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CentOS vs Ubuntu 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
7th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
139
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 5.8%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 14.5%, down from 23.0% 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.
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

"The most valuable features of CentOS are it is built from Linux, has good performance, and can we can create scripts. The scripts are you to do minor work automatically."
"The user interface of CentOS is intuitive, we can also use the command prompt."
"The community and knowledge base are very robust."
"The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use."
"CentOS adapts well to many software and applications, providing good compatibility."
"It helps us install and deploy our applications."
"It's easy to install."
"The most valuable feature is performance."
"The tool's valuable feature is its pro security features. I also like the way it serves the infrastructure. The main thing is that each new update or version ensures it comes out with zero vulnerabilities—no high, medium, or low vulnerabilities."
"The most valuable features of Ubuntu Linux is the reliability, the ease of package management, and the ease of upgrading from one version to the next."
"The solution is very stable, it does not need to restart to maintain stability."
"Ubuntu Linux is an easy-to-use solution."
"There are many good automation features in Ubuntu."
"There's ample documentation available for most features, and I find it straightforward to use."
"The solution has a very good graphical user interface."
"The solution is always adding more features."
 

Cons

"When comparing the GUI of CentOS to Microsoft Windows or Mac, it could improve."
"CentOS should extend the support of the solution. The solution is set to have no update support in 2023."
"Integration with other platforms could be improved."
"CentOS NetworkManager is an area of concern in the solution that needs improvement, and it is the same with other products from Red Hat."
"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 could improve by being more user-friendly."
"If a proper GUI-based tool was connected remotely or on the machine, it could be a great addition to CentOS."
"Continuous deployment is the only thing that can be improved."
"The solution could improve by allowing more integration."
"I am really very satisfied with this solution. However, one thing that I would like to see improve, is to have better support for multiple screens with multiple resolutions. For me, that is the most important feature."
"When you talk of some of the flexibility, like you want to install from scratch, Windows is more user-friendly compared to Linux."
"When installing software, an online interface has to be used and commands written to run the installation. The solution could be improved if it was possible to click twice in an icon for the installation process to begin."
"The product could be easier to manage."
"The user interface could be improved."
"The solution is not user-friendly in comparison with Windows."
"There are some drivers that are not there encoded, however, I thought that was pretty normal. They could be more comprehensive."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"CentOS is cheaper compared to Windows."
"Once you buy the license, Linux will provide you with yearly or monthly patches, so your systems will be scalable for a long time."
"CentOS is a free solution."
"There are no licensing fees. CentOS is a free solution."
"There are no costs for CentOS, it is open-source."
"The solution is open-source and does not have any costs or licensing fees."
"For the enterprise version of CentOS, there is a license required. However, for personal use, I do not need a license."
"It's free."
"It is also manageable and financially affordable."
"It's an open source solution, but you can make donations if you'd like to."
"Ubuntu Linux is free, but you can pay for a supported version that is better."
"Ubuntu is a free product."
"It is open source."
"We do not incur a licensing fee for the solution, as we make use of the free version."
"I don't need to pay for the license."
"I use Ubuntu Linux free of cost."
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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%
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 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.
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...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
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 CentOS vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
841,152 professionals have used our research since 2012.