1. Licensing: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) follows a subscription-based licensing model, where users need to purchase a subscription to receive updates and support. On the other hand, Talos is freely available and open source, allowing users to access updates and support without any subscription fees.
2. Architecture: RHEL is built on a more traditional Linux distribution model, offering a stable and reliable platform for enterprise environments. In contrast, Talos is focused on a modern, container-centric architecture, using technologies like CoreOS and Kubernetes to optimize for cloud-native applications.
3. Package Management: RHEL uses the RPM package manager for software installation and updates, a common choice in many Linux distributions. Talos, however, utilizes the Container Linux Update Operator (Clutch) for managing updates, providing an automated and streamlined process for maintaining system integrity.
4. Security Focus: While both RHEL and Talos prioritize security, Talos places a particular emphasis on security measures such as secure boot, automatic updates, and read-only root file system to enhance protection against threats and attacks. This security-first approach sets Talos apart as a highly secure operating system.
5. Community Support: RHEL benefits from a large and active community of users and contributors, providing extensive documentation, forums, and resources for assistance. Talos, being a newer project, has a growing community but may have more limited support options compared to the well-established ecosystem around RHEL.
6. Target Audience: RHEL is geared towards enterprises and organizations requiring a stable, certified platform for mission-critical workloads. Talos, on the other hand, is tailored for cloud-native environments, focusing on scalability, agility, and ease of management for modern applications.

In Summary, Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Talos differ in their licensing model, architecture, package management, security focus, community support, and target audience.