Amazon Linux vs Rocky Linux comparison

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Amazon Linux

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Amazon Linux and Rocky Linux based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Amazon Linux vs. Rocky Linux Report (Updated: September 2025).

Amazon Linux vs. Rocky Linux

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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

Amazon Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

19th

Average Rating

9.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Rocky Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

4th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Amazon Linux is 0.2%. The mindshare of Rocky Linux is 14.3%, up from 12.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Rocky Linux	14.3%
Amazon Linux	0.2%
Other	85.5%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Martin Mato

Linux Support at HOSSTED

Extensive support experience and seamless deployment enable efficient troubleshooting

Red Hat is definitely the reason why we go for Linux and why we choose it above Ubuntu. The idea is security and the inbuilt security features. We don't have separate security experts here, so we configure it ourselves. We choose those systems that already have a lot of security features. Red Hat SE Linux is something we appreciate. Regarding the most valuable features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, flexibility is the biggest reason. The fact that I can easily manage kernel parameters is a testament to the flexibility of the operating system, and that is why we use it on virtually all our servers. There are two reasons why I always turn to either Amazon Linux or Ubuntu. My preference for Amazon Linux is because of its SE Linux implementations. My preference for Linux entirely is because of its customizable nature. It is flexible and I can change it to fit whatever my applications' needs are.

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Massimiliano Adamo

Linux architect at European Commission

Has supported seamless migrations and enabled running complex data workloads securely

The best features Rocky Linux offers include clustering and all the packages from Red Hat.Rocky Linux has impacted my organization very positively because we migrated everything from CentOS and Windows servers to Rocky Linux. Everything is clear, with good packaging, and now it's version 9.6, which is very important for us due to security problems since we are in Europe. Rocky Linux is very good for security and other aspects. Since migrating to Rocky Linux, I've seen specific outcomes such as improved security because CentOS stopped the project, and security patches aren't being released. We need to maintain a system similar to Red Hat, which is very stable and has many features such as file system, topology, and containers.

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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

"Whenever I deploy solutions on Amazon Linux, I almost never have to worry about the operating system."

"The custom install scripts streamline the setup process, making it straightforward."

"The experience of working with Rocky Linux is the same as with other Linux distributions; there was no difficulty for me in learning how to work with it."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is its stability."

"Rocky Linux has impacted my organization very positively because we migrated everything from CentOS and Windows servers to Rocky Linux, everything is clear, with good packaging, and now it's version 9.6, which is very important for us due to security problems since we are in Europe."

"I haven't needed to use customer service or support, which speaks volumes about their product's reliability and ease of use."

"It helps us keep our workstations in sync and ensures consistent settings across most of our machines."

"It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are."

"Rocky Linux provides us with extended maintenance, security patches, and support lifecycle aligned with RHEL, making it highly reliable for critical systems."

More Rocky Linux pros

Cons

"I have honestly never had any problems with Amazon Linux, aside from disk space issues."

"The solution's audio integration for virtual machines could be improved."

"To be honest, Rocky Linux is almost similar to each Linux distribution, so I have no specific reason why it should offer me its features."

"One of the potential issues is that if you don't pay for support, you may need to manage certain aspects on your own and rely on the community for assistance."

"To improve Rocky Linux, providing releases for each package, firmware, and kernel more quickly would be beneficial."

"Rocky Linux could be improved by having more integration with Kubernetes."

"The package versions can be quite older compared to other distributions such as Ubuntu."

"I see some performance-related issues, but we are still checking on that, and we don't know if it is related to the OS or the resource; that is something still to be checked from our end."

"In terms of improvement, Rocky Linux needs to clarify its identity and target audience."

More Rocky Linux cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The product is expensive. I rate the pricing a three."

"Compared to the market prices of other tools, the solution has a very competitive pricing."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Government

19%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Energy/Utilities Company

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

University

11%

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Large Enterprise	10

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Amazon Linux?

In my opinion, for improvement, Amazon Linux could make better integration with third-party vendors, perhaps enhance user experience or lower the price compared to other Linux solutions. For the fu...

What is your primary use case for Amazon Linux?

My use case for Amazon Linux is mostly for running containers. I am using SELinux for enhanced security in Amazon Linux, and it is helpful for me.

What advice do you have for others considering Amazon Linux?

I am not using IPv6 and I'm okay with that. On a scale of one to ten, I rate Amazon Linux an eight.

What do you like most about Rocky Linux?

It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are.

What needs improvement with Rocky Linux?

I have no suggestions regarding how Rocky Linux can be improved. I haven't identified any areas that need improvement yet.

What is your primary use case for Rocky Linux?

As a Cloud Ops Engineer, we are setting up the server on the EC2 machine with Rocky Linux, while also doing some setup related to the frameworks for Ruby. We are installing their dependencies relat...

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Amazon Linux

Comparisons

Debian vs Amazon Linux

Compared 56% of the time

Compared 44% of the time

More Amazon Linux Competitors

Fedora Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 26% of the time

Debian vs Rocky Linux

Compared 18% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 17% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 11% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Rocky Linux

Compared 7% of the time

More Rocky Linux Competitors

Product Reports

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Download Amazon Linux product report

Download Rocky Linux product report

Overview

Amazon Linux is a secure, stable, and high-performance distribution optimized for Amazon EC2, providing a reliable execution environment for cloud applications. It is designed for users who need an OS that seamlessly integrates with AWS infrastructure.

Amazon Linux provides a powerful, efficient, and updated environment tailored for AWS users. It's based on the CentOS and Fedora lineage, ensuring compatibility and performance. With regular updates and security patches, it offers a stable platform to run various cloud-based applications. Its cost-effective nature and scalability make it a popular choice for organizations aiming to leverage AWS services effectively.

What are the key features of Amazon Linux?

Optimized for EC2: Integration with AWS services enhances performance and efficiency.
Security: Regular security patches ensure data protection.
Package Repository: Access to a rich repository of software packages.
Support for Latest Tools: Easily install and use the latest AWS tools and SDKs.

What benefits can users find in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Usage-based pricing reduces overall costs.
Scalability: Easily scalable to meet growing business demands.
Seamless AWS Integration: Direct integration simplifies management and deployment.
Reliability: Stable environment guarantees consistent application performance.

Amazon Linux is widely used in industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology where reliability and security are paramount. Its integration with AWS services allows companies in these sectors to develop and deploy applications rapidly, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. The ability to easily scale and adapt to specific industry demands makes it a strategic choice for many businesses.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Rocky Linux is a robust and secure enterprise-grade operating system designed as a drop-in replacement for CentOS. Its primary use case is to provide a stable and reliable platform for organizations to run their critical workloads and applications.

The most valuable functionality of Rocky Linux lies in its compatibility with CentOS, ensuring a seamless transition for organizations already using CentOS. It offers long-term support, regular security updates, and a predictable release cycle, providing stability and reliability for mission-critical systems.

Rocky Linux helps organizations by offering a free and open-source alternative to CentOS, which was discontinued by Red Hat. It allows businesses to continue using their existing CentOS-based infrastructure without the need for costly migrations or vendor lock-in. With its strong community support and active development, Rocky Linux ensures a sustainable and community-driven future for CentOS users.

Moreover, Rocky Linux is built with security in mind, providing robust features like SELinux and secure defaults. This helps organizations protect their data and systems from potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Amazon Linux vs. Rocky Linux