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CentOS vs Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

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. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 14.0%, down from 22.5% 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.
Kevin Haury - PeerSpot reviewer
Linux's advanced terminal empowers versatile usage and ongoing secure development
Initially, there was nothing complicated. It's easy since I have many years of experience with it. However, if I were a beginner with Linux, it could be completely disruptive compared to Windows. So, I would have to spend some time practicing with Linux to understand how it works and how I can accomplish the same tasks compared to Windows. Maybe one month, at least.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I like its stability, performance, and usability."
"The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use."
"The product offers a free community-based version."
"The user access level is most valuable. When you do administration with CentOS, the number of customizations that you can do for each user is higher than other solutions. It is very customizable."
"The initial setup is very easy."
"The solution is stable and reliable."
"We used the solution as an operating system."
"Setting up CentOS is straightforward, and you simply boot from a CD to get started."
"The stability of Oracle Linux is good."
"Oracle Linux's most valuable feature is flexibility."
"I find the stability to be excellent as the system manages outages effectively."
"When it comes to my favorite features of Oracle Linux, I have been impressed with its ability to facilitate a smooth and efficient workflow system. This system is responsible for gathering data from multiple cameras and transferring this information to the backend systems. The system comprises around 10 to 12 servers, all of which are integrated into a highly reliable and redundant cluster setup. Currently, we are using Red Hat Linux for our production needs, however, we have plans to switch over to Oracle Linux in the near future. The reason for this change is due to the specialized nature of our system which precludes the use of cloud computing capabilities."
"The main business advantage is maintaining compliance with Oracle licensing, avoiding non-compliance issues, and license revisions."
"The solution runs very well on inter-platform or HPE Intel servers."
"It is a stable solution with a secure operating system."
"Ultimately, Oracle Linux as a product rates nine out of ten."
"It is a widely used and stable solution. Community members can offer support and technical guidance."
"The solution has a very good graphical user interface."
"They have provided a new interface, which is great."
"There are many features I like about this solution, but one that stands out, is that it allows me to easily install new packages and to have recent packages available."
"The solution is more secure than competitors such as Microsoft Windows."
"It keeps you secure from virus and malware attacks."
"Windows needs a refresh option to refresh its screen, but Ubuntu doesn't need that. It refreshes automatically and works well."
"The integration with other applications, like Chrome or Firefox, works excellent for users navigating and test browsing."
 

Cons

"In the future, CentOS will no longer be compatible with Red Hat."
"The support could be a bit better."
"CentOS is pretty old now, so I wouldn't recommend anyone use it."
"There is no notification before updates are applied to the solution, which occasionally means that new functionality isn't compatible with how the product is currently being used, and causes issues."
"When comparing the GUI of CentOS to Microsoft Windows or Mac, it could improve."
"The solution could improve by making the management tools better for the DevOps teams. For example, WebEX and Webstacks."
"The solution’s stability could be improved."
"Previous versions were unstable."
"In the next release, I would like for Autonomous Linux to be available to all users so that the OS administration can be automated."
"It could also have a more user-friendly interface."
"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."
"Pricing could be improved."
"The documentation has room for improvement."
"The licensing price could be better."
"We'd like it if it was a bit more secure."
"Pricing could be improved."
"If the user interface were further improved then it would be better because more people would be able to use it."
"The solution could improve by being more user-friendly."
"The interface could be more user-friendly."
"When you upgrade the core of this operating system, it can crash. This is the only problem I had. It needs more stable upgrades."
"The solution could be more user-friendly, as I use Mac on a day to day basis."
"Better integration between the interface of the software and the operating system itself would be a benefit in the future."
"They can improve the interface and give it an appearance similar to the Windows 11 operating system."
"Ubuntu Linux needs to improve its stability. I would like it to show the battery percentage at the screen top."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This is an open-source solution, so there are no licensing costs involved."
"The solution is open source so is free."
"We are using a subscription-based license option for CentOS."
"There are no costs for CentOS, it is open-source."
"We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux."
"The solution is not subscription-based, unlike Red Hat."
"I use the free version."
"CentOS is free."
"The solution is less expensive than Solaris and allows for use of existing hardware."
"The solution is free."
"The product's pricing is cheap. The tool's pricing is yearly."
"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
"The solution is free to use with a support subscription rather than having to buy licenses."
"The licensing cost is expensive. It should be reduced by at least half."
"We pay for a license for this solution annually."
"We pay an annual subscription."
"I am using the free version of the solution."
"We don't pay any fees."
"Ubuntu Linux has a free version, especially if you don't require support."
"We do not have any support agreements with Ubuntu, so we are using the free and open source version."
"The solution is open-sourced."
"It is a free product."
"​Old equipment works for at least two or three years more, which means a significant savings.​"
"Ubuntu pricing is reasonable."
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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%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
11%
Manufacturing Company
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 st...
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 suita...
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 suppo...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
What needs improvement with Ubuntu Linux?
There's nothing more to improve. I would just continue developing the functionality that is already implemented, mayb...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Oracle Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
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Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Canonical, Oracle and others in Operating Systems (OS) for Business. Updated: April 2025.
849,190 professionals have used our research since 2012.