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Rocky Linux Reviews

Vendor: Rocky Linux
4.1 out of 5
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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 #4 ranked solution in top Operating Systems for Business. PeerSpot users give Rocky Linux an average rating of 8.2 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
Rocky Linux
August 2025
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Rocky Linux mindshare

As of August 2025, the mindshare of Rocky Linux in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category stands at 15.3%, up from 10.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Rocky Linux15.3%
Ubuntu Linux12.2%
Windows Server9.6%
Other62.9%
Operating Systems (OS) for Business

PeerResearch reports based on Rocky Linux reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryOperating Systems (OS) for BusinessAug 29, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonRocky Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)Aug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonRocky Linux vs Ubuntu LinuxAug 29, 2025Download
ComparisonRocky Linux vs Oracle LinuxAug 29, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Ubuntu Linux4.312.2%95%150 interviewsAdd to research
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)4.49.2%97%349 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Rocky Linux offers flexibility with extensive software package availability, efficient community support, and ease of setup. Its stability mirrors CentOS, with a user-friendly interface across GNOME and KDE platforms. Users appreciate its open-source nature, seamless integration, and streamlined patch management. Despite minimal need for technical support, organizations consider support contracts due to complex infrastructure. Its reliability and simplicity make it an adaptable choice for various workflows.
  • "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 faces challenges including missing software compared to CentOS 7, unclear identity and marketing, and older package versions. Users experience issues with DNS, audio integration in virtual machines, and compatibility with Windows, particularly Active Directory. The shift to Rocky Linux necessitates self-management without paid support and requires enhanced community engagement. Users aim to enhance skills for potential VMware migration, finding improved virtualization alternatives, and supporting developer teams.
  • "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

Organizations primarily use Rocky Linux for diverse tasks such as automation, system management, and high-performance computing. They experiment with various tools, replacing systems due to licensing issues, using it in virtualization, networking, and as a bastion host. It's favored for educational purposes at home, evaluated for older hardware alternatives, and utilized for building test infrastructures. Rocky Linux supports tools and environments with ongoing updates, allowing effective management of diverse server hardware configurations.

Service and Support

Rocky Linux demonstrates strong reliability, evidenced by the lack of need for customer service or support among users. Issues are primarily with third-party or custom software, not the system itself. Users rely on self-support via community resources and forums rather than official support channels. This independence suggests user-friendly, stable performance.

Deployment

Rocky Linux's initial setup is straightforward and efficient, especially when cloning the repository for numerous workstations. It serves as a direct replacement for Red Hat Enterprise Linux or CentOS, requiring standard maintenance. Installation and deployment are easy to manage either on-premises or cloud-based systems, with a typical setup taking around an hour. Teams experience minimal manual intervention and use images for virtual components without encountering issues.

Scalability

Rocky Linux demonstrates strong scalability with widespread use among varying organization sizes, from 40 to hundreds of users. Many find its performance efficient in scaling scenarios, rating it highly. While some note issues, others report flawless initial setups, using images to efficiently manage virtual components. Optimal for on-premises servers, Rocky Linux effectively handles multiple instances. Most users express satisfaction with its scalability, emphasizing its capability to accommodate growing demands with ease.

Stability

Rocky Linux is acknowledged for its stability across various environments. Users appreciate its performance on systems with minimal resources, praising its efficiency with low memory and CPU requirements. Reports mention high stability ratings, often between eight to ten out of ten. While some users haven't encountered challenges due to simplicity in applications like DNS and DHCP, there is anticipation of potential future complexities, suggesting that support might be beneficial in those scenarios.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Rocky Linux Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business511
Midsize Enterprise297
Large Enterprise970
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Comms Service Provider
11%
University
11%
Educational Organization
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
7%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Retailer
4%
Healthcare Company
3%
Media Company
3%
Hospitality Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Construction Company
1%
Performing Arts
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%

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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.

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Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Popular Comparisons

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Rocky Linux Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Network Infrastructure Manager at SAGEMCOM4.0We switched from Red Hat to Rocky Linux due to licensing costs, and it's met our experimental infrastructure needs well. It's stable, easy to set up, integrates smoothly, and serves as a reliable CentOS alternative for our Linux systems.
System Engineer at clusterkit4.0I have used Rocky Linux for high-performance computing, online assessments, and Ceph storage over the past few years. While it is free and open source, I find its package versions older than Ubuntu, which affects my project's adaptability to customer requirements.
Managing Director at Midgard IT4.5The review highlights Rocky Linux's ease of setup, reliability, and minimal maintenance as valuable features, particularly praising the custom install scripts. However, it suggests improved integration with Windows and Active Directory for a more seamless experience.
Linux Administrator at Magna International4.0I use Rocky Linux in my company for automation and managing on-premises machines, appreciating its stability akin to CentOS. However, I encounter issues with the DNS part. I've used CentOS, Red Hat, and Fedora as well.
Linux System Administrator at Adapt IT5.0I am using Rocky Linux at home to learn various Linux flavors, recommending it for users with older machines. Its user interface on GNOME and KDE is intuitive, though audio integration in virtual machines needs improvement, especially in Oracle Virtual Box.
System Administrator at Maxar Technologies4.0We use Rocky Linux for its flexibility and extensive community support, which aids our development with PostgreSQL databases. Though some software was initially missing, its alignment with Red Hat and community support influenced our choice over AlmaLinux.
Principal Consultant at Dev One Pro Services3.5We tested Rocky Linux as a CentOS replacement and found it functioned well as advertised, but we preferred Alma Linux. Rocky Linux needs to clarify its identity and marketing, which currently portray it as an HPC platform.