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SUSE Linux Enterprise vs Windows Server comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 3, 2025

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

SUSE Linux Enterprise
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
7th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
32
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Windows Server
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
4th
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
193
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of July 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 6.9%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows Server is 9.3%, up from 8.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Naveen Venugopal - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient IT management with crucial automatic updates but needs developer-friendly configuration
Sometimes it is a bit of work for developers to change the configurations. Some kernels will not fit with some packages, and this aspect could be improved. Furthermore, the system's rigidity when updating packages and services needs improvement. Additionally, there should be more loosely bound functionalities to improve developer experience.
Jai Prakash Sharma - PeerSpot reviewer
Efficient Management Achieved with Internal Resources and Reliable Technical Support
Maintenance of Windows Server varies by organization, but for us, it's not very difficult as we have in-house resources managing these tasks. However, it can become a bit tricky when we want to see a collated view of our security posture. Regarding AI integrations with Windows Server, Copilot adoption is progressing, though I have only experienced it on endpoints and not on the server side. We operate significant workloads on AI, but we consume those primarily on Linux rather than Windows Server. I don't have much experience regarding integration capabilities in Windows Server for AI workloads, so I may not be the right person to provide insights on that. Overall, I am quite happy with my experience using Windows Server. I don't have many constraints or concerns, so I would rate it eight out of ten.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"It is a stable platform."
"The most important feature is the automatic kernel lifecycle subscription, which is critical for us because the server cannot go down once we start offering any services on the cluster."
"The initial setup is very straightforward."
"The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes."
"SUSE Linux was stable for me. I did not experience any problems with its stability."
"The solution offers a secure operation system."
"The most valuable feature is that there is an inbuilt HANA firewall."
"The tool’s idempotency ensures all configurations are in place at all times."
"The product, overall, is very simple. It's easy to use and navigate. It's got a good design."
"A valuable feature of Windows Server has been the performance. We have done all the redundancy and fault tolerance things to protect our servers and, so far, so good."
"We have been using this solution for a long time and it has been stable."
"We have many applications which require Windows Server, such as SQL Server and an application server that acts as a middle layer."
"The most valuable feature of Windows Server is the ease of use and the applications that are available."
"Network configuration and management in Windows Server is very easy, providing fast deployment, plug and play capability, and simplified partition creation."
"It is stable, scalable, flexible, and easy to use."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is it works well overall."
 

Cons

"They should provide chatbot support for customers to open the troubleshooting cases directly."
"The interface could improve."
"The only stability issues that I can recall encountering with SUSE would be with KDE. However, that is limited to just the desktop environment as I have not had stability issues with ​most server functions."
"Compared with the competition, of late actually, the solution has increased its pricing tremendously."
"The platform doesn't support certain APMs."
"I have not been overly impressed with their technical support."
"I have not seen an ROI with this solution."
"The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu."
"Sometimes the performance goes down, which might be due to the stability zone or network issues. It can also depend on our network."
"One area that needs improvement is the management console."
"One area for improvement in Windows Server is the basic administration tools and scripts, which have become less reliable and functional over time."
"The security policies need improvement."
"The scalability of the product needs to be improved, considering that organizations may have an increase in resource requirements."
"We have not had an issue with the stability of this solution. However, there could be some improvements."
"The initial setup could be simplified."
"In the next release, I would like to see better pricing."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Anyone can use Linux because it is open-source."
"SUSE Linux Enterprise is reasonably priced compared to other operating systems. I find it's a much better option for us than Oracle, for example, because of the pricing structure. The pricing is easier to explain to clients and makes it easier to get clients' commitment. The licensing is also simpler to manage and keep track of. Their responsiveness is great - they give feedback very quickly when we ask questions about licensing or other aspects. This helps ensure we're always at the gold standard regarding licensing and everything related to SUSE Linux Enterprise."
"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."
"When we first implemented this product, we had licenses for support."
"As far as licensing goes, there is nothing unusual here. The price and model have worked fine for my organization."
"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could be cheaper. Other solutions, such as"
"The price is reasonable."
"The tool is expensive compared to Red Hat. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."
"Windows Server needs to be more flexible with the minimum requirements with the license and options. We are on an annual subscription to use the solution."
"The price is exorbitant for the value one gets with the solution."
"There is an annual license required for this solution."
"Our licensing fee is perpetual."
"There are additional fees to pay for support."
"The price of the solution should be less expensive. There is an annual subscription to use the solution."
"There is a license to use this solution and the price is reasonable."
"Licensing fees are paid on a yearly basis."
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Top Industries

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

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

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.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SUSE Linux Enterprise?
I used the open-source version, so there were no setup costs.
What needs improvement with SUSE Linux Enterprise?
The software management side was a bit difficult, especially compared to Ubuntu. The software manager was different, making it challenging to install certain applications. Additionally, I encounter...
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
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 manag...
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
I administer Windows Server. We have Windows 10 and are migrating to Windows 11 under my organization. The people who work with me are handling the migration right now. We have several servers, mos...
 

Also Known As

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

Overview

 

Sample Customers

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, ...
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about SUSE Linux Enterprise vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
860,168 professionals have used our research since 2012.