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CentOS vs Windows Server 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
Windows Server
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
192
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 Windows Server is 9.2%, up from 8.4% 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.
Jai Prakash Sharma - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient Management Achieved with Internal Resources and Reliable Technical Support
Maintenance of Windows Server varies by organization, but for us, it's not very difficult as we have in-house resources managing these tasks. However, it can become a bit tricky when we want to see a collated view of our security posture. Regarding AI integrations with Windows Server, Copilot adoption is progressing, though I have only experienced it on endpoints and not on the server side. We operate significant workloads on AI, but we consume those primarily on Linux rather than Windows Server. I don't have much experience regarding integration capabilities in Windows Server for AI workloads, so I may not be the right person to provide insights on that. Overall, I am quite happy with my experience using Windows Server. I don't have many constraints or concerns, so I would rate it eight 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

"The most valuable feature is the limited resources the solution uses in operation."
"It's easy to install."
"The stability of this solution is its most useful feature. It is a high quality product and you know what you're getting. You also receive wide support from the community."
"Its performance is most valuable. There is a performance boost as compared to when the applications are run on Windows OS."
"The solution is stable and reliable."
"We particularly like that we can remove the graphic user interface to minimize attack settings for the operating system."
"The latest version of this solution has everything built in, making it comprehensive and very easy to use."
"I find the solution's stability to be the most valuable feature of it since I have been using a virtual machine with the help of the solution since 2015, and it still works on all the laptops in my organization."
"The solution is straightforward to install and took approximately 30 minutes."
"I have found the solution to be flexible and easy to use."
"The solution is easy to use. We are satisfied with its performance."
"There is room for improvement in terms of pricing."
"The most valuable feature is the performance."
"Setting up Windows Server is pretty straightforward. It takes anywhere from a few hours to a day. One person can do it if it's not a complex environment."
"Provides workspaces for the entire organization with fewer resources."
"Windows Server is easy to use."
 

Cons

"Like every operating system, it could be more secure."
"More security features could be included in the next release."
"CentOS could be improved by being more secure. Of course, we use a firewall, but security is always a concern."
"When comparing the GUI of CentOS to Microsoft Windows or Mac, it could improve."
"It would be useful if reporting were included as part of the basic license."
"This solution is no longer supported and will not receive any updates going forward."
"The GUI interface could always be better."
"There could be more integration features included in the product."
"The licensing for the solution is expensive."
"One area for improvement in Windows Server is the basic administration tools and scripts, which have become less reliable and functional over time."
"In terms of improvement, performance could be enhanced."
"It could be more secure. We don't like it because if you compare it to Linux, Linux is better."
"We have not had an issue with the stability of this solution. However, there could be some improvements."
"The performance from time to time can be a bit suspect."
"The customer support team is not satisfactory. Their expertise has diminished. I rate them two out of ten."
"The product has certain shortcomings related to security capability in the area of incident response, making it the tool's component where improvements are required."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This is an open-source solution, so there are no licensing costs involved."
"CentOS is a free solution."
"The solution is free of cost to use."
"For the enterprise version of CentOS, there is a license required. However, for personal use, I do not need a license."
"It's free."
"The solution is open source so is free."
"CentOS is an open-source tool."
"I'm not required to pay a licensing fee."
"The price of the solution is expensive, and there are many price options available, such as monthly or perpetual licenses."
"There is a license for Windows Server, but we have got the license from a local supplier, Black Neuron Technology. They also provide tech support locally."
"This is not an expensive product."
"I'm not involved much in the payment part, but I believe that we pay a yearly subscription for licensing."
"Windows Server is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."
"Windows Server is highly priced."
"There is a licensing fee."
"There is a one-time purchase for the license of Windows Server."
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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
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
13%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Comms Service Provider
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?
CentOS is a free product with free updates. There are third-party companies available for support, but they charge varying amounts for their services.
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
It's difficult to see improvements when using it daily. They improved compatibility with other platforms, such as Linux. One improvement I was thinking about some years ago was the ability to manag...
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
I administer Windows Server. We have Windows 10 and are migrating to Windows 11 under my organization. The people who work with me are handling the migration right now. We have several servers, mos...
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.