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CentOS vs Oracle Linux 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
7.1
Number of Reviews
69
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
116
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 Oracle Linux is 11.1%, down from 14.8% 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.
Marcelo Muniz - PeerSpot reviewer
The operational system is the best and is packed with free features like CapsLive
It is important to work with a vendor who will sell you the correct product for your environment rather than just try to make the most money off of you. Study the solution and learn how to install it correctly and use it in the best ways. Follow best practices from Oracle and get some training in the operational system. The solution comes with a lot of features and options that you can use for free. It is reliable and you can even use an old version with no issues. It is not the most user friendly, but you can learn it with a bit of study. Overall, the solution beats other operational systems by a large margin. The solution is rated a nine out of ten.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It has all the features of Red Hat, but you don't have to pay for the subscription."
"The solution is open source."
"The most valuable feature of CentOS is the speed and it is very easy to use."
"The product is very efficient when it comes to virtualization."
"The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use."
"The pricing is good. We pay a minimal fee."
"It is a stable soultion."
"I like its stability, performance, and usability."
"It is a stable solution. We rarely face any issues with the machine."
"Oracle Linux is very secure making it one of the most valuable features. Additionally, it is easy to manage."
"The tool's performance is good."
"It provides for stable Oracle deployments."
"With Oracle Linux Ksplice specifically, we have organizations looking for minimum downtime. We're able to apply hot-patching at any time; once we've proven they're tested, ready to go, we don't need to take downtime to apply them."
"We are using the firewall for intrusion prevention, and it has performed well."
"The platform is stable, and there is no risk of viruses, unlike the Microsoft platform."
"The user interface is comfortable and easy to use."
 

Cons

"The price of CentOS could improve."
"The tool has no official support."
"Previous versions were unstable."
"CentOS could improve by having troubleshooting logs."
"CentOS could be improved by being more secure. Of course, we use a firewall, but security is always a concern."
"The performance could stand improvement."
"The security could be improved because the server system isn't very secure."
"In terms of commands, it's all CLI and there isn't any GUI which can make it challenging to use for some people."
"The solution could be less costly."
"Oracle Linux, needs to support more packages."
"The main challenge for new users of Linux is the command-line interface (CLI). It can be intimidating if you're not familiar with it."
"The Oracle Linux graphical interface could be improved by fixing its occasional freezing on personal home laptops."
"Performance can always be improved."
"The licensing price could be better."
"Pricing could be improved."
"I think they should also pay more attention to the open-source community."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"CentOS is an open source that is free of cost."
"There is no price or licensing required — it's open-source."
"There is no license required for this solution."
"There are no costs for CentOS, it is open-source."
"CentOS is an expensive solution. There are other solutions that are rated at the top that are not expensive, such as Red Hat."
"I'm not required to pay a licensing fee."
"It is open-source, which means it is a free product. It has a one-time deployment cost."
"The solution is open source."
"The product's pricing is cheap. The tool's pricing is yearly."
"The licensing for this solution is based on the number of calls running Oracle databases, and are purchased either annually, or every three years."
"The licensing is expensive."
"This solution is very cost-effective, as it is essentially free, with charges only for support purposes."
"We pay for a license for this solution annually."
"We are not paying anything for the operating system."
"The solution is free to use with a support subscription rather than having to buy licenses."
"The price of Oracle Linux could be less expensive for those who are running a small freelance company, such as I do. We use the solution fully but the income that you're receiving is slow."
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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
8%
Computer Software Company
14%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
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.
How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Oracle Enterprise Linux
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
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Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Oracle Linux and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
849,600 professionals have used our research since 2012.