provides a command line interface to launch and managevirtual machine instances of Linux in Windows, macOS and Linux.
Canonical Academy is a platform launched in October 2025 to provide practical, hands-on training and certification in Linux and Ubuntu administration.[18][19]
In 2007, Canonical launched an International online shop selling support services and Ubuntu-branded goods; later in 2008 it expanded that with a United States-specific shop designed to reduce shipment times.[21] At the same time, the wordUbuntu was trademarked in connection with clothing and accessories.[22]
In aGuardian interview in May 2008, Shuttleworth said that Canonical'sbusiness model was service provision and that Canonical was not yet close to profitability. Canonical stated that it would wait three to five years to become profitable. Shuttleworth regarded Canonical as positioning itself as demand for services related to free software rose. This strategy has been compared toRed Hat's business strategies in the 1990s.[23] In an early-2009New York Times article, Shuttleworth said that Canonical's revenue was "creeping" towardsUS$30 million, the company's break-even point.[24]
Canonical achieved a small operating profit of $281,000 in 2009, but until 2017 struggled to maintain financial solvency and took a major financial hit from the development ofUnity andUbuntu Touch, leading to an operating loss of $21.6 million for the fiscal year 2013.[25] The company reported an operating profit of $2 million in 2017 after shutting down the Unity development team and laying off nearly 200 employees. The company now plans to focus on its server and professional support products and services, which have proved to be most profitable. Through this, Canonical plans to maintain solvency and achieve long-term profitability.[26][27] In 2022, Canonical UK Limited (a subsidiary of the group) made a profit of £0.52m on revenues of £14.31m.[28]
Canonical reported a revenue of $175M in 2021.[29] In 2023, the company reported a revenue of $251M.[30]
Canonical has more than 1200 employees.[5] The head office is in London on the 5th Floor of 3 More London Riverside,More London.[32] Previous office locations include the 5th Floor of the Blue Fin Building,Southwark Street,[33] and the 27th floor ofMillbank Tower.[34] In the summer of 2006, Canonical opened an office inMontreal to house its global support and services operation.[23]Taipei 101 is also home to a Canonical office.[35] There was formerly an OEM team inLexington, Massachusetts, United States.[36]
Mark Shuttleworth, CEO and founder of the Ubuntu project, former Debian maintainer ofApache and founder ofThawte Consulting (2004–), CEO until March 2010 and from July 2017 to present
Jane Silber, Board of Directors,[37] formerly CEO (March 2010-July 2017); formerly COO and leader of theUbuntu One project
^"Company no. 110334C". The Isle of Man Companies Registry. Archived fromthe original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved18 May 2005.[ Previous names: ] M R S VIRTUAL DEVELOPMENT LIMITED [ Name type: ] PREVIOUS
^UK registered trademark#EU004059218 "CANONICAL", filed 29 September 2004.
^ab"About Canonical". Canonical Ltd. Archived fromthe original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved20 August 2012.We've come a long way since our launch in 2004. We now have over 800 staff in more than 42 countries, and offices in London, Austin, Boston, Taipei, Montreal, Shanghai, São Paulo and the Isle of Man.
^"Canonical launches U.S.-based shop.ubuntu.com in time for holiday season".Ubuntu Insights. Canonical Ltd. 20 November 2008. Retrieved28 June 2015.Canonical launched today an U.S.-based on-line shop for Ubuntu-branded merchandise and software. With a new fulfillment house in St. Louis, Missouri, shipments are faster and less expensive for Ubuntu users and enthusiasts in the U.S
^"Ubuntu for Android". Canonical Ltd. Archived fromthe original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved21 February 2012.We have over 500 staff in more than 30 countries, with offices in London, Boston, Taipei, Montreal, Shanghai, and São Paulo.
US$250 million (2023)[2]: 13 
US$−7.2 million (2023)[2]: 14 
