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CentOS vs Ubuntu 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
Ubuntu Linux
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.7
Number of Reviews
139
Ranking in other categories
OpenStack (1st)
 

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 Ubuntu Linux is 14.0%, down from 22.5% 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.
Kevin Haury - PeerSpot reviewer
Linux's advanced terminal empowers versatile usage and ongoing secure development
Initially, there was nothing complicated. It's easy since I have many years of experience with it. However, if I were a beginner with Linux, it could be completely disruptive compared to Windows. So, I would have to spend some time practicing with Linux to understand how it works and how I can accomplish the same tasks compared to Windows. Maybe one month, at least.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It has minimal updates compared to other distributions."
"There's lots of great documentation available."
"The pricing is good. We pay a minimal fee."
"The community and knowledge base are very robust."
"You can work with the UI or in command line, if you prefer."
"The most valuable feature of CentOS is the speed and it is very easy to use."
"A valuable features of CentOS is that it's quite stable and doesn't crash often. It's also quite intuitive."
"It's less expensive than Red Hat."
"They have provided a new interface, which is great."
"What makes Ubuntu easy to use is the large set of applications and the interface. The graphical interface is user friendly."
"I think Ubuntu's main strength, as opposed to using the other Linuxes, has been its ability to encourage user feedback."
"Ubuntu Linux has good security features and a lot of software compatibility."
"The main distinguishing feature between Ubuntu and other Linux distribution is that Ubuntu has excelled at user-friendliness. It's very easy to use."
"It is a widely used and stable solution. Community members can offer support and technical guidance."
"The most valuable features are that it's free and that it is simple to use."
"The most valuable features are stability and updates. We are not using the interface, the interface of the OS, we are using it as the server. We actually sync it through SSH and we deploy our application, so we don't have access to do it. The updates are very helpful and the way they update their OS is very helpful."
 

Cons

"CentOS NetworkManager is an area of concern in the solution that needs improvement, and it is the same with other products from Red Hat."
"If a proper GUI-based tool was connected remotely or on the machine, it could be a great addition to CentOS."
"The solution could be more scalable."
"The server system is a little bit tough to manage."
"The solution is stable, however, it could always be even more stable if possible."
"The interface could be improved."
"Like every operating system, it could be more secure."
"CentOS is not easy."
"I want more insights and security features in the pro version, specifically activities and vulnerabilities. When releasing a new version, it's crucial to ensure no vulnerabilities. Sometimes, a new version may have minor vulnerabilities, like one medium and one low. These typically take about two weeks to resolve. More regular patching, especially addressing security vulnerabilities, is essential to improve."
"It could be easier for beginners and the user interface could be more user-friendly."
"The solution is a little complicated to customize and could be made easier."
"We'd like to have a bit more of a friendly user interface."
"There should be more integration with other operating systems applications."
"The product is difficult to use sometimes."
"More drivers for hardware such as different network adapters should be developed."
"The stability could be improved."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I use the free version."
"The solution is open source."
"We use the free, open-source solution because we cannot afford the price for Linux."
"There are no licensing fees. CentOS is a free solution."
"The solution is open source so is free."
"There are no costs for CentOS, it is open-source."
"There are no licensing costs for CentOS."
"The product is free."
"The solution is free."
"We are using the free and open-sourced version of the solution."
"The product is cheap compared to Windows."
"Ubuntu Linux is open-source and available to use free of charge."
"I am using the free version. There is no subscription."
"I am not in a position to comment on the licensing, as we mostly make use of the free version."
"There is an annual subscription for this solution."
"Ubuntu is essentially free to download and use, making it accessible to anyone without the need for licensing costs."
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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
16%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
8%
Financial Services Firm
7%
Computer Software Company
14%
University
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Educational Organization
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.
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...
What do you like most about Ubuntu Linux?
It has a good support system for loading databases.
 

Comparisons

 

Also Known As

No data available
Ubuntu
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Samsung, eBay, AT&T, Walmart, Cisco, Time Warner Cable, Bloomberg, Best Buy, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Ericsson, Orange, Wells Fargo
Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Ubuntu Linux and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.