Windows Server 2012 Alternatives

Windows Server 2012 is described as 'codenamed "Windows Server 8", is the sixth release of Windows Server. It is the server version of Windows 8 and succeeds Windows Server 2008 R2. Two pre-release versions, a developer preview and a beta version, were released during development' and is a operating system in the network & admin category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Windows Server 2012 for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows, Self-Hosted, Amazon Web Services and CentOS apps. The best Windows Server 2012 alternative is Gentoo, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Windows Server 2012 are Red Hat Enterprise Linux, CentOS, Ubuntu Server and Rocky Linux.

Windows Server 2012 alternatives are mainly Operating Systems but may also be Linux Distros or Firewalls. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Windows Server 2012.

Windows Server 2012 alternatives page was last updated

Windows Server 2012

Paid • Proprietary
Operating System

Windows Server 2012, codenamed "Windows Server 8", is the sixth release of Windows Server. It is the server...

More about Windows Server 2012

Gentoo
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Operating System
Linux Distro
Linux
BSD
FreeBSD
221 Gentoo alternatives
Gentoo Linux is a versatile, fast, highly configurable and completely free Linux and FreeBSD distribution geared towards developers and network professionals.
- - Gentoo is the most popular Linux alternative to Windows Server 2012.
- - Gentoo is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Windows Server 2012.
Suggest and vote on features
Gentoo Features
1. Rolling ReleaseGentoo supports updates that are continuously rolled out, rather than in batches of versions.
Customizable
Linux-based
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Operating System
Linux Distro
Linux
221 Red Hat Enterprise Linux alternatives
Red Hat is the leader in development, deployment, and management of Linux and open source solutions for Internet infrastructure - ranging from embedded devices to secure Web servers. Red Hat was founded in 1994 by visionary entrepreneurs Bob Young and Marc Ewing.
- - Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the most popular commercial alternative to Windows Server 2012.
Suggest and vote on features
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Features
1. Command line interfaceRed Hat Enterprise Linux either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Linux-based
Unix kernel
CentOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Operating System
Linux
136 CentOS alternatives
CentOS is a community-supported, free and open source operating system based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux. It exists to provide a free enterprise class computing platform and strives to maintain 100% binary compatibility with its upstream distribution.
Suggest and vote on features
CentOS Features
Shell integration
Ubuntu Server
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Operating System
Linux
184 Ubuntu Server alternatives
The leading platform for scale-out computing, Ubuntu Server helps you make the most of your infrastructure. Whether you want to deploy an OpenStack cloud, a Hadoop cluster or a 50,000-node render farm, Ubuntu Server delivers the best value scale-out performance available.
Suggest and vote on features
Ubuntu Server Features
ARM support
Distribution
Rocky Linux
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Operating System
Linux Distro
Linux
157 Rocky Linux alternatives
Rocky Linux is a community enterprise operating system designed to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with America's top enterprise Linux distribution now that its downstream partner has shifted direction. It is under intensive development by the community.
Suggest and vote on features
Rocky Linux Features
1. LightweightRocky Linux consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Linux-based
Customizable
NethServer
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Mail Server
VPN Service
Linux
Self-Hosted
CentOS
13 NethServer alternatives
NethServer is a CentOS-based Linux distribution for servers. The product's main feature is a modular design which makes it simple to turn the distribution into a mail server and filter, web server, groupware, firewall, web filter, IPS/IDS or VPN server.
- - NethServer is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Windows Server 2012.
Suggest and vote on features
NethServer Features
1. OpenVPNNethServer supports OpenVPN, one of the most secure and reliable VPN protocols.
Active Directory integration
Gateway
Web filter
Linux-based
Zentyal
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Mail Server
Linux Distro
Linux
27 Zentyal alternatives
Zentyal is a native Microsoft Active Directory implementation on Linux incorporating all the network services required in a small and medium business environment: Directory & Domain Server, Mail Server, Gateway and Infrastructure Server.
Suggest and vote on features
Zentyal Features
Gateway
Member Directory
Web interface
Comments about Zentyal as a Alternative to Windows Server 2012
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
Zentyals original project was to build a Linux Windows AD server. That is not the case now, it is more an Exchange Mail clone.
Negative comment•
-2
ClearOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Firewall
Operating System
Mail Server
Linux
29 ClearOS alternatives
ClearOS is a family of operating systems for the enterprise, small business, and home. There are three editions to choose from depending on your needs and suitable to your abilities. They are: ClearOS Enterprise, ClearOS Home, and ClearOS Core.
Suggest and vote on features
ClearOS Features
1. Spam FilterClearOS can detect unsolicited, unwanted and virus-infected emails, calls, files, etc.
Web-Based
Gateway
PhpMyAdmin
AlmaLinux
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux
108 AlmaLinux alternatives
Launched with the code-name Project Lenix, AlmaLinux OS is an open-source, community-driven project that intends to fill the gap left by the demise of the CentOS stable release. AlmaLinux OS is a 1:1 binary compatible fork of RHEL® 8 and it is built by the creators of the...
Suggest and vote on features
AlmaLinux Features
Linux-based
Community-based
Customizable
SUSE Linux Enterprise
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Operating System
Linux Distro
Linux
165 SUSE Linux Enterprise alternatives
SUSE is the original provider of the enterprise Linux distribution and the most interoperable platform for mission-critical computing. It's the only Linux recommended by VMware, Microsoft and SAP. And it's supported on more hardware and software than any other enterprise...
Suggest and vote on features
SUSE Linux Enterprise Features
Security focused
Well documented
Linux-based
Unix-like
Univention Corporate Server
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Linux Distro
Operating System
Mac
Windows
Linux
92 Univention Corporate Server alternatives
Univention Corporate Server is a pre-configured platform to operate and manage server applications and complete IT infrastructures free of charge. It is optimal to provide Microsoft Server-like services on the cloud or on premises, to run and operate corporate IT environments...
- - Univention Corporate Server is the most popular Windows & Mac alternative to Windows Server 2012.
Suggest and vote on features
Univention Corporate Server Features
DHCP Server
Single Sign-On
Based on Debian
ARM support
Active Directory Migration
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Active Directory integration
SAML Single Sign-On
Support for Docker
LDAP Services
CoreOS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Operating System
Linux
93 CoreOS alternatives
CoreOS is a new Linux distribution that has been rearchitected to provide features needed to run modern infrastructure stacks. The strategies and architectures that influence CoreOS allow companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter to run their services at scale with high...
Suggest and vote on features
CoreOS Features
Linux-based