Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs openSUSE Leap comparison

openSUSE and Red Hat are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. openSUSE is ranked #15 with an average rating of 9.0, while Red Hat is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8. openSUSE holds a 5.2% mindshare in OSB, compared to Red Hat’s 7.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of openSUSE users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 97% of Red Hat users who would recommend it.

openSUSE Leap

Read 6 openSUSE Leap reviews

6,653 Views
6,586 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Read 406 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) reviews

24,553 Views
24,062 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

openSUSE Leap

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 25, 2026

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and openSUSE Leap are competing in the Linux distribution space. RHEL has a distinct advantage in enterprise support and customer service, while openSUSE Leap is appreciated for its rich development features and flexibility.

Features: RHEL offers premium security features, stability, and support for a wide range of hardware and applications, positioning it as an ideal choice for enterprises needing robust performance and reliability. openSUSE Leap provides an extensive array of development tools, adaptability, and community-driven enhancements that are especially appealing to developers.

Room for Improvement: RHEL can improve its command-line interface, which often poses a learning curve for Windows administrators, and streamline processes to reduce the need for reboots with monthly patches. openSUSE Leap could enhance commercial support options and deeper enterprise support to better compete in business environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: RHEL is known for its efficient deployment processes and enterprise-level customer service, ensuring a stable and consistent deployment. openSUSE Leap focuses on simplicity in deployment with community assistance but lacks the commercial support structures found in RHEL.

Pricing and ROI: RHEL's pricing reflects its commercial nature, often justifying the cost in enterprise environments with its ROI stemming from stability and support services. openSUSE Leap offers a more budget-friendly option with no licensing fees, appealing to organizations with financial constraints, though the lack of enterprise-level support can be a limiting factor for larger organizations.

To learn more, read our detailed Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. openSUSE Leap Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. openSUSE Leap

April 2026

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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

openSUSE Leap

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

15th

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

1st

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

406

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of openSUSE Leap is 5.2%, down from 6.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 7.1%, down from 9.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)	7.1%
openSUSE Leap	5.2%
Other	87.7%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

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.

Read full review

Ray Ortega

Server administrator at Northrop Grumman

Empowers collaboration through streamlined integration and extensive documentation

Improving Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) can be tough, however, a significant area is collaboration tools. We have many Windows users that use Outlook and Skype or Teams to collaborate on our network. They want Linux desktops due to the fact that they want to use containers. Their biggest complaint is, 'I need two workstations to do my container work and one to collaborate.' If somehow RHEL can start introducing or collaborating with Teams and Outlook so their users can work with their Windows peers, that would be great. But I don't think that's available yet. Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, there needs to be more of an education piece to it. For instance, when purchasing 10 or 100 node licenses, they could suggest, 'We also offer this 1,000 node license instead, and it'll save you specific amounts.' Just more education on their offerings would be helpful, because usually, we're coming out with the requirements, and then they just provide it to us. They could inform us about saving by bundling it differently or using alternative approaches.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Stable - it just runs without the necessity to reboot."

"Leap has provided me with the ability to offer what I consider Enterprise class server O/S platforms to my smaller customers who are looking to improve their competitive stances without breaking the bank."

"The solution's most valuable feature is the BTRFS file system, which allows you to take snapshots."

"The solution is easy for me to use because the backend is derived from FreeBSD and this is something I have been using for over 20 years."

"The solution is very stable after it is configured. It is hard to have a panel slow, a problem, misconfiguration, or any kind of loss function."

"The most valuable feature by far has been the virtualization capabilities of the operating system."

"Stable - it just runs without the necessity to reboot."

"openSUSE Leap has helped me with using containers in Podman."

More openSUSE Leap pros

"The robust networking capabilities offered by Red Hat Enterprise Linux were highly valuable. They have numerous partnerships and dedicated efforts in low-latency technologies, which are particularly beneficial for trading firms. They possess extensive expertise in external tuning and similar aspects."

"Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) helps me feel very comfortable knowing that I have vendor support for whatever happens, as I can open a ticket and someone will be there with me figuring out what happened, so I feel very safe using RHEL."

"Automation is the most valuable feature. I don't like having to solve a problem more than once. If I can just whip up some code to take care of deploying something, responding to something, etc., then that is what I prefer. It is a lot easier out-of-the-box to do than it is with Windows. With Windows, there is always the process of bootstrapping into being able to have the automation framework available, then making the automation framework work."

"The technical support is very helpful."

"I prefer AIX, but Red Hat Enterprise Linux is cheaper."

"It is a reliable system that I can depend on more than anything else."

"Technical support from Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has been very good."

"When we implemented all the security frameworks with RHEL three years ago, that was the first time we had a non-issue audit."

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) pros

Cons

"Somehow the change from OS12.x via 13.x to Leap was a bit bumpy and some old issues seemed to reappear."

"It would be helpful if we could easily switch from openSUSE Leap for testing to SUSE Linux Enterprise for production."

"In the future, the Active Directory could improve."

"Like most Linux-based operating systems, the biggest challenge Leap faces is the GUI."

"I would like openSUSE Leap to have better link integration with Windows."

"Somehow the change from OS12.x via 13.x to Leap was a bit bumpy and some old issues seemed to reappear."

"There is room for improvement in the console."

More openSUSE Leap cons

"Red Hat Enterprise Linux should be available in a free version that developers could try on their own machines before deciding to implement the enterprise edition. It would be nice to have a community version available with all the features so developers can become more familiar with RHEL."

"Red Hat could offer a containerized version of the operating system, potentially moving towards a more containerized ecosystem."

"Security could be increased."

"It is a bit on the pricier side."

"A feature that I would like to see in the image builder is the ability to open the image in live mode and access a command line interface."

"The package compatibility between different releases is a little confusing sometimes."

"The GUI has room for improvement. It needs to be managed by many administrators. It has basic command lines. They could improve it with better automation. We'd like to be able to create a script, and then have the ability to deploy it where we don't need to write everything manually. That part can be useful for automating."

"Scaling can be complicated and has room for improvement."

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

"The cost of this solution was reasonable and it was within our budget."

"The solution is open-source."

"This is an open-source operating system that can be used free of charge."

"The price point for that is phenomenal because you are paying for support. From a pricing perspective, it is on point. It is definitely a value-add, and it is extremely transparent from a customer standpoint."

"Its pricing and licensing are reasonable."

"Red Hat Enterprise Linux licensing is expensive."

"We have a site license on a yearly basis. Generally, we're okay with its price, but everything could be cheaper."

"I did some research on pricing a long time ago, and at that time, it was much cheaper than Windows. I do not have current details about pricing, but it is affordable."

"We get our licenses directly through Red Hat."

"The pricing and licensing are a bit higher for Red Hat Enterprise because we're able to get 70% of its features with the CentOS version. For the 30% of features that Red Hat provides, I think they need to reduce the licensing fee."

"Red Hat Enterprise Linux licensing is not cheap, but it is worth it, especially considering the compliance and support it provides."

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 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…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

20%

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	90
Midsize Enterprise	50
Large Enterprise	283

Questions from the Community

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...

See all answers

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...

See all answers

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

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 is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

I am happy with the pricing that Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) offers. I come from a technical background, so I do not have much insight into the business side, but Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?

I believe improvements in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are required. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) should explore integrating AI, as many systems are currently incorporating AI. I believe that...

See all answers

Comparisons

Debian vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 14% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 13% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 12% of the time

Rocky Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 11% of the time

Fedora Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 8% of the time

More openSUSE Leap Competitors

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 10% of the time

Windows Server vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 8% of the time

Windows 11 vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 5% of the time

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

May 2026

Download openSUSE Leap product report

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

April 2026

Download Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) product report

Also Known As

No data available

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for AWS

Overview

openSUSE Leap stands out for its virtualization, server management simplicity, and integration with advanced storage technologies. Users appreciate the stability, intuitive interface, and no need for a paid license alongside robust features like BTRFS file system snapshots.

openSUSE Leap offers reliable performance, critical for virtualization and secure server operations. It effectively integrates technology like NVMe and supports familiarity with a FreeBSD-inspired backend. Despite its graphical interface challenges compared to Microsoft, openSUSE Leap excels in performance, stability, and providing a seamless experience for enterprise and private use. Zypper update tool and user efficiency in server management are noted, though improvements in third-party integration and documentation could enhance user experience.

What important features make openSUSE Leap noteworthy?

Virtualization Capabilities: Supports multiple guest operations on compact hosts.
Stable Performance: Ensures reliable operations without frequent reboots.
Storage Integration: Utilizes modern technologies like NVMe.
BTRFS Snapshots: Allows easy rollbacks during patching for system integrity.
Zypper Tool: Simplifies software updates and management.

What benefits can users expect when evaluating openSUSE Leap?

Cost-Effectiveness: No paid licenses required.
User-Friendly Design: Intuitive interface improves usability.
Security Enhancement: Offers secure server operating environment.
Familiar Backend: Ease of use with FreeBSD-inspired backend.

Businesses adopt openSUSE Leap for diverse applications, including desktop use in offices, highlighting KVM's stability for virtualization. It's crucial in High Availability setups using Pacemaker, DRBD, LVM for clustering. DevOps teams utilize it for secure containerized deployments with Podman, while enterprises appreciate its reliability in pre-deployment testing.

openSUSE

Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers stability, security, and support for mission-critical applications with robust tools and scalable architecture, ideal for diverse environments and hybrid cloud compatibility.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides organizations with a reliable platform ideal for high-performance computing and virtualization. Known for its robust security and seamless network administration, it integrates well with OpenShift and Ansible, ensuring adaptability and scalability. Despite challenges with documentation, upgrade complexity, and cost, RHEL remains a formidable choice thanks to its comprehensive documentation and extensive community support.

What are the key features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Stability and Security: Maintains high stability and advanced security measures, critical for enterprise environments.
Extensive Support: Offers robust support through community and documentation, assisting with problem-solving and integration.
Automation with Ansible: Simplifies tasks and enhances efficiency, optimizing operations across the infrastructure.
Hybrid Cloud Compatibility: Supports cloud environments, enabling flexibility and strategic deployments.
Scalable Architecture: Adapts to different workloads, making it suitable for growing organizational demands.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Reliable Performance: Ensures consistent and secure operations across diverse environments, including cloud infrastructure.
Efficient Management: Centralized operations make it easy to manage enterprise workloads effectively.
Community and Documentation: Access to a strong community and comprehensive documentation aids in resolving issues.
Integration Capabilities: Easily integrates with technologies like OpenShift and SAP, enhancing operational versatility.
Adaptability: Supports a wide range of environments and technical requirements, improving strategic deployment.

Organizations across industries like financial services, telecommunications, and application hosting implement Red Hat Enterprise Linux for server and application management. Its compatibility with technologies such as SAP, Oracle, and Ansible supports functions including web, database, and enterprise solutions, ensuring stable and secure performance in high-pressure environments.

Red Hat

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Travel Channel, Mohawk Industries, Hilti, Molecular Health, Exolgan, Hotelplan Group, Emory University, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, HCA Healthcare, Paychex, UPS, Intermountain Healthcare, Brinker International, TransUnion, Union Bank, CA Technologies

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. openSUSE Leap

April 2026

Free Report: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. openSUSE Leap

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. openSUSE Leap and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

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