We performed a comparison between CentOS and Windows Server based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.
Comparison Results: In this comparison, CentOS has a slight edge over Windows Server because it is free whereas Windows Server is considered expensive. Users also favor the technical support they receive from CentOS.
"CentOS's most valuable features are that it's cost-saving and helps to scale down your usage."
"It's a good and stable system. It provides everything you need for web servers and database servers."
"I find the solution's stability to be the most valuable feature of it since I have been using a virtual machine with the help of the solution since 2015, and it still works on all the laptops in my organization."
"It helps us install and deploy our applications."
"I like the command prompt of CentOS. It's very simple."
"It’s a simple, straightforward implementation."
"Very robust and easy to work with."
"I like its stability, performance, and usability."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the ESRP that is used with the Windows Platform."
"The stability and performance are great."
"What I like about Windows Server is that it is an effective and useful solution for my needs."
"The installation was straightforward and easy."
"The product’s performance is good."
"Windows Server performance is very good for backups."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is Hyper-V Live Migration for Critical applications."
"Windows Server is easy to use."
"The support could be a bit better."
"This solution is no longer suited to our business following the change they have made to the release process. It is no longer an enterprise solution."
"We occasionally have issues with software installation."
"The main issue is the End of Support. For that reason, we will switch to another operating system."
"It could be more secure."
"They could build more options into the wizard."
"Updates are going to a streaming version."
"Lacks sufficient security and some coding tools."
"A typical user will find implementing it on their own difficult."
"Right now what is needed on the server-side is an easier release process. Every year or every third year they are releasing a newer version and it could go smoother."
"The stability could be improved."
"The only problem we have faced is when we are upgrading the solution it is complex."
"One area that needs improvement is the management console."
"The solution needs container compatibility."
"As I have already paid for a license, I should have the option of requesting the containerized functionality from the OS to reduce the Windows Server OS footprint."
"If the service could be better integrated with the Azure Cloud, I think it would be a plus for Windows."
CentOS is ranked 5th in Operating Systems (OS) for Business with 63 reviews while Windows Server is ranked 4th in Operating Systems (OS) for Business with 180 reviews. CentOS is rated 8.2, while Windows Server is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of CentOS writes "Allows you to securely store data, and command prompts make it simple to use". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Windows Server writes "Easy to setup, stable and caters to my wide range of use cases but lacks user-friendly interface". CentOS is most compared with Oracle Linux, Ubuntu Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), SUSE Linux Enterprise and openSUSE Leap, whereas Windows Server is most compared with Ubuntu Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Windows 10, Oracle Linux and Oracle Solaris. See our CentOS vs. Windows Server report.
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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.
