| Factor | AlmaLinux | Rocky Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Founded and initially sponsored by CloudLinux | Founded by a co-founder of the original CentOS project |
| Governance | Nonprofit foundation model | Community-driven, backed by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation |
| RHEL compatibility | Binary-compatible with RHEL | Binary-compatible with RHEL |
| Cost | Free and open-source | Free and open-source |
| Common use case | Enterprise workloads, cPanel/WHM hosting | Enterprise workloads, CentOS migrations |
Because both distributions track RHEL closely and receive similar update cadences, the practical difference for most self-managed workloads is small. If a specific control panel or piece of software officially certifies one over the other for your target version, that's usually the more useful deciding factor than a general preference between the two projects.
Yes, both are free, open-source distributions with no licensing cost, unlike RHEL itself.
Yes, both are designed as CentOS successors with migration tooling available, though testing your specific configuration is recommended.
Check cPanel's current officially supported operating systems list, since certification can change between versions.
Yes, every plan includes full root access regardless of which RHEL-compatible distribution you choose.
Full root access on every plan — starting at $4.95/month.
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