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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
7.8
Number of Reviews
113
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 5.5%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Linux is 11.1%, down from 14.8% 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

"It's less expensive than Red Hat."
"We used the solution as an operating system."
"CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly."
"The stability of this solution is its most useful feature. It is a high quality product and you know what you're getting. You also receive wide support from the community."
"CentOS is very efficient and very powerful with many capabilities."
"I like how you can alternate certain things and minimize admin features on there and just let it run on specific scripts. It's nice. Even if I had to put it in a container, I'd still do it. I prefer Linux over Windows any day."
"If I need to install a feature or fix a server issue, I can easily find answers online. The CentOS community is also vast and helpful."
"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward and not complex, especially if you are familiar with CLI."
"Oracle Linux for Oracle databases is the top. There's no doubt whatsoever."
"One of the main features of this solution is it is secure."
"The tool's performance is good."
"It's mostly reliable."
"Oracle consistently performs better."
"I like that it's very stable and lightweight and that it requires very little resources."
"It is a scalable solution."
"The solution is easy to use."
 

Cons

"CentOS is very close to the end of life."
"In terms of commands, it's all CLI and there isn't any GUI which can make it challenging to use for some people."
"I would like to see more frequent updates."
"I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required."
"I would like the integration to be more secure."
"The security could be improved because the server system isn't very secure."
"Previous versions were unstable."
"The server system is a little bit tough to manage."
"The download speed is not good. Oracle can improve their servers capacity, especially in Asia."
"I think Oracle Linux's outage management can be improved to better handle outages."
"They should improve in the area of entertainment applications for the average user."
"I would like Oracle Linux to have more frequent updates."
"It could be more scalable."
"The technical support for Oracle Linux is just okay. It is not as helpful or friendly as their application support."
"Oracle Linux performs best on Linux or Unix. However, you cannot get the same performance or stability in Windows."
"Addressing room for improvement in Oracle Linux, some applications supported by other operating systems are not supported, which is a pain."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We don’t have to pay for the system’s licenses."
"The product is free."
"CentOS is an open source that is free of cost."
"The solution is open source."
"We have a CentOS license that we pay for on a yearly basis."
"This is an open source solution."
"CentOS is an open-source tool."
"I use the free version."
"Oracle Linux is very cheap at this time."
"We have a yearly license, and I think Oracle charges too much."
"We are currently operating the solution using a license-based version. We get licenses per machine."
"The licensing for this solution is based on the number of calls running Oracle databases, and are purchased either annually, or every three years."
"We pay for a license for this solution annually."
"The solution is free to use with a support subscription rather than having to buy licenses."
"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
"The cost is relatively affordable."
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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
10%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
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: April 2025.
848,270 professionals have used our research since 2012.