CentOS Stream
CentOS Stream is a Linux distribution that tracks development just ahead of RHEL, between Fedora Linux and RHEL.
What CentOS Stream is
CentOS Stream is a Linux distribution that tracks development just ahead of RHEL, between Fedora Linux and RHEL. The project presents it as a platform for participating in the RHEL ecosystem. It can serve as a production operating system, a development environment or a preview of the next minor RHEL release. Derived from Fedora Linux, its development is open to contributors. The project states that a new major version arrives every three years and each release is maintained for five years; CentOS Stream 10 is listed as maintained until 2030, while CentOS Stream 9 reaches end of life on May 31, 2027. Downloads include ISOs, RPMs, cloud images, container images and Vagrant boxes. Listed architectures include x86_64, ARM64, IBM Power and IBM Z, with supported generations varying by release. It can run on servers, workstations, cloud instances and containers, with DNF repositories and package management. Legacy CentOS versions are no longer maintained and are kept in CentOS Vault for historical purposes. The distribution is free to download.
Good
- Development is open to contributions.
- Available as cloud and container images.
- Supports several listed hardware architectures.
- DNF repositories and package management are built in.
Watch out
- Legacy CentOS versions are no longer maintained.
- CentOS Stream 9 reaches end of life on May 31, 2027.
- Supported hardware generations vary by release.
Who it suits
CentOS Stream suits users who want a Linux environment for production, development or previewing upcoming RHEL minor releases. It also provides ways to contribute through documentation, QA, testing, coding and other project work.
Verdict
CentOS Stream offers a free platform positioned between Fedora Linux and RHEL, with multiple deployment formats. Check the maintenance status of the particular release before relying on it.
Plans and prices
From CentOS Stream's own pricing page, checked 29 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| CentOS Stream | Free | Free software distribution · available for download |
The facts
Each one read from CentOS Stream's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Architecture support
- Downloads are listed for x86_64, ARM64 (aarch64), IBM Power (ppc64le), and IBM Z (s390x).checked 29 Sep 2026
- Cloud and containers
- The project provides cloud images and says official images are available through Amazon Web Services, Quay Registry, and Docker Registry.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Community contributions
- The project invites contributions through documentation, QA, testing, SIG coding, mirroring or hosting, and helping other users.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Delivery formats
- The download page lists ISOs, RPMs, cloud images, container images, and Vagrant boxes.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Development
- CentOS Stream is derived from Fedora Linux, and its development is open to all.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Notable limitation
- The download page says legacy CentOS versions are no longer maintained and are available from CentOS Vault for historical purposes.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Product
- CentOS Stream is a continuously delivered Linux distribution that tracks just ahead of RHEL development, between Fedora Linux and RHEL.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- The project describes CentOS Stream as a platform for participating and collaborating in the RHEL ecosystem.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Release cadence
- The project says CentOS Stream has a new major version every three years, with each release maintained for five years.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Special Interest Groups
- CentOS SIGs produce variant editions and alternative images, develop and package software, and support the project with non-technical activities.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Support and maintenance
- The project says CentOS Stream updates are maintained by the RHEL team and are intended for RHEL.checked 29 Sep 2026
- Use cases
- CentOS Stream can serve as a production operating system, a development environment, or a preview of the next minor RHEL release.checked 29 Sep 2026
Alternatives to CentOS Stream
- 1
AlmaLinux OS
Free planOpen sourceAPILinuxSelf-hostedWindows7.1Free plan - 2
Nix
Free planLinuxmacOSSelf-hostedWindows6.7Free plan - 3
Ubuntu Server
Free planLinuxSelf-hosted6.6From $25 a year - 4
OmniOS
Free planLinuxSelf-hosted6.5From $500 a year - 5
FreeBSD gpart
Free planSelf-hosted6.4Free plan - 6
Rocky Linux
Free planLinuxSelf-hostedWindows6.1Free plan