CentOS vs Rocky Linux comparison

CentOS and Rocky Linux are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. CentOS is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.9, while Rocky Linux is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3. CentOS holds a 4.7% mindshare in OSB, compared to Rocky Linux’s 15.3% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of CentOS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Rocky Linux users who would recommend it.

CentOS

Read 69 CentOS reviews

6,326 Views
6,326 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Rocky Linux

Read 7 Rocky Linux reviews

12,848 Views
12,848 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

CentOS

Rocky Linux

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 3, 2025

CentOS and Rocky Linux are competing in the open-source operating systems space for enterprise-level needs. Rocky Linux seems to have the edge in compatibility and long-term stability, making it a compelling choice for reliable performance.

Features: CentOS offers excellent integration with Red Hat systems, prioritizes security, and has a robust community. Rocky Linux maintains 1:1 compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, ensures a seamless transition from CentOS, and emphasizes continuity and reliability.

Room for Improvement: CentOS could improve on providing clarity about its future support, expand its documentation to assist new users, and enhance user interface simplicity. Rocky Linux might focus on expanding its support network, streamlining its deployment process for new users, and enhancing integration with other enterprise tools.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: CentOS has established deployment procedures and extensive documentation, making it straightforward for seasoned administrators. In contrast, Rocky Linux offers a similar deployment model with community-driven customer service that aims to fill gaps left by CentOS's discontinued full support. Despite a learning curve, its support channels are responsive and welcoming to migrating users.

Pricing and ROI: CentOS is cost-effective with a zero-cost purchase model, though indirect costs may appear due to maintenance and training. It historically provided substantial ROI through stability and community support. Rocky Linux also offers a no-cost model promoting reduced indirect costs due to its straightforward migration path from CentOS, aiming to maximize ROI by minimizing transition costs and leveraging existing investments.

To learn more, read our detailed CentOS vs. Rocky Linux Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. Rocky Linux

July 2025

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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

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Rocky Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

4th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

5.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of CentOS is 4.7%, down from 8.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Rocky Linux is 15.3%, up from 10.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Mahender Nirwan

Software developer at TAIGLE LLC

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.

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Jetsada Malaisirirat

System Engineer at clusterkit

Enhancements in package management elevate user experience

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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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"CentOS's most valuable features are that it's cost-saving and helps to scale down your usage."

"I find the solution's stability to be the most valuable feature of it since I have been using a virtual machine with the help of the solution since 2015, and it still works on all the laptops in my organization."

"There's lots of great documentation available."

"The initial setup is very easy."

"The most valuable feature of CentOS is that it is easy to use."

"The most valuable feature of this solution is that it is free."

"It's less expensive than Red Hat."

"The most valuable features of CentOS are it is built from Linux, has good performance, and can we can create scripts. The scripts are you to do minor work automatically."

More CentOS pros

"The custom install scripts streamline the setup process, making it straightforward."

"It helps us keep our workstations in sync and ensures consistent settings across most of our machines."

"The solution is free and open source."

"I haven't needed to use customer service or support, which speaks volumes about their product's reliability and ease of use."

"It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is its stability."

Cons

"This solution is no longer suited to our business following the change they have made to the release process. It is no longer an enterprise solution."

"I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required."

"Integration with other platforms could be improved."

"The server system is a little bit tough to manage."

"The solution must improve its security."

"CentOS could be improved with more user-friendly monitoring."

"Like every operating system, it could be more secure."

"The main issue is the End of Support. For that reason, we will switch to another operating system."

More CentOS cons

"The package versions can be quite older compared to other distributions such as Ubuntu."

"The solution's audio integration for virtual machines could be improved."

"In terms of improvement, Rocky Linux needs to clarify its identity and target audience."

"Improved integration with Windows, particularly Active Directory, would be beneficial for the product. Currently, this aspect requires additional effort."

"One of the potential issues is that if you don't pay for support, you may need to manage certain aspects on your own and rely on the community for assistance."

"I have certain problems with the tool's DNS part, making it an area where improvements are required."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We have a CentOS license that we pay for on a yearly basis."

"It is open-source, which means it is a free product. It has a one-time deployment cost."

"There are no licensing fees. CentOS is a free solution."

"It's freeware, so we can use it without worrying about licensing."

"The price could be better. 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."

"We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux."

"CentOS is cheaper compared to Windows."

"This is an open-source solution, so there are no licensing costs involved."

More CentOS pricing and cost advice

"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."

See which vendors are best for you

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Comparison Review

it_user281973

Storage and VMware Expert at a comms service provider with 1,001-5,000 employees

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…

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

University

11%

Educational Organization

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...

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What do you like most about CentOS?

CentOS is very easy to use, and all the commands are user-friendly.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for CentOS?

CentOS is a free product with free updates. There are third-party companies available for support, but they charge varying amounts for their services.

See all answers

What do you like most about Rocky Linux?

It's very simple to work with, easy to learn, and know where things are.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Rocky Linux?

If I find something which is strong with virtualization with Rocky Linux, it's an alternative that I can study and spend time learning about, trying it, making tests, validating, and perhaps ultima...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Rocky Linux?

I am responsible for virtualization and networking, and other services related to the systems including Linux and Windows, but the security part is actually the responsibility of the French team in...

See all answers

Comparisons

Oracle Linux vs CentOS

Compared 32% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs CentOS

Compared 11% of the time

Kali Linux vs CentOS

Compared 11% of the time

SUSE Linux Enterprise vs CentOS

Compared 8% of the time

Alpine Linux vs CentOS

Compared 3% of the time

More CentOS Competitors

Fedora Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 25% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 23% of the time

Debian vs Rocky Linux

Compared 13% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 11% of the time

Windows 11 vs Rocky Linux

Compared 1% of the time

More Rocky Linux Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

CentOS

August 2025

Download CentOS product report

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux

August 2025

Download Rocky Linux product report

Also Known As

CentOS 7 (x86_64) - with Updates HVM

No data available

Overview

CentOS offers a stable, secure, and compatible environment with Red Hat packages, providing robust performance and cost efficiency. Its lightweight, scalable design and strong community support make it ideal for handling heavy workloads with limited resources.

CentOS is a popular choice for organizations seeking reliable server and virtualization solutions. Known for its robust stability and security, it offers seamless integration and maintenance. However, after a shift from Red Hat, some challenges emerged, including weak NFS client performance and a more complex interface, which beginners find challenging alongside insufficient documentation. Despite these, CentOS remains a favored option for deploying web applications, server installations, and supporting cloud solutions, thanks to its efficient use in monitoring, databases, and telecommunications.

What are CentOS's key features?

Stability: Maintains a consistent performance, essential for mission-critical environments.
Security: Offers robust safeguards, aligning with Red Hat's trusted security packages.
Compatibility: Seamlessly integrates with Red Hat ecosystems, enhancing versatility.
Cost Efficiency: Open-source approach reduces expenses compared to proprietary systems.
Community Support: Access to extensive resources and assistance from a dedicated user base.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Performance: Efficient resource management even under heavy workloads.
Integration Ease: Smooth integration with existing IT infrastructures.
Scalability: Ability to grow with changing requirements, supporting diverse applications.
Flexibility: Adaptable to a wide range of industries and use cases.
Reliability: Trusted for critical operations and consistent service delivery.

CentOS is widely used in industries requiring robust infrastructure, such as web hosting, scientific computing, and telecommunications. In data centers, companies deploy it to support virtual environments, testing, and development. The OS powers business applications, email servers, and cloud solutions, offering a cost-effective alternative to Red Hat.

CentOS

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.

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.

Rocky Linux

Buyer's Guide

CentOS vs. Rocky Linux

July 2025

Free Report: CentOS vs. Rocky Linux

Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Rocky Linux and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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