Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

Rocky Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise comparison

Rocky Linux and SUSE are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Rocky Linux is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6, while SUSE is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.5. Rocky Linux holds a 14.3% mindshare in OSB, compared to SUSE’s 6.4% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Rocky Linux users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of SUSE users who would recommend it.
Rocky Linux
Read 17 Rocky Linux reviews
  • 12,000 Views
  • 12,000 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
SUSE Linux Enterprise
Read 36 SUSE Linux Enterprise reviews
  • 7,057 Views
  • 6,916 Comparison Views
94% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report
Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 5, 2025

SUSE Linux Enterprise and Rocky Linux are key competitors in the Linux distribution category, focusing on enterprise and server environments. SUSE Linux Enterprise seems to have the upper hand due to its comprehensive support and integration capabilities, particularly with Oracle and SAP.

Features: SUSE Linux Enterprise shines with its administration tools like YaST, which simplify server management. It offers robust security and integrates effortlessly with SAP HANA and Oracle. The extensive documentation and ease of upgrades further enhance its appeal. Rocky Linux's strengths include being a reliable CentOS replacement with strong community support, full RHEL compatibility, and efficient clustering capabilities.

Room for Improvement: SUSE Linux Enterprise could benefit from enhanced cloud integration, separating free and paid software channels for improved security, and reducing response times for support. Pricing remains a concern for some users. Rocky Linux, being newer, might lack some familiar software components from CentOS and needs to enhance Windows Active Directory integration. Clarifying its core identity could also be beneficial.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SUSE Linux Enterprise provides robust deployment options across various cloud environments, though it can have a steep learning curve. Its customer service is noted for responsiveness. Rocky Linux is easier to deploy in on-premises and hybrid environments, primarily supported by the community. While paid support is less frequent, its RHEL compatibility often reduces the need for support.

Pricing and ROI: SUSE Linux Enterprise is seen as having competitive pricing, particularly for SAP deployments, offering a high ROI despite support costs. Rocky Linux is a cost-effective choice with minimal overhead, providing features at little to no cost and maintaining functionality similar to CentOS. Both platforms offer distinct financial benefits suitable for varied business needs.

DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE REPORT
To learn more, read our detailed Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise Report (Updated: September 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise
September 2025
Download the complete report
Helped 872,655 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
3.9
Switching to Rocky Linux saved costs and time, enhanced problem resolution, and supported increased employee onboarding and organizational growth.
Sentiment score
4.1
SUSE Linux Enterprise offers higher ROI and cost savings for SAP deployments compared to Red Hat, enhancing cloud migration value.
When it comes to return on investment, a lot of money is saved since we moved from a purchased license to the open source provided by Rocky Linux.
ROI has been good as we have significant open source community involvement.
I have seen a return on investment since there was definitely money saved at the time due to the lack of need for licensing since Rocky is available openly.
For more quotes and insights, download the Rocky Linux report
I have seen a return on investment by switching our clusters from on-prem to Azure public cloud, using our same Bring Your Own Licenses, which saved costs on licensing.
For more quotes and insights, download the SUSE Linux Enterprise report
Basil Jiji - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2758263 - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2772054 - PeerSpot reviewer
GS
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
4.1
Rocky Linux customer service is reliable, with quick responses, good documentation, and high user satisfaction despite limited official reliance.
Sentiment score
6.6
SUSE Linux Enterprise boasts strong customer support with efficient responses, though costs and regional support quality may vary.
The support level is extraordinary, providing on-time assistance.
We have not yet needed to contact a vendor regarding Rocky Linux.
Even if we raise a support ticket, we receive a resolution or a reply from the team within two business days.
For more quotes and insights, download the Rocky Linux report
SUSE Linux Enterprise provides a stable, secure, and well-supported platform for enterprise workloads, with powerful management tools and robust support for clustering, cloud, and containers.
The customer support is good; whenever we have opened a case, they have provided detailed explanations of the issues and resolutions.
I rate the customer service 10 out of 10 because SUSE has 24/7 availability support, extended support, security, multi-Linux distribution support, upgradation, and everything is user-friendly.
For more quotes and insights, download the SUSE Linux Enterprise report
DILIP BHARADWAJ - PeerSpot reviewerKRISTOF Laenen - PeerSpot reviewerBasil Jiji - PeerSpot reviewerMoezCHEBBI - PeerSpot reviewer
GS
Ajit Gite - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
5.3
Rocky Linux is scalable and user-friendly, with organizations recommending automation tools for efficient setup and expansion.
Sentiment score
6.3
SUSE Linux Enterprise offers scalable solutions for organizations, supporting seamless integration, maintenance, upgrades, and cloud compatibility to meet diverse needs.
Even if the server is not responding and we want to attach the volume on another instance or a temporary instance, it is very easy and straightforward with no hiccups.
It has handled growth or changing needs well.
The scalability is quite good, though there are some issues with Rocky Linux.
For more quotes and insights, download the Rocky Linux report
Its scalability is quite good since we are using Azure, which allows us to easily scale up or down our resources as needed.
SUSE Linux Enterprise is widely recognized for its strong scalability, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to global enterprises.
For more quotes and insights, download the SUSE Linux Enterprise report
reviewer2758479 - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2772054 - PeerSpot reviewerJetsada Malaisirirat - PeerSpot reviewer
GS
MoezCHEBBI - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.1
Rocky Linux is praised for its stability, ease of use, scalability, and reliable performance on low-resource systems and hardware.
Sentiment score
8.0
SUSE Linux Enterprise is highly stable, with users rating its reliability between eight to ten, despite minor occasional glitches.
Rocky Linux is stable, scalable, and it is very much easier to use.
Rocky Linux is stable.
For more quotes and insights, download the Rocky Linux report
When HANA is utilized by many applications, I notice that while utilization does increase, we have never faced lagging or server unresponsiveness.
I would rate stability for SUSE Linux Enterprise an eight out of ten.
For more quotes and insights, download the SUSE Linux Enterprise report
Basil Jiji - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2764758 - PeerSpot reviewer
GS
Prashant Saxena - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Room For Improvement

Rocky Linux needs identity clarity, better integrations, faster updates, improved security, API tools, documentation, and enhanced community support.
SUSE Linux Enterprise needs improved management, integration, pricing, and support, alongside development of APIs, AI, and educational resources.
It is based on customer requirements, as they might want to use Rocky Linux or Ubuntu, depending on their needs.
Rocky Linux could be improved by having more integration with Kubernetes.
Currently, it takes more than one month to release a new package or kernel, so speeding that up would help reduce reported vulnerability remediations.
For more quotes and insights, download the Rocky Linux report
Security is a top concern, and further strengthening default security policies, simplifying compliance management, and integrating advanced vulnerability management tools would be a valuable improvement.
The software manager was different, making it challenging to install certain applications.
The license we subscribed to should carry over within the same instance family.
For more quotes and insights, download the SUSE Linux Enterprise report
Jetsada Malaisirirat - PeerSpot reviewerMassimiliano Adamo - PeerSpot reviewerBasil Jiji - PeerSpot reviewerMoezCHEBBI - PeerSpot reviewer
CW
reviewer2754477 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Setup Cost

Rocky Linux is praised for its affordability and streamlined licensing, appealing to cost-conscious enterprises and AWS users.
SUSE Linux Enterprise offers flexible support options with varying costs, appreciated for its open-source nature and straightforward licensing.
We switched to Rocky Linux because of the license price, and in our business, we don't need to have a higher cost as that is not a good idea.
There is no extra cost for a license if we are purchasing Rocky Linux from the AWS Marketplace.
Rocky Linux is free, and I can download it and deploy it in whatever environment I have, whether it be H3C, VMware, or Hyper-V.
For more quotes and insights, download the Rocky Linux report
Upgrading an instance results in overlapping or double subscription fees.
I would rate pricing for SUSE Linux Enterprise considering one is a high price and ten is a low price.
The licensing cost is a bit high.
For more quotes and insights, download the SUSE Linux Enterprise report
WA
reviewer2758479 - PeerSpot reviewerBakang Khunou - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2754477 - PeerSpot reviewerPrashant Saxena - PeerSpot reviewer
GS
 

Valuable Features

Rocky Linux offers stability, cost savings, easy integration, and strong community support, making it ideal for critical systems management.
SUSE Linux Enterprise is acclaimed for its robust security, SAP integration, scalability, stability, efficient management, and comprehensive support.
Rocky Linux has positively impacted my organization, specifically through cost savings, because we did not have to buy any licenses or extra licenses of other distros, such as Oracle or Red Hat.
For production deployment, Rocky Linux is a great choice because it offers full RHEL compatibility without licensing costs, along with strong community support.
Since migrating to Rocky Linux, I've seen specific outcomes such as improved security because CentOS stopped the project, and security patches aren't being released.
For more quotes and insights, download the Rocky Linux report
SUSE Linux had a clean user interface, which was a valuable feature for me.
It has a stable and reliable OS.
The LVM is very easy to configure, along with simple disk scanning compared to other systems.
For more quotes and insights, download the SUSE Linux Enterprise report
RD
reviewer2758479 - PeerSpot reviewerMassimiliano Adamo - PeerSpot reviewer
CW
reviewer2754477 - PeerSpot reviewer
GS
 

Categories and Ranking

Rocky Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
4th
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
5.3
Number of Reviews
17
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SUSE Linux Enterprise
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
6th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
36
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Rocky Linux is 14.3%, up from 12.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 6.4%, down from 8.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Rocky Linux14.3%
SUSE Linux Enterprise6.4%
Other79.3%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Massimiliano Adamo - PeerSpot reviewer
Has supported seamless migrations and enabled running complex data workloads securely
The best features Rocky Linux offers include clustering and all the packages from Red Hat.Rocky Linux has impacted my organization very positively because we migrated everything from CentOS and Windows servers to Rocky Linux. Everything is clear, with good packaging, and now it's version 9.6, which is very important for us due to security problems since we are in Europe. Rocky Linux is very good for security and other aspects. Since migrating to Rocky Linux, I've seen specific outcomes such as improved security because CentOS stopped the project, and security patches aren't being released. We need to maintain a system similar to Red Hat, which is very stable and has many features such as file system, topology, and containers.
Read full review
MoezCHEBBI - PeerSpot reviewer
Has delivered expert training and enabled smooth migrations using automated deployment tools
SUSE Linux Enterprise is a mature and reliable platform, but there are areas where it can be improved. Modernizing the system management tools is important as many users appreciate YaST for its centralized management, but there is a growing demand for more modern, web-based, and modular tools. The introduction of tools such as Agama, a web-based installer, and Cockpit in newer releases is a step in the right direction.SUSE has made progress with multi-Linux support, allowing organizations to manage and support not just SUSE systems but also other distributions such as Red Hat and CentOS; continuing to expand these capabilities, especially for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, will help organizations manage diverse infrastructure more effectively. Security is a top concern, and further strengthening default security policies, simplifying compliance management, and integrating advanced vulnerability management tools would be a valuable improvement.
Read full review
report
See which vendors are best for you
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions are best for your needs.
See recommendations
872,655 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
12%
University
11%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Comms Service Provider
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business5
Large Enterprise13
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise11
Large Enterprise21
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Rocky Linux?
It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Rocky Linux?
I have no suggestions regarding how Rocky Linux can be improved. I haven't identified any areas that need improvement yet.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Rocky Linux?
As a Cloud Ops Engineer, we are setting up the server on the EC2 machine with Rocky Linux, while also doing some setup related to the frameworks for Ruby. We are installing their dependencies relat...
See all answers
What do you like most about SUSE Linux Enterprise?
The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SUSE Linux Enterprise?
We are facing an issue with licensing usage. The subscription does not carry over within the same instance family, so upgrading an instance results in overlapping or double subscription fees.
See all answers
What needs improvement with SUSE Linux Enterprise?
Whatever SUSE has is a better solution, and I'm not that much of an expert to suggest improvements or say how SUSE can improve, because SUSE is always improving themselves, and I know that soon the...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Fedora Linux vs Rocky Linux Logo
Fedora Linux vs Rocky Linux
Compared 26% of the time
Debian vs Rocky Linux Logo
Debian vs Rocky Linux
Compared 18% of the time
Ubuntu Linux vs Rocky Linux Logo
Ubuntu Linux vs Rocky Linux
Compared 17% of the time
Oracle Linux vs Rocky Linux Logo
Oracle Linux vs Rocky Linux
Compared 10% of the time
Kali Linux vs Rocky Linux Logo
Kali Linux vs Rocky Linux
Compared 2% of the time
More Rocky Linux Competitors
openSUSE Leap vs SUSE Linux Enterprise Logo
openSUSE Leap vs SUSE Linux Enterprise
Compared 26% of the time
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs SUSE Linux Enterprise Logo
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs SUSE Linux Enterprise
Compared 24% of the time
Ubuntu Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise Logo
Ubuntu Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise
Compared 18% of the time
Oracle Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise Logo
Oracle Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise
Compared 7% of the time
CentOS vs SUSE Linux Enterprise Logo
CentOS vs SUSE Linux Enterprise
Compared 5% of the time
More SUSE Linux Enterprise Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Rocky Linux
October 2025
Rocky Linux reportDownload Rocky Linux product report
Buyer's Guide
SUSE Linux Enterprise
October 2025
SUSE Linux Enterprise reportDownload SUSE Linux Enterprise product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3
 

Overview

Rocky Linux is a robust and secure enterprise-grade operating system designed as a drop-in replacement for CentOS. Its primary use case is to provide a stable and reliable platform for organizations to run their critical workloads and applications.


The most valuable functionality of Rocky Linux lies in its compatibility with CentOS, ensuring a seamless transition for organizations already using CentOS. It offers long-term support, regular security updates, and a predictable release cycle, providing stability and reliability for mission-critical systems.

Rocky Linux helps organizations by offering a free and open-source alternative to CentOS, which was discontinued by Red Hat. It allows businesses to continue using their existing CentOS-based infrastructure without the need for costly migrations or vendor lock-in. With its strong community support and active development, Rocky Linux ensures a sustainable and community-driven future for CentOS users.

Moreover, Rocky Linux is built with security in mind, providing robust features like SELinux and secure defaults. This helps organizations protect their data and systems from potential threats and vulnerabilities.

Rocky Linux

SUSE Linux Enterprise offers features like YaST for server management, seamless integration with Oracle and SAP, and a robust security setup. Renowned for stability, it efficiently supports workstations, SAP workloads, and cloud migrations across diverse industries.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is known for its lightweight design, high performance, and ease of installation. Its flexible architecture supports extensive documentation and efficient patching. The system uses the BTRFS file system for effective virtualization, and community support is significant. However, challenges include package updates causing conflicts, difficult initial setup and software management, high pricing, and support response times. Improvements in security compliance, cloud integration, hardware compatibility, and documentation are also needed.

What are SUSE Linux Enterprise's important features?

  • YaST Server Management: Simplifies server setup and configurations.
  • Oracle & SAP Integration: Enhances performance with major enterprise applications.
  • HANA Firewall: Provides robust security measures.
  • BTRFS File System: Supports advanced storage management and snapshots.
  • Virtualization: Efficiently runs multiple operating systems on a single machine.

What benefits should users expect from using SUSE Linux Enterprise?

  • Stability & Performance: Reliability for critical applications and workloads.
  • Lightweight Design: Reduces resource consumption while maintaining efficiency.
  • Community Support: Access to extensive user and developer collaboration.
  • Automated Upgrades: Simplifies system maintenance and updates.

Industries like healthcare and banking use SUSE Linux Enterprise for secure transactions and structured application deployment. It is also a choice for organizations involved in testing, automation, and web development, offering support for SAP HANA integration and facilitating cloud migrations.

SUSE
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Air India, Akademicki Szpital Kliniczny (ASK), Allone, Altran, Apollo, ARCHIVA, Asia Innovatory Management School, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, AutoData Norge AS, Baldor Electric, Business Connexion, CASIO, Ciclum Farma, Delta Lloyd, Edumate , HPE,  SAP SE,  Lenovo, BMW, T-Systems, UCX, Turners & Growers, Shenzhen Development Bank, Bosch Group, JK Tyres & Industries, IOCL, European Space Agency, Daimler AG, China Minsheng Banking Corp, Café Coffee Day, Unisys,  Petrochina Company Ltd, Fitch Ratings, ABeam Consulting Co Ltd, Tyro Payments, Rackspace, Pacific Textiles, ...
Buyer's Guide
Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise
September 2025
Free Report: Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise
Find out what your peers are saying about Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.
DOWNLOAD NOW
872,655 professionals have used our research since 2012.
See our Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise report.
See our list of best Operating Systems (OS) for Business vendors.

We monitor all Operating Systems (OS) for Business reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.