Amazon Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise comparison

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and SUSE are both solutions in the AWS Marketplace category. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is ranked #36 with an average rating of 9.0, while SUSE is ranked #18 with an average rating of 8.2. Additionally, 100% of Amazon Web Services (AWS) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of SUSE users who would recommend it.

Amazon Linux

Read 3 Amazon Linux reviews

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90 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Read 32 SUSE Linux Enterprise reviews

8,546 Views
0 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Amazon Linux

SUSE Linux Enterprise

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 3, 2025

SUSE Linux Enterprise and Amazon Linux compete in the enterprise operating system space. Amazon Linux appears more favorable due to its cost-effectiveness and integration capabilities, despite SUSE's strong reputation for robust support.

Features: SUSE Linux Enterprise offers advanced security features, reliable support, and comprehensive management tools. Amazon Linux shines with seamless integration with AWS services, scalability, and affordability. Its integration with the AWS ecosystem often appeals to companies heavily invested in cloud environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SUSE Linux Enterprise is known for extensive deployment documentation and solid customer support, providing guidance for complex enterprise environments. Amazon Linux offers an efficient deployment process within AWS infrastructures but provides limited traditional customer service compared to SUSE. The choice may hinge on the need for cloud integration versus traditional support.

Pricing and ROI: SUSE Linux Enterprise generally requires a higher initial investment but promises strong long-term ROI through its extensive support and features. Amazon Linux is more cost-effective, especially for AWS users, and offers substantial ROI through its integration efficiencies and low deployment costs, appealing to businesses prioritizing affordability and cloud readiness.

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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 AWS Marketplace

36th

Average Rating

9.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Ranking in AWS Marketplace

18th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Operating Systems (OS) for Business (7th)

Featured Reviews

Henry Rivera

Solutions Architect at 3t Solutions

Reliable documentation and support streamline deployment and troubleshooting

The best features with Amazon Linux include the integration with AWS and other services. It is an operating system that AWS manages, and I feel I can trust it regarding the updates without interfering with or interrupting services. The performance of Amazon Linux with AWS services is perfectly fine. I use it and change the instance type to give it more resources at times, and for the sandbox, I give it less, and it satisfies what we want. Amazon Linux reduces the time it would take for setup or deployment because I rely on the documentation for AWS since it's streamlined, and the commands I need to run are easily accessible whenever I need to look up anything. We've used the application load balancers with Amazon Linux, and that's the main one I can think of regarding advanced networking capabilities. That feature has definitely helped us enhance the scalability and reliability of our cloud applications by easing administration, as the application load balancer is managed by AWS and ties in with Amazon Certificate Manager, ensuring I do not have to concern myself with scalability and any updates. The main positive impact of Amazon Linux on my company has been no interruptions of services. The public website is up and running, which allows us to monetize with virtually no staff hours for downtime or service interruptions.

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Naveen Venugopal

Research Engineer at a educational organization with 10,001+ employees

Efficient IT management with crucial automatic updates but needs developer-friendly configuration

Sometimes it is a bit of work for developers to change the configurations. Some kernels will not fit with some packages, and this aspect could be improved. Furthermore, the system's rigidity when updating packages and services needs improvement. Additionally, there should be more loosely bound functionalities to improve developer experience.

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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."

"YaST simplifies the server management of SUSE allowing for a centralized utility to control most of the server functions."

"The initial setup for most modern Linux distributions is normally straightforward. Most of the common distributions use an ncurses or GUI install."

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is stable."

"I like how the tool handles kernel modules and upgrades - we rarely have issues after upgrades, unlike with other Linux distributions like Oracle Linux or Ubuntu. The kernel module management is excellent. Changes made in one version typically work the same in other versions too, which isn't always the case with other distributions. There's also lots of information and community support available if you run into any problems, both on the official website and in forums and user groups. I know many people who use it specifically, so it's easy to get independent support if needed. I've been working with the tool for a long time, since 2003, before they became SUSE Linux Enterprise. It's always been one of the most admin-friendly Linux versions."

"The most valuable feature is that there is an inbuilt HANA firewall."

"From a functionality perspective, the suite is quite rich. We like that."

"The return on investment has been significant, especially considering its cost-effectiveness compared to other solutions."

"The product's initial setup phase was easy."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pros

Cons

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

"I would like to see better functionality for interacting with cloud-based systems."

"The free version sometimes has security holes."

"The solution has to be fine-tuned with better documentation."

"They should provide chatbot support for customers to open the troubleshooting cases directly."

"When working in a Department of Defense environment, Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) have to be followed. SLES is not really addressed directly here. It did make following security policy difficult."

"The platform doesn't support certain APMs."

"Compared with the competition, of late actually, the solution has increased its pricing tremendously."

"All distributions of Linux could use some improvement."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"I would advise others to download the free or strictly open source versions, then test them in their environment before committing to a purchase. This will allow for testing suitability for applications that they want to run."

"I have to pay for a license in order to get support."

"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."

"The platform is affordable."

"Regarding pricing, everybody would want it to be cheaper."

"Anyone can use Linux because it is open-source."

"The license we pay is for Oracle. We make use of the community edition."

"The tool is expensive compared to Red Hat. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

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...

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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.

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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.

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What do you like most about SUSE Linux Enterprise?

The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SUSE Linux Enterprise?

I used the open-source version, so there were no setup costs.

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What needs improvement with SUSE Linux Enterprise?

The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu. The software manager was different, making it challenging to install certain applications. Additionally, I encounter...

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Comparisons

Debian vs Amazon Linux

Compared 100% of the time

More Amazon Linux Competitors

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 30% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 25% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 19% of the time

Rocky Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 6% of the time

More SUSE Linux Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AWS Marketplace

June 2025

Download Amazon Linux product report

Buyer's Guide

SUSE Linux Enterprise

June 2025

Download SUSE Linux Enterprise product report

Also Known As

No data available

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3

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)

SUSE Linux Enterprise offers features like YaST for server management, seamless integration with Oracle and SAP, and a robust security setup. Renowned for stability, it efficiently supports workstations, SAP workloads, and cloud migrations across diverse industries.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is known for its lightweight design, high performance, and ease of installation. Its flexible architecture supports extensive documentation and efficient patching. The system uses the BTRFS file system for effective virtualization, and community support is significant. However, challenges include package updates causing conflicts, difficult initial setup and software management, high pricing, and support response times. Improvements in security compliance, cloud integration, hardware compatibility, and documentation are also needed.

What are SUSE Linux Enterprise's important features?

YaST Server Management: Simplifies server setup and configurations.
Oracle & SAP Integration: Enhances performance with major enterprise applications.
HANA Firewall: Provides robust security measures.
BTRFS File System: Supports advanced storage management and snapshots.
Virtualization: Efficiently runs multiple operating systems on a single machine.

What benefits should users expect from using SUSE Linux Enterprise?

Stability & Performance: Reliability for critical applications and workloads.
Lightweight Design: Reduces resource consumption while maintaining efficiency.
Community Support: Access to extensive user and developer collaboration.
Automated Upgrades: Simplifies system maintenance and updates.

Industries like healthcare and banking use SUSE Linux Enterprise for secure transactions and structured application deployment. It is also a choice for organizations involved in testing, automation, and web development, offering support for SAP HANA integration and facilitating cloud migrations.

SUSE

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Air India, Akademicki Szpital Kliniczny (ASK), Allone, Altran, Apollo, ARCHIVA, Asia Innovatory Management School, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, AutoData Norge AS, Baldor Electric, Business Connexion, CASIO, Ciclum Farma, Delta Lloyd, Edumate , HPE, SAP SE, Lenovo, BMW, T-Systems, UCX, Turners & Growers, Shenzhen Development Bank, Bosch Group, JK Tyres & Industries, IOCL, European Space Agency, Daimler AG, China Minsheng Banking Corp, Café Coffee Day, Unisys, Petrochina Company Ltd, Fitch Ratings, ABeam Consulting Co Ltd, Tyro Payments, Rackspace, Pacific Textiles, ...

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