I use CentOS for business applications and personal applications. Because Linux is an operating system, the use case will differ from person to person. We used it to host our scripting servers and infrastructure layout.
Group CEO at Mmusi Group
An upstream open source development platform that allows you to alternate certain things and minimize admin features
Pros and Cons
- "I like how you can alternate certain things and minimize admin features on there and just let it run on specific scripts. It's nice. Even if I had to put it in a container, I'd still do it. I prefer Linux over Windows any day."
- "The price could be better. They could add more drivers in terms of peripherals and other things. Add more drivers for the Linux specifications in the next release. Right now, they are just pushing to have more drivers for Windows instead of Linux."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
I like how you can alternate certain things and minimize admin features on there and just let it run on specific scripts. It's nice. Even if I had to put it in a container, I'd still do it. I prefer Linux over Windows any day.
What needs improvement?
The price could be better. They could add more drivers in terms of peripherals and other things. Add more drivers for the Linux specifications in the next release. Right now, they are just pushing to have more drivers for Windows instead of Linux.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using CentOS since 2010.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
CentOS is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
CentOS is a scalable solution.
How are customer service and support?
CentOS tech support is fine.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
At the time, there were quite a lot of options like Linux, Red Hat, and Ubuntu. But if you're already using these commands that work here, they will be the ones that work there. So, we chose CentOS.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The cost depends on how the organization or a specific person licenses it. If you want the free version, there's Ubuntu which is supported by forums. You can pay for the license yearly or pay for a specific version.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to potential users.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give CentOS a nine.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

Senior Engineer at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Mostly stable and has a free community version but could be even more stable
Pros and Cons
- "The product offers a free community-based version."
- "The stability could always be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution to build our applications.
What is most valuable?
The solution is stable.
The product offers a free community-based version. You can also buy a license if you need to.
What needs improvement?
The platform already provides pretty great services. I'm not sure if it is missing any features.
The stability could always be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I occasionally use the solution.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable and the performance is good. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable, however, if you would like to expand, you may need to pay for a business license.
in terms of administration, 20 to 30 people use the solution.
How are customer service and support?
I've never used technical support. If I need help, I can Google information to help troubleshoot.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We did not previously use another operating system.
How was the initial setup?
The solution was very easy to install. The implementation process wasn't a problem at all.
The deployment was fast. It maybe took one hour.
I and another engineer handled the implementation together. You need two to three people to deploy the product.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
We are using the community version, which is free.
What other advice do I have?
I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten. For the most part, it's a good solution. I'd recommend it to others.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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July 2025

Learn what your peers think about CentOS. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: July 2025.
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Group DWH and BI Senior Manager at Virgin Mobile Middle East and Africa
All of the features of Red Hat without the subscription fee
Pros and Cons
- "It has all the features of Red Hat, but you don't have to pay for the subscription."
- "Integration with other platforms could be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We use CentOS in conjunction with our applications and databases.
What is most valuable?
It's free — it's an open-source solution. It has all the features of Red Hat, but you don't have to pay for the subscription. Otherwise, it's pretty much the same as Red Hat Linux. It uses all of the same repositories, the only difference is that it's open-source.
What needs improvement?
Integration with other platforms could be improved. There should also be more repositories. There are ways to get data from the repositories, but it could be enhanced.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using CentOS since 2019.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Version 7 is stable — not the recent versions; I believe they have some issues. We are using a stable version as of now. We haven't faced any issues so far.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
CentOS is scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have contacted their support, but it's not commercial technical support. On their website, there are blogs and other users that help. They have a large community that can answer most questions.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before CentOS, we used Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The reason why we approached CentOS is that it has the same flavor, but there is no subscription. Earlier, we were paying for Red Hat Linux on a yearly subscription. In order to minimize the cost, especially for some of the applications, it didn't make sense to pay on a yearly basis.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not very straightforward — it's intermediate. Linux is not an easy thing to install. If you don't have the knowledge, it can be a little difficult.
I believe there is a desktop version available that has a UI but we haven't tried it. That might be a little easier to install; but since it's on a server, we needed to use the command prompt.
What about the implementation team?
We installed it ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There is no price or licensing required — it's open-source.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of nine.
I would definitely recommend this solution to others. Not the desktop version — I don't have experience with it. On a server level, I would definitely recommend it.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Architect - Database Administration at Mitra Innovation
A very robust tool that doesn't consume unnecessary resources
Pros and Cons
- "The product's initial setup phase is very straightforward."
- "I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required."
What is our primary use case?
I have set up some databases on CentOS, like MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and RabbitMQ.
What is most valuable?
Regarding the most valuable features of the product, I can say that an operating system is a very robust tool. The product doesn't consume unnecessary resources, and it is very lightweight as an operating system. In our company, we are able to do a lot with the limited or small amount of resources offered by the tool. The aforementioned area covers my favorite aspects of using a Linux-based product like CentOS.
What needs improvement?
I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using CentOS for five to six years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is a robust and stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Though it is scalable, the processes attached to it are not straightforward.
There are around four to five people who use the product.
How was the initial setup?
The product's initial setup phase is very straightforward. For a technical person, it can be very easy to install the tool.
One needs to follow a standard deployment process for CentOS. It has a few simple steps, and as long as we use the correct parameters, it will spin up the OS correctly.
What was our ROI?
My company gets regular updates on the product, which helps to save our company's costs.
What other advice do I have?
The product's security features are really good.
The integration capabilities of the product with other tools in the market are okay.
CentOS is a lightweight operating system that offers stability. I would recommend CentOS or any other Linux-based tools.
I have not used any AI with CentOS.
CentOS is an open-source product, so there are no licensing costs attached to the tool.
The value of using the solution is the fact that it is a lightweight product that is easy to implement.
I rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Chief Product Officer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Straightforward to set up, easy to use, and open-source
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to troubleshoot."
- "The solution could be more scalable."
What is our primary use case?
We deploy our products onto the solution. We use it as an OS. Our support team deploys it to customers.
What is most valuable?
Overall, the solution works well.
The team is very comfortable using it.
It is very simple and straightforward to set up.
The solution is stable.
It's open-source.
The solution is easy to troubleshoot.
As a well-known product, it's easy to find people who know the solution well.
What needs improvement?
I'm not an expert on the solution. I cannot pinpoint specific issues.
The solution could be more scalable.
For how long have I used the solution?
The company has used the solution for more than ten years, and I have used the solution in the company for one year (since I came on board).
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is very good. I'd rate it eight or nine out of ten. There are no bugs or glitches. We haven't had any issues. There haven't been any crashes. It doesn't freeze.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability could be better. It doesn't scale that well. I'd rate the scalability seven or eight out of ten.
We have around 50 people, our support team, using the solution.
Our support team deploys the solution on the customer side to assist customers, so the amount of usage would depend on the number of customers we have.
How are customer service and support?
We get support from a vendor. It's open source. We can figure out how to troubleshoot on our own.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I've also used Oracle Linux as well. We put deep packet processing on the Linux solution.
How was the initial setup?
We haven't had issues with the setup. The support team is comfortable handling the setup.
The deployment isn't too long. I didn't get a sense that the deployment took too long.
They mostly give you a file, and it's deployed in a single step. It's not a big project.
We have about five people who handle deployment and maintenance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is open-source. We do not pay a licensing fee.
What other advice do I have?
We may be using version nine of the solution.
This is a very widely known solution that is very stable. It's easy to find engineers comfortable with it since its usage is common.
I'd rate the solution nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Développeur applications at Trust Merchant Bank
A stable solution that helps to create applications
Pros and Cons
- "The product is based on Red Hat and very stable."
- "The tool has no official support."
What is most valuable?
The product is based on Red Hat and very stable.
What needs improvement?
The tool has no official support.
For how long have I used the solution?
The product helps us to create applications.
How are customer service and support?
We had used support in the past and it was good.
How was the initial setup?
The product's setup is simple. You can deploy the solution in one hour.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate the product a nine out of ten. One admin is enough to maintain the product.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Solution Architect, DevOps Engineer at sonne technology
Provides open architecture but support has ended
Pros and Cons
- "The open architecture is useful for us. That's why we're using CentOS."
- "The main issue is the End of Support. For that reason, we will switch to another operating system."
What is our primary use case?
CentOS is an operating system, and our applications are running on EC2 instances.
I am using the latest version, which is version 6.9.
It's a Linux operating system, but it's compatible with cloud solutions.
This solution is used by over 1,000 clients. We don't plan on increasing usage because Red Hat announced that support has ended for CentOS.
What is most valuable?
The open architecture is useful for us. That's why we're using CentOS.
What needs improvement?
The main issue is the End of Support. For that reason, we will switch to another operating system.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used CentOS for over eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable.
How was the initial setup?
Installation is straightforward. Deployment takes 10 minutes with EC2. In AWS, there is nothing to install because it's ready.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution as five out of ten.
Because there's an EOS, no one is willing to use CentOS anymore.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Network and Security Administrator at Jambopay
An easy-to-integrate solution, scalable and stable
Pros and Cons
- "It helps us install and deploy our applications."
- "More security features could be included in the next release."
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for the solution is utilizing it as an OS in a virtualized environment. It helps us install and deploy our applications and other services accessed by other users, internally and externally. The solution is deployed on-premises.
What is most valuable?
We have found the ease of integration valuable. The solution is easy to integrate with other applications and with other services. For example, if you want to deploy something, it simplifies the integration with other applications and services.
What needs improvement?
The solution could include more integration of third-party solutions to check on the quality and vulnerabilities of the code.
For how long have I used the solution?
We have been using the solution for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable. Approximately 1000 users are utilizing the solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward, and deployment took two to four hours.
What about the implementation team?
We implemented the solution in-house. Five developers are required for deployment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The license is affordable. I rate the price a ten out of ten.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the solution a nine out of ten. The solution is good, but the integration can be improved, and more security features could be included in the next release.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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