Rocky Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise comparison

Rocky Linux and SUSE are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Rocky Linux is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6, while SUSE is ranked #6 with an average rating of 8.5. Rocky Linux holds a 14.3% mindshare in OSB, compared to SUSE’s 6.4% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Rocky Linux users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of SUSE users who would recommend it.

Rocky Linux

Read 10 Rocky Linux reviews

12,000 Views
12,000 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Read 34 SUSE Linux Enterprise reviews

7,057 Views
6,916 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Rocky Linux

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 3, 2025

SUSE Linux Enterprise and Rocky Linux are major competitors in the enterprise Linux market. Although SUSE Linux Enterprise is known for its robust support and enterprise-grade features, data comparisons suggest Rocky Linux has the upper hand due to its cost-effectiveness and simplicity.

Features: SUSE Linux Enterprise provides advanced security, scalable infrastructure, and support for a wide range of enterprise applications. Rocky Linux offers simplicity, community-driven development, and Red Hat infrastructure compatibility.

Room for Improvement: SUSE Linux Enterprise could enhance integration with non-SAP systems, improve its user interface, and offer more flexible pricing models. Rocky Linux needs to improve its documentation, enhance enterprise-grade support options, and provide more proprietary tools to compete with SUSE.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: SUSE Linux Enterprise is recognized for its structured deployment process and premium customer service, enabling smooth installations with professional support. Rocky Linux offers straightforward deployment with community resources and forums, catering to those preferring a simpler setup without extensive support.

Pricing and ROI: SUSE Linux Enterprise involves higher setup costs, justified by its comprehensive support and features. Rocky Linux, with minimal setup costs, presents attractive ROI for budget-conscious enterprises. SUSE Linux targets organizations investing in premium support, while Rocky Linux appeals to those seeking reliable performance at a lower price.

To learn more, read our detailed Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

September 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

Rocky Linux

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

4th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

SUSE Linux Enterprise

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

6th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Rocky Linux is 14.3%, up from 12.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SUSE Linux Enterprise is 6.4%, down from 8.2% 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 (%)
Rocky Linux	14.3%
SUSE Linux Enterprise	6.4%
Other	79.3%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Massimiliano Adamo

Linux architect at European Commission

Has supported seamless migrations and enabled running complex data workloads securely

The best features Rocky Linux offers include clustering and all the packages from Red Hat.Rocky Linux has impacted my organization very positively because we migrated everything from CentOS and Windows servers to Rocky Linux. Everything is clear, with good packaging, and now it's version 9.6, which is very important for us due to security problems since we are in Europe. Rocky Linux is very good for security and other aspects. Since migrating to Rocky Linux, I've seen specific outcomes such as improved security because CentOS stopped the project, and security patches aren't being released. We need to maintain a system similar to Red Hat, which is very stable and has many features such as file system, topology, and containers.

Read full review

MoezCHEBBI

Senior Lead DevOps Engineer at Kyndryl

Has delivered expert training and enabled smooth migrations using automated deployment tools

SUSE Linux Enterprise is a mature and reliable platform, but there are areas where it can be improved. Modernizing the system management tools is important as many users appreciate YaST for its centralized management, but there is a growing demand for more modern, web-based, and modular tools. The introduction of tools such as Agama, a web-based installer, and Cockpit in newer releases is a step in the right direction.SUSE has made progress with multi-Linux support, allowing organizations to manage and support not just SUSE systems but also other distributions such as Red Hat and CentOS; continuing to expand these capabilities, especially for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, will help organizations manage diverse infrastructure more effectively. Security is a top concern, and further strengthening default security policies, simplifying compliance management, and integrating advanced vulnerability management tools would be a valuable improvement.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"In my opinion, the best features Rocky Linux offers are stability, compatibility, and community support, all of which I think are extremely necessary and essential for the distribution, and I find that all three pillars are very supported by Rocky Linux."

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

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

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

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

"Rocky Linux has impacted my organization very positively because we migrated everything from CentOS and Windows servers to Rocky Linux, everything is clear, with good packaging, and now it's version 9.6, which is very important for us due to security problems since we are in Europe."

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

"Rocky Linux provides us with extended maintenance, security patches, and support lifecycle aligned with RHEL, making it highly reliable for critical systems."

More Rocky Linux pros

"YaST simplifies the server management of SUSE allowing for a centralized utility to control most of the server functions."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is the installation part...We don't face any issues related to the operating system or application."

"The technical support services are good."

"It provides a stable and reliable OS, and I recommended it based on its stability and functionality."

"The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes."

"It's easy to set up."

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is scalable."

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is easy to configure for those who are not hardcore command-line driven."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pros

Cons

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

"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."

"Rocky Linux could be improved by having more integration with Kubernetes."

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

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

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

"I see some performance-related issues, but we are still checking on that, and we don't know if it is related to the OS or the resource; that is something still to be checked from our end."

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

"The license we subscribed to should carry over within the same instance family. Why are we required to re-subscribe when upgrading within the same family? Why are we effectively paying double fees during an upgrade?"

"SUSE Linux Enterprise can be improved by having more documentation or logging systems available on the internet, as we face difficulties troubleshooting issues without sufficient resources."

"I have not seen an ROI with this solution."

"The platform doesn't support certain APMs."

"The only stability issues that I can recall encountering with SUSE would be with KDE. However, that is limited to just the desktop environment as I have not had stability issues with most server functions."

"We have had trouble integrating Autodesk with the SUSE manager."

"Red Hat has more packages that are available than SUSE does. I'd love to see more projects based on SUSE."

"The quality of support offered by SUSE Linux Enterprise is not that great, making it an area where improvements are required."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise cons

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."

"Anyone can use Linux because it is open-source."

"The price is reasonable."

"When we first implemented this product, we had licenses for support."

"The product is expensive. We purchase its yearly license."

"There is no license for this solution, there is only a subscription of support available."

"The price of SUSE Linux Enterprise could be cheaper. Other solutions, such as"

"SUSE Linux Enterprise is reasonably priced compared to other operating systems. I find it's a much better option for us than Oracle, for example, because of the pricing structure. The pricing is easier to explain to clients and makes it easier to get clients' commitment. The licensing is also simpler to manage and keep track of. Their responsiveness is great - they give feedback very quickly when we ask questions about licensing or other aspects. This helps ensure we're always at the gold standard regarding licensing and everything related to SUSE Linux Enterprise."

"Regarding pricing, everybody would want it to be cheaper."

More SUSE Linux Enterprise pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

University

11%

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	4
Large Enterprise	7

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	19

Questions from the Community

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

What do you like most about SUSE Linux Enterprise?

The initial setup is simple and takes five minutes for deployment and if you have automation in place, it will take four minutes.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SUSE Linux Enterprise?

We are facing an issue with licensing usage. The subscription does not carry over within the same instance family, so upgrading an instance results in overlapping or double subscription fees.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SUSE Linux Enterprise?

The functionality is good, but the licensing subscription model needs improvement. The license we subscribed to should carry over within the same instance family. Why are we required to re-subscrib...

See all answers

Comparisons

Fedora Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 26% of the time

Debian vs Rocky Linux

Compared 17% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 17% of the time

Oracle Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 11% of the time

Kali Linux vs Rocky Linux

Compared 2% of the time

More Rocky Linux Competitors

openSUSE Leap vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 27% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 25% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 18% of the time

Oracle Linux vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 7% of the time

CentOS vs SUSE Linux Enterprise

Compared 5% of the time

More SUSE Linux Enterprise Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux

September 2025

Download Rocky Linux product report

Buyer's Guide

SUSE Linux Enterprise

September 2025

Download SUSE Linux Enterprise product report

Also Known As

No data available

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3

Overview

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

SUSE Linux Enterprise offers features like YaST for server management, seamless integration with Oracle and SAP, and a robust security setup. Renowned for stability, it efficiently supports workstations, SAP workloads, and cloud migrations across diverse industries.

SUSE Linux Enterprise is known for its lightweight design, high performance, and ease of installation. Its flexible architecture supports extensive documentation and efficient patching. The system uses the BTRFS file system for effective virtualization, and community support is significant. However, challenges include package updates causing conflicts, difficult initial setup and software management, high pricing, and support response times. Improvements in security compliance, cloud integration, hardware compatibility, and documentation are also needed.

What are SUSE Linux Enterprise's important features?

YaST Server Management: Simplifies server setup and configurations.
Oracle & SAP Integration: Enhances performance with major enterprise applications.
HANA Firewall: Provides robust security measures.
BTRFS File System: Supports advanced storage management and snapshots.
Virtualization: Efficiently runs multiple operating systems on a single machine.

What benefits should users expect from using SUSE Linux Enterprise?

Stability & Performance: Reliability for critical applications and workloads.
Lightweight Design: Reduces resource consumption while maintaining efficiency.
Community Support: Access to extensive user and developer collaboration.
Automated Upgrades: Simplifies system maintenance and updates.

Industries like healthcare and banking use SUSE Linux Enterprise for secure transactions and structured application deployment. It is also a choice for organizations involved in testing, automation, and web development, offering support for SAP HANA integration and facilitating cloud migrations.

SUSE

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Air India, Akademicki Szpital Kliniczny (ASK), Allone, Altran, Apollo, ARCHIVA, Asia Innovatory Management School, ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, AutoData Norge AS, Baldor Electric, Business Connexion, CASIO, Ciclum Farma, Delta Lloyd, Edumate , HPE, SAP SE, Lenovo, BMW, T-Systems, UCX, Turners & Growers, Shenzhen Development Bank, Bosch Group, JK Tyres & Industries, IOCL, European Space Agency, Daimler AG, China Minsheng Banking Corp, Café Coffee Day, Unisys, Petrochina Company Ltd, Fitch Ratings, ABeam Consulting Co Ltd, Tyro Payments, Rackspace, Pacific Textiles, ...

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

September 2025

Free Report: Rocky Linux vs. SUSE Linux Enterprise

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