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CentOS vs Windows Server 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
Windows Server
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
4th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
185
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 Windows Server is 9.0%, up from 8.6% 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.
NirajSingh - PeerSpot reviewer
User-friendly platform streamlining client connectivity
We are using Windows Server to connect our client software. We use it to access client systems and work on SQL databases Rather than purchasing and setting up infrastructure, we are using Windows Server, which obviously saves some costs. Windows Server is fulfilling our daily work-life purposes.…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"CentOS's most valuable features are that it's cost-saving and helps to scale down your usage."
"It has minimal updates compared to other distributions."
"The user interface of CentOS is intuitive, we can also use the command prompt."
"Setup is straightforward. You can complete it in about 30 minutes."
"The most valuable feature is the limited resources the solution uses in operation."
"Very robust and easy to work with."
"The most valuable feature of CentOS is that it is easy to use."
"There's lots of great documentation available."
"This is a stable product."
"The only thing that is extremely valuable about the solution is that most applications run on it. That's where it brings the value in as we have the server to run our applications."
"We haven't had any issues with the server whatsoever. It's been very reliable."
"The solution is invaluable, we need it for file and emails servers."
"The performance of Windows Server is good."
"User friendly and compatible with the scalar product applications."
"Overall, Windows Server 2016 provides a stable environment for some of the very large workloads that it is subjected to in our organization, and it is very easy to use."
"The product offers in-house servers. It helps us update them and check any technical issues easily."
 

Cons

"Currently, CentOS is not providing support, so you will not get new packages that are compatible with that operating system."
"Previous versions were unstable."
"If a proper GUI-based tool was connected remotely or on the machine, it could be a great addition to CentOS."
"The solution could be more scalable."
"CentOS could improve by having troubleshooting logs."
"In the future, CentOS will no longer be compatible with Red Hat."
"The security could be improved because the server system isn't very secure."
"The product lacks a graphical user interface that can help users automate certain systems using the native features offered by CentOS."
"It is not easy to use. It can be more user-friendly to make our routine work a bit easy. It could also be cheaper."
"I'd like to be able to separate the services offered."
"In the next release, I would like to see the administration simplified."
"The solution could improve by making it more secure."
"The security policies need improvement."
"Resolving problems in the Windows environment should be improved."
"For countries in the Middle East and Africa, their pricing is a little bit high."
"It would be better if they had more security features and fewer bugs. They can also improve their technical support."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There are no licensing fees for CentOS."
"CentOS is free."
"There are no licensing costs for CentOS."
"CentOS is an open source that is free of cost."
"This is an open source solution."
"CentOS is an expensive solution. There are other solutions that are rated at the top that are not expensive, such as Red Hat."
"Once you buy the license, Linux will provide you with yearly or monthly patches, so your systems will be scalable for a long time."
"This is an open-source solution, so there are no licensing costs involved."
"The Windows Server standard edition is affordable."
"There is a licensing fee."
"Its price is fine. Its licensing is on a yearly basis."
"We have purchased Windows Server’s yearly license."
"We pay yearly for a license. If you ask any vendor they will tell you that it could be cheaper."
"It is an expensive product."
"Windows Server's whole licensing model is complex because if you have, for example, Microsoft Office and end-user applications installed on a server with a remote desktop, then the licensing can be complex. If the model could be simplified it would be better."
"We use only the license versions of Windows Server."
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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
7%
Computer Software Company
13%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
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.
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
I think there is room for improvement in the stability of older versions. Additionally, Windows Server could be more power-efficient, especially for individuals doing labs or studies on personal co...
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
Windows Server ( /products/windows-server-reviews ) is the operating system we run on our servers. We use it in the IT department, primarily as the OS for our servers.
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,040 professionals have used our research since 2012.