Rocky Linux Reviews

Name: Rocky Linux
Brand: Rocky Linux
Rating: 4.2 (6 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

6 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Rocky Linux?

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.

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Rocky Linux is the #5 ranked solution in top Operating Systems for Business. PeerSpot users give Rocky Linux an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Rocky Linux is most commonly compared to Ubuntu Linux: Rocky Linux vs Ubuntu Linux. Rocky Linux is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 55% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 14% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

June 2025

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Helped 856,873 peers since 2012

Featured Rocky Linux reviews

Jetsada Malaisirirat

System Engineer at clusterkit

I have been using Rocky Linux for three or four years. It is used for HPC, online assessments, and Ceph storage The solution is free and open source. The OS choice in my project is quite specific. It is based on customer requirements, as they might want to use Rocky Linux or Ubuntu, depending on…

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Mahesh Pansare

Linux Administrator at Magna International

I use the solution in my company to do some automation stuff to run Ansible, and it has an administration server to provide all the Linux control like a client node can be connected to that master node. Basically, it is an administration node, and I can manage all of the on-premises machines…

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Dominique Locksley

Linux System Administrator at Adapt IT

The UX design, the user front end, and the user GUI are very well done on the GNOME and KDE platform side. It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are. I have worked with a lot of different solutions like Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, and CentOS. Rocky Linux is very easy, and if you switch from one to the other, you can easily detect your tools in the front end. Since it is very similar to the file system breakdown of downloads and documents, it's very easy to show users where things will be.

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Rocky Linux mindshare

As of June 2025, the mindshare of Rocky Linux in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category stands at 15.7%, up from 9.8% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Key learnings from peers

Last updated May 25, 2025

Valuable Features

Rocky Linux is valued for software package availability, flexibility, extensive community support, and ease of setup. Users appreciate its stability, ease of use, reliable user interfaces on GNOME and KDE, and simple UX design. It functions as a CentOS replacement, enhancing workflow with minimal maintenance needs. Many find its open-source nature and support in development environments advantageous.

"The solution is free and open source."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is its stability."
"The custom install scripts streamline the setup process, making it straightforward."

Room for Improvement

Rocky Linux needs improvements in software availability compared to CentOS 7. Users find documentation challenging and marketing unclear, initially positioning it as an HPC platform. Audio integration for virtual machines, particularly with Oracle VirtualBox, needs enhancement. DNS and Active Directory integration with Windows require efforts. Package versions are often older than those in other distributions like Ubuntu. Some users face challenges without paid support and must rely on community assistance.

"The package versions can be quite older compared to other distributions such as Ubuntu."
"I have certain problems with the tool's DNS part, making it an area where improvements are required."
"Improved integration with Windows, particularly Active Directory, would be beneficial for the product. Currently, this aspect requires additional effort."

ROI

Users have praised the stability, security, and reliability of the operating system, which has resulted in increased productivity and reduced downtime. The seamless transition from CentOS to Rocky Linux has also been appreciated, saving users time and resources. Additionally, the active community support and regular updates ensure that users have access to the latest features and security patches, further enhancing the ROI of using Rocky Linux.

Pricing

Rocky Linux is praised for its affordable pricing and minimal setup cost. Users appreciate the fact that the product is available for free, making it a cost-effective choice for businesses and individuals. Additionally, the setup process is reported to be straightforward and hassle-free, requiring minimal technical expertise.

"The product is expensive. I rate the pricing a three."
"Compared to the market prices of other tools, the solution has a very competitive pricing."

Popular Use Cases

Rocky Linux is primarily used by various users for different tasks such as replacing CentOS, experimenting with diverse tools, managing older hardware, and running automation tasks with Ansible. It serves as an administration node and controls on-premises machines, functioning as a bastion or jump host. Additionally, it supports high-performance computing, online assessments, and Ceph storage, particularly favoring those moving away from Windows due to its heavy resource demands.

Service and Support

Users express satisfaction with Rocky Linux's reliability and ease of use, noting minimal need for customer service. Most challenges are software-related, primarily with third-party applications. Instead of official support, many utilize community resources and forums for assistance. Technical support has rarely been contacted, indicating confidence in self-support and the available community support network.

Deployment

Rocky Linux setup is straightforward and efficient, making it a direct replacement for Red Hat Enterprise Linux or CentOS. Users report cloning the repository for simpler configuration across multiple workstations, enabling automatic updates and installations. Setup can be completed within an hour with minimal manual intervention, suitable for both cloud-based and on-premises deployments. Users appreciate its compatibility with AWS and other Linux versions, finding the initial setup manageable via USB drive or network installation.

Scalability

Rocky Linux has shown promising scalability as a product. Users have praised its ability to handle large workloads and scale seamlessly across multiple servers. The product's robust architecture and efficient resource management have been commended for enabling smooth expansion and accommodating growing demands.

Additionally, users have highlighted the ease of scaling Rocky Linux, with intuitive tools and documentation provided by the developers.

Stability

Rocky Linux has demonstrated stability and reliability according to various experiences. It performs well on systems with low resources, like four gigs of memory and one CPU, and is not very resource-intensive. Users rate its stability between eight and ten out of ten, highlighting consistent performance and minimal issues.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Operating Systems (OS) for Business Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

University

11%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Educational Organization

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

Retailer

Media Company

Healthcare Company

Insurance Company

Hospitality Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Non Profit

Construction Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Transportation Company

Pharma/Biotech Company

Legal Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Consumer Goods Company

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Learn more about Rocky Linux

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.