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CentOS vs Oracle Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

CentOS
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
112
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 6.1%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Linux is 12.8%, down from 14.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Mahender Nirwan - PeerSpot reviewer
In-depth documentation available and command-line utility works well
One issue I recently faced, but I think it was due to my IT support guys, was that when the server storage gets full, the service crashes. It's very difficult to regain access and stability in that situation. That could be improved. So, the stability might be improved. But I don't think it's a CentOS-level issue. The system administrators need to come up with a solution for that, but I don't think it's CentOS's fault. I haven't done any research [R&D] on this issue. There's one thing for sure. We recently migrated from CentOS 7 to CentOS 9, and it was a bit difficult. For example, updating Windows is simple; you just download it, and it takes about 15-20 minutes. But that's not the case with migrating from CentOS 7 to 9. We had to back up the entire server, launch a new server, and then restore the backup to the new server. We couldn't directly migrate. I think that was a bit of a problem. The setup and updates are not that new in CentOS.
Marcelo Muniz - PeerSpot reviewer
The operational system is the best and is packed with free features like CapsLive
It is important to work with a vendor who will sell you the correct product for your environment rather than just try to make the most money off of you. Study the solution and learn how to install it correctly and use it in the best ways. Follow best practices from Oracle and get some training in the operational system. The solution comes with a lot of features and options that you can use for free. It is reliable and you can even use an old version with no issues. It is not the most user friendly, but you can learn it with a bit of study. Overall, the solution beats other operational systems by a large margin. The solution is rated a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"CentOS's most valuable features are that it's cost-saving and helps to scale down your usage."
"It's less expensive than Red Hat."
"The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use."
"We particularly like that we can remove the graphic user interface to minimize attack settings for the operating system."
"CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly."
"The technical support is good."
"CentOS is very efficient and very powerful with many capabilities."
"The open architecture is useful for us. That's why we're using CentOS."
"It is a good solution, and the performance is good."
"Once installed, the product is good, I like it. The core of the software is really good."
"Oracle Linux is very compatible with other platforms."
"The user interface is comfortable and easy to use."
"Oracle consistently performs better."
"It's mostly reliable."
"The stability is excellent and the initial setup is easy."
"It is a stable solution. We rarely face any issues with the machine."
 

Cons

"The price could be better. They could add more drivers in terms of peripherals and other things. Add more drivers for the Linux specifications in the next release. Right now, they are just pushing to have more drivers for Windows instead of Linux."
"The stability could always be improved."
"CentOS could improve by having troubleshooting logs."
"The support could be a bit better."
"The solution could improve by being more user-friendly."
"The server system is a little bit tough to manage."
"The price of CentOS could improve."
"They could build more options into the wizard."
"The graphic interface could be improved to work better in a desktop environment."
"They could introduce the same level of remote capabilities, which are available with VMware applications to build distant environments."
"Oracle Linux could improve by having better compatibility with other solutions. Some aspects of the configuration are difficult. I was using Oracle Linux on a Mac computer and it was very difficult to set up."
"I think they should also pay more attention to the open-source community."
"The Oracle Linux graphical interface could be improved by fixing its occasional freezing on personal home laptops."
"They should improve in the area of entertainment applications for the average user."
"The solution can be improved by making it more user-friendly for basic users to reduce the time it takes to learn the commands and to reduce the dependencies that come with the OS so the deployment time can be reduced."
"Another notable aspect that could be improved is minor compatibility with Red Hat."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is free."
"CentOS is cheaper compared to Windows."
"It's freeware, so we can use it without worrying about licensing."
"The solution is open-source and does not have any costs or licensing fees."
"The price could be better. The cost depends on how the organization or a specific person licenses it. If you want the free version, there's Ubuntu which is supported by forums. You can pay for the license yearly or pay for a specific version."
"There is no price or licensing required — it's open-source."
"I use the free version."
"CentOS is a free solution."
"We pay an annual subscription."
"The price of Oracle Linux overall could be less expensive."
"The price of Oracle Linux could be less expensive for those who are running a small freelance company, such as I do. We use the solution fully but the income that you're receiving is slow."
"The licensing cost is expensive. It should be reduced by at least half."
"The solution is free."
"We have a yearly license, and I think Oracle charges too much."
"It is an expensive solution for us."
"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
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Comparison Review

it_user281973 - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 24, 2017
It's improved our company's system environments that run Oracle databases.
Red Hat is mission critical to our environment Red Hat has improved the mission critical environments running Oracle databases, while CentOS has improved our web environment and MySQL. Oracle and SAP Environment and all HPC environments. 10 years No issues Very stable i don´t find any problem…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
9%
Educational Organization
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which would you choose - RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) or CentOS?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is fantastic. It is an inexpensive solution that has excellent security, performance, and stability, and also lots of features. I specifically like that the solution has fe...
What do you like most about CentOS?
CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for CentOS?
I am not responsible for the setup cost in my company, so I am unsure about the cost of the license.
How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Oracle Enterprise Linux
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
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Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Oracle Linux and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
839,164 professionals have used our research since 2012.