Software Alternatives & Startups

PureOS VS CloudLinux

Compare PureOS VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

PureOS

A user friendly, secure and freedom respecting OS for your daily usage

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
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, PureOS seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 15 times since March 2021.

social mentions
15 vs 0
Mobile OS popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

PureOS
CloudLinux
Website pureos.net cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

PureOS 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Privacy-focused
    PureOS is designed with privacy and security in mind, providing users with an operating system that prioritizes data protection and minimizes data collection.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, PureOS allows users to inspect and modify the code, fostering transparency and community-driven development.
  • Linux-based
    As a Linux-based OS, PureOS benefits from a stable and mature foundation, along with access to a wide range of software packages available in the Linux ecosystem.
  • User-friendly interface
    PureOS comes with a clean and modern user interface, making it accessible for both new and experienced users.
  • PureOS Store
    The OS includes the PureOS Store, which offers a variety of free and open-source applications that are curated for security and privacy.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited hardware compatibility
    PureOS may not be compatible with all hardware out of the box, potentially requiring additional effort or technical knowledge to get certain devices working.
  • Smaller user community
    Compared to more popular operating systems, PureOS has a smaller user base, which might limit community support and the availability of forums for troubleshooting.
  • Application availability
    While many common applications have alternatives available on PureOS, some specific applications may not be supported, limiting options for users dependent on those applications.
  • Performance trade-offs
    Focusing on privacy and security may lead to some performance trade-offs, such as slower updates or additional processes running in the background for security measures.
  • 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.

PureOS
CloudLinux

No analysis of PureOS 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.

PureOS 2 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

PureOS 8.0 - Based on Debian 10 Buster and Using GNOME 3.30 as Default Desktop Environment

More videos

  • - Is PureOS Really a Secure and Private OS?

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
PureOS
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using PureOS and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

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

PureOS no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of CloudLinux yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

PureOS 15 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • A new Android malware from Google
    - https://sailfishos.org - https://docs.sailfishos.org/Support/Supported_Devices They have few devices of their own (new one coming out this October) and they officially support many Sony Xperia devices. There are also many community... - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Alternative Laptop Manufacturers
    Purism is located in USA. They are selling open-source friendly smartphones, laptops, tablets and desktops. They also have created their own Linux distribution based on Debian called PureOS (see distrowatch). - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Laptops with Linux
    Librem 14 by Purism, can't recall the specifics for this one; sorry*. I do remember that we owe PureOS to them. Source: over 3 years ago

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to PureOS and CloudLinux

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