Here are three Linux distros that have taken CentOS’s place in the landscape.

In 2020, Red Hat made significant changes to CentOS, leading to a situation where many servers lost their free and stable operating system foundation following CentOS 7’s end of life in June 2024. Currently, three distributions have emerged to fill this void, each with its own unique approach. Here’s a comparison of CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux, highlighting what they offer administrators today.

CentOS Stream

The upstream counterpart that adopted the CentOS label

It’s important to acknowledge CentOS Stream, which remains linked to the CentOS name and has undergone a significant shift in purpose. On December 8, 2020, the CentOS Project announced the discontinuation of CentOS Linux, opting instead for Stream. The original CentOS Linux 8 reached its end of life on December 31, 2021, much earlier than the anticipated date of 2029. Likewise, CentOS Linux 7 met its end on June 30, 2024, and as of now, no versions of CentOS Linux are receiving updates.

The distinction between CentOS Stream and its predecessor lies in their respective roles within Red Hat’s ecosystem. CentOS Linux served as a rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) released after the official RHEL launch. In contrast, CentOS Stream functions as the upstream development branch from which upcoming minor RHEL releases are derived. It allows developers and teams to view upcoming changes prior to their incorporation into RHEL.

However, this upstream position presents limitations for those seeking a direct substitute. CentOS Stream functions as a continuously updated preview rather than a stable release, leading to potential instability for production systems. Moreover, its lifecycle is shorter than that of a traditional RHEL version, with CentOS Stream 9 reaching its end of life on May 31, 2027, followed by Stream 10 on May 31, 2030.

Despite being free, Stream is particularly well-suited for development environments and continuous integration processes. Yet, for those requiring the stability previously offered by CentOS Linux, Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux might be more appropriate options. Thus, Stream can be seen primarily as a successor to the CentOS brand rather than a true replacement for the CentOS experience.

Rocky Linux

Rocky Linux was established by Gregory Kurtzer, a co-founder of CentOS, shortly after Red Hat’s changes in 2020. Its primary aim is to uphold the original mission of CentOS: to provide a free, community-driven, binary-compatible rebuild of RHEL. The first beta of Rocky Linux was released on April 30, 2021, followed by the stable version 8.4 on June 21, 2021.

The governance of this project is overseen by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation, a Delaware-based public-benefit corporation created by Kurtzer. Organizations seeking commercial support can rely on CIQ, maintaining access to service-level agreements without straying from the free distribution. Rocky closely mirrors Red Hat’s release schedule, with Rocky Linux 10.0 launched on June 11, 2025, and the subsequent 10.2 version on May 28, 2026, both expected to be supported until 2035.

Difficulties arose when Red Hat ceased openly publishing RHEL source code, forcing Rocky to find alternative sources for that code—a hurdle that underscored its dependency on upstream resources. Nonetheless, Rocky has continued to deliver timely releases.

Another practical consideration is hardware compatibility. Rocky Linux 10 aligns with RHEL 10’s requirement for newer processors, which means older CPUs predating Intel’s Haswell generation are not supported.

For those transitioning from CentOS, the project offers a migration tool called migrate2rocky, facilitating in-place conversions for CentOS 8 systems, while the rocky-tools suite assists with conversions from AlmaLinux and Oracle Linux. As such, Rocky is an ideal option for teams looking for a faithful continuation of the original CentOS philosophy.

AlmaLinux

The first to launch, supported by a nonprofit foundation

AlmaLinux was the first alternative to CentOS to achieve a stable release. Developed by CloudLinux, the beta was released on February 1, 2021, followed by the first stable version on March 30, 2021, allowing it to gain traction among users needing a rapid migration from CentOS 8. It is now maintained by the non-profit AlmaLinux OS Foundation, ensuring an independent governance structure.

While AlmaLinux follows a release schedule similar to Rocky’s, it emphasizes Application Binary Interface (ABI) compatibility instead of aiming for a bug-for-bug clone of RHEL. AlmaLinux 10.0 launched on May 27, 2025, slightly ahead of Rocky’s release, with the 10.2 version coming out on May 26, 2026. This series is also projected to receive support until 2035.

One of AlmaLinux’s strengths is its hardware adaptability. The default build of AlmaLinux 10 targets newer processors but also includes a separate build for older x86-64-v2 CPUs, along with EPEL packages tailored for that architecture—making it a valuable option for organizations operating with aging hardware.

Migrations are well-supported as well. The almalinux-deploy tool can convert CentOS, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux, and even CentOS Stream installations into AlmaLinux without needing a fresh installation. The ELevate project also facilitates transitions between major versions, although moving directly from CentOS 8 to AlmaLinux 8 is the most straightforward path, with upgrades to version 9 or 10 requiring ELevate or a clean install.

In terms of hosting, AlmaLinux has been recommended for new cPanel servers in various 2026 comparison guides, particularly because Rocky Linux is no longer compatible.

Three options, one clear distinction

CentOS Stream caters to those wishing to preview the future of RHEL, while Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux provide a stable RHEL-like environment without the associated costs. Decision-making between Rocky and AlmaLinux often hinges on hardware requirements, hosting preferences, and the governance model best suited to the organization.