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Top 10 CentOS Alternatives

Vendor: CentOS
4.2 out of 5
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Top CentOS Competitors

Discover the top alternatives and competitors to CentOS based on the interviews we conducted with its users. The top alternative solutions include Ubuntu Linux, Oracle Linux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The alternatives are sorted based on how often peers compare the solutions.

CentOS surpasses its competitors by offering a robust, enterprise-grade operating system with exceptional stability, strong community support, and compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, making it ideal for servers and enterprise environments.

CentOS Alternatives Report

Learn what solutions real users are comparing with CentOS, and compare use cases, valuable features, and pricing.
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Ubuntu Linux
4.3 out of 5
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Ubuntu Linux
4.3 out of 5
Ubuntu Linux provides frequent updates and advanced features, attracting developers needing cutting-edge tools. In comparison, CentOS prioritizes stability and security, making it ideal for enterprise servers favoring long-term performance. Ubuntu Linux's easy deployment contrasts with CentOS's streamlined enterprise process, affecting deployment preferences.
Download CentOS vs. Ubuntu Linux Report
Ubuntu Linux has a low setup cost with straightforward installation, while CentOS offers a minimal setup cost but requires more initial configuration. Ubuntu's ease of use contrasts with CentOS's preference for manual setups and control.
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Ubuntu Linux has a low setup cost with straightforward installation, while CentOS offers a minimal setup cost but requires more initial configuration. Ubuntu's ease of use contrasts with CentOS's preference for manual setups and control.
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Oracle Linux
4.2 out of 5
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Oracle Linux
4.2 out of 5
Oracle Linux is favored for its advanced security features and robust support, making it an ideal choice for enterprises prioritizing security and stability. In comparison, CentOS is preferred for its community-driven development and extensive software repositories, appealing to users seeking flexibility and cost-efficiency.
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Oracle Linux setup cost is higher due to premium enterprise support, while CentOS offers a lower setup cost appealing to budget-conscious users.
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Oracle Linux setup cost is higher due to premium enterprise support, while CentOS offers a lower setup cost appealing to budget-conscious users.
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Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
4.4 out of 5
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) stands out for its robust security, reliability, and integration capabilities, along with excellent customer support. In comparison, CentOS is valued for its cost-effectiveness and identical core functionality to RHEL without subscription fees. RHEL offers professional support, whereas CentOS users rely on community-driven resources.
Download CentOS vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Report
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) generally involves higher setup costs compared to CentOS, which is known for its no-cost setup, highlighting a significant difference in initial expense between the two solutions.
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Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) generally involves higher setup costs compared to CentOS, which is known for its no-cost setup, highlighting a significant difference in initial expense between the two solutions.
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Rocky Linux
4.2 out of 5
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Rocky Linux
4.2 out of 5
CentOS users value stability and extensive documentation. In comparison, Rocky Linux users appreciate compatibility with enterprise tools. While CentOS faces delayed updates, Rocky Linux benefits from its adaptive approach. CentOS deployment is straightforward; however, Rocky Linux offers better out-of-the-box compatibility and smooth installation.
Download CentOS vs. Rocky Linux Report
CentOS has a lower setup cost, making it a budget-friendly choice, while Rocky Linux entails a higher setup cost, reflecting its additional features and stability.
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CentOS has a lower setup cost, making it a budget-friendly choice, while Rocky Linux entails a higher setup cost, reflecting its additional features and stability.
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Windows Server
4.0 out of 5
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Windows Server
4.0 out of 5
CentOS, known for its open-source nature and cost-effectiveness, is favored for stability and security, supported by a strong community. In comparison, Windows Server is chosen for advanced features and integration capabilities, despite higher costs and complexity, making it ideal for comprehensive enterprise environments.
Download CentOS vs. Windows Server Report
CentOS has a lower setup cost compared to Windows Server, highlighting CentOS's cost-effectiveness advantage. However, Windows Server offers more extensive support, justifying its higher setup cost.
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CentOS has a lower setup cost compared to Windows Server, highlighting CentOS's cost-effectiveness advantage. However, Windows Server offers more extensive support, justifying its higher setup cost.
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SUSE Linux Enterprise
4.3 out of 5
SUSE Linux Enterprise offers superior reliability and enterprise-grade support. In comparison, CentOS is valued for strong community support and cost efficiency. SUSE's advanced security options cater to security-conscious enterprises, while CentOS's compatibility with Red Hat software appeals to budget-driven tech buyers.
Download CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise Report
SUSE Linux Enterprise's setup cost is higher, reflecting its enterprise-grade features, while CentOS offers a more economical setup, suitable for budget-conscious users.
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SUSE Linux Enterprise's setup cost is higher, reflecting its enterprise-grade features, while CentOS offers a more economical setup, suitable for budget-conscious users.
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openSUSE Leap
4.6 out of 5
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openSUSE Leap
4.6 out of 5
CentOS is preferred for its stability and compatibility with Red Hat Enterprises, while openSUSE Leap is known for its integrated tools such as YaST and Zypper. In comparison, CentOS is easier to deploy. openSUSE Leap provides a robust customer service experience. Both offer strong value, CentOS is extremely cost-effective, and openSUSE Leap justifies additional costs with advanced features.
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CentOS setup cost is minimal, making it an affordable choice, whereas openSUSE Leap has a higher setup cost, reflecting its more comprehensive feature set.
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CentOS setup cost is minimal, making it an affordable choice, whereas openSUSE Leap has a higher setup cost, reflecting its more comprehensive feature set.
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Windows 10
4.1 out of 5
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Windows 10
4.1 out of 5
CentOS attracts tech buyers with its stability and server-specific features. In comparison, Windows 10 is chosen for its extensive application compatibility and multimedia capabilities. CentOS's lower costs appeal to server environments, while Windows 10's user-friendly experience and better customer support justify its higher price.
Download CentOS vs. Windows 10 Report
CentOS has a lower setup cost compared to Windows 10, making it a more economical choice. For users prioritizing cost-efficiency, CentOS stands out, whereas Windows 10 might be preferred for its additional features despite a higher setup cost.
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CentOS has a lower setup cost compared to Windows 10, making it a more economical choice. For users prioritizing cost-efficiency, CentOS stands out, whereas Windows 10 might be preferred for its additional features despite a higher setup cost.
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Oracle Solaris
4.3 out of 5
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Oracle Solaris
4.3 out of 5
CentOS is appreciated for its stability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. In comparison, Oracle Solaris offers superior security and advanced features. CentOS's straightforward installation contrasts with Oracle Solaris's comprehensive enterprise support. CentOS provides high ROI with low investment, while Oracle Solaris delivers significant ROI through its performance and reliability.
Download CentOS vs. Oracle Solaris Report
CentOS users report lower initial setup costs, whereas Oracle Solaris users often encounter higher setup expenses, indicating a significant cost difference in the early stages.
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CentOS users report lower initial setup costs, whereas Oracle Solaris users often encounter higher setup expenses, indicating a significant cost difference in the early stages.
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Kali Linux
4.4 out of 5
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Kali Linux
4.4 out of 5
CentOS is ideal for enterprise environments due to its stability, security, and long-term support. In comparison, Kali Linux is favored by security professionals for its extensive array of pre-installed security testing tools. CentOS provides robust deployment and community support, offering substantial ROI for enterprises.
Download CentOS vs. Kali Linux Report
CentOS has minimal setup costs, offering a budget-friendly solution, while Kali Linux incurs higher setup costs due to its specialized security tools.
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CentOS has minimal setup costs, offering a budget-friendly solution, while Kali Linux incurs higher setup costs due to its specialized security tools.
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Debian
1 out of 5
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Debian
1 out of 5
CentOS is attractive for organizations due to its stability and robust security, ideal for enterprise environments. In comparison, Debian provides flexibility and a vast package repository, appealing to developers who value customizability and an extensive community support system for various use cases.
CentOS requires no setup cost, making it attractive for budget-conscious users, while Debian imposes a nominal initial fee, highlighting a modest upfront investment for those seeking stability and reliability.
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CentOS requires no setup cost, making it attractive for budget-conscious users, while Debian imposes a nominal initial fee, highlighting a modest upfront investment for those seeking stability and reliability.
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Flatcar Container Linux
4.0 out of 5
Flatcar Container Linux is a lightweight, secure, and reliable operating system designed for running containers at scale with automatic updates and a minimal attack surface. The solution is easy to use and manage and has a simple and intuitive command-line interface and a powerful set of tools for managing containers and clusters. 
It supports various container runtimes, including Docker, Kubernetes, and Mesos. It can be deployed on various infrastructure platforms, including bare metal, virtual machines, and cloud environments. Flatcar Container Linux is an ideal choice for organizations deploying containerized applications in production environments.
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Alpine Linux
1 out of 5
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Alpine Linux
1 out of 5

Alpine Linux is an independent, non-commercial, general purpose Linux distribution designed for power users who appreciate security, simplicity and resource efficiency.
Alpine Linux is built around musl libc and busybox. This makes it small and very resource efficient. A container requires no more than 8 MB and a minimal installation to disk requires around 130 MB of storage. Not only do you get a fully-fledged Linux environment but a large selection of packages from the repository.

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