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CentOS vs Windows 10 comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

CentOS
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
5th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Windows 10
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
7th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
5.6
Number of Reviews
269
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 7.2%, down from 9.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 10 is 3.8%, down from 4.9% 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.
Darko Borovic - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy to use and has good features like control panel, system settings, and backup
Windows 10 is mostly used in our production system. We are a TV station with some software depending on an operating system. This software won't be able to start or manage in other operating systems. We were forced to use Windows 10. Since we updated that software, we switched to Windows 11…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The product's initial setup phase was straightforward and not complex, especially if you are familiar with CLI."
"Its performance is most valuable. There is a performance boost as compared to when the applications are run on Windows OS."
"CentOS's most valuable features are that it's cost-saving and helps to scale down your usage."
"CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly."
"It’s scalable."
"The most valuable feature is the limited resources the solution uses in operation."
"It is a scalable and cost-effective product compared to public cloud solutions."
"The most valuable feature of CentOS is the speed and it is very easy to use."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is easy to use, making it a user-friendly product."
"It is a much faster solution if you are transitioning from a traditional Windows operating system."
"It's easy to use."
"The install was easy for this solution."
"It's easy to use and the performance is good."
"Windows 10 is easier for people to learn than other alternative solutions. Microsoft has been doing a very good job recently with updates and integrations, such as the collaboration with Ubuntu."
"Compared to previous Microsoft services and Windows versions, Windows 10 is a lot more stable."
"I like the main window pane where you can sort your mostly used and different types of apps, such as OneDrive, Google Chrome, and Access. I can just open up the main window, and those apps are right there at my fingertips. I moved from Windows 7 to Windows 10, and it took me a little while to get used to Windows 10, but once I got used to it, I do like it. It integrates with everything that I am using, and it gives me everything that I need as a user."
 

Cons

"The stability could always be improved."
"CentOS could be improved by being more secure. Of course, we use a firewall, but security is always a concern."
"More security features could be included in the next release."
"Like every operating system, it could be more secure."
"We would like Red Hat to keep supporting the solution but they have decided to get rid of it and there isn't much we can do about it."
"The solution could be more scalable."
"The product lacks a graphical user interface that can help users automate certain systems using the native features offered by CentOS."
"They could build more options into the wizard."
"I think the price should be lower for all computer products. Microsoft is a major company that makes a lot of money, so maybe they have enough."
"They should lower the price point."
"Windows Updating System needs improvement."
"Windows 10 could be improved by implementing synchronization between Teams and Skype for Business. If you're in a conference call in one tool, the other tool shows that you're available. This means that you get calls from other people in your organization while you are unavailable. So synchronization is missing, that's all."
"Microsoft could improve the solution by adding enhanced translation and speaking recognition."
"MS Office or Internet Explorer has a big ribbon on top, which occupies needed space."
"If the desktop version could be a little bit more like the mobile application, that would be great. It's just easier to navigate."
"There could be more information available online for PowerShell."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There are no licensing costs for CentOS."
"We have a CentOS license that we pay for on a yearly basis."
"I use the free version."
"We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux."
"There are no licensing fees. CentOS is a free solution."
"The product is free."
"It's free."
"It is open-source, which means it is a free product. It has a one-time deployment cost."
"On a scale of one to ten, where one is the lowest price possible and ten is the highest, I rate its pricing five since it's quite overpriced."
"The license came with the computer when I purchased it."
"There is a licensing for the solution and they could improve on it."
"Windows 10 was pre-installed when I bought my laptop, so I haven't had to deal with any licensing costs."
"The price is quite expensive for our currency. A perpetual license costs around 300 dollars."
"Windows 10 came preinstalled on my laptop, I am not sure the price."
"We pay annually for the licenses of Windows 10."
"Licensing fees are paid yearly."
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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
8%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
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.
What needs improvement with Windows 10?
Windows versions before 2016 had a lot of stability problems. When cybersecurity teams tested these devices or operating systems, we found many vulnerabilities to exploit. That's why if I could mak...
What is your primary use case for Windows 10?
We use the solution as an operating system.
 

Comparisons

 

Learn More

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Windows 10 and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
823,795 professionals have used our research since 2012.