# Amazon Linux 2 vs CentOS Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that CentOS is a **lightweight and efficient** option for hosting and backend systems, making it a solid choice for users who prioritize minimal system requirements and compatibility with current applications.
- **Users say** that Amazon Linux 2 excels in its **tight integration with AWS** , providing a seamless experience for those utilizing AWS services. Its preconfigured setup for common AWS use cases allows for quick deployment and efficient operation on EC2 instances.
- **Reviewers mention** that while CentOS offers a free operating system, Amazon Linux 2 stands out with its **long-term support and strong security defaults** , which are crucial for businesses looking to maintain a secure and stable environment.
- **According to verified reviews** , users find Amazon Linux 2 to be **ideal for cloud-native workloads** , as it boots quickly and runs efficiently on EC2, whereas CentOS may require more manual configuration to achieve similar performance in cloud environments.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that CentOS has a strong reputation among mid-market users, but Amazon Linux 2's focus on small businesses and its **timely updates for security** make it a compelling option for smaller organizations looking for reliable support.
- **Users report** that while CentOS has a solid user base, Amazon Linux 2's **pre-installed AWS CLI tools** and compatibility with all AWS services without additional installations provide a more streamlined experience for users heavily invested in the AWS ecosystem.



| | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.4 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 64 | 425 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (37.7% of reviews) | Mid-Market (38.5% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Amazon Linux 2

Pros:
- Cloud Computing (5 reviews)
- Long-Term Support (4 reviews)

Cons:
- Limited Apps/Store (4 reviews)
- Limited Software (3 reviews)

### CentOS

Pros:
- Reliability (17 reviews)
- Stability (15 reviews)

Cons:
- Outdated Technology (7 reviews)
- Lack of Features (5 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.1 (45 reviews) | 9.1 (341 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.2 (46 reviews) | 8.5 (342 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.1 (32 reviews) | 8.5 (219 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.4 (17 reviews) | 8.5 (204 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.8 (45 reviews) | 8.1 (285 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.2 (18 reviews) | 8.7 (161 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.7 (36 reviews) | 8.3 (320 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Amazon Linux 2

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### CentOS

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Operating System

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Amazon Linux 2** | 9.1/10 | 16 |
| **CentOS** | 8.8/10 | 25 |

#### Memory Management - Operating System

| Feature | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
| **RAM management** | 9.2 (11 reviews) | 9.2 (18 reviews) | 

#### Device Management - Operating System

| Feature | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
| **I/O management** | 9.4 (11 reviews) | 9.0 (18 reviews) | 

#### Backup and Recovery - Operating System

| Feature | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data backup** | 9.3 (10 reviews) | 8.1 (13 reviews) | 

#### Error Detection - Operating System

| Feature | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
| **System operations monitoring** | 8.5 (13 reviews) | 8.9 (19 reviews) | 

### AWS Marketplace

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Amazon Linux 2** | N/A | N/A |
| **CentOS** | N/A | N/A |

#### Agentic AI - AWS Marketplace

| Feature | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Operating Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/operating-system)


**Unique to CentOS (1):** [AWS Marketplace Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/aws-marketplace)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Amazon Linux 2 | CentOS | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 31.1% | 31.5% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 37.7% | 38.5% | 
| **Enterprise** | 31.1% | 30.0% | 

### By Industry

#### Amazon Linux 2

- **Information Technology and Services:** 26.2%
- **Computer Software:** 19.7%
- **Financial Services:** 9.8%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 6.6%
- **Automotive:** 3.3%
- **Information Services:** 3.3%
- **Consumer Goods:** 3.3%
- **Education Management:** 3.3%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 3.3%
- **Banking:** 1.6%
- **Other:** 19.7%

#### CentOS

- **Information Technology and Services:** 30.3%
- **Computer Software:** 15.5%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 5.8%
- **Telecommunications:** 4.3%
- **Internet:** 3.8%
- **Higher Education:** 3.0%
- **Financial Services:** 2.8%
- **Research:** 1.8%
- **Program Development:** 1.5%
- **Education Management:** 1.3%
- **Other:** 30.3%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Amazon Linux 2

- [Debian](https://www.g2.com/products/debian/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (218 reviews)
- [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-enterprise-linux/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (974 reviews)
- [Windows 11](https://www.g2.com/products/windows-11/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (4268 reviews)
- [Ubuntu](https://www.g2.com/products/ubuntu/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (2383 reviews)
- [Apple iOS](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-ios/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1557 reviews)
- [Android](https://www.g2.com/products/android/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1272 reviews)
- [Windows 7](https://www.g2.com/products/windows-7/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (894 reviews)
- [Chrome OS](https://www.g2.com/products/chrome-os/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (710 reviews)
- [Windows 8](https://www.g2.com/products/windows-8/reviews) — 3.7/5 stars (576 reviews)
- [macOS Sierra](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-macos-sierra/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (482 reviews)

### Alternatives to CentOS

- [Ubuntu](https://www.g2.com/products/ubuntu/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (2383 reviews)
- [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-enterprise-linux/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (974 reviews)
- [Windows 7](https://www.g2.com/products/windows-7/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (894 reviews)
- [macOS Sierra](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-macos-sierra/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (482 reviews)
- [Oracle Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-linux/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (345 reviews)
- [Kali Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/kali-linux/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (240 reviews)
- [Android](https://www.g2.com/products/android/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1272 reviews)
- [Fedora](https://www.g2.com/products/fedora/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (211 reviews)
- [Linux Mint](https://www.g2.com/products/linux-mint/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (189 reviews)
- [Apple iOS](https://www.g2.com/products/apple-ios/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1557 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Amazon Linux 2

- Title: [Where Can I find](https://www.g2.com/discussions/where-can-i-find) — 4 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "You need to make AWS account first and then choose this service."
- Title: [Is Amazon Linux 2 also available outside AWS?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-amazon-linux-2-also-available-outside-aws) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "no"

### CentOS

- Title: [how can I install and use CentOS](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-can-i-install-and-use-centos) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "First download centos from the official repo. 
Later you can install by booting up your computer/laptop with centos iso image."
- Title: [How to install package?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-to-install-package) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "For install package use command : yum install <package_name>"
- Title: [Bolehkah ini digunakan untuk acara pembelajaran?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-this-be-used-for-learning-events) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Yes. You can run Moodle, or other learning management system (LMS) products on CentOS Linux, or event management software. There is a rich set of open source..."
- Title: [Where did you go to learn how to use CentOS?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/51381-where-did-you-go-to-learn-how-to-use-centos) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "At my first job organization. 
Some learning forums like stackexchange, tldp, the Linux Foundation etc..., 
"
- Title: [How can I acheive client isolation ?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-can-i-acheive-client-isolation) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "When I was learning about client isolation I found this web article very helpful. I hope it will help you. 

..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/tj-cloud-nexus-365-technology-co-ltd-amazon-linux-2-vs-centos)