# What Java Development Kit distributions have the most reliable long-term support and frequent security patch cycles?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">Security patching cadence and LTS reliability can make or break a JDK choice for production workloads. Amazon Corretto, Azul Zulu, and Oracle Java all promise long-term support, but the actual patch delivery timelines and coverage differ. Here's how they stack up in the <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/java-development-kit-jdk-distributions">JDK distributions</a> category on G2:</p><ul>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-corretto/reviews"><strong>Amazon Corretto</strong></a> (4.5/5, 130 reviews) commits to quarterly security updates aligned with the OpenJDK patch schedule, plus additional patches for critical vulnerabilities outside the regular cycle. AWS publishes clear end-of-support dates for each LTS version. The no-cost model means patching doesn't come with license renewal negotiations.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/azul-platform-core-zulu/reviews"><strong>Azul Platform Core (Zulu)</strong></a> (4.9/5, 58 reviews) offers the longest LTS windows in the category, with paid support extending coverage years beyond what free distributions provide. Azul also backports security fixes to older LTS versions that other vendors have already dropped, which is critical for teams locked into specific Java versions by legacy application dependencies.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-java-downloads/reviews"><strong>Oracle Java Downloads</strong></a> (4.4/5, 48 reviews) delivers Critical Patch Updates on a strict quarterly calendar (January, April, July, October). As the reference implementation maintainer, Oracle patches often land first here before trickling to downstream distributions. Continued access to updates for commercial use requires an active Oracle Java SE subscription.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/liberica-jdk/reviews"><strong>Liberica JDK</strong></a> (5.0/5, 14 reviews) follows the OpenJDK quarterly patch cadence with BellSoft's own QA cycle on top. LTS versions receive updates for at least 8 years, and the smaller vendor size hasn't prevented consistent delivery.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-build-of-openjdk/reviews"><strong>Microsoft Build of OpenJDK</strong></a> (4.2/5, 16 reviews) provides LTS builds for Java 11, 17, and 21 with quarterly security updates. The patches are validated against Azure services before release, which adds a layer of confidence for Azure-centric teams.</li>
</ul><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">How far ahead does your team plan for JDK version end-of-life? Is it a scheduled migration or more of a "deal with it when support ends" situation?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: 2 months ago
- Author title: Marketer
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

Honestly the JDK version end-of-life question is mostly a &quot;deal with it when support ends&quot; situation at most places I&#39;ve worked, which is exactly the wrong answer. The teams that do it well treat the upgrade as a scheduled migration with an 18-month runway, not a scramble triggered by an end-of-support notice. It&#39;s a planning discipline problem more than a technical one.

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: about 2 months ago
- Author title: Marketing Executive





## Related discussions
- [How well does Trello scale into a larger team?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/1-how-well-does-trello-scale-into-a-larger-team)
  - Posted at: over 13 years ago
  - Comments: 6
- [Can we please add a new section](https://www.g2.com/discussions/2-can-we-please-add-a-new-section)
  - Posted at: over 13 years ago
  - Comments: 0
- [Quantifiable benefits from implementing your CRM](https://www.g2.com/discussions/quantifiable-benefits-from-implementing-your-crm)
  - Posted at: over 13 years ago
  - Comments: 4