Rocky Linux vs Windows 11 comparison

Rocky Linux and Microsoft are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Rocky Linux is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.6, while Microsoft is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.5. Rocky Linux holds a 14.3% mindshare in OSB, compared to Microsoft’s 8.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Rocky Linux users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 93% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Rocky Linux

Read 10 Rocky Linux reviews

12,000 Views
12,000 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Windows 11

Read 47 Windows 11 reviews

4,916 Views
4,867 Comparison Views

93% willing to recommend

Rocky Linux

Windows 11

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 7, 2024

Rocky Linux and Windows 11 compete in the operating systems category. Windows 11 seems to have the upper hand due to its advanced features and wider native application compatibility.

Features: Rocky Linux offers stability, security, and customization. Server administrators and developers favor it for its flexibility. Rocky Linux allows for extensive system modification to fit specific needs. Windows 11 offers a polished experience with a variety of pre-installed applications. It has robust gaming support and integration with Microsoft's ecosystem. Windows 11 provides a user-friendly interface and versatility in handling different user needs.

Room for Improvement: Rocky Linux can improve in hardware compatibility and user-friendly guides for new users. It also needs better support for third-party applications. Windows 11 requires better resource efficiency and a less intrusive update process. Users also seek faster performance on older hardware and more control over privacy settings.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Rocky Linux offers straightforward deployment, especially for users with prior Linux experience. However, it lacks comprehensive customer support. Windows 11 provides a guided setup process with extensive customer support. The setup is accessible for a wider audience, but the heavy system requirements can be a barrier.

Pricing and ROI: Rocky Linux is a cost-effective solution with a strong ROI due to its lack of substantial licensing fees. It is suited for businesses needing a reliable and secure OS. Windows 11 has higher initial costs but offers extensive features and strong user support, providing solid ROI for power users and those integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem.

To learn more, read our detailed Rocky Linux vs. Windows 11 Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux vs. Windows 11

September 2025

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Helped 868,759 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

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

Windows 11

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

7th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

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 Windows 11 is 8.0%, up from 2.3% 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%
Windows 11	8.0%
Other	77.7%

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

Pmurki@Micron.Com Praveen

VP & GM, Client Storage at Micron Technology

Easy to use, stable product and improve productivity

We use our laptops with Windows only. We use it for everything. For the last 20 years, my entire career, I've been using Windows only. Office 365 will be extensively used, along with other tools from Office 365 Everything is good. It's easy to use. It supports AI initiatives. Like we use…

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

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

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

"The solution is free and open source."

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

"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."

"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."

More Rocky Linux pros

"The artificial intelligence capabilities of the product have supported my organization."

"The ability to divide the screen into two or three sections is useful."

"The variety of tools utilized to meet unique needs across the company and different departments."

"We use Windows 11 for our workstation’s daily operations."

"Windows 11 is easy to install. If you have any unclear issues, you can search Google for them. If you can't find any solutions, you can refer the issue to the IT support team."

"The product's most valuable feature is its support service."

"The most valuable aspect is the seamless integration and robust compatibility of other tools."

"I rate the initial setup process an eight out of ten. It takes less than a day to complete."

More Windows 11 pros

Cons

"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."

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

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

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

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

"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."

"The user interface could be easier to operate when searching for more options."

"The solution must improve its aesthetics."

"Sometimes, I experience slowness in Windows 11, and its speed could be improved."

"The product needs options for personalization and self-development. AI functions are also another area where improvement can be made. We're starting to use these features, but there's room for further development and integration."

"Major updates cause problems in small business environments because the end customers have to upgrade their workstations."

"Windows 11 is not very stable, and its stability could be improved."

"I would like to add a frontend to manage the virtual machines that are installed in Windows 11. It should also improve security which includes patching the vulnerabilities."

"When I was using Winsel, a tool for the existing purpose, and completing the purpose of that is to complete the file, it would show an error and ask me to purchase the product. But now, instead of giving the product, we have a patch to loop the tool. This happened via dot key dot shared and dot bat solutions. So, that kind of convenience has not been provided in Windows 11."

More Windows 11 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."

"I rate Windows 11’s pricing a six or seven out of ten."

"The licensing cost is high."

"The price of the solution is reasonable."

"The product is expensive. I rate its pricing a nine out of ten."

"The tool is expensive."

"The solution is affordable."

"My machine came with a Windows 10 license and I upgraded to Windows 11 without paying anything. If you buy a new computer, Windows 11 is included with it."

"The product is not cheap."

More Windows 11 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

Comms Service Provider

13%

Computer Software Company

12%

University

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	12
Midsize Enterprise	11
Large Enterprise	24

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 Windows 11?

We use Windows 11 for our workstation’s daily operations.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Windows 11?

There's no difference; Windows 11 is not more expensive than Windows 10 for my institution. I spend £11,000 a year on Microsoft, which is a lot for a school. That £11,000 is for all Microsoft produ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Windows 11?

I have faced challenges with Windows 11, particularly with a recent Wi-Fi wireless issue. The dot 1.80 update caused Wi-Fi drivers to automatically disconnect, preventing users from connecting to W...

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

Windows Server vs Rocky Linux

Compared 1% of the time

More Rocky Linux Competitors

Windows Server vs Windows 11

Compared 73% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Windows 11

Compared 6% of the time

Kali Linux vs Windows 11

Compared 5% of the time

Fedora Linux vs Windows 11

Compared 3% of the time

Windows 10 vs Windows 11

Compared 1% of the time

More Windows 11 Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux

September 2025

Download Rocky Linux product report

Buyer's Guide

Windows 11

September 2025

Download Windows 11 product report

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

Windows 11 provides a streamlined, user-friendly experience combining enhanced graphics and superior performance. It supports a wide array of tasks from professional work activities to gaming and supports Microsoft Office applications seamlessly.

Windows 11 stands out with its intuitive setup, comprehensive network analytics, and robust security features. It is adopted in production, educational, and development environments for tasks like front-end automation and business processes. Users benefit from improved multitasking capabilities with screen snapping and seamless application integration. The operating system also supports AI initiatives, offering automatic screen recording and advanced animation features.

What key features does Windows 11 offer?

User-friendly interface with updated design and stability
Seamless Microsoft Office integration
Enhanced multitasking support with screen snapping
Comprehensive security with Windows Defender
AI and animation support including automatic screen recording
Improved taskbar and icon grouping for better efficiency

What benefits can users expect from Windows 11?

Enhanced productivity through efficient booting
Robust security measures to protect sensitive data
Valuable performance insights and statistics
Intuitive setup process minimizing downtime
Strong compatibility with Microsoft Office boosting versatility

Organizations implement Windows 11 in production environments to optimize workflows while educational institutions leverage its features for collaborative learning. Developers use it to streamline coding and testing, benefiting from its automation and multitasking capabilities.

Microsoft

Buyer's Guide

Rocky Linux vs. Windows 11

September 2025

Free Report: Rocky Linux vs. Windows 11

Find out what your peers are saying about Rocky Linux vs. Windows 11 and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

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