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CentOS vs Oracle Linux comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

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

CentOS
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
6th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
68
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
3rd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
112
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 5.5%, down from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Linux is 11.1%, down from 14.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Operating Systems (OS) for Business
 

Featured Reviews

Mahender Nirwan - PeerSpot reviewer
In-depth documentation available and command-line utility works well
One issue I recently faced, but I think it was due to my IT support guys, was that when the server storage gets full, the service crashes. It's very difficult to regain access and stability in that situation. That could be improved. So, the stability might be improved. But I don't think it's a CentOS-level issue. The system administrators need to come up with a solution for that, but I don't think it's CentOS's fault. I haven't done any research [R&D] on this issue. There's one thing for sure. We recently migrated from CentOS 7 to CentOS 9, and it was a bit difficult. For example, updating Windows is simple; you just download it, and it takes about 15-20 minutes. But that's not the case with migrating from CentOS 7 to 9. We had to back up the entire server, launch a new server, and then restore the backup to the new server. We couldn't directly migrate. I think that was a bit of a problem. The setup and updates are not that new in CentOS.
Marcelo Muniz - PeerSpot reviewer
The operational system is the best and is packed with free features like CapsLive
It is important to work with a vendor who will sell you the correct product for your environment rather than just try to make the most money off of you. Study the solution and learn how to install it correctly and use it in the best ways. Follow best practices from Oracle and get some training in the operational system. The solution comes with a lot of features and options that you can use for free. It is reliable and you can even use an old version with no issues. It is not the most user friendly, but you can learn it with a bit of study. Overall, the solution beats other operational systems by a large margin. The solution is rated a nine 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

"CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly."
"The scalability of CentOS is good. We can deploy the operating system in many hardware, laptops, and servers."
"The solution is productive."
"It's a good and stable system. It provides everything you need for web servers and database servers."
"The technical support is good."
"The vendor updates the tool regularly to solve vulnerabilities."
"The most valuable feature is the limited resources the solution uses in operation."
"The pricing is good. We pay a minimal fee."
"It's very useful for hosting other Oracle products."
"The stability is excellent and the initial setup is easy."
"The installation is straightforward."
"The cost is a significant advantage of Oracle Linux."
"It is a scalable solution."
"The platform is stable, and there is no risk of viruses, unlike the Microsoft platform."
"The main business advantage is maintaining compliance with Oracle licensing, avoiding non-compliance issues, and license revisions."
"The features that I have found to be the most valuable are the performance, stability, and support that Oracle offers for the solution."
 

Cons

"They could build more options into the wizard."
"The YUM install manager can be improved. It is below average as compared to the other install managers. This is the only major problem that I see with CentOS. They should reduce dependency on the YUM manager."
"The solution must improve its security."
"In the future, CentOS will no longer be compatible with Red Hat."
"It is challenging to scale the solution when we have to increase the storage capacity from one end."
"The security could be improved because the server system isn't very secure."
"When comparing the GUI of CentOS to Microsoft Windows or Mac, it could improve."
"The solution’s stability could be improved."
"They should increase security."
"I think the pricing could be improved to be more competitive."
"The security and integration could improve."
"The product's support is expensive."
"Since it is a VM, it gets slow. It can be an area for improvement."
"Performance can always be improved."
"Another notable aspect that could be improved is minor compatibility with Red Hat."
"For usability, the GUI options during the initial setup could be included with advanced functionalities that are now currently only possible on the CLI."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We don’t have to pay for the system’s licenses."
"This is an open-source solution, so there are no licensing costs involved."
"It's freeware, so we can use it without worrying about licensing."
"We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux."
"The solution is free of cost to use."
"CentOS is a free solution."
"The solution is not subscription-based, unlike Red Hat."
"There is no price or licensing required — it's open-source."
"The solution has no fees."
"There is a license required for this solution and we are on an annual license."
"The solution is less expensive than Solaris and allows for use of existing hardware."
"We pay an annual subscription."
"We are not paying anything for the operating system."
"This is an open-source product that can be used free of charge."
"The solution is free to use with a support subscription rather than having to buy licenses."
"Oracle Linux license and support are far more expensive than Red Hat or SUSE."
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Comparison Review

it_user281973 - PeerSpot reviewer
Aug 24, 2017
It's improved our company's system environments that run Oracle databases.
Red Hat is mission critical to our environment Red Hat has improved the mission critical environments running Oracle databases, while CentOS has improved our web environment and MySQL. Oracle and SAP Environment and all HPC environments. 10 years No issues Very stable i don´t find any problem…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Which would you choose - RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) or CentOS?
Red Hat Enterprise Linux is fantastic. It is an inexpensive solution that has excellent security, performance, and stability, and also lots of features. I specifically like that the solution has fe...
What do you like most about CentOS?
CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for CentOS?
I am not responsible for the setup cost in my company, so I am unsure about the cost of the license.
How does Oracle Linux compare with Solaris?
When comparing Oracle Linux and Solaris, I believe that Linux is more secure and more flexible. It is also very suitable for enterprises that are already Oracle solution users. I found Linux to be ...
Which would you choose - Ubuntu Linux or Oracle Linux?
Ubunto Linux is a complete Linux operating system that is freely available with both community and professional support. This solution is suitable for both desktop and server use. It has a very app...
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Oracle Enterprise Linux
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
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Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Oracle Linux and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,040 professionals have used our research since 2012.