Amazon Linux vs OmniOS
Amazon Linux
aws.amazon.comOmniOS
omnios.orgSide by side
| Figure | Amazon Linux | OmniOS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $41.67/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Server Operating System | 8.0 (#5) | 7.9 (#7) |
| Spec score · Operating Systems | 8.0 (#14) | 8.0 (#15) |
| Updates | AL2023 locks AMIs and container images to a specific package repository version for deterministic behavior, while allowing customers to select when they take updates. | OmniOS provides digitally signed package updates; LTS releases receive updates for three years. |
Plans
In their own words
Amazon Linux
Amazon Linux is AWS’s portfolio of Linux-based operating systems for EC2 instances and Docker container workloads. Amazon Linux 2023 is an RPM-based general-purpose distribution designed for AWS integration and cloud scale. It is optimized for EC2 and works with Systems Manager and the AWS CLI. Versioned repositories lock machine images and container images to a package state while letting customers choose when to update. AWS provides an EC2 image launchable from the console, SDK or CLI, plus container images usable outside AWS, including local development. The distribution supports x86-64 and 64-bit ARM architectures, including Graviton2 or later on EC2, and uses DNF. AL2023 offers configurable SELinux and cryptographic policies, kernel live patching, and five years of support through June 2029. Amazon Linux 2027 is available as a public preview for non-production testing, with separate support limits.