Best CentOS Alternatives Distributions in 2025
The CentOS project switched to CentOS Stream, a rolling release that will be the upstream version for upcoming Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) releases, on 31st December 2021.
Unfortunately, CentOS 8, whose support was supposed to last until 2029, ended too soon. CentOS fans and the community at large are uneasy and upset about the impending death of CentOS.
As you are aware, CentOS is a fork and RHEL that comes with all the benefits of RHEL at no additional cost. Because of this, it has been utilized in server setups for a long time, particularly by small organizations.
You could feel deceived and unsure of what to do next if you have been using CentOS, particularly in server situations.
Making the switch to CentOS Stream is one of your possibilities. This is not advised, though, particularly in production settings. Choosing alternative distributions that are dependable and stable for production settings is your best option.
As CentOS comes to an end, you may want to look into these other distributions as your CentOS alternative.
- RHEL
Red Hat developed the excellent Linux distribution known as RHEL, or Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It is primarily intended for corporate use and is a fantastic substitute for CentOS, offering a dependable foundation in a variety of contexts.
RHEL is compatible with a number of platforms, including cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It is effective with cutting-edge technologies like microservices, middleware, containers, cloud computing and automation.
Numerous jobs on cloud, virtual, and physical infrastructures are supported by this system. It also comes with helpful Red Hat technologies for middleware, automation, software management, and visualization.
RHEL’s robust security measures are one of its advantages. It features regular vulnerability checks, an integrated authentication tool, and modifiable cryptography policies.
It’s important to note that to enjoy all of RHEL’s features, users need to subscribe, and the starting price is $384 per year.
2. AlmaLinux
AlmaLinux is an open-source operating system created by Cloud Linux that is 1:1 binary compatible with RHEL and has community support. It was created to cover the gap that will remain following the CentOS project’s retirement.
AlmaLinux has no usage limitations and is totally free. It is advised for server environments and important workloads because it was designed to manage enterprise-grade workloads.
AlmaLinux 9.0 is currently the most recent stable release. Consider deploying AlmaLinux on your servers if you haven’t yet installed CentOS 8 as it is the best CentOS alternative.
Using an installation script, you may quickly go from CentOS 8 to AlmaLinux without having to start the installation process from scratch.
3. Rocky Linux
The original CentOS, which was intended to be a production-ready variant of RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux), was replaced by Rocky Linux.
It is an enterprise-focused, community-driven operating system that offers open-source software and promotes user participation in its advancement.
Rocky Linux is binary compatible with other Red Hat products because it is downstream of RHEL. The distribution provides a useful conversion tool named “migrate2rocky” to make the switch easier for former CentOS users. When enabled, this script moves all of the old CentOS system repositories to Rocky Linux.
Developers have produced minimum, boot, and DVD ISO types for each processor architecture for user convenience.
Rocky Linux’s dedication to stability, supported by an extensive ten-year maintenance lifetime, is one of its most notable aspects for CentOS alternative. It’s crucial to remember, nonetheless, that every significant release prioritizes the integration of reliable and thoroughly tested software to guarantee user dependability.
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FAQ on best CentOS alternatives distribution in 2025
Q. What are the main differences between AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux?
A. Origin: CloudLinux, a business with years of experience managing Linux servers, launched AlmaLinux. In contrast, Greg Kurtzer, the original author of CentOS, founded Rocky Linux.
Community Involvement: While both want to be community-driven, Rocky Linux has a more grassroots strategy that emphasizes community involvement, while AlmaLinux has obtained some support from CloudLinux to guarantee its longevity.
Adoption: Many users have embraced one or both of the distributions, which are designed to be drop-in replacements for CentOS. There is no obvious leader, and decisions are frequently made based on support alternatives or personal preferences.
Q. What are the best CentOS alternatives?
A. AlmaLinux: A direct and community-driven fork of RHEL. It aims to be 1:1 binary compatible with RHEL, making it an ideal replacement for CentOS.
Rocky Linux: Another 1:1 RHEL fork, created by the original founder of CentOS, Greg Kurtzer. It shares many goals with AlmaLinux in terms of stability and RHEL compatibility.
Q. Can I migrate from CentOS to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux?
A. Yes, both AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux offer migration scripts that make the process straightforward and made them best CentOS alternatives. The migration tools automatically replace CentOS-specific packages with the corresponding packages from either AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux.
Q. How can I decide which CentOS alternative to use?
A. There are different CentOS alternatives available but you can choose on the basis of the given points.
Consider your environment: If you need long-term stability and RHEL compatibility, AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux might be the best choices.
Support needs: If you need enterprise-level support, consider SUSE Linux Enterprise Server or Oracle Linux.
Community involvement: If you want to be actively involved in the development process, you might lean toward Rocky Linux, which emphasizes community-driven decisions.
Ease of use: If you prefer something with a more user-friendly setup, Ubuntu Server or Debian may be a better fit.
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