Debian vs Fedora Linux comparison

Debian and Fedora Project are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Debian is ranked #14 with an average rating of 9.0, while Fedora Project is ranked #13 with an average rating of 9.0. Debian holds a 5.5% mindshare in OSB, compared to Fedora Project’s 5.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Debian users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Fedora Project users who would recommend it.

Debian

Read 12 Debian reviews

3,059 Views
2,937 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Fedora Linux

Read 1 Fedora Linux review

3,518 Views
3,483 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Debian

Fedora Linux

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 14, 2025

Fedora Linux and Debian are competing Linux distributions tailored for different user needs, with Fedora showing an edge in cutting-edge technology and rapid updates, while Debian stands out for stability and long-term support.

Features: Fedora Linux offers the latest software versions with strong support for container technologies and benefits from a rapid release cycle ensuring up-to-date software. Debian offers stability with an extensive software repository, providing reliable performance and a focus on open-source software.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fedora's deployment model supports modern strategies with a comprehensive package manager, ensuring straightforward installation and updates and benefiting from a proactive community. Debian offers a robust deployment model with package stability, backed by extensive documentation and a mature community.

Pricing and ROI: Both Fedora and Debian are open-source with no direct setup costs. Fedora may require more frequent updates due to its cutting-edge nature, potentially impacting long-term costs. Debian's focus on stability can lead to lower maintenance costs over time, offering higher ROI for environments prioritizing reliability.

To learn more, read our detailed Operating Systems (OS) for Business Report (Updated: January 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

January 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 881,082 peers since 2012

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

Debian

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

14th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Fedora Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

13th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Debian is 5.5%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fedora Linux is 5.3%, up from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Fedora Linux	5.3%
Debian	5.5%
Other	89.2%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Badal Shrivastav

Embedded Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree

Reliable platform has supported long-term on-prem deployments and predictable OTA updates

If I consider how Debian can be improved, it could be more accessible in making newer software versions available for users who need recent features while still maintaining default stable behavior. While backports help, the workflow could be streamlined. The release cycle can feel slow for rapidly evolving tools, and better guidance around mixing stable, backports, and testing would help. Regarding hardware support, Debian can be improved by supporting multiple BSPs, making it more versatile in the embedded domain. Hardware support for new devices can sometimes lag behind, which is understandable given Debian's focus on stability. Clearer guidance on handling newer hardware or firmware would be beneficial.

Read full review

VishalSingh15

Head of Business at Variyas Labs Pvt Ltd

A developer-friendly and highly customizable operating system that offers cost savings

The tool's setup can be done in two ways: with a GUI and without a GUI. You can install the GUI. You download the base image, and during installation, it will ask you whether you want just a plain server or a server with a GUI. It will give you all the options, including whether you want a non-graphical user interface normally used in enterprise environments. You don't need any GUI in enterprise settings because those servers are installed and managed without it. If you use the GUI, it will consume more RAM and CPU. However, if you use just the simple non-GUI version, it will use fewer resources. On the server side, people typically don't use the GUI; they only use the non-graphical user interface because it is sufficient for running the server. On the desktop or workstation end, you can have the GUI installed. If a system is the latest one, with a high-end CPU, a good amount of RAM, and SSD drives, it should not take more than ten minutes.

Read full review

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Operating Systems (OS) for Business solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

17%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

18%

Computer Software Company

10%

Government

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	4

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Debian?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing seems acceptable. We have also used Ubuntu. Comparing to Ubuntu, Debian is cheaper.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Debian?

In terms of improvements, I think Debian is fine as it is. I'm not an expert, so for me, it is acceptable.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Debian?

I have been using Debian for a while now. My main use case for Debian is running PostgreSQL and related infrastructure. A specific example of an application I'm running on Debian is PostgreSQL.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fedora Linux?

If you want to buy a monthly license from Fedora Linux, you can do so. But nobody does that. Most of the people who use it are technical users, either developers or infrastructure administrators. T...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Fedora Linux?

I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten. AI is a buzzword these days. AI is an application that uses several technologies to create something called AI. To run those technologies, we need ser...

See all answers

Comparisons

Rocky Linux vs Debian

Compared 41% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Debian

Compared 11% of the time

Alpine Linux vs Debian

Compared 8% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Debian

Compared 6% of the time

Flatcar Container Linux vs Debian

Compared 2% of the time

More Debian Competitors

Rocky Linux vs Fedora Linux

Compared 50% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Fedora Linux

Compared 11% of the time

Windows 11 vs Fedora Linux

Compared 8% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Fedora Linux

Compared 5% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Fedora Linux

Compared 2% of the time

More Fedora Linux Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Debian

January 2026

Download Debian product report

Buyer's Guide

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

January 2026

Download Fedora Linux product report

Also Known As

Debian 12

No data available

Overview

Debian is a reliable open-source operating system ideal for servers and desktops. With its wide array of packages and stable releases, it suits developers and organizations seeking dependable performance and security.

Debian stands out for its stability and extensive package repository, making it a go-to choice for developers. Its open-source nature ensures transparency and flexibility. Debian's package management system, APT, simplifies software installation and updates. Its security updates are regular and prompt, ensuring systems are protected. With support for multiple architectures, Debian caters to various environments from desktops to large-scale servers.

What are the key features of Debian?

Package Management: APT tool for efficient software installation and updates.
Security: Regular security updates maintain robust protection.
Open Source: Community-driven with transparency and flexibility.
Architecture Support: Compatibility with diverse hardware systems.
Stability: Reliable performance across server and desktop configurations.

What benefits and ROI should be considered in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Free distribution reduces expenses.
Performance: Stable and reliable for demanding applications.
Customizability: Open-source nature allows tailored solutions.
Community Support: Extensive community for troubleshooting and advice.

Debian is widely used in industries such as web hosting, scientific research, and education, where reliability and long-term support are priorities. Its flexibility allows it to be adapted for specialized applications in scientific computing or educational environments, ensuring it meets industry-specific technical requirements.

Debian

Fedora Linux is a versatile and powerful operating system, highly regarded by a broad spectrum of users. Its performance as a development platform is frequently lauded, offering a robust environment suited for programming in various languages and frameworks, thanks to the latest tools and technologies. Fedora Linux is commonly used in educational settings, where it supports students and instructors alike in programming and system administration. Organizations have found that adopting Fedora Linux significantly enhances efficiency and productivity. It streamlines workflows, fosters better collaboration among team members, and even reduces operational costs. The insights provided by Fedora's tools facilitate improved decision-making, altogether elevating businesses' operational capabilities and financial outcomes.

Fedora Project

Buyer's Guide

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

January 2026

Download Free Report

Find out what your peers are saying about Red Hat, Rocky Linux, Canonical and others in Operating Systems (OS) for Business. Updated: January 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our list of best Operating Systems (OS) for Business vendors.

We monitor all Operating Systems (OS) for Business reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.