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CentOS vs Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 5.1%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Linux is 10.2%, down from 15.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 13.4%, down from 22.0% 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.
Kevin Haury - PeerSpot reviewer
Linux's advanced terminal empowers versatile usage and ongoing secure development
Initially, there was nothing complicated. It's easy since I have many years of experience with it. However, if I were a beginner with Linux, it could be completely disruptive compared to Windows. So, I would have to spend some time practicing with Linux to understand how it works and how I can accomplish the same tasks compared to Windows. Maybe one month, at least.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It helps us install and deploy our applications."
"The product is free to use."
"You can work with the UI or in command line, if you prefer."
"Very robust and easy to work with."
"The scalability of CentOS is good. We can deploy the operating system in many hardware, laptops, and servers."
"It is better than Ubuntu Linux."
"It's easy to install."
"There's lots of great documentation available."
"We don't have any failing cases. Oracle releases regular hot patches, so we don't have many difficulties."
"It is very compatible because it's from the same product family, so it makes the work very easy."
"The solution is easy to use."
"The most valuable feature is the binary compatibility i.e. that Oracle Linux is 100% compatible with Red Hat Linux."
"I like the product's stable distribution. The tool offered us very good experience since it was very stable."
"It has a good amount of mount points."
"Oracle Linux for Oracle databases is the top. There's no doubt whatsoever."
"It is a stable solution. We rarely face any issues with the machine."
"It's great for security and it is very safe."
"The most valuable feature of Ubuntu Linux is the price because we don't need to pay as it is used for selling equipment."
"The initial setup is simple."
"The initial setup is simple."
"The solution is scalable, it is open-source, and can be developed. You are able to install it on many different systems."
"The solution is easy to use"
"It is stable and modern."
"We use Ubuntu Linux because it is scalable, stable and developer-friendly."
 

Cons

"I would like the integration to be more secure."
"This solution is no longer supported and will not receive any updates going forward."
"The performance could stand improvement."
"The price could be better. They could add more drivers in terms of peripherals and other things. Add more drivers for the Linux specifications in the next release. Right now, they are just pushing to have more drivers for Windows instead of Linux."
"The server system is a little bit tough to manage."
"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 price of CentOS could improve."
"The solution could improve by being more user-friendly."
"Our level of expertise is not high enough. I had to find someone experienced with Oracle Linux since Windows is easier to learn, and most people have hands-on experience with it."
"Occasionally, we might get an alert to restart our database, and if we don't do it on our own, the system will do it automatically. That can cause downtime issues if your clients aren't expecting it."
"What we found in moving from Oracle Linux 6 to Oracle Linux 7 was the whole interfacing with the application and the fact that operating had all changed, all the commands had changed. You need to be aware that there is some kind of training, some kind of handover required for your technical guys, understanding different ways of interacting with it. Bear that in mind."
"The documentation has room for improvement."
"Most day-to-day applications are not native to this solution. You have to run an emulator or virtual machine, such as VMware to access these Windows applications."
"Another notable aspect that could be improved is minor compatibility with Red Hat."
"The price of Oracle Linux should improve, it is expensive compared to other solutions."
"Performance can always be improved."
"When you talk of some of the flexibility, like you want to install from scratch, Windows is more user-friendly compared to Linux."
"We face minor issues with the regular upgrade; manual upgrades are required. There have been network configuration issues, specifically with netplan.yaml."
"Ubuntu Linux could improve by having more out-of-the-box functionality for common plug-and-play devices, such as printers. It's sometimes more difficult to plug-and-play printers with Ubuntu Linux. You need to work a bit and make some drivers work. They need to work a bit on plug-and-play devices."
"The repository needs to be kept up to date all of the time."
"The solution could improve by being more secure."
"It could be easier for beginners and the user interface could be more user-friendly."
"The solution could be more stable and secure."
"The interface could be more user-friendly."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"CentOS is an open-source tool."
"CentOS is an expensive solution. There are other solutions that are rated at the top that are not expensive, such as Red Hat."
"The solution is not subscription-based, unlike Red Hat."
"The solution is open-source and does not have any costs or licensing fees."
"The solution is open source so is free."
"The price could be better. The cost depends on how the organization or a specific person licenses it. If you want the free version, there's Ubuntu which is supported by forums. You can pay for the license yearly or pay for a specific version."
"CentOS is a free solution."
"There are no licensing fees. CentOS is a free solution."
"We are not paying anything for the operating system."
"The cost is relatively affordable."
"The product's pricing is cheap. The tool's pricing is yearly."
"We have a yearly license, and I think Oracle charges too much."
"The solution is free."
"Oracle Linux is very cheap at this time."
"There is a license required for this solution and we are on an annual license."
"The pricing and licensing are good."
"Ubuntu pricing is reasonable."
"The solution is open source and its use is included in the monthly fees we pay."
"This is a free solution."
"Ubuntu Linux is an open-source product."
"The solution is open source, so there is no licensing fee."
"We don't pay a licensing fee for the solution."
"We don't pay any fees."
"Ubuntu is an open-source Linux operating system that can be used free of charge."
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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%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
11%
Manufacturing Company
8%
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 st...
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 suita...
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 suppo...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
What needs improvement with Ubuntu Linux?
There's nothing more to improve. I would just continue developing the functionality that is already implemented, mayb...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Oracle Enterprise Linux
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
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Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Canonical, Oracle and others in Operating Systems (OS) for Business. Updated: April 2025.
849,686 professionals have used our research since 2012.