CentOS vs SUSE Linux Enterprise comparison

CentOS and SUSE are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. CentOS is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.9, while SUSE is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.2. CentOS holds a 4.8% mindshare in OSB, compared to SUSE’s 7.0% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of CentOS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of SUSE users who would recommend it.

CentOS

Read 69 CentOS reviews

7,278 Views
7,285 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Read 32 SUSE Linux Enterprise reviews

9,270 Views
8,321 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

CentOS

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

SUSE Linux Enterprise and CentOS are both robust enterprise-grade Linux distributions. Users report better support and pricing satisfaction with SUSE Linux Enterprise, while CentOS is often favored for its extensive features and higher perceived value.

Features: SUSE Linux Enterprise has strong security features, scalability, and comprehensive software support. CentOS is known for its stability, a vast library of software packages, and suitability for enterprise applications.

Room for Improvement: SUSE Linux Enterprise could enhance customization options and performance optimization. CentOS needs better documentation and more frequent updates.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SUSE Linux Enterprise provides professional customer support and a smooth deployment process. CentOS deployment is straightforward but lacks in customer service.

Pricing and ROI: SUSE Linux Enterprise has higher setup costs, justified by professional support. CentOS offers a lower-cost setup with a good return on investment due to its feature-rich platform.

To learn more, read our detailed CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

June 2025

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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

CentOS

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

6th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

7th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 4.8%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 7.0%, down from 8.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Mahender Nirwan

Software developer at TAIGLE LLC

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.

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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

"You can work with the UI or in command line, if you prefer."

"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"

"The most valuable feature of this solution is that it is free."

"The solution is easy to troubleshoot."

"It has minimal updates compared to other distributions."

"I like the command prompt of CentOS. It's very simple."

"The open architecture is useful for us. That's why we're using CentOS."

"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."

More CentOS pros

"The tool’s idempotency ensures all configurations are in place at all times."

"It also was very easy to setup, and offered an easy to use advanced setup option as well. This helped to create special configurations for different use cases."

"The initial setup is very straightforward."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is the installation part...We don't face any issues related to the operating system or application."

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is easy to configure for those who are not hardcore command-line driven."

"It is a stable platform."

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

"The main feature is that Linux is flexible to work with for most web-based applications."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pros

Cons

"They could build more options into the wizard."

"GUI could be merged and expansion simplified."

"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."

"We occasionally have issues with software installation."

"Currently, CentOS is not providing support, so you will not get new packages that are compatible with that operating system."

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

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

"The main issue is the End of Support. For that reason, we will switch to another operating system."

More CentOS cons

"The solution is expensive."

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

"The quality of support offered by SUSE Linux Enterprise is not that great, making it an area where improvements are required."

"We have had trouble integrating Autodesk with the SUSE manager."

"The only stability issues that I can recall encountering with SUSE would be with KDE. However, that is limited to just the desktop environment as I have not had stability issues with most server functions."

"The free version sometimes has security holes."

"The product must improve its UI."

"All distributions of Linux could use some improvement."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is no price or licensing required — it's open-source."

"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."

"For the enterprise version of CentOS, there is a license required. However, for personal use, I do not need a license."

"CentOS is an open-source tool."

"CentOS is cheaper compared to Windows."

"We have a CentOS license that we pay for on a yearly basis."

"Once you buy the license, Linux will provide you with yearly or monthly patches, so your systems will be scalable for a long time."

"CentOS is an expensive solution. There are other solutions that are rated at the top that are not expensive, such as Red Hat."

More CentOS pricing and cost advice

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

"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."

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

"I rate the product price an eight on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."

"The product's licensing options align well with the evolving landscape of Linux variants."

"There is a free tier and a paid support tier. If you do not need support, then the solution is free to use. If you need support then there is an option for that as well."

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

"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could be cheaper. Other solutions, such as"

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pricing and cost advice

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Comparison Review

it_user281973

Storage and VMware Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

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…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Government

Computer Software Company

15%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

Government

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...

See all answers

What do you like most about CentOS?

CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for CentOS?

CentOS is a free product with free updates. There are third-party companies available for support, but they charge varying amounts for their services.

See all answers

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.

See all answers

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

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

See all answers

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...

See all answers

Comparisons

Oracle Linux vs CentOS

Compared 37% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs CentOS

Compared 11% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

Windows Server vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

More CentOS 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 Solaris vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 3% of the time

More SUSE Linux Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

CentOS

June 2025

Download CentOS product report

Buyer's Guide

SUSE Linux Enterprise

May 2025

Download SUSE Linux Enterprise product report

Overview

CentOS is a versatile operating system with many use cases, including virtual spaces, scientific computing, data center servers, web-based applications, and more. Its valuable features include customization options, low memory consumption, performance, scalability, open-source nature, cost-saving, and compatibility with Red Hat packages.

The solution has helped organizations save money on licensing and improve testing capabilities for new implementations without spending additional resources. CentOS is a stable, reliable, and efficient operating system that is easy to use and integrate with other applications and services.

CentOS

SUSE Linux Enterprise is a versatile operating system ideal for deploying solutions, managing applications, and running certain applications. It is also used for migrating SAP workloads to the cloud, integrating with SAP HANA solutions and products, and as an operating system for application servers.

The solution is praised for its YaST tool for easier server administration, compatibility with Oracle and SAP, stability, scalability, ease of use, extensive documentation, pacemaker cluster, and SUSE Manager for patching. SUSE Linux offers extended support for each version and a special edition for SAP applications.

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, ...

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

June 2025

Free Report: CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.

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