Debian vs openSUSE Leap comparison

Debian and openSUSE are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Debian is ranked #18, while openSUSE is ranked #12 with an average rating of 9.0. Additionally, 100% of openSUSE users are willing to recommend the solution.

Debian

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1,820 Comparison Views

openSUSE Leap

Read 6 openSUSE Leap reviews

5,561 Views
5,561 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Debian

openSUSE Leap

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 9, 2025

openSUSE Leap and Debian are both competing Linux distributions popular among tech buyers. openSUSE Leap seems to have the upper hand in support and pricing successes, while Debian is often seen as the more feature-rich and robust choice.

Features: openSUSE Leap is recognized for its advanced system management tools like YaST, facilitating efficient system settings and software management. It offers seamless integration with SUSE's enterprise solutions, suitable for business environments. On the other hand, Debian is known for its stability and large software repository, offering diverse compatibility and extensive package management. This appeals to those requiring broad application support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: openSUSE Leap provides a straightforward installation process, complemented by comprehensive community and enterprise-level support, making deployment in varied environments easy. Debian, while reliable, may require more technical expertise during installation and configuration. Its community support is strong but lacks the enterprise service level that openSUSE Leap offers. The contrast is in openSUSE Leap's user-friendly setup and support versus Debian's need for deeper tech familiarity.

Pricing and ROI: openSUSE Leap offers cost-effective solutions with lower setup costs, making it attractive for businesses seeking affordable deployment while maintaining quality for long-term investment. Debian is open-source with no initial costs, potentially providing high ROI over time due to its performance and longevity. The distinction is openSUSE Leap's balanced setup cost and enterprise support versus Debian's free setup and enduring performance benefits.

To learn more, read our detailed Operating Systems (OS) for Business Report (Updated: August 2025).

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Operating Systems (OS) for Business

August 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

Debian

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

18th

Average Rating

0.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

openSUSE Leap

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

12th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

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Nagendra Kavadi

Senior Manager at Cognizant

Provides BTRFS file system, which allows you to take snapshots

I only use the tool for testing purposes on my team, but multiple people use it. We don't make a team effort to install the solution. When it comes to maintenance, we ask our company to buy SUSE Linux Enterprise. My team consists of 13 people. We are currently integrating the solution with Ansible to do some coding. Although not a full-fledged automation, we are integrating the solution with Ansible and executing a couple of playbooks connected to openSUSE Leap. I would recommend the solution to other users looking for an open-source solution. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

14%

Computer Software Company

11%

Educational Organization

10%

Insurance Company

Comms Service Provider

17%

Computer Software Company

15%

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	2
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	4

Questions from the Community

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What needs improvement with openSUSE Leap?

Both openSUSE Leap and the SUSE Enterprise version use the same kernel. Suppose I have a lower environment where I can run openSUSE to test all my products. It would be helpful if I could easily sw...

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What is your primary use case for openSUSE Leap?

I use openSUSE Leap for testing purposes. Before officially using any server in our office, we test it using the solution. My office usually uses production servers on the SUSE Linux enterprise ver...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for openSUSE Leap?

openSUSE Leap is an open-source solution that is free of cost.

See all answers

Comparisons

Rocky Linux vs Debian

Compared 48% of the time

Alpine Linux vs Debian

Compared 12% of the time

Kali Linux vs Debian

Compared 5% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Debian

Compared 5% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Debian

Compared 4% of the time

More Debian Competitors

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 26% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 19% of the time

Rocky Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 16% of the time

Fedora Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 10% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 6% of the time

More openSUSE Leap Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

August 2025

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Buyer's Guide

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

August 2025

Download openSUSE Leap product report

Also Known As

Debian 12

No data available

Overview

Debian is a reliable open-source operating system ideal for servers and desktops. With its wide array of packages and stable releases, it suits developers and organizations seeking dependable performance and security.

Debian stands out for its stability and extensive package repository, making it a go-to choice for developers. Its open-source nature ensures transparency and flexibility. Debian's package management system, APT, simplifies software installation and updates. Its security updates are regular and prompt, ensuring systems are protected. With support for multiple architectures, Debian caters to various environments from desktops to large-scale servers.

What are the key features of Debian?

Package Management: APT tool for efficient software installation and updates.
Security: Regular security updates maintain robust protection.
Open Source: Community-driven with transparency and flexibility.
Architecture Support: Compatibility with diverse hardware systems.
Stability: Reliable performance across server and desktop configurations.

What benefits and ROI should be considered in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Free distribution reduces expenses.
Performance: Stable and reliable for demanding applications.
Customizability: Open-source nature allows tailored solutions.
Community Support: Extensive community for troubleshooting and advice.

Debian is widely used in industries such as web hosting, scientific research, and education, where reliability and long-term support are priorities. Its flexibility allows it to be adapted for specialized applications in scientific computing or educational environments, ensuring it meets industry-specific technical requirements.

Debian

openSUSE Leap is a brand new way of building openSUSE and is new type of hybrid Linux distribution. Leap uses source from SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE), which gives Leap a level of stability unmatched by other Linux distributions, and combines that with community developments to give users, developers and sysadmins the best stable Linux experience available. Contributor and enterprise efforts for Leap bridge a gap between matured packages and newer packages found in openSUSE’s other distribution Tumbleweed.

openSUSE

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