What Are the Best CentOS 8 Alternatives in 2022? A Practical Guide

Introduction

CentOS 8 reached end‑of‑life at the end of 2021 and is no longer community‑supported. Its successor, CentOS Stream, tracks upstream RHEL changes, while CentOS 7 remains supported until 2024.

If you are still using CentOS 8, you need a replacement in 2022; the article lists several viable options.

Best Alternatives to CentOS 8 Linux

1. Ubuntu/Debian

Ubuntu LTS releases are the first choice for many migrating from CentOS. Ubuntu’s APT package manager is fast and easy to use, and the distribution benefits from a large community with abundant tutorials and guides. The current LTS version is 22.04, supported until 2025, with optional paid extensions to 2030. Standard Ubuntu releases appear every six months with nine‑month support.

2. Oracle Linux

Oracle Linux is the closest RPM‑based alternative to CentOS 8. It is free and open‑source, but paid support is available. Built from RHEL source code, it offers early security updates and allows a seamless migration of applications from CentOS 8.

3. openSUSE

openSUSE is a versatile Linux distribution with a smaller community than Ubuntu or CentOS. It uses the ZYpp package manager (command‑line) and YaST as a graphical front‑end, alongside RPM. Minor releases appear annually, with major releases roughly every 3‑4 years.

4. AlmaLinux (CloudLinux)

AlmaLinux, derived from CloudLinux, aims to be a 1:1 binary‑compatible, community‑driven fork of RHEL 8. It will receive stable, well‑tested updates through 2029, providing a free, enterprise‑grade OS for hosting providers and VPS users.

5. Rocky Linux

Rocky Linux, created by a CentOS co‑founder, is a 100 % compatible RHEL clone. It offers a ten‑year support lifecycle, free community support, and easy migration tools for moving from other Enterprise Linux distributions.

6. VzLinux

VzLinux is Virtuozzo’s internal distribution for containers and VMs. It is a free, multi‑purpose OS optimized for bare‑metal, virtual, or container workloads, providing rapid RHEL‑compatible updates and a “no‑downtime” migration path from CentOS.

7. Springdale Linux

Formerly PUIAS Linux, Springdale Linux is built from RHEL source packages and includes additional repositories. It is maintained by academic institutions and offers a stable alternative, though it is older than CentOS.

Conclusion

If you run workloads on Amazon Cloud, Amazon Linux is available; Google Cloud offers all major options. CentOS 7 remains supported until 2024, so there is no immediate pressure to switch. For desktop users, migrating CentOS 8 repositories to CentOS Stream provides regular updates, while server users can consider Ubuntu, Debian, Oracle Linux, openSUSE, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, VzLinux, or Springdale Linux.