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Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Ubuntu Linux vs Windows Server comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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
6.3
RHEL delivers strong ROI with enhanced security, efficient operations, seamless integration, and reduced downtime, optimizing costs and performance.
Sentiment score
6.6
Organizations achieve substantial savings and increased productivity with Ubuntu Linux, highlighting its cost-effectiveness, stability, and strong ROI.
Sentiment score
5.4
While complex, Windows Server offers efficiency, reliability, and integration benefits, enhancing competitiveness and delivering strong ROI through cost savings.
A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.
Architect at KnowIT
Being able to transform common manual tasks that previously took all day into processes that take an hour, half an hour, or even less, demonstrates clear value.
Systems administrator at a retailer with 501-1,000 employees
I invest effort and money in RHEL 8, expecting the system to be secure and reliable when serving my clients.
Associate Director at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Overall, the gains in productivity, security, and operational efficiency have provided a strong return on investment.
IT at a retailer with 11-50 employees
You get a standard platform that is very secure and stable.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
The return on investment is evident as having efficient resources to manage our infrastructure means we are less dependent on costly external support from Microsoft.
Executive Vice President Technology at InfoEdge India Ltd
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.3
RHEL support is praised for professionalism and responsiveness, though initial resolutions may vary; overall satisfaction is high.
Sentiment score
6.5
Ubuntu's extensive online community and resources reduce the need for paid support, though it's effective for urgent issues.
Sentiment score
6.3
Windows Server support varies, with some experiencing prompt service while others rely on forums and documentation for help.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) support is great, as they go beyond their duty to help resolve issues and provide solutions even for third-party software such as XRDP.
Senior Infrastructure Systems Administrator at a healthcare company with 1,001-5,000 employees
When we do contact customer service, they are generally very knowledgeable and well-versed in our size.
Solutions Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Usually, I send the information, and they have something for me within hours, sometimes even minutes.
Team manager at Evertec
They responded well, understood that the issue was not on my end, and provided a patch within two days.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
The community around Ubuntu Linux is beneficial, providing answers to questions and assisting with issues.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Ubuntu Linux has a comprehensive knowledge base for self-help.
Techincal Support Engineer at Ibits Tech Solutions
They resolved our problems within the defined SLA.
Relationship Manager at Cognizant
When I had an issue with Hyper-V, the support was excellent.
Systems technician. IT Office at LNU
The technical support from Microsoft is one of the best, though there can be challenges when it comes to priority zero or critical issues, where the queue can be longer.
Executive Vice President Technology at InfoEdge India Ltd
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
Red Hat Enterprise Linux scales effectively, integrates with cloud and automation tools, and efficiently handles workloads across environments.
Sentiment score
7.2
Ubuntu Linux is praised for scalable adaptability in cloud and on-premises setups, supporting diverse industries with flexible architecture.
Sentiment score
7.4
Windows Server is highly scalable, supports diverse user needs, but has resource demands and improvement potential in cloud environments.
Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.
Solutions Architect at a transportation company with 10,001+ employees
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) scales very well with the growing needs of our company.
Director, DevOps at Lightedge Solutions
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) handles increases in users, applications, or data smoothly, which is why we use it for all our projects, as it provides us with confidence.
Cloud Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
The beauty of this hybrid approach is that because everything runs Ubuntu Linux, we have consistency across all environments.
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
In a server environment, it can seamlessly adapt to increased customer demand.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Any Linux is scalable in terms of capacity, and on a day-to-day basis, we use scalability options with the help of Kubernetes clusters.
Associate Cloud Operations Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
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
Active Directory and Group Policy make it easy to manage a growing number of users and systems from a centralized platform.
IT at a retailer with 11-50 employees
There are some systems that do not work on Windows or are complicated to deploy on Windows, especially those that operate in a Linux environment and cannot be installed on Windows.
Systems technician. IT Office at LNU
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is praised for stability, reliability, secure updates, and effectively handling business-critical workloads in enterprises.
Sentiment score
7.9
Ubuntu Linux is praised for its stability and reliability, though some issues occur with virtual machines or new hardware integration.
Sentiment score
7.5
Windows Server is highly stable and reliable, praised for seamless performance and improvements over previous versions, despite update concerns.
It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.
Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
It just works, and that's really the key factor; I can't remember the last time we had a system go down and had to restore it due to a bad patch.
Senior software engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
We've not had a service outage with Red Hat in six years.
Team Lead, Linux Systems & Tools at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees
The system has been completely stable, which makes it deserve a perfect score.
BA at a computer software company with 11-50 employees
Ubuntu Linux is extremely stable and maintains uptime effectively.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
Our servers continuously run, and we rarely ever have to restart them due to a crash or system failure.
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
Manager at Accenture company
It provides reliable performance for critical services such as Active Directory, file service, DNS, and user authentication.
IT at a retailer with 11-50 employees
I support it myself and don't recall having any issues requiring Microsoft assistance for Windows Server.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Red Hat Enterprise Linux needs improvements in CLI, integration, compatibility, security, user experience, multi-cloud, training, and upgrade processes.
Users seek improved Windows compatibility, user-friendliness, business app support, and better documentation, GUI, security, and integration for Ubuntu Linux.
Windows Server needs improved security, stability, cloud integration, simpler UI, better pricing, easier configuration, and broader compatibility support.
Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.
Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
The built-in security features of Red Hat Enterprise Linux were insufficient for our needs, necessitating the implementation of supplementary security measures.
IT Infrastructure Engineer at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
By providing pre-installed, native automation tools within the operating system, Red Hat would streamline processes and improve user efficiency.
Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
There is a push towards integrating AI into software for various purposes like video and sound processing.
Manging Director at Winworth UK
Another thing is enterprise solution integration. Some enterprise tools that businesses commonly use, such as certain ERP systems or CRM platforms, either do not have a Linux version, or their Linux versions are not as feature-rich or well-maintained as the Windows counterparts.
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Stability issues occur when integrating new components due to physical or technical challenges.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
The current diagnostic logs have not seen much improvement in the last ten years and aren't very helpful in addressing network-related issues specific to individual customer locations.
Team Manager at Waters Corporation
One area that needs improvement is the protection against ransomware attacks.
AVP, IT Division at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
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.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
 

Setup Cost

Enterprise users find RHEL's pricing high but value its support and reliability, though smaller businesses prefer flexible pricing.
Ubuntu Linux offers a cost-effective, open-source OS with free basic use, optional paid enterprise support, and scalable solutions.
Enterprise users find Windows Server costly and complex to license, preferring simpler, more competitive pricing compared to Linux.
It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
Its pricing has room for improvement because it's more expensive in the local market due to purchasing power parity in India.
Cloud engineer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Windows Servers base their cost on the number of users and have high licensing fees, while Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers free versions alongside its paid, supported versions.
Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
For an enterprise-wide scalable operating system with professional services, you can select Ubuntu Linux at a reasonable price.
Owner at a computer software company with 1-10 employees
The setup cost is free.
Head of mission at CapHornier
Ubuntu Linux is open-source, leading to cost savings through its free availability.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Microsoft offers product pricing with licenses per processor and CAL licenses for accessing.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
The cost associated with Windows Server—considering pricing, licensing, and setup—is expensive, no doubt.
Executive Vice President Technology at InfoEdge India Ltd
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

Red Hat Enterprise Linux offers strong security, automation, and hybrid cloud support, praised for stability, scalability, and enterprise reliability.
Ubuntu Linux is stable, secure, easy to install, cost-effective, highly customizable, and ideal for developers and enterprises.
Windows Server excels in integration, ease of use, security, scalability, and supports enterprise applications with features like Hyper-V and PowerShell.
It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees
There is also no downtime.
Linux/DevOps Engineer at Ekwantu Consulting
The operating system allows for the simple addition of kernels, modules, and other applications, making it highly adaptable to various needs.
Technical Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
Ubuntu Linux's open-source nature supports community contributions, bolstering its development and support ecosystem.
Bachelor of Engineering at Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu VAMK University of Applied Sciences
Ubuntu Linux supports remote troubleshooting via SSH, allowing connection from anywhere, which is beneficial for troubleshooting server issues.
Techincal Support Engineer at Ibits Tech Solutions
In terms of security, I am satisfied with Ubuntu Linux and I can rely on its security features more than I can with Windows.
Solution Architect at TB
I can manage the firewalls on the server easily, open or close ports to manage security traffic, and use encryption on the hard disk to keep data secure.
Systems technician. IT Office at LNU
It offers virtualization techniques, such as Hyper-V, and other features that make it favorable.
AVP, IT Division at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Now it's very reliable; you can spin up a Windows Server box, and it will run without needing to reboot unless updating.
Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 7.0%, down from 9.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Ubuntu Linux is 8.0%, down from 12.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows Server is 6.9%, down from 9.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)7.0%
Ubuntu Linux8.0%
Windows Server6.9%
Other78.1%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

CC
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.
Garima Vyas Purohit - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr Manager - Corporate Training and Placements at a educational organization with 1,001-5,000 employees
Unified environments have streamlined our development workflows and reduced deployment issues
There are a few areas where I think Ubuntu Linux could be improved. The first one is hardware compatibility. Sometimes when we get a new machine, certain hardware like Wi-Fi cards, graphics cards, or printers do not work straight away out of the box. You have to manually find and install drivers, which can be frustrating, especially for people who are not very technical. Another area is the graphical user interface, or GUI, and desktop experience. While Ubuntu Linux has improved a lot in this area, it still does not feel as polished or as smooth as Windows or macOS for non-technical users. If Ubuntu Linux wants to attract more everyday users, that is an area they need to keep improving.On the software compatibility side, one of our biggest frustrations is that some industry-standard tools simply do not have native Linux versions. For example, tools such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and some specialized enterprise software just do not run natively on Ubuntu Linux. We have to use workarounds such as running Windows in a virtual machine or using a web-based alternative, which is not always ideal. Additionally, when it comes to vendor support, sometimes when we reach out to third-party software vendors for technical support, they do not officially support Linux. We are kind of on our own figuring things out. That can be really frustrating when you are dealing with a critical issue and the vendor just says they do not support Linux. Another thing is enterprise solution integration. Some enterprise tools that businesses commonly use, such as certain ERP systems or CRM platforms, either do not have a Linux version, or their Linux versions are not as feature-rich or well-maintained as the Windows counterparts.
reviewer2848875 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT at a retailer with 11-50 employees
Centralized controls have improved security and simplify user management across our environment
One area where Windows Server could be improved is in simplifying administration and troubleshooting. While Windows Server is powerful, diagnosing issues related to group policy, DNS, replication, and authentication can sometimes be complex and time-consuming. I would prefer to see more intuitive management dashboards, better built-in monitoring and reporting tools, and integration with cloud service-enhanced automation features for routine administrative tasks. This would further reduce manual effort and improve efficiency. Overall, Windows Server is a reliable platform, but making management and troubleshooting more streamlined would help IT teams save time and improve productivity. Another area for improvement is documentation and update management. While Microsoft provides extensive documentation, finding the most relevant troubleshooting information can sometimes be challenging for complex issues involving Active Directory, DNS, or group policy. Updates are important for security, but some updates require careful testing and planning to avoid unexpected impacts on production environments. More detailed pre-update impact analysis and simplified rollback options would be beneficial. Overall, Windows Server is a robust platform, but improvements in documentation, troubleshooting guidance, update management, and administrative automation would further enhance the experience for IT professionals.
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Comparison Review

it_user281973 - PeerSpot reviewer
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…
 

Top Industries

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

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business92
Midsize Enterprise50
Large Enterprise309
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business85
Midsize Enterprise22
Large Enterprise55
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business79
Midsize Enterprise41
Large Enterprise89
 

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 st...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?
My experience with the pricing, the setup cost, and the licensing of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has been pretty ...
What needs improvement with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)?
I've never really thought about how Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) could be improved, but the only thing I wish they...
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 suppo...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Ubuntu Linux?
My experience with the pricing for Ubuntu Linux is that I always use the free version, so I never paid for any instal...
What needs improvement with Ubuntu Linux?
There are a few areas where I think Ubuntu Linux could be improved. The first one is hardware compatibility. Sometime...
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
I cannot answer regarding which metrics I use to measure the effectiveness of Microsoft Defender for IoT because I ha...
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
What suits me the most is that for all my OT environment, I can manage all those devices in one secure portal from Mi...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Windows Server?
I think the licensing model of Microsoft products, including Windows Server, is not cheap. Microsoft has been guiding...
 

Also Known As

Red Hat Enterprise Linux, RHEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) for AWS
Ubuntu
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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
Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Canonical, Rocky Linux and others in Operating Systems (OS) for Business. Updated: June 2026.
900,051 professionals have used our research since 2012.