Which is the better OS? CentOS vs RHEL (Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux)

Since CentOS and Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux are binary-com­pat­ible, the key dif­fer­ences come down to costs and support. With CentOS losing support soon, the choice becomes clear.

What is the crucial dif­fer­ence that sets RHEL and CentOS apart?

When comparing CentOS and Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux (RHEL), the first thing that connects the Linux dis­tri­bu­tions is their shared found­a­tion. RHEL, developed by Red Hat in Raleigh, North Carolina, is clearly reflected in its name. Red Hat also plays a sig­ni­fic­ant role in CentOS. Since its launch in 2002, RHEL has become one of the most popular and reliable Linux platforms for com­mer­cial use, offering high stability, strong security ar­chi­tec­ture, and broad com­pat­ib­il­ity with various software packages. However, using RHEL requires a paid support contract.

To provide a cost-effective al­tern­at­ive, CentOS was in­tro­duced in 2004. This Linux dis­tri­bu­tion is built on the source packages of Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux and offers a binary-com­pat­ible al­tern­at­ive. This ‘Community En­ter­prise Operating System’ is main­tained by the CentOS project and is open source, making it much cheaper to use than the com­mer­cial source. CentOS supports nearly all software com­pat­ible with RHEL. Initially met with skep­ti­cism by Red Hat, the two of­fi­cially merged in 2014, es­tab­lish­ing CentOS as the community version of Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux.

We took a look at both systems for you and explain here who has the edge in the duel between CentOS and Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux.

Intended use and target group

Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux (RHEL) leads the com­mer­cial Linux dis­tri­bu­tion market, spe­cific­ally tailored for en­ter­prise use, with a focus on security, stability, and flex­ib­il­ity. In contrast, private users often opt for more af­ford­able or free al­tern­at­ives like CentOS. Primarily designed for private use, CentOS provides many features and benefits without the high costs, making it a viable option for smaller companies, offering access to most RHEL packages.

Different system solutions

Compared to CentOS, RHEL offers sig­ni­fic­antly more options. Red Hat delivers a com­pre­hens­ive package of system, software, add-ons, and tailored support for virtually any purpose, making it suitable for desktop use, servers, and cloud solutions. In contrast, CentOS is more of a one-size-fits-all solution, lacking the spe­cial­isa­tion of RHEL. As a result, users must assemble the necessary software for specific needs on their own.

Support options

As a community project, CentOS benefits from a large and active user base, offering a wealth of advice and support from fellow users. The CentOS community is extensive and known for its help­ful­ness, but there is no official support from the CentOS project or Red Hat. While third-party companies provide paid support, it lacks direct com­mer­cial backing. In contrast, RHEL includes access to in­di­vidu­al support as part of its payment model, providing tailored as­sist­ance for any issues. Ad­di­tion­ally, RHEL provides three distinct support tiers for each version.

The ‘Full Support’ model is valid for five years from the initial release. During this time, re­gistered users receive updates and security patches. This is followed by ‘Main­ten­ance Support’, which is valid for the next five years. This is followed by the ‘Extended Life Phase’ option, which is available for up to two more years. Bug fixes can also be ordered as an option. As CentOS will be dis­con­tin­ued, there will be no more updates and security patches from summer 2024.

Which solution is better? CentOS vs Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux

The com­par­is­on between CentOS and RHEL is clear for the future. With CentOS ending support, it can no longer be operated securely, making it crucial for companies to find an al­tern­at­ive to CentOS. Red Hat En­ter­prise Linux remains a top choice. Both operating systems offer similar features and align in many aspects. Although RHEL requires a sub­scrip­tion, it provides superior support, making the in­vest­ment worth­while for busi­nesses.