--- title: Amazon Linux 2 Reviews meta_title: 'Amazon Linux 2 Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2' meta_description: Filter 86 reviews by the users' company size, role or industry to find out how Amazon Linux 2 works for a business like yours. aggregate_rating: rating_value: 4.5 review_count: 86 scale: '5' date_modified: '2026-07-07' parent_category: name: IT Infrastructure url: https://www.g2.com/categories/it-infrastructure --- # Amazon Linux 2 Reviews **Vendor:** terracloudx **Category:** [Operating Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/operating-system) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 86 ## About Amazon Linux 2 Amazon Linux 2 is a Linux operating system developed by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide a secure, stable, and high-performance environment for cloud and enterprise applications. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with AWS services, offering a robust platform for developers and IT administrators. Amazon Linux 2 is available at no additional charge and includes long-term support with ongoing security and maintenance updates. Key Features and Functionality: - AWS Integration: Pre-installed packages and configurations facilitate tight integration with AWS services, simplifying the deployment and management of applications. - Long-Term Support: Provides five years of support, ensuring stability and predictability for enterprise applications. - Extras Repository: Offers access to the latest software packages through the Amazon Linux Extras repository, allowing users to install newer versions of popular software without compromising system stability. - On-Premises Use: Available as virtual machine images for VMware, Oracle VM VirtualBox, and Microsoft Hyper-V, enabling on-premises development and testing. - Systemd Support: Includes the systemd init system for efficient process management and service control. - Optimized Kernel and Toolchain: Features an LTS Kernel tuned for enhanced performance on Amazon EC2, along with updated compiler and build toolchain components. - Security Features: Implements default security measures such as limiting remote access, disabling remote root login, and reducing non-critical packages to minimize exposure to vulnerabilities. - Kernel Live Patching: Supports live patching of the Linux kernel, allowing critical and important security updates to be applied without rebooting or downtime. Primary Value and User Solutions: Amazon Linux 2 addresses the need for a secure, reliable, and high-performance operating system tailored for cloud environments. Its deep integration with AWS services streamlines application deployment and management, enhancing developer productivity. The long-term support and regular security updates provide peace of mind for enterprises, ensuring system stability and compliance. Additionally, the availability of virtual machine images for on-premises use allows for consistent development and testing environments, bridging the gap between local and cloud-based operations. ## Amazon Linux 2 Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users value the **long-term support** of Amazon Linux 2, ensuring stability and security for their production workloads. (3 reviews) - Users value the **regular updates** of Amazon Linux 2, ensuring security and stability for their cloud applications. (3 reviews) - Users highlight the **optimized performance** of Amazon Linux 2, enhancing their cloud application experience effortlessly. (3 reviews) - Users praise the **user-friendly design** of Amazon Linux 2, facilitating effortless setup and efficient application management. (3 reviews) - Users value the **seamless integration with AWS services** , enhancing their cloud-native application deployment experience with Amazon Linux 2. (2 reviews) - Users highlight the **easy setup** of Amazon Linux 2, making it accessible and efficient for seamless application use. (2 reviews) - Free/No Cost (2 reviews) - Lightweight Size (2 reviews) - Linux/Ubuntu OS (2 reviews) - Reliability (2 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users face **vendor lock** to AWS and experience limited package availability, reducing flexibility and update speed. (2 reviews) - Users face **limited app availability** with Amazon Linux 2, complicating software installation and reducing flexibility in multi-cloud environments. (1 reviews) - Users note the **outdated technology** in Amazon Linux 2, leading to delays in accessing the latest software versions. (1 reviews) - Users find the **slow updates** of Amazon Linux 2 frustrating, as it limits access to the latest features. (1 reviews) ## Amazon Linux 2 Reviews ### 1. Lightweight and AWS-Ready: Amazon Linux 2 Boots Fast for Auto Scaling **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Prakhar J. | Security Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 15, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** If I’m being honest, as an admin responsible for managing multiple environments, the best part about Amazon Linux 2 is that it’s lightweight and AWS-ready. It’s free of bloatware and the extra programs you often see in other standard distributions. Since we’re dealing with multiple instances and auto scaling groups, boot time really matters. Amazon Linux 2 boots up super fast and gives us a head start to make the necessary changes. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** There isn’t much to dislike about Amazon Linux 2, but there are a few points worth mentioning. First is the End of Life, which is happening at the end of this month. Because of that, our team has to take on a large-scale migration from Amazon Linux 2 to Amazon Linux 2023. This isn’t a simple upgrade, since Amazon Linux 2023 uses the dnf package manager, so we basically have to sit down and re-test our automation scripts and applications from scratch. Second, our day-to-day struggle is with packages. Since Amazon Linux 2 ships with RHEL 7–version packages, the default repos are quite outdated. When we need a newer python3, node.js, or similar libraries, we have to rely on the amazon-linux-extras repo to get more recent tools, which can sometimes create dependency clashes. It takes time, and it can be tough to manage. **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** The main problem it solves for us is providing a very stable, RHEL-like environment directly on AWS without paying any extra OS licensing fees. Whenever we deploy one of our custom applications, we need an OS that’s stable and reliable, offers strong customization, and is properly supported. Since it comes pre-optimized for EC2, we don’t have to spend hours tweaking kernel or network parameters. It also saves us the cost and effort of procuring a separate OS, because it comes with the instance. For our admins, it’s been easy to maintain because it works almost like RHEL, so the learning curve was basically zero. We’ve used it for years, but now it’s going EOL. ### 2. Optimized Integration and Stability in AWS **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Lucas V. | IT Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 28, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** I use Amazon Linux 2 as the operating system on EC2 in AWS and I like that it is stable and lightweight. The stability gives us peace of mind because we don't have to restart servers or see strange errors. Since it is lightweight, small EC2 instances work well for simple apps without needing to pay more. Amazon Linux 2 is optimized for AWS, so it is easy to configure and there is no need to deal with licenses. Also, security updates arrive quickly and without breaking anything, and AWS repositories are very fast, which means I don't have to wait long to install or update something. Additionally, since it is made by AWS, it already has the agents pre-installed for use with CloudWatch or Systems Manager, which makes monitoring and management easier. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** Sometimes the packages come older than in other distros, you have to resort to extra yum repos or compile manually. And it doesn't run outside of AWS, so if you want to replicate the environment locally, it's somewhat tedious. It also doesn't have as much community documentation as Ubuntu or RHEL. The versions of Python or Node sometimes come old and we have to install with nvm or pyenv. Also, Postgres comes in a version that is no longer used as much. That forces you to add extra steps to the setup, it's not serious but it's noise. **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** Amazon Linux 2 saves me from dealing with licenses and configurations. It is optimized for AWS, stable, lightweight, and with fast updates. It includes pre-installed agents for AWS, which facilitates integrations with CloudWatch and Systems Manager. ### 3. Amazon linux **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Hacker D. | I'm manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** February 04, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** Amazon linux means it is one kind of operating system develop by Amazon Web services.it has unique and advanced features which will help alot for the users to satisfy the customer needs.it is mainly used to run application on the AWS cloud.it is user-friendly , it has excellent features like long term support,high security,optimization for AWS,it is free to use on AWS,easy package management.Amazon linux 2 makes cloud faster and easier to use.this os is designed for to be reliable,so that applications run easier and smooth.this is important for websites and apps.there is no cost for the operating system Like it has some limited condition **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** It has some additional limits license cost on Aws strong excellent performance in cloud computing easy integration with Ai tools trusted wl with Amazon itself **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** It solve complex problems,security risks,complex cloud management,scaling of applications. And other software prblms ### 4. Stable and AWS-Optimized, but Limited Beyond the Ecosystem **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 06, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** What I like most about Amazon Linux 2 is its stability and seamless integration with Amazon Web Services. It’s reliable, lightweight, and well-optimized for cloud environments, making it great for production use. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** One downside of Amazon Linux 2 is that it can feel a bit limited outside the Amazon Web Services ecosystem. Package versions are often older due to its stability focus, and the software repositories aren’t as extensive as some other distributions. **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** Amazon Linux 2 solves the problem of running Linux on AWS in a stable, secure, and low-maintenance way. It gives: A consistent environment across servers (less “works on one, breaks on another”) Long-term security updates without major system changes Better integration with AWS services out of the box Less effort in setup, patching, and maintenance ### 5. Convenient AWS Integration and Solid Stability with Amazon Linux 2 by **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sushant S. | Senior Software Developer, Computer Software, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 05, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** Amazon Linux 2 comes with pre-installed packages and AWS integration. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** What I dislike most is that the software repositories can sometimes feel a bit dated. Even though the stability is excellent, getting the latest versions of certain runtimes often means relying on the 'extras' library or doing manual configuration, which adds extra complexity to automation scripts. **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** It helps me spin up several servers for my business with minimal setup. Since it supports integration with AWS, it gives me a lot of flexibility and makes it easier to adapt as my needs change. ### 6. Reliable OS for AWS Work **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Veniprasad Y. | software Developer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 05, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** What i like most about Amazon Linux 2 is that it is stable and works well for server and development use. It runs smoothly and integrates nicely with AWS service, which makes deployment easier. Overall, it feels reliable for daily work. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** One thing I do not like is that it can be a bit difficult for beginners, especially if you are not used to Linux. Sometimes setting things up takes extra time, and documentation can feel limited for some use cases. **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** Amazon Linux 2 helps solve the problem of having a stable and reliable system for running applications and servers. It makes deployment easier, especially with AWS, and reduces downtime. Because of this, I can manage my work more smoothly and focus on development instead of system issues. ### 7. Stable, Secure, and Seamlessly Integrated with AWS **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Harikshna K. | Managing Director & Founder, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 06, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** What I like best about Amazon Linux 2 is its stability, security updates, and smooth integration with cloud environments like AWS. It provides reliable performance, easy package management, and strong support for hosting applications and server workloads efficiently. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** One downside of Amazon Linux 2 is that some newer software packages and development tools may not always be available in the default repositories. The learning curve can also be slightly challenging for teams unfamiliar with Linux-based server environments and command-line management. **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** Amazon Linux 2 helps us manage secure, stable, and scalable server environments for hosting applications and backend operations. It improves system reliability, reduces maintenance effort, and supports smooth cloud-based infrastructure management with better performance and security updates. ### 8. A Stable and AWS-Optimized OS for Production Workloads **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rahul P. | Devops lead, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 15, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** Stability and optimized for AWS infrastructure. As all our infra is in aws, it works seamlessly with AWS services, which makes deployment and day-to-day operations smooth. The long-term support and regular security updates give confidence when running production workloads. It’s also lightweight, performs well, and has good package management with yum, making it easy to maintain and keep systems up to date across our infrastructure. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** One downside of Amazon Linux 2 is that it can sometimes lag behind other distributions when it comes to newer packages or software versions **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** Amazon Linux 2 solves the problem of having a reliable, secure, and AWS-optimized operating system for cloud workloads. The built-in security updates and long-term support also reduce operational overhead and help us focus more on application reliability rather than OS management. ### 9. Worked Well for Everyday Use **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 01, 2026 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** I like that it is stable and easy to manage once everything is setup. it runs reliably for day-to-day work, updates are straightforward, and we didn't run into many issues during regular use. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** The setup took a little time to get used to, especially in the beginning. Some packages and tools I wanted were not always available by default, so a few extra steps were needed **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** It gave us a stable environment to run applications and services. We spent less time dealing with system issues and managing services became a bit easier for the team ### 10. User-Friendly with Excellent Security Features **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Dave S. **Reviewed Date:** October 30, 2025 **What do you like best about Amazon Linux 2?** I found Amazon Linux 2 to be very easy to discover and incredibly user-friendly, which made the initial transition effortless. The setup process impressed me with its straightforwardness, allowing me to get started without any significant hurdles. One of the standout features for me is its ease of use, which ensures that I can efficiently carry out my tasks without unnecessary complexity. Additionally, I appreciate the strong security it offers, which gives me confidence in the system's reliability and integrity. Overall, everything about Amazon Linux 2 meets my needs, from its usability to its robust functionality, and it fits seamlessly into our information technology hardware systems. It works perfectly as is, with no changes necessary, which speaks volumes about its completeness and efficiency. **What do you dislike about Amazon Linux 2?** Price **What problems is Amazon Linux 2 solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find Amazon Linux 2 easy to learn and use, providing good security and facilitating expansion of our system hardware. ## Amazon Linux 2 Discussions - [What are the differences between Amazon Linux 2 and Amazon Linux 2022](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-are-the-differences-between-amazon-linux-2-and-amazon-linux-2022) - 1 upvote - [sdasd](https://www.g2.com/discussions/sdasd) - [View Amazon Linux 2 pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-linux-2/reviews/amazon-linux-2-review-9121740?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-07-07+22%3A49%3A21+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=4834f04f-9793-427d-9cfe-a33f9283b697&secure%5Btoken%5D=60e37984e5b7828c00229c3ddb5ebb6e54e108d31a15451686ee6c2490e0ae3d&format=llm_user) ## Amazon Linux 2 Integrations - [Amazon EC2](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-ec2/reviews) - [Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-container-service-amazon-ecs/reviews) - [Amazon S3 Glacier](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-s3-glacier/reviews) - [Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-virtual-private-cloud-amazon-vpc/reviews) - [Apache HTTP Server Project](https://www.g2.com/products/apache-http-server-project/reviews) - [AWS Cloud Development Kit (AWS CDK)](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-cloud-development-kit-aws-cdk/reviews) - [AWS CloudFormation](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-aws-cloudformation/reviews) - [AWS Lambda](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-lambda/reviews) - [Docker](https://www.g2.com/products/docker-inc-docker/reviews) - [F5 NGINX](https://www.g2.com/products/f5-nginx/reviews) - [F5 NGINX Management Suite](https://www.g2.com/products/f5-nginx-management-suite/reviews) - [NodeJS Web Stack](https://www.g2.com/products/nodejs-web-stack/reviews) - [PostgreSQL](https://www.g2.com/products/postgresql/reviews) - [Prometheus](https://www.g2.com/products/prometheus/reviews) ## Amazon Linux 2 Features **Memory Management - Operating System** - RAM management **Device Management - Operating System** - I/O management **Backup and Recovery - Operating System** - Data backup **Error Detection - Operating System** - System operations monitoring ## Top Amazon Linux 2 Alternatives - [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-enterprise-linux/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (931 reviews) - [Oracle Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-linux/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (330 reviews) - [Debian](https://www.g2.com/products/debian/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (219 reviews)