CentOS vs Ubuntu Linux comparison

CentOS and Canonical are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. CentOS is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.9, while Canonical is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.9. CentOS holds a 4.6% mindshare in OSB, compared to Canonical’s 12.4% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of CentOS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Canonical users who would recommend it.

CentOS

Read 69 CentOS reviews

6,682 Views
6,682 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Ubuntu Linux

Read 150 Ubuntu Linux reviews

18,074 Views
17,893 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

CentOS

Ubuntu Linux

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 16, 2025

Ubuntu Linux and CentOS are leading solutions in the operating systems category. Ubuntu appears to have the upper hand with its strong community support and ease of upgrades, whereas CentOS caters effectively to enterprises with its stability and compatibility with Red Hat packages, providing a cost-effective alternative.

Features: Ubuntu Linux offers robust security, faster boot times, and strong open-source software support. Its ease of upgrading without reinstallations, extensive community support, and longer server lifecycles due to LTS releases make it appealing. CentOS provides stability and compatibility with Red Hat packages, making it an effective solution for enterprises seeking a cost-effective alternative without compromising on server and database performance.

Room for Improvement: Ubuntu Linux could enhance Windows software compatibility and improve its enterprise system management tools. There's also a need for better ease of use for beginners and stronger documentation. CentOS users suggest improvements in stability following Red Hat's project direction changes, better integration with container orchestration tools, and enhanced support for personal-use applications.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Ubuntu Linux is widely deployed across various environments, including private and hybrid clouds, supported by a community-driven structure. Many users rely on community forums rather than enterprise services. CentOS is similarly used but has experienced support concerns due to strategic changes. However, users value the absence of licensing fees and its Red Hat compatibility.

Pricing and ROI: Both Ubuntu and CentOS are free and open-source, providing significant cost savings over proprietary systems. Ubuntu offers optional enterprise-level support which incurs costs but remains cost-effective for many businesses. Meanwhile, CentOS delivers a strong ROI as it has no licensing costs, attracting organizations aiming to reduce expenses while maintaining performance and reliability.

To learn more, read our detailed CentOS vs. Ubuntu Linux Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. Ubuntu Linux

July 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

Ubuntu Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

150

Ranking in other categories

OpenStack (1st)

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 4.6%, down from 8.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 12.4%, down from 20.9% 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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PrashantSharma

BA at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

Performs efficiently but requires overcoming a learning curve

There are many differences between Ubuntu Linux and Windows as they are totally different systems. You need to have more knowledge about Linux before using Ubuntu Linux. Although it is designed as a desktop system, basic knowledge is still required. Windows can be used by any layman, which is the main difference. I do not know much about security breaches or potential issues. The Wi-Fi and wireless capabilities work perfectly fine. Excluding the learning curve, I would rate it a 10. However, considering the learning curve, I would give it a six or seven. My advice would be to have patience. Overall rating: 10 out of 10.

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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

"It has minimal updates compared to other distributions."

"Setting up CentOS is straightforward, and you simply boot from a CD to get started."

"The product offers a free community-based version."

"Setup is straightforward. You can complete it in about 30 minutes."

"The product is free to use."

"It's easy to install."

"The solution is open source."

"The most valuable feature of CentOS is the speed and it is very easy to use."

More CentOS pros

"What makes Ubuntu easy to use is the large set of applications and the interface. The graphical interface is user friendly."

"The solution is flexible and user-friendly."

"You can do everything you need to do with a browser."

"Stable and scalable Linux operating system that can test and run virtual machines."

"The feature that I have found the most valuable is that it is open source. It is also very easy to manage. We can manage it ourselves."

"The solution is stable and performing very well."

"There's ample documentation available for most features, and I find it straightforward to use."

"It's great for security and it is very safe."

More Ubuntu Linux pros

Cons

"The security could be improved because the server system isn't very secure."

"CentOS is pretty old now, so I wouldn't recommend anyone use it."

"It would be ideal if Red Hat would continue the CentOS versions in an open-source format. They seem to be moving away from that. Now only paid versions are available."

"Integration with Open Stack could be improved."

"The solution is stable, however, it could always be even more stable if possible."

"This solution is no longer suited to our business following the change they have made to the release process. It is no longer an enterprise solution."

"Like every operating system, it could be more secure."

"CentOS is not easy."

More CentOS cons

"Limited application support compared with Windows and MacOS."

"While Linux platforms are generally difficult to manage due to shell applications and lots of text files, automation handles these challenges and allows monitoring of the deployment process."

"The ZFS needs improvement. They do an implementation of the ZFS storage that needs improvement."

"The solution could improve by being more secure."

"There are some drivers that are not there encoded, however, I thought that was pretty normal. They could be more comprehensive."

"The repository needs to be kept up to date all of the time."

"Ubuntu Linux could improve by having better documentation because sometimes their documentation is not very good."

"A problem we have encountered when installing the package is that certain packages are not available, which requires downloading of them on our part."

More Ubuntu Linux cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"There are no licensing fees for CentOS."

"We are using a subscription-based license option for CentOS."

"The solution is open-source and does not have any costs or licensing fees."

"We don’t have to pay for the system’s licenses."

"We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux."

"The solution is open source so is free."

"CentOS is a free solution."

More CentOS pricing and cost advice

"We are using Ubuntu Linux free of cost, and there is no licensing."

"Ubuntu Linux is more affordable than its competitors."

"On a personal level, I'm using the free version."

"It is open-source. We don't have to pay for its license."

"The solution does not come with a licensing fee."

"We do not have any support agreements with Ubuntu, so we are using the free and open source version."

"It is 100% free."

"The solution is open source and we do not need to pay for a license."

More Ubuntu Linux 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

16%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

13%

University

10%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

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...

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What do you like most about CentOS?

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

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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

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...

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What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?

It has a good support system for loading databases.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?

My experience with the pricing for Ubuntu Linux is that I always use the free version, so I never paid for any installations or support.

See all answers

Comparisons

Oracle Linux vs CentOS

Compared 34% of the time

Kali Linux vs CentOS

Compared 9% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

Windows Server vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

More CentOS Competitors

Rocky Linux vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 30% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 14% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 10% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 10% of the time

Windows 11 vs Ubuntu Linux

Compared 4% of the time

More Ubuntu Linux Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

CentOS

July 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Ubuntu Linux

July 2025

Download Ubuntu Linux product report

Also Known As

No data available

Ubuntu

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

Ubuntu Linux is an open-source platform known for its robust security, ease of use, and rapid performance. Its lightweight design and comprehensive support system make it ideal for diverse IT environments, providing seamless management and scalability options.

Ubuntu Linux stands out with its open-source nature that allows extensive customization and access to a broad range of free software. It is widely praised for its stability and a vast package repository offering regular updates, enhancing its usefulness across different sectors. The platform is equipped with a lightweight design and excellent community support, making it scalable and easy to manage. While it could improve in areas like Windows software compatibility and user interface refinement, its benefits in enterprise management and development projects are undeniable. Improved documentation, better hardware integration, and enhanced third-party application compatibility are additional focal points to consider.

What are the key features of Ubuntu Linux?

Robust Security: Offers strong security protocols to protect user data.
Rapid Performance: Delivers fast and efficient processing speeds.
Open-source Customization: Provides extensive customization options.
Vast Package Repository: Features frequent updates and diverse software choices.
Lightweight Design: Ensures optimal performance even on limited resources.
Community Support: Backed by excellent community resources for assistance.

What benefits should be considered from reviews?

Resource Efficiency: Efficient utilization of system resources for enhanced performance.
Development Flexibility: Supports a wide range of programming and development tasks.
Enterprise Compatibility: Suited for large-scale enterprise solutions and cloud computing.
Scalability: Capable of managing and scaling across different environments.
Troubleshooting Support: Comprehensive community support for troubleshooting issues.

Ubuntu Linux is prominently implemented in industries for tasks such as server management, application deployment, and software development. Its resource efficiency and open-source tool compatibility make it a favorite for programming, research, and cybersecurity. Companies frequently use it for web hosting, cloud services, and managing multi-user enterprise solutions.

Canonical

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. Ubuntu Linux

July 2025

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