Introduction

In  this article lets discuss about the two big Linux distributions. Lets see about CentOS vs Ubuntu and the difference between one another, where one is better than another and few more features.

CentOS

CentOS is often considered free version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). There are a number of differences between CentOS and RHEL, but in most cases, the two systems are very similar. RHEL comes with paid support and is a commercial product. CentOS is a free product and doesn't contain any RHEL branding throughout the system.

What makes CentOS attractive is that every version serves for over 10 years, which is something you won't find with other distributions. A disadvantage of CentOS is that it has fewer features than you might know from other distributions. However, this is also a good thing, it makes CentOS relatively lightweight. If you're simply looking for a lightweight distribution to host a website or web app, CentOS is a great choice.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is recognised for its stability and its large list of features. It has a lot of features by default which can make your life easier, but, this also makes the OS less portable and heavier than other distros, such as CentOS. Ubuntu is based on Debian, and it is a very popular OS. It is not only has a server version (Ubuntu Server) but also a version that will work as a desktop OS. This is very convenient if you need to work in a Linux environment.

If you're looking for an incredibly powerful environment that will be safe and reliable (guaranteed), Ubuntu will be the perfect choice. It's the most used Linux distribution. While Ubuntu only started in 2004, it is clear that this system is evolving very quickly. LTS releases supports for over 5 years after its release.

Differences between CentOS vs Ubuntu

Package Management System and Release

• The main user-visible difference is probably the package management system. Ubuntu is based on Debian and uses apt, while CentOS is based on RedHat and uses rpm.

Software Upgrade

• RHEL is fairly conservative when it comes to upgrading software, privileging consistency and security over being on the cutting edge.
• Ubuntu is less conservative with a shorter release cycle, so new software will almost certainly land into its repos before CentOS users get it. Which a user prefers depends on their specific use case.

Web-hosting Compatibility

• A major factor that might influence web hosting clients to choose CentOS is web hosting control panel compatibility. Within the web hosting industry, CentOS dominates, and most web hosting control panels, including InterWorx and cPanel, focus on RHEL derivatives like CentOS. If you plan to offer web hosting services using a control panel, then CentOS would be the best bet.

Release and Support

• As I said before, CentOS has a longer release cycle. It also has a much longer support cycle. Ubuntu’s Long Term Support releases, which will be released for every two years have a support life of 5 years.
• CentOS 6 was first released in 2010, has had 5 minor point releases, and will be supported until November 2020. If you value consistency and a long support cycle, CentOS is an excellent choice, especially now that it has officially become part of Red Hat.

• Another major difference is their release cycle. Ubuntu uses a time-base release cycle. For every two years they release a long term support edition. They also release every six months that provide the latest and greatest. As CentOS is based on RedHat, the releases are much more in frequent. Some would argue that makes them more stable, but it also means that some software tends to be out of date.

• Ubuntu has more documentation and free support for problem solving and information. Its server version has more support for cloud and container deployments.

• CentOS seems to be more stable because doesn’t have regular updates to their packages like ubuntu but, this doesn’t mean that ubuntu is less secure.

There are a number of other minor differences between the two with regard to security philosophy (Ubuntu forces sudo use by default and disables the root account), packages, and development, which don’t have much of an impact on the vast majority of users.

Conclusion

We always leave an option to our clients which distribution to choose. We recommend to check this CentOS vs Ubuntu article, check their requirements before ordering our VPS Hosting Plans.