StackShareStackShare
Follow on
StackShare

Discover and share technology stacks from companies around the world.

Follow on

© 2025 StackShare. All rights reserved.

Product

  • Stacks
  • Tools
  • Feed

Company

  • About
  • Contact

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  1. Stackups
  2. Application & Data
  3. Infrastructure as a Service
  4. Operating Systems
  5. Amazon Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Amazon Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux

OverviewComparisonAlternatives

Overview

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Stacks355
Followers236
Votes3
Amazon Linux
Amazon Linux
Stacks145
Followers149
Votes0

Amazon Linux vs Red Hat Enterprise Linux: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Amazon Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) are two popular operating systems used by businesses and individuals. Both are based on the Linux kernel but have some key differences in terms of features and support. In this markdown, we will discuss the main differences between Amazon Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

  1. Package Manager: One of the major differences between Amazon Linux and RHEL is their package managers. Amazon Linux uses the yum package manager, which is similar to RHEL's package manager, while RHEL uses the Red Hat package manager (RPM). However, Amazon Linux 2, the latest version, introduces the dnf package manager, which is a faster and improved version of yum.

  2. Support Model: Another key difference is their support models. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is known for its long-term support offered by Red Hat, which includes regular security updates and bug fixes. In contrast, Amazon Linux is primarily supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is more focused on providing support for running applications and services on the AWS platform.

  3. Default Software Versions: In terms of default software versions, Amazon Linux and RHEL also differ. Amazon Linux is designed to align with the AWS platform and includes specific versions of software packages that are optimized for use in AWS environments. On the other hand, RHEL typically includes more up-to-date software versions and provides a wider range of software packages in its repositories.

  4. Licensing: Both Amazon Linux and RHEL have different licensing models. Amazon Linux is an open-source operating system, with the source code freely available for users to modify and distribute. RHEL, on the other hand, is a commercial distribution with a subscription-based model, which provides customers with access to support and software updates.

  5. Security Updates: The frequency of security updates is another key difference between Amazon Linux and RHEL. RHEL frequently releases security updates to address vulnerabilities and ensure the system's security. In contrast, Amazon Linux typically includes the latest security updates as part of its Amazon Machine Images (AMIs), which are pre-configured virtual machines.

  6. Pricing: Lastly, there is a difference in pricing between Amazon Linux and RHEL. Amazon Linux is free to use and doesn't require a subscription, making it an attractive option for individuals and small businesses. RHEL, on the other hand, requires a subscription for access to support and software updates, which can be costly, especially for larger enterprises.

In Summary, Amazon Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux differ in terms of their package managers, support models, default software versions, licensing, security updates, and pricing.

Share your Stack

Help developers discover the tools you use. Get visibility for your team's tech choices and contribute to the community's knowledge.

View Docs
CLI (Node.js)
or
Manual

Detailed Comparison

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Amazon Linux
Amazon Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the industry-leading Linux that provides the foundation for next-generation architectures, with support for all major hardware platforms and thousands of commercial and custom applications.

The Amazon Linux AMI is a supported and maintained Linux image provided by Amazon Web Services for use on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2).

-
AWS Integration;Secure Configuration;Package Repository Access;Security Updates;Lightweight;AWS Support
Statistics
Stacks
355
Stacks
145
Followers
236
Followers
149
Votes
3
Votes
0
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 1
    Paid sense of security
  • 1
    Well known
  • 1
    Learning curve
Cons
  • 1
    Anaconda
  • 1
    Default Install is lvm
  • 1
    Packages have huge dependency trees
  • 1
    Glibc based with many complicated hacks
  • 1
    Subcription fees
No community feedback yet
Integrations
No integrations available
Amazon EC2
Amazon EC2

What are some alternatives to Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Amazon Linux?

Ubuntu

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning ‘humanity to others’. It also means ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. The Ubuntu operating system brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the world of computers.

Debian

Debian

Debian systems currently use the Linux kernel or the FreeBSD kernel. Linux is a piece of software started by Linus Torvalds and supported by thousands of programmers worldwide. FreeBSD is an operating system including a kernel and other software.

Arch Linux

Arch Linux

A lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that tries to Keep It Simple.

Fedora

Fedora

Fedora is a Linux-based operating system that provides users with access to the latest free and open source software, in a stable, secure and easy to manage form. Fedora is the largest of many free software creations of the Fedora Project. Because of its predominance, the word "Fedora" is often used interchangeably to mean both the Fedora Project and the Fedora operating system.

Linux Mint

Linux Mint

The purpose of Linux Mint is to produce a modern, elegant and comfortable operating system which is both powerful and easy to use.

CentOS

CentOS

The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused on delivering a robust open source ecosystem. For users, we offer a consistent manageable platform that suits a wide variety of deployments. For open source communities, we offer a solid, predictable base to build upon, along with extensive resources to build, test, release, and maintain their code.

Linux

Linux

A clone of the operating system Unix, written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX and Single UNIX Specification compliance.

CoreOS

CoreOS

It is designed for security, consistency, and reliability. Instead of installing packages via yum or apt, it uses Linux containers to manage your services at a higher level of abstraction. A single service's code and all dependencies are packaged within a container that can be run on one or many machines.

Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Linux

It is a free operating system based on either Linux or FreeBSD that can be automatically optimized and customized for just about any application or need.

Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux is a security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and busybox.

Related Comparisons

Bootstrap
Materialize

Bootstrap vs Materialize

Laravel
Django

Django vs Laravel vs Node.js

Bootstrap
Foundation

Bootstrap vs Foundation vs Material UI

Node.js
Spring Boot

Node.js vs Spring-Boot

Liquibase
Flyway

Flyway vs Liquibase