Software Alternatives & Startups

MATE VS CloudLinux

Compare MATE VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

MATE

The MATE Desktop Environment is the continuation of GNOME 2. It provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using traditional metaphors for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

Rating
0 reviews
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
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Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

MATE
CloudLinux
Website mate-desktop.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

MATE 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    MATE provides a simple and intuitive interface, which is especially appealing to users who are familiar with traditional desktop environments. It mimics the look and feel of GNOME 2, making it easy for new users to adapt.
  • Lightweight Performance
    The MATE desktop environment is designed to be less resource-intensive compared to other contemporary desktop environments, which makes it suitable for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
  • Highly Customizable
    MATE allows for a high degree of customization, enabling users to tailor the desktop environment to their personal preferences, from panel configurations to themes and extensions.
  • Active Development
    MATE is actively maintained and developed, ensuring regular updates, security patches, and new features that keep the environment modern and compatible with the latest software.
  • Stable and Reliable
    As a fork of GNOME 2, MATE has a well-established codebase that emphasizes stability and reliability, making it a solid choice for users who value consistency in their desktop environment.

Possible disadvantages

  • Less Modern Features
    While MATE is stable and reliable, it may lack some of the modern features and visual effects found in more contemporary desktop environments, which could be a downside for users seeking the latest desktop innovations.
  • Community and Support
    Although MATE has an active development team, it may not have as vast a community or as many resources for troubleshooting and support as more popular desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.
  • Default Appearance
    The default appearance of MATE might feel dated to some users who prefer a more modern or sleek design, though this can be mitigated through customization.
  • Limited Integration with Cutting-edge Technologies
    MATE may have limited integration with the latest technologies and applications compared to other desktop environments that prioritize early adoption of new features and standards.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

MATE
CloudLinux

No analysis of MATE yet.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

MATE 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Mate Endurance PE Treatment - Two Month Review

More videos

  • - Yerba Mate Review- The Next Drink Craze?
  • - Ubuntu MATE 20.04 Review: MATE Has Never Been This Better

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
MATE
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

MATE no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

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Alternatives to MATE and CloudLinux

When comparing MATE and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.

  • Xfce

    Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.

    Compare Xfce to MATE or CloudLinux:

  • GNOME

    An easy and elegant way to use your computer, GNOME is designed to put you in control and get things done.

    Compare GNOME to MATE or CloudLinux:

  • LXDE

    Why will you like it? Less resource needs. You can use it on your less-pricey embedded board or salvaged computer. Component-based design. Don't want something in LXDE, or you don't want to use LXDE but only part of it?

    Compare LXDE to MATE or CloudLinux:

  • LXQt

    The LXQt team is proud to announce the release of qtermwidget and qterminal, both in version 0. 8. 0. Read more..

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  • KDE Plasma Desktop

    Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE.

    Compare KDE Plasma Desktop to MATE or CloudLinux:

  • KDE

    The KDE® Community is a free software community dedicated to creating an open and user-friendly computing experience, offering an advanced graphical desktop, a wide variety of applications for communication, work, education and entertainment and …

    Compare KDE to MATE or CloudLinux: