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CentOS vs Windows Server 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
Windows Server
Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business
4th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
185
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 Windows Server is 9.0%, up from 8.6% 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.
NirajSingh - PeerSpot reviewer
User-friendly platform streamlining client connectivity
We are using Windows Server to connect our client software. We use it to access client systems and work on SQL databases Rather than purchasing and setting up infrastructure, we are using Windows Server, which obviously saves some costs. Windows Server is fulfilling our daily work-life purposes.…

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The initial setup is very easy."
"It has minimal updates compared to other distributions."
"It's easy to install."
"The solution is extremely stable."
"The user interface of CentOS is intuitive, we can also use the command prompt."
"There are a lot of sources on the internet that you can use to solve any issues, and people share their experiences. It's not a closed system"
"CentOS' best feature is that it's the standard product for Linux, so it's well-supported."
"CentOS is very efficient and very powerful with many capabilities."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the ability to be used in a virtualized environment."
"I find the solution to be easy to use, flexible with overall great performance."
"It's very easy and user-friendly compared to any other operating system."
"I'm using all the features within it and find them all quite helpful."
"It is easy to use."
"The solution is easy to use and it supports multiple applications compared to other basic systems that are currently in a production environment."
"The features that I like the most are that it's easy to use and the integration."
"Setting up Windows Server is pretty straightforward. It takes anywhere from a few hours to a day. One person can do it if it's not a complex environment."
 

Cons

"I have had a tough time with the product's scalability, making it an area where improvements are required."
"The solution’s stability could be improved."
"If CentOS could add Office features then that would be beneficial. Additionally, the UI could improve."
"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."
"CentOS could be improved by being more secure. Of course, we use a firewall, but security is always a concern."
"The server system is a little bit tough to manage."
"Like every operating system, it could be more secure."
"The solution could be more scalable."
"For countries in the Middle East and Africa, their pricing is a little bit high."
"The price is very expensive."
"While the solution is stable, it could be more so."
"The solution could improve by increasing security."
"Could use more features and more functionality."
"One area that needs improvement is the management console."
"The scalability could be better."
"We are waiting for the solution to be more secure and more stable."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is open-source and does not have any costs or licensing fees."
"There are no costs for CentOS, it is open-source."
"The solution is open source."
"It's freeware, so we can use it without worrying about licensing."
"This is an open source solution."
"CentOS is an expensive solution. There are other solutions that are rated at the top that are not expensive, such as Red Hat."
"The solution is open source so is free."
"For the enterprise version of CentOS, there is a license required. However, for personal use, I do not need a license."
"We pay yearly for a license. If you ask any vendor they will tell you that it could be cheaper."
"Microsoft is relatively inexpensive compared to other database platforms."
"There is a license required and it is on an annual basis."
"The product was quite expensive."
"The tool's licensing costs are yearly."
"We pay a license to use Windows Server."
"There is a license needed for this solution."
"It's expensive, but we have a need for it and have to purchase it."
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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
13%
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
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.
What needs improvement with Windows Server?
I think there is room for improvement in the stability of older versions. Additionally, Windows Server could be more power-efficient, especially for individuals doing labs or studies on personal co...
What is your primary use case for Windows Server?
Windows Server ( /products/windows-server-reviews ) is the operating system we run on our servers. We use it in the IT department, primarily as the OS for our servers.
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
Find out what your peers are saying about CentOS vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,406 professionals have used our research since 2012.