Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Windows 10 comparison

Red Hat and Microsoft are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Red Hat is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8, while Microsoft is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.1. Red Hat holds a 7.1% mindshare in OSB, compared to Microsoft’s 3.3% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Red Hat users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 91% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Read 431 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) reviews

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24,062 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Windows 10

Read 288 Windows 10 reviews

9,672 Views
9,479 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Windows 10

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 25, 2026

Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows 10 compete in the operating systems category. Red Hat Enterprise Linux seems to have the upper hand regarding pricing and support, while Windows 10 stands out with its features.

Features: Red Hat Enterprise Linux is known for its scalability, security features, and enterprise focus. It provides robust performance in mission-critical applications and supports a wide variety of applications. For enterprise use, it offers features like built-in security tools and integration capabilities with other Red Hat products. Windows 10, on the other hand, offers an extensive feature set with wide application compatibility, regular updates, and integration capabilities. It provides a user-friendly experience with advanced features like Windows Subsystem for Linux and advanced security measures with Windows Defender and BitLocker for encryption.

Room for Improvement: Red Hat Enterprise Linux would benefit from more user-friendly GUI options for those not comfortable with command-line interfaces and broader support for non-enterprise hardware. Additionally, improving ease of use for new Linux users could be beneficial. Windows 10 could enhance its update process to reduce system reboots, optimize performance for older hardware, and improve the consistency of updates to prevent instability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Red Hat Enterprise Linux requires specific expertise for deployment, although its enterprise support is highly valued. It offers comprehensive tools to assist in deployment and management. Windows 10's deployment model is straightforward, benefiting from widespread compatibility and ease of use. It provides extensive customer support with numerous resources and community forums available.

Pricing and ROI: Red Hat Enterprise Linux generally presents a lower setup cost, offering significant ROI for large-scale deployments due to its open-source nature. Conversely, Windows 10 has higher initial costs but justifies them with its comprehensive feature set and widespread industry adoption. This makes Windows 10 a compelling choice for environments prioritizing extensive user features and seamless integration.

To learn more, read our detailed Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Windows 10 Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Windows 10

April 2026

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Helped 896,510 peers since 2012

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 enhances ROI through compatibility, security, stability, and automation, reducing costs and optimizing resources for diverse sectors.

Sentiment score

2.4

Windows 10 enhances productivity with speed, compatibility, user-friendly interface, protection, and offers cost-effective returns within 18 months.

A long lifecycle is key to having a good return on investment.

Troels Hansen

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.

Chris Perrault

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.

Suresh Babu Thatikonda

Associate Director at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Relevant metrics include money saved, time saved, and fewer employees needed.

reviewer2840379

IT at a construction company with 1,001-5,000 employees

I have seen a return on investment with Windows 10 in that it basically saves our money.

TusharGoel

Cloud Engineer at TO THE NEW Digital

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows 10 report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.3

Customers praise RHEL support for responsiveness and expertise, though navigating the knowledge base and escalation can present challenges.

Sentiment score

4.5

Many users favor online resources for Windows 10 issues over Microsoft's reliable but sometimes slow direct support.

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.

Antoine Ragland

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.

Tucker Hewitt

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.

ChristianLopez

Team manager at Evertec

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

We have informed Microsoft, but the issue is still there, and it has been more than three to four months.

Qayoum Sharpyade

Technology\Cloud Architect | IT Infrastructure Security & Compliance at IDFC Bank

I would rate customer support a ten.

TusharGoel

Cloud Engineer at TO THE NEW Digital

The customer service and support from Microsoft are quite responsive and generally good.

HardikShah3

Senior Manager at Morgan Stanley

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows 10 report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.3

Red Hat Enterprise Linux efficiently scales with automation and supports seamless expansion across on-premises, cloud, and virtual environments.

Sentiment score

6.1

Windows 10 is scalable for enterprises, efficiently handling users and expanding with resources, despite occasional individual setup challenges.

Many of our applications scale really well, with some having several hundreds of VMs, which we couldn't accomplish on Windows.

Sean Doyle

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.

Sheldon Kroner

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.

reviewer2753943

Cloud Administrator at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

We can focus fully on our work without pressure or concerns about issues on our own PCs.

R Pranavan

Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees

For scalability, I would rate it a nine or ten because performance-wise, Windows 10 has never given me those issues.

Rohan Dixit

Senior Engagement Manager at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

I can increase the licensing amount easily when there is company growth or when new people join.

Arjun Meda

Assistant Vice President at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows 10 report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.9

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is praised for its stability, reliability, and robust support, often outperforming other systems with frequent updates.

Sentiment score

7.0

Windows 10 is stable and reliable, but performance may degrade with time, requiring regular updates and memory management improvements.

It works consistently with minimal downtime and very few bugs or glitches.

reviewer2592627

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.

Jason Cummings

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.

ScottPalmer

Team Lead, Linux Systems & Tools at a tech vendor with 5,001-10,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

The challenges were related to third-party agents and their supportability.

Qayoum Sharpyade

Technology\Cloud Architect | IT Infrastructure Security & Compliance at IDFC Bank

Windows 10 is stable for my daily development work, providing frequent security updates and user-friendly updates, which are excellent.

R Pranavan

Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees

I would rate the stability of the product an eight.

Rohan Dixit

Senior Engagement Manager at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows 10 report

Room For Improvement

Users seek improved RHEL interfaces, integrations, support, pricing, documentation, container support, patch management, licensing, and training resources.

Windows 10 users seek enhancements in security, stability, performance, integration, and customization, while desiring lighter hardware and efficient updates.

Addressing these limitations would significantly enhance the operating system's flexibility and efficiency.

reviewer2592627

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.

reviewer2591346

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.

reviewer2620827

Systems Engineer at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

Microsoft can improve their Teams product because everybody uses Teams, and it's very clunky and unfriendly in terms of scrolling back, downloading files, and moving back and forth within the different teams.

Rohan Dixit

Senior Engagement Manager at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Investment in Windows 10 may not be ideal as the world is changing with advancing technology in the AI age.

AsgharAli

DevOps Engineer at CipherTV Corp.

The transitions within Teams are not smooth, and call quality in meetings is not great.

HardikShah3

Senior Manager at Morgan Stanley

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows 10 report

Setup Cost

RHEL's pricing is seen as high by some, but large enterprises value its support, security, and scalability benefits.

Enterprise buyers find Windows 10 pricing high, despite pre-installation savings, preferring lower costs to compete with alternatives.

It may be considered expensive compared to other solutions like CentOS or Ubuntu, which offer some of the same features without additional costs.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

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.

Syed Azhar

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.

reviewer2592627

Senior DevOps Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

For those buying a Windows license, it might be better to buy a Windows 11 license.

AsgharAli

DevOps Engineer at CipherTV Corp.

Windows is considered overpriced, especially given the normal software functionalities.

reviewer2224035

Design engineer at a construction company with 201-500 employees

Windows 10 is cost-effective when compared to other competitors available such as Mac and Linux.

Ahad Ahmed

BI developer at Jubilee Life Insurance Company Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows 10 report

Valuable Features

RHEL offers robust security, scalability, and automation, making it ideal for enterprises needing reliable performance and management.

Windows 10 is praised for its user-friendly interface, efficient multitasking, seamless integrations, security features, and valuable tools like BitLocker.

It also has strong security features, is OIS and FIPS certified, and has built-in Linux security configurations.

Sitakanta Chaudhury

Cloud Infrastructure Architect at a healthcare company with 10,001+ employees

There is also no downtime.

Siphosethu Ndebele

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.

reviewer2641572

Technical Lead at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) report

When using mapping software such as QGIS or ArcGIS, the system remains stable, especially when handling heavy files.

reviewer1444875

Co-Founder at a consultancy with 51-200 employees

Device encryption is a main priority for us as developers in a FinTech company because we have the most secure user data.

R Pranavan

Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees

It improved our operations compared to Windows XP or Windows 7 and helped save time, reduce issues, and improve security.

reviewer2840379

IT at a construction company with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows 10 report

Categories and Ranking

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (R...

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

1st

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

431

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Windows 10

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

11th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

4.7

Number of Reviews

288

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 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is 7.1%, down from 9.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows 10 is 3.3%, up from 2.9% 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%
Windows 10	3.3%
Other	89.6%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

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

R Pranavan

Software Engineer at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees

Collaborative development has become more secure and efficient for our team

We have faced some issues with Windows OneDrive because if one developer has a folder in a common OneDrive folder, it took some time to show it to others. It becomes somewhat difficult to work, as there is latency on that, so if you update that, it will be more efficient and useful for the developers. My main focus on Windows 10 is the giving of regular updates, so it might take some time to update Windows, which is also mandatory. As a developer, when we are working with Windows 10, if it takes more time to update and restart the PC, it affects our efficiency at work. If we could stop the updates on a regular basis or if they were delivered faster, it would be easier. As a developer, the frequent updates are too annoying for working on it, so it would be better if we stop the frequent updates and only provide the most important ones. Performance issues over time due to background apps and programs piling up and using an SSD instead of a hard disk are also concerns.

Read full review

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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…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Marketing Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	92
Midsize Enterprise	50
Large Enterprise	307

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	127
Midsize Enterprise	64
Large Enterprise	123

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 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)?

My experience with the pricing, the setup cost, and the licensing of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has been pretty good. I have no complaints.

See all answers

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 had that I've asked Red Hat for so far is something resembling managed service ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Windows 10?

Windows 11 is good, but Windows 10 is fine and I don't have any major complaints about Windows 10. I think there could be improvements with Windows 10, but my organization is on Windows 11 at this ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Windows 10?

My main use case for Windows 10 is commercial as well as residential use. A quick specific example of how I use Windows 10 in my work or at home is for basic computing needs for office-based tools.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Windows 10?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Windows 10 was a fair experience.

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 9% of the time

Windows Server vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 9% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 7% of the time

Oracle Solaris vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Compared 4% of the time

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Windows Server vs Windows 10

Compared 10% of the time

Kali Linux vs Windows 10

Compared 9% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Windows 10

Compared 8% of the time

Google ChromeOS Flex vs Windows 10

Compared 7% of the time

Debian vs Windows 10

Compared 7% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

May 2026

Download Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) product report

Buyer's Guide

Windows 10

May 2026

Download Windows 10 product report

Also Known As

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

No data available

Overview

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

Windows 10 is renowned for its intuitive design, offering fast boot times, seamless multitasking, and extensive compatibility, making it suitable for personal and professional use. Updates enhance its performance, while security features bolster user confidence.

Combining flexibility and robust performance, Windows 10 is popular for tasks ranging from everyday office functions to demanding business applications. Users benefit from security features like Windows Defender and BitLocker, as well as support for various applications through widespread compatibility. Though high resource consumption and frequent updates are noted drawbacks, its functionality in multitasking and productivity tools, such as virtual desktops and task managers, is commendable. Complaints exist regarding the high cost and the need for powerful hardware, along with desires for better integration with third-party services and fewer preinstalled apps, necessitating considerations for enhancing user management and streamlining updates.

What are the key features of Windows 10?

Ease of Use: Offers a user-friendly interface that enhances accessibility for diverse tasks.
Fast Boot Times: Allows users to start tasks without delays, improving efficiency.
Security: Includes Windows Defender and BitLocker for data protection.
Virtual Desktops: Facilitates seamless multitasking and productivity.
Compatibility: Supports an extensive range of applications across industries.

Why should users consider Windows 10?

Improved Security: Frequent updates safeguard against threats.
Productivity: Intuitive design aids in efficient task management.
Performance Stabilization: Updates enhance system performance and stability.
Flexibility: Accommodates a wide array of professional and personal uses.

Widely used as a primary operating system across technology, media, and business sectors, Windows 10 facilitates essential tools for compliance management, virtualization, and collaboration. It supports activities such as document processing, emails, application hosting, and gaming, proving integral for diverse user requirements.

Microsoft

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

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Windows 10

April 2026

Free Report: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Windows 10

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs. Windows 10 and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

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