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Oracle Linux 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:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.8
Oracle Linux delivers significant ROI through time and cost savings, downtime reduction, and efficient licensing and server operations.
Sentiment score
5.5
Windows Server boosts efficiency and resource management, with users reporting significant cost reductions and improved virtualization and Azure services.
Everything from Oracle tools to applications is well integrated within Oracle Linux.
IT Department Manager at DHA Lahore
Our team is comfortable using Oracle Linux as it integrates well with Oracle tools, making everything work seamlessly.
Director of Provisioning Services at MRP ELITE
In terms of outcomes or benefits I've seen over the last year, we have more than 30 servers, and we only need to reboot one server while all other servers continue working fine, resulting in very low downtime, which is very helpful.
System Engineer at Reve Systems
We're very competitive commercially and technically because of it.
IT-Operation Head at Granules India Ltd
We've seen value in Windows Server because the systems work smoothly without any problems.
L3 Engineer at Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited
Windows Server offers excellent value for money, particularly when compared to alternatives.
Security Engineer at ProVision
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.3
Oracle Linux support is knowledgeable and valuable, but users sometimes face delays, relying on forums and internal resources.
Sentiment score
6.2
Customer service is generally effective, but technical support quality varies, and experiences with Microsoft are mixed.
Not all support engineers at Oracle are the same, so sometimes I experience good support that resolves issues quickly, while other times, it loops.
Senior Infrastructure Specialist at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
Oracle's technical support is excellent.
IT Department Manager at DHA Lahore
It is not as helpful or friendly as their application support.
IT Admin at Rosy Blue NV
Our in-house team can also solve most issues.
IT-Operation Head at Granules India Ltd
If you go through a partner who sells or supports Windows, the support could be around seven out of ten, because Windows relies on these partners for assistance.
Head of Major Account Sales Operation 1 at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Microsoft's technical support for Windows Server has been lacking, with rare responses even with premium support.
Security Engineer at ProVision
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Oracle Linux is scalable, efficient for varied setups, performs well in virtual environments, and is favored in enterprise settings.
Sentiment score
7.6
Windows Server is flexible and scalable, efficiently adapting to varying organizational sizes despite some management complexity.
It handles device performance well, automatically managing any issues that arise.
Software Engineer at Trianz
Oracle should make the process faster, as we sometimes have to use a previous processor model to ensure compatibility.
Director of Provisioning Services at MRP ELITE
New processor models sometimes lack immediate compatibility with Oracle Linux, requiring the use of previous models until support is available.
IT Department Manager at DHA Lahore
I've worked in companies with 20,000 to 100,000 users, and it scales beautifully without issues.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
It's definitely scalable.
IT-Operation Head at Granules India Ltd
The solution is used extensively in our organization, and we have plans to increase the usage.
Project Engineer at CDAC
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.0
Oracle Linux is praised for stability, security, and performance, excelling in enterprise settings with minimal issues and reliable operation.
Sentiment score
7.5
Windows Server is highly stable and reliable, with improvements since 2012, often rated 8-10 out of 10 by users.
Testing determines stability, as continuous Linux use and installations reveal more bugs.
Senior Infrastructure Specialist at a financial services firm with 11-50 employees
Oracle Linux is very stable.
IT Department Manager at DHA Lahore
Our environment is locally deployed, and there are no performance issues or latency problems.
Director of Provisioning Services at MRP ELITE
We have experienced no blue screens or crashes and often achieved an uptime of 2,000 to 3,000 days without any issues whatsoever.
Security Engineer at ProVision
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
Manager at Accenture company
The tool is stable.
ITSM Administrator & Analyst at Ministry of Interior
 

Room For Improvement

Oracle Linux needs faster updates, improved documentation, better UI, more certifications, and enhanced performance and support processes.
Windows Server users seek improved security, better integration, usability, optimization, pricing, automation, documentation, patching, and technical support.
Having a user interface would make tasks easier, saving time by avoiding the need to remember command-line instructions.
IT Admin at Rosy Blue NV
There are significant limitations as we are not able to customize the system, and we are forced to use standard features which are not suitable for our business.
Manager, Information Technology at Gemini Equipment
Oracle Linux's outage management can be improved to better handle outages.
Software Engineer at Trianz
From a security perspective, sometimes, malware attacks and hackers take advantage of the tool's vulnerabilities.
Manager, Strategic Alliances at Softcell Technologies Limited
Deploying antivirus and firewall software on the server is advisable, but having an external firewall adds an extra layer of security.
Project and Service Delivery Manager Cloud at MANAPPURAM COMPTECH AND CONSULTANTS LIMITED
Windows Server needs to improve its speed and stability.
Oracle business analyst at Sensience
 

Setup Cost

Oracle Linux offers lower costs with a free product and affordable support options, ideal for enterprises seeking savings.
Enterprise buyers struggle with Windows Server licensing due to its complexity, varied pricing, and high costs compared to Linux.
While ERP might be expensive, Oracle Linux and KVMs are not on the higher side.
Director of Provisioning Services at MRP ELITE
The cost of Microsoft OS is pretty high, and switching to Oracle Linux, which is free, reduced our costs by about 20% to 25%.
IT Admin at Rosy Blue NV
Oracle Linux is affordable.
IT Department Manager at DHA Lahore
It is quite expensive.
Head of Major Account Sales Operation 1 at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Previously, a Windows Server with two processors cost around two 154 euros annually, but now it is estimated to be around 3,000 to 4,000 euros for the same configuration.
Security Engineer at ProVision
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most expensive, I rate it ten out of ten.
Manager, IT Security at Averis Sdn Bhd
 

Valuable Features

Oracle Linux enhances database reliability with optimized configurations, zero-downtime updates, compatibility, scalability, and efficient Oracle application support.
Windows Server excels in scalability, security, and integration, offering features like Active Directory and seamless Microsoft tool compatibility.
Since it's from the same vendor as Oracle applications, it's easier to manage issues, making not just the solution cost-effective but also streamlined in management.
IT Admin at Rosy Blue NV
The updates are applied instantly once a CVE is identified, which makes it highly beneficial.
Consultant at a outsourcing company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Oracle Linux provides fast updates, and the best aspect is that we can update our server without interrupting our service, which is very important for business continuity.
Superbly mistaken at Banco Nacional de Investimento S.A.
Windows Server is a stable and scalable solution.
IT head at Ficobank
The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that every Microsoft product is scalable, flexible, secure, and available on a certain budget.
Manager, Strategic Alliances at Softcell Technologies Limited
The IP directory is the most valuable feature.
Connectivity Platform Cyber Security Specialist at BASF Business Services GmbH
 

Categories and Ranking

Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
127
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Windows Server
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
5th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
195
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Oracle Linux is 6.3%, down from 13.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows Server is 9.3%, up from 8.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Oracle Linux6.3%
Windows Server9.3%
Other84.4%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

DR
Manager, Information Technology at Gemini Equipment
Stable performance enhances operations, but improving interface and customization is necessary
Oracle Linux can be improved by making it more user-friendly. The interface and some features need improvement. The interface is very important. Sometimes, there is a very lengthy process to generate a single report. The customization also needs development. There should be more customization allowed for the system. There are some limitations as we cannot customize the system according to our needs. We have to use the standard features which are not always suitable for our business. Despite these limitations, we continue to use it.
GS
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
Long-standing experience improves reliability and security, making it a trusted platform
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 manage an on-premises server from Azure. Now, they have created Azure Arc, and we are using it as a very good way of managing on-premises servers. What can be improved is on the Azure side. With Active Directory on the server side and Entra ID on the Azure side in our hybrid environment, we find issues with data syncing to Entra ID. In Entra ID, Microsoft omitted some parameters. In Active Directory, you can put an expiring date to an account, but you cannot do that in Entra ID. We have other means of doing that, but it's common to have consultants working for six months, requiring account expiration or renewal processes. The Entra ID Connect syncing tool could be improved. Though they moved the service to Azure and use an agent instead of having a dedicated server, it remains cumbersome to set up due to the differences between Entra ID and Active Directory.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Computer Software Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business44
Midsize Enterprise17
Large Enterprise72
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business78
Midsize Enterprise41
Large Enterprise88
 

Questions from the Community

How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
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...
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
The user interface of Windows Server needs improvement, especially when working with users, user accounts, and groups. There are multiple ways to accomplish tasks that do not align completely, so t...
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
I integrated Windows Server in my infrastructure. We use Hyper-V technology extensively, as it is very important for us, and it functions quite well.
 

Also Known As

Oracle Enterprise Linux
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

See here
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about Oracle Linux vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
879,768 professionals have used our research since 2012.