CentOS vs SUSE Linux Enterprise comparison

CentOS and SUSE are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. CentOS is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.8, while SUSE is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.2. CentOS holds a 5.5% mindshare in OSB, compared to SUSE’s 7.2% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of CentOS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of SUSE users who would recommend it.

CentOS

Read 68 CentOS reviews

8,350 Views
8,466 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Read 32 SUSE Linux Enterprise reviews

10,390 Views
9,260 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

CentOS

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

SUSE Linux Enterprise and CentOS are both robust enterprise-grade Linux distributions. Users report better support and pricing satisfaction with SUSE Linux Enterprise, while CentOS is often favored for its extensive features and higher perceived value.

Features: SUSE Linux Enterprise has strong security features, scalability, and comprehensive software support. CentOS is known for its stability, a vast library of software packages, and suitability for enterprise applications.

Room for Improvement: SUSE Linux Enterprise could enhance customization options and performance optimization. CentOS needs better documentation and more frequent updates.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SUSE Linux Enterprise provides professional customer support and a smooth deployment process. CentOS deployment is straightforward but lacks in customer service.

Pricing and ROI: SUSE Linux Enterprise has higher setup costs, justified by professional support. CentOS offers a lower-cost setup with a good return on investment due to its feature-rich platform.

To learn more, read our detailed CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

April 2025

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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

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

7th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

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 SUSE Linux Enterprise is 7.2%, down from 8.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Mahender Nirwan

Software developer at TAIGLE LLC

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.

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Dominique Locksley

Linux System Administrator at Adapt IT

Has good kernel modules and upgrades

I like how the tool handles kernel modules and upgrades - we rarely have issues after upgrades, unlike with other Linux distributions like Oracle Linux or Ubuntu. The kernel module management is excellent. Changes made in one version typically work the same in other versions too, which isn't always the case with other distributions. There's also lots of information and community support available if you run into any problems, both on the official website and in forums and user groups. I know many people who use it specifically, so it's easy to get independent support if needed. I've been working with the tool for a long time, since 2003, before they became SUSE Linux Enterprise. It's always been one of the most admin-friendly Linux versions.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Very robust and easy to work with."

"It’s scalable."

"The solution is extremely stable."

"CentOS's most valuable features are that it's cost-saving and helps to scale down your usage."

"It is a stable soultion."

"It’s a simple, straightforward implementation."

"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 technical support is good."

More CentOS pros

"The most valuable features of the solution are patching and the BTRFS file system."

"The tool’s idempotency ensures all configurations are in place at all times."

"SUSE Linux's most valuable feature is the documentation - there is a lot of documentation about how to create custom servers."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is the installation part...We don't face any issues related to the operating system or application."

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is stable."

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is easy to configure for those who are not hardcore command-line driven."

"The most valuable feature is that there is an inbuilt HANA firewall."

"Some of the functionalities I like the most are the security features. This includes security restrictions on specific folders and secure communication for SFTP. These features are more secure and reliable. The tool also makes compliance possible."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pros

Cons

"The YUM install manager can be improved. It is below average as compared to the other install managers. This is the only major problem that I see with CentOS. They should reduce dependency on the YUM manager."

"The solution’s stability could be improved."

"I was using CentOS because it was very stable, and now it's not."

"In the future, CentOS will no longer be compatible with Red Hat."

"More security features could be included in the next release."

"It could be more secure."

"Like every operating system, it could be more secure."

"The main issue is the End of Support. For that reason, we will switch to another operating system."

More CentOS cons

"They should improve their educational portal."

"Red Hat has more packages that are available than SUSE does. I'd love to see more projects based on SUSE."

"I would appreciate the product's future releases being lighter and operating more efficiently on smaller systems."

"When working in a Department of Defense environment, Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) have to be followed. SLES is not really addressed directly here. It did make following security policy difficult."

"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could improve, it is too expensive."

"The solution could be more stable."

"The solution has to be fine-tuned with better documentation."

"The quality of support offered by SUSE Linux Enterprise is not that great, making it an area where improvements are required."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux."

"CentOS is cheaper compared to Windows."

"The solution is open-source and does not have any costs or licensing fees."

"It is open-source, which means it is a free product. It has a one-time deployment cost."

"There is no license required for this solution."

"There are no costs for CentOS, it is open-source."

"There are no licensing fees. CentOS is a free solution."

"It's free."

More CentOS pricing and cost advice

"There is no license for this solution, there is only a subscription of support available."

"As far as licensing goes, there is nothing unusual here. The price and model have worked fine for my organization."

"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."

"The tool is expensive compared to Red Hat. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."

"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could be cheaper. Other solutions, such as"

"The product's licensing options align well with the evolving landscape of Linux variants."

"Anyone can use Linux because it is open-source."

"There is a free tier and a paid support tier. If you do not need support, then the solution is free to use. If you need support then there is an option for that as well."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user281973

Storage and VMware Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

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…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Government

Financial Services Firm

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...

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What do you like most about CentOS?

CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly.

See all answers

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.

See all answers

What do you like most about SUSE Linux Enterprise?

The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SUSE Linux Enterprise?

I used the open-source version, so there were no setup costs.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SUSE Linux Enterprise?

The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu. The software manager was different, making it challenging to install certain applications. Additionally, I encounter...

See all answers

Comparisons

Oracle Linux vs CentOS

Compared 40% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs CentOS

Compared 11% of the time

Windows Server vs CentOS

Compared 9% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

More CentOS Competitors

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 30% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 24% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 18% of the time

Rocky Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle Solaris vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 4% of the time

More SUSE Linux Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

CentOS

April 2025

Download CentOS product report

Buyer's Guide

SUSE Linux Enterprise

March 2025

Download SUSE Linux Enterprise product report

Overview

CentOS is a versatile operating system with many use cases, including virtual spaces, scientific computing, data center servers, web-based applications, and more. Its valuable features include customization options, low memory consumption, performance, scalability, open-source nature, cost-saving, and compatibility with Red Hat packages.

The solution has helped organizations save money on licensing and improve testing capabilities for new implementations without spending additional resources. CentOS is a stable, reliable, and efficient operating system that is easy to use and integrate with other applications and services.

CentOS

SUSE Linux Enterprise is a versatile operating system ideal for deploying solutions, managing applications, and running certain applications. It is also used for migrating SAP workloads to the cloud, integrating with SAP HANA solutions and products, and as an operating system for application servers.

The solution is praised for its YaST tool for easier server administration, compatibility with Oracle and SAP, stability, scalability, ease of use, extensive documentation, pacemaker cluster, and SUSE Manager for patching. SUSE Linux offers extended support for each version and a special edition for SAP applications.

SUSE

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Air India, Akademicki Szpital Kliniczny (ASK), Allone, Altran, Apollo, ARCHIVA, Asia Innovatory Management School, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, AutoData Norge AS, Baldor Electric, Business Connexion, CASIO, Ciclum Farma, Delta Lloyd, Edumate , HPE, SAP SE, Lenovo, BMW, T-Systems, UCX, Turners & Growers, Shenzhen Development Bank, Bosch Group, JK Tyres & Industries, IOCL, European Space Agency, Daimler AG, China Minsheng Banking Corp, Café Coffee Day, Unisys, Petrochina Company Ltd, Fitch Ratings, ABeam Consulting Co Ltd, Tyro Payments, Rackspace, Pacific Textiles, ...

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

April 2025

Free Report: CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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