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CentOS vs Ubuntu 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
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
143
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

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 Ubuntu Linux is 14.0%, down from 22.5% 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.
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

"The most valuable feature is that it is compatible with RedHat."
"It has minimal updates compared to other distributions."
"The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use."
"It is a scalable and cost-effective product compared to public cloud solutions."
"It is better than Ubuntu Linux."
"The most valuable feature is performance."
"It’s a simple, straightforward implementation."
"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."
"It is more powerful because you have more control over it."
"Ubuntu Linux is more secure and has additional security features than some other operating systems."
"Its performance is valuable. I am satisfied with it."
"What I like best is the way in which packages are managed."
"The integration with other applications, like Chrome or Firefox, works excellent for users navigating and test browsing."
"Stable and scalable Linux operating system that can test and run virtual machines."
"I found using this solution pleasurable to learn since it is something different than Windows."
"Stability of our systems has only improved since moving from CentOS to Ubuntu LTS."
 

Cons

"This solution is no longer supported and will not receive any updates going forward."
"We are aware that the licensing has shifted, and it's not a change we've liked."
"CentOS could be improved by being more secure. Of course, we use a firewall, but security is always a concern."
"CentOS is not easy."
"CentOS could be improved with more user-friendly monitoring."
"The solution could improve by making the management tools better for the DevOps teams. For example, WebEX and Webstacks."
"The stability could always be improved."
"It is challenging to scale the solution when we have to increase the storage capacity from one end."
"Ubuntu should create some specific features, like Red Hat. Red Hat has provided many features for open-source, like FreeIPA."
"The solution is a little complicated to customize and could be made easier."
"The interface could be more user-friendly."
"The support team is not good and needs to be improved. The user community is excellent and helpful, but some questions are unanswered. Also, stability and scalability could be improved."
"It could be better for working with software at a high resolution."
"It is an open-source tool, and it doesn't have any support. If there is an issue with the implementation of a feature, such as clustering, I am not sure how to resolve it and get support for it. The stability of the vendor packages also impacts the stability of this solution. When vendor packages are unstable, or any packages are broken, they also impact Ubuntu Linux. It is very hard to resolve an issue related to unstable vendor packages."
"Sometimes certain tasks are challenging due to issues with the command-line interface. Users who prefer Windows may find it difficult to transition to Linux."
"The user interface could be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is open-source and does not have any costs or licensing fees."
"There is no license required for this solution."
"This is a free solution."
"There is no price or licensing required — it's open-source."
"This is an open source solution."
"The solution is open source."
"There are no licensing costs for CentOS."
"We are using a subscription-based license option for CentOS."
"We do not have any support agreements with Ubuntu, so we are using the free and open source version."
"Ubuntu is an open-source Linux operating system that can be used free of charge."
"This solution is free."
"It is not a very expensive solution."
"It is also manageable and financially affordable."
"The solution is open-sourced."
"There is not a license needed for the solution. You only have to pay for technical support."
"The use of the solution is inexpensive and the hardware it needs to operate can be priced very low. There is not a license for the solution but there is for the hardware."
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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%
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 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.
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...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
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 CentOS vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
849,600 professionals have used our research since 2012.