CentOS vs Ubuntu: A Detailed Comparison in 2025

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Selecting a good Linux distribution becomes critical for developers, sys admins, businesses, and enterprises driven by the need for stability, performance, and security towards the year 2025. This year, Cent OS, like Ubuntu, has remained a formidable twin in the list of options available, each having distinct features that are geared to certain use cases. 

Though Cent OS has been repurposed as CentOS Stream now, it has been traditionally embraced by enterprises that demand reliability and compatibility with Red Hat; hence, Ubuntu has become remarkable because of simplicity, fast updates, and utmost community backing. This comparison will explain their differences: in performance, package management, security, and other use cases like VPS servers.

What is CentOS?

CentOS has long been an enterprise favorite because of its close relationship with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It started as an open-source, community-supported counterpart to RHEL, providing users with an affordable, solid, reliable platform for running servers and enterprise applications. It offered binary compatibility with RHEL, so this attracted businesses that were looking for no-frills enterprise security and performance without the licensing costs. 

However, in an important break, Red Hat in 2020 announced that traditional CentOS Linux would give way to CentOS Stream, a rolling-release distribution sitting between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux in the development pipeline.

This particular move towards CentOS Stream marked a very big change in the contest between CentOS and Ubuntu because CentOS was no longer a mere clone of RHEL; it was a continuously updated distribution. 

What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu, which is developed by Canonical, has developed into one of the most popular Linux distributions for personal computing and the enterprise environment. Ubuntu is based on a solid Debian architecture and focuses more on user-friendliness, eco-friendliness, and software compatibility. Unlike CentOS, which has always been focused on an enterprise crowd, Ubuntu reaches out to developers, cloud providers, and desktop users alike. 

Its Long-Term Support (LTS) versions are an ideal solution for businesses and servers needing reliability, as they get security and maintenance updates for five years.

Key Differences Between CentOS and Ubuntu

When contrasting CentOS against Ubuntu, getting acquainted with the fundamental differences between the two is necessary in making the right choice. One of the primary differences lies in the two distributions' release cycles and support models. 

CentOS vs. Ubuntu 2025 shows that CentOS Stream has moved to a rolling-release policy, meaning it would get continuous updates, while Ubuntu delivers regular and Long-Term Support (LTS) updates for a bit more stable distribution cycle. The package management systems also differ significantly: CentOS uses YUM/DNF, whereas Ubuntu uses APT. This impacts the CentOS vs. Ubuntu performance since the level of resource optimization and stability differs widely between the two distros. 

• Release Cycle and Support: CentOS Stream follows a rolling-release model, meaning updates are continuous and new features are integrated regularly. This makes it more dynamic but also potentially less stable for production environments. In contrast, Ubuntu offers both standard releases (every six months) and LTS versions (every two years), with the latter providing five years of security and maintenance updates, ensuring long-term reliability.
  
• Package Management: CentOS uses YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) and DNF (Dandified YUM) for managing software packages, both of which are RPM-based. These tools provide strong dependency resolution and are widely used in enterprise environments. Ubuntu, on the other hand, relies on APT (Advanced Package Tool), which is known for its ease of use and fast package installation.
  
• System Performance and Stability: CentOS vs Ubuntu performance varies based on workload and environment. CentOS Stream, being a rolling release, receives frequent updates that can sometimes introduce instability, making it less predictable for long-term deployments. Ubuntu, particularly its LTS versions, prioritizes stability and resource efficiency, making it a preferred choice for cloud computing and production servers.
  
• Security and Updates: CentOS Stream provides updates continuously, but security patches are integrated as part of a broader update cycle rather than as immediate, dedicated security patches. Ubuntu, however, has a dedicated security team that ensures timely patches, especially for LTS versions, making it a strong choice for security-focused deployments. 

Use Cases and Applications

When comparing CentOS vs Ubuntu 2025, it is important to identify the appropriate use case that both of them will serve before determining the best distribution to use. Traditionally, CentOS has been an option selected in enterprise environments meant for stable RHEL-compatible systems. 

It has been widely accessed and used in most corporate data centers, web hosting, and mission-critical business applications, and therefore, it has been seen as a trusted option for very many years. However, now that it has changed status with the shift to CentOS Stream, some users have expressed the desire to find alternative solutions. In contrast, the main selling point of Ubuntu has always been the fact that it is readily adaptable and hence growing, from cloud computing to software development to desktop use. 

• CentOS for Enterprise Servers and Hosting: CentOS has traditionally been the preferred choice for businesses that require a robust, RHEL-compatible operating system. Many organizations use CentOS for web hosting, database management, and enterprise applications due to its stability and compatibility with enterprise-grade software.
  
• CentOS for RHEL Compatibility: One of the main reasons businesses chose CentOS was its binary compatibility with RHEL, allowing them to deploy enterprise software without licensing costs. While CentOS Stream now acts as a rolling pre-release for RHEL, it still provides an opportunity for developers and administrators to test applications in an environment closely tied to Red Hat's ecosystem.
  
• Ubuntu for Cloud Deployments: In the CentOS vs Ubuntu comparison, Ubuntu is the dominant force in cloud computing. Its lightweight design, compatibility with cloud-native tools like Kubernetes and Docker, and widespread support from cloud providers such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure make it a top choice for scalable cloud applications.
  
• Ubuntu for Development Environments: Developers prefer Ubuntu due to its rich software repositories, ease of package management with APT, and compatibility with various programming languages and frameworks. It provides an ideal environment for coding, testing, and deploying applications.
  
• Ubuntu for Desktop Usage: Unlike CentOS, which is mainly focused on servers, Ubuntu has a strong presence in the desktop market. With its user-friendly interface, extensive driver support, and frequent updates, Ubuntu is widely used by individuals, educational institutions, and businesses. 

Migration Considerations Post-CentOS 7 EOL

With the End of Life (EOL) of CentOS 7 coming in June 2024, many users are now starting to consider their migration options. The shift to CentOS Stream has confused many enterprise users since, unlike the mature stability offered by CentOS 7, CentOS Stream is a rolling release. 

The CentOS vs Ubuntu comparison has forced most organizations to reconsider their dependence on CentOS, looking into other solutions that will give them long-term, stable, and secure updates. 

Migration from CentOS 7 requires careful planning because software compatibility, security policies, and differences in package management can present issues for performance. Below is the guide that helps users through this transition.

• Challenges of Moving Away from CentOS 7: Transitioning from CentOS 7 to another OS can be complex, particularly for businesses with deeply integrated enterprise applications. Compatibility with existing software, security policies, and system administration workflows must be evaluated. Additionally, CentOS Stream’s rolling updates may introduce unexpected changes, making it less suitable for mission-critical workloads.
  
• Alternative RHEL-Based Distributions: For those who want to maintain RHEL compatibility, alternatives such as AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux offer a seamless transition. These distributions provide the same stability that CentOS 7 once did, with long-term support and an enterprise-ready environment. They serve as direct, drop-in replacements, ensuring minimal disruption to existing infrastructures.
  
• Considering Ubuntu as a Migration Option: Many businesses are now looking at CentOS vs Ubuntu for servers as they move away from CentOS 7. Ubuntu LTS versions offer a predictable release cycle, frequent security patches, and extensive community and enterprise support.
  
• Migration Best Practices: Before migrating, it’s crucial to conduct a thorough assessment of system dependencies, perform testing in a controlled environment, and establish a rollback plan in case of issues.

Conclusions

Each distribution has its specific advantages when it comes to CentOS vs Ubuntu. CentOS has incompletely transitioned to the rolling-release model, making it now better for development environments rather than traditional production servers, as it has transitioned to CentOS Stream as of now. 

Meanwhile, Ubuntu has risen in cloud hosting, desktop usage, and enterprise deployment aspects since it has far outpaced the other in terms of LTS-related predictable releases and even security updates. 

So, as organizations consider whether to go with CentOS or Ubuntu in 2025, factors of chief considerations have to include stability, package management, and security. Whichever route organizations now plan to undertake, whether going on with CentOS Stream, migrating to another RHEL-based alternative, or switching to Ubuntu-they must carefully strategize how they execute the changes for success in the long term.