Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs openSUSE Leap comparison

Why PeerSpot?

openSUSE and Red Hat are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. openSUSE is ranked #26, while Red Hat is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8. openSUSE holds a 4.4% mindshare in OSB, compared to Red Hat’s 6.7% 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

8,008 Views
7,928 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Read 438 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) reviews

31,958 Views
30,999 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

openSUSE Leap

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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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: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. openSUSE Leap

September 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

26th

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

7.1

Number of Reviews

438

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of openSUSE Leap is 4.4%, down from 6.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 6.7%, down from 8.6% 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)	6.7%
openSUSE Leap	4.4%
Other	88.9%

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

Gowtham Chettikam

Vice President at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

Automation has transformed daily operations and supports secure, continuous infrastructure

When considering improvements to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I see one primary area. Within your portal, if you provided more study material along with demonstrations similar to the sessions we are attending, which feature a user-friendly guide, you could incorporate this into your Red Hat console. When I want to install an agent or something else, typing in the console should provide me with clear step-by-step instructions. Throughout the years, installation steps have been available, but regarding AI agents or Ansible automation, I need to verify whether clear information exists. Including this information would be beneficial. Additionally, if you add the sessions that have occurred to your portal or another location, this would help us review them multiple times to gain better understanding. Time is limited, and many sessions occur simultaneously, making it impossible to attend everything. Making these sessions available on your website would be very helpful.

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

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

"This solution has helped my organization's security from the use of its firewall, and the features for blocking or allowing traffic are very effective and have worked well for us."

"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."

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

"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."

"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."

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

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

"The support from Red Hat is definitely valuable, and having a Technical Account Manager facilitates getting to the core of the issue and eventually tries to correct the behavior of the operating system in case something is not fitting what I expect."

"Every time we have to work on a case with customer service and technical support, the response is fast."

"Since we started recommending and our clients started using it, I can see the cost-to-performance ratio go up by over 50%."

"I find the clustering feature of Red Hat Enterprise Linux the most useful. It helps us to cluster our application service to maintain high availability."

"The best feature of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) that I appreciate is that it provides consistent configuration setups with step-by-step configuration, which is easier."

"Red Hat Enterprise Linux is an enterprise-grade solution where we receive regular security patches and proper support."

"My favorite feature of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is that it's a Linux server with Linux commands, which have benefited my company by making it feel lightweight and allowing developers who know Linux commands to jump on it immediately."

"Aside from security, the advantage of Red Hat as compared to the other distributions is the availability of support and patching. When you have an enterprise subscription with Red Hat, you get support and patching."

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) pros

Cons

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

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

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

"There is room for improvement in the console."

"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."

"Personally, I don't see good benefits from their support and paid licensing compared to completely free and well-documented Linux distributions, as I find RHEL excessively expensive."

"The most common challenges faced with the deployment are mostly enterprise related, such as resource compatibility and making automation instead of active compatibility."

"To achieve a perfect score, we need more focus on version management."

"I don't think Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is saving money because it is expensive, but saving time is a benefit because they have a lot of automation and good documentation, and it is a stable product."

"Red Hat's standard deployment is with Satellite and Kickstart, but we're looking at other options to help speed it along. We do have a mix of bare metal and virtualized servers and it's easier to spin up in the virtualized world versus bare metal. That's why we're looking at some options outside of Red Hat, for the bare metal."

"The initial setup is pretty straightforward but can be tedious at times because of the compliance things that we have to implement."

"I know for our purpose and what we have been using it for, it has been working well. Their support, however, can be better."

"When there is downtime from a system admin perspective, this solution could improve how they communicate why this down time is happening."

More Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

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

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

"The solution is open-source."

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

"I don't have any issues with the licensing or pricing. In general, OpenShift is a little more expensive."

"We transferred our license to the cloud because we were originally a VMware on-prem shop. So we're just transitioning some of our workloads to cloud licensing. Also, I have opted for a subscription."

"The solution's price is reasonable."

"It is cost-effective."

"I do not know enough to give a comprehensive answer, but other operating systems are in use at my company because they have more favorable licensing terms."

"Red Hat Enterprise Linux is expensive, particularly for governments operating with limited budgets."

"I have limited information regarding Red Hat Enterprise Linux pricing and licensing, but our managers appear satisfied."

"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

23%

University

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

11%

Outsourcing Company

11%

Manufacturing 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	95
Midsize Enterprise	50
Large Enterprise	314

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

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)?

Regarding the pricing aspect of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), I mostly use free resources and have not procured any license. I prefer to use open-source options and maintain my own set of rules....

See all answers

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

I would like to see improvements in the CLI, making it somewhat easier instead of the complicated commands that are currently used. Keeping it simple and easy to remember would be beneficial.

See all answers

Comparisons

Debian vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 13% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 11% of the time

Rocky Linux vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 9% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 9% of the time

CentOS vs openSUSE Leap

Compared 7% of the time

More openSUSE Leap Competitors

Ubuntu Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 10% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

Windows Server vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 8% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 7% of the time

Windows 10 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

September 2026

Download openSUSE Leap product report

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

October 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

September 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: September 2026.

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