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CentOS

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Company health

Employee growth
14% increase in the last year
Web traffic
11% decrease in the last quarter

Ratings

G2
4.4/5
(388)

CentOS description

CentOS is a free computer operating system built on top of the popular Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Offering a stable and reliable platform, it's a popular choice for businesses wanting a cost-effective alternative without sacrificing enterprise-grade features. CentOS is ideal for companies looking for a long-term solution, as it's known for its extended support lifecycle and large, active community.

Who is CentOS best for

CentOS is a stable, reliable, and cost-effective server operating system. Praised for its robust community support and easy dependency management, CentOS is ideal for businesses seeking a free RHEL alternative. However, some users have reported occasional bugs and limited software compatibility.

  • Ideal for small, medium, and large enterprises, especially in IT.

  • Best fit for IT; suitable for Healthcare, E-commerce, Education, and Automotive.

CentOS features

Supported

CentOS supports MySQL Community Edition, a free version.

Supported

CentOS supports software repositories through package managers like yum.

Supported

CentOS is open-source and freely available, modifiable, and community-supported.

Supported

CentOS supports a large software library through its compatibility with RHEL and community packages.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Strongly positive
+1

Customer Service

Neutral
+0.25

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+0.78

Reliability and Performance

Rather positive
+0.6

Ease of Implementation

Rather positive
+0.69

Scalability

Strongly positive
+1

CentOS reviews

We've summarised 385 CentOS reviews (CentOS G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of CentOS
  • Renowned for its stability and reliability in server environments.
  • Strong community support and extensive documentation.
  • Easy dependency management and package installation with YUM.
  • Cost-effective and open-source, providing a free alternative to RHEL.
  • Prioritizes security features and receives regular updates.
Cons of CentOS
  • Occasional bugs and instability issues can arise, particularly with updates.
  • Limited software compatibility compared to distributions like Ubuntu.
  • Lack of support for some CRM applications.
  • Recent changes and discontinuation introduce uncertainty.
  • Delayed updates compared to other distributions.

CentOS pricing

The commentary is based on 54 reviews from CentOS G2 reviews.

CentOS is a free and open-source operating system, praised for its stability, reliability, and security. Many reviewers highlight its cost-effectiveness as a significant advantage, making it a popular choice for servers and various applications. Some note its less frequent updates compared to other distributions.

Users sentiment

Strongly positive
+1

CentOS alternatives

CentOS FAQ

  • What is CentOS and what does CentOS do?

    CentOS is a free, enterprise-grade, Linux-based operating system known for its stability and reliability. It offers a cost-effective alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, providing a robust platform ideal for businesses seeking a long-term server solution.

  • How does CentOS integrate with other tools?

    CentOS integrates with various tools through its extensive software repository accessed via YUM. It supports MySQL Community Edition and offers strong compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and its ecosystem. This allows for seamless integration with numerous enterprise applications and development tools.

  • What the main competitors of CentOS?

    Top CentOS alternatives include Rocky Linux, a community-supported OS built as a drop-in replacement, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS's upstream source. Other similar options are Debian, Ubuntu Server, and Amazon Linux 2.

  • Is CentOS legit?

    Yes, CentOS is a legitimate and safe operating system. Known for its stability and reliability, CentOS is a popular, cost-effective alternative to Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It's a secure and supported platform with a large, active community.

  • How much does CentOS cost?

    CentOS is a free and open-source operating system. There are no costs associated with downloading and using it. However, support services may be available from third-party vendors at a cost.

  • Is CentOS customer service good?

    CentOS customer service receives mixed reviews. While some users praise the responsiveness and helpfulness of the community support, others note a lack of official support and occasional unresponsiveness. Community forums are often cited as valuable resources.

Reviewed by

MK
Michal Kaczor
CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

TT
Tymon Terlikiewicz
CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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