Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

CentOS pros and cons

Vendor: CentOS

4.2 out of 5

69 reviews
95% willing to recommend

Pros & Cons summary

CentOS is highly compatible with Red Hat, offering similar features without subscription fees. It is cost-effective, easy to install, and has a supportive community. However, CentOS will lose Red Hat compatibility, raising concerns about support and updates. The YUM install manager underperforms, and more security features are needed. With its discontinuation by 2023, scalability issues, and storage limitations, users are considering alternative operating systems.

Buyer's Guide

Get pricing advice, tips, use cases and valuable features from real users of this product.

Prominent pros & cons

PROS

CentOS has exceptional performance and efficiency, making it a preferred choice over other operating systems.

Its compatibility with Red Hat ensures robust support and stability, benefiting from comprehensive community assistance.

The open-source nature and cost-effectiveness of CentOS make it an accessible option for many users.

CentOS offers easy installation and straightforward setup, enhancing user experience with minimal complexity.

Its adaptability and scalability allow it to run seamlessly on various hardware, supporting smooth virtualization and deployment.

CONS

CentOS will no longer be compatible with Red Hat and lacks long-term support, prompting users to switch to other operating systems.

YUM install manager is below average and dependency reduction is needed.

Security and integration features require improvements to meet user expectations.

The decision to shift licensing has been unfavorable, and support for CentOS is inadequate.

Scalability and performance face challenges, particularly with increasing storage capacity.

CentOS Pros review quotes

reviewer1053252

Technical Presales Consultant/ Engineer at Ingram Micro

Aug 2, 2021

CentOS is very efficient and very powerful with many capabilities.

Read full review

Mahender Nirwan

Software developer at TAIGLE LLC

Aug 15, 2024

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.

Read full review

reviewer1597158

Lead Solutions Architect - International Projects at a media company with 501-1,000 employees

Jun 11, 2021

The pricing is good. We pay a minimal fee.

Read full review

Free Report: CentOS Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about CentOS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.

865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.

AQ

Senior System Admin at Tepco-Group

Aug 7, 2023

I find the solution's stability to be the most valuable feature of it since I have been using a virtual machine with the help of the solution since 2015, and it still works on all the laptops in my organization.

Read full review

Application Server Manager at Centro Nacional de Registros

Aug 2, 2022

The solution is stable and reliable.

Read full review

Yilmaz Cagri Isbuga

Co-Owner at Tekbilge Internet Technologies Ltd & IDA LTD

Jan 10, 2023

There are a lot of sources on the internet that you can use to solve any issues, and people share their experiences. It's not a closed system

Read full review

CEO at BazTech

Feb 29, 2024

The product's initial setup phase was straightforward and not complex, especially if you are familiar with CLI.

Read full review

District Technology at INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196

Sep 8, 2020

It has minimal updates compared to other distributions.

Read full review

Managing Director at Equilogic Technologies

Aug 11, 2022

We particularly like that we can remove the graphic user interface to minimize attack settings for the operating system.

Read full review

RS

Group Manager at HCL Technologies

Jul 5, 2022

It’s scalable.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 62)

CentOS Cons review quotes

reviewer1053252

Technical Presales Consultant/ Engineer at Ingram Micro

Aug 2, 2021

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

Read full review

Mahender Nirwan

Software developer at TAIGLE LLC

Aug 15, 2024

CentOS is pretty old now, so I wouldn't recommend anyone use it.

Read full review

reviewer1597158

Lead Solutions Architect - International Projects at a media company with 501-1,000 employees

Jun 11, 2021

The solution is stable, however, it could always be even more stable if possible.

Read full review

Free Report: CentOS Reviews and More

Learn what your peers think about CentOS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: August 2025.

865,295 professionals have used our research since 2012.

AQ

Senior System Admin at Tepco-Group

Aug 7, 2023

CentOS NetworkManager is an area of concern in the solution that needs improvement, and it is the same with other products from Red Hat.

Read full review

Application Server Manager at Centro Nacional de Registros

Aug 2, 2022

The GUI interface could always be better.

Read full review

Yilmaz Cagri Isbuga

Co-Owner at Tekbilge Internet Technologies Ltd & IDA LTD

Jan 10, 2023

The security could be improved because the server system isn't very secure.

Read full review

CEO at BazTech

Feb 29, 2024

The product lacks a graphical user interface that can help users automate certain systems using the native features offered by CentOS.

Read full review

District Technology at INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196

Sep 8, 2020

They could build more options into the wizard.

Read full review

Managing Director at Equilogic Technologies

Aug 11, 2022

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.

Read full review

RS

Group Manager at HCL Technologies

Jul 5, 2022

In terms of commands, it's all CLI and there isn't any GUI which can make it challenging to use for some people.

Read full review

Show 10 more reviews (out of 62)

Product Categories

Product Categories

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Ubuntu Linux vs CentOS

Rocky Linux vs CentOS

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs CentOS

Oracle Linux vs CentOS

Windows Server vs CentOS

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs CentOS

openSUSE Leap vs CentOS

Windows 10 vs CentOS

Oracle Solaris vs CentOS

Kali Linux vs CentOS

Debian vs CentOS

Alpine Linux vs CentOS

Flatcar Container Linux vs CentOS

See all alternatives

Product Categories

Product Categories

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Popular Comparisons

Popular Comparisons

Ubuntu Linux vs CentOS

Rocky Linux vs CentOS

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs CentOS

Oracle Linux vs CentOS

Windows Server vs CentOS

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs CentOS

openSUSE Leap vs CentOS

Windows 10 vs CentOS

Oracle Solaris vs CentOS

Kali Linux vs CentOS

Debian vs CentOS

Alpine Linux vs CentOS

Flatcar Container Linux vs CentOS

See all alternatives

Related questions

49

Which would you choose - RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) or CentOS?

18

Oracle Linux or RHEL; Which Would You Recommend?

45

What change management solution do you recommend for users to adapt to Windows 10 updates?

35

What operating system do you use in your business?

20

When evaluating Enterprise Linux, what aspect do you think is the most important to look for?

32

What is the best Windows MSI installer?

75

Which operative system would be a good alternative for DevOps?

52

What features do you look for in an operating system?

60

What operating system will be a good alternative for SLES?

23

Why is Operating Systems (OS) for Business important for companies?