The openSUSE distribution is a stable, easy to use and complete multi-purpose Linux distribution. It is aimed towards users and developers working on the desktop or server. It is great for beginners, experienced users and ultra geeks alike, in short, it is perfect for everybody!
Highlights
Stable Linux Distribution with over 10 thousand packages at your disposal
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The openSUSE Leap operating system software is free, so you pay no software charge. Pricing is organized by the ARM-based EC2 instance you run it on, billed hourly. Each dimension maps to a specific instance type and size, from small general-purpose options to compute, memory, storage, and GPU-optimized families, up to bare metal. Hourly rates scale with instance size and family. You choose the instance that fits your workload, and your cost tracks the hours you run. There is no upfront commitment or term contract for the software itself.
Top-of-mind questions for buyers
What resources determine my hourly rate across these instance dimensions?
Your rate maps to the specific ARM-based EC2 instance you launch. Each dimension reflects a family and size, covering general-purpose, compute, memory, storage, and GPU-optimized types, plus bare metal options. Larger sizes and specialized families carry higher hourly rates, so the resource spec you pick sets your cost.
Am I charged for the software when an instance is stopped?
The software itself is free, so no software fee accrues at all, whether running or stopped. Charges here reflect the hourly instance rate you selected. Stopped instances do not accrue instance-hour charges, though underlying AWS storage fees may still apply separately.
Is this pay-as-you-go, or do I commit to a term?
This is pay-as-you-go. You are billed by the hour for the instance you run, with no upfront payment and no term contract for the software. The software carries no charge. Your cost tracks the hours each instance runs and stops when you stop the instance.
www.opensuse.org
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An AMI is a virtual image that provides the information required to launch an instance. Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) instances are virtual servers on which you can run your applications and workloads, offering varying combinations of CPU, memory, storage, and networking resources. You can launch as many instances from as many different AMIs as you need.
Version release notes
openSUSE Leap 16.0 is the latest stable Linux distribution provided by the openSUSE Community.
Additional details
Usage instructions
Once the instance is running, connect to it using a Secure Shell (SSH) client as ec2-user and the configured SSH key. The standard openSUSE repositories are pre-configured.
AWS Support is a one-on-one, fast-response support channel that is staffed 24x7x365 with experienced and technical support engineers. The service helps customers of all sizes and technical abilities to successfully utilize the products and features provided by Amazon Web Services.
This product has charges associated with it for configuration of ClamAV antivirus. SmartAMI openSUSE Leap 16 with ClamAV Antivirus. SmartAMI upgrades it periodically so it includes newest available packages.
I use openSUSE Leap as the operating system on my PC and really appreciate its safety features. Being based on Linux, I find it much safer to operate than Windows or even MacOS. The initial setup is also very straightforward nowadays, which is a plus.
What do you dislike about the product?
All good.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I use openSUSE Leap for its security and cost efficiency. Being Linux-based, it's much safer to operate than Windows or MacOS.
Kuldeep V.
Rock-Solid Stability and Easy Configuration with YaST
Reviewed on Apr 02, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
What I like the most about openSUSE Leap is its stability and reliability. It just works without random crashes or weird issues, which is honestly a big relief compared to some other distros I’ve tried.
Another thing I really appreciate is YaST—it makes system configuration much easier, especially for things like network settings, software management, and system updates. You don’t always have to depend on the terminal for everything.
Also, the overall system feels well-optimized and consistent. It’s not flashy, but it’s solid and dependable, which matters more in the long run.
What do you dislike about the product?
One thing I didn’t like much is that it can feel a bit less beginner-friendly compared to other distros. Sometimes even simple things take a bit more effort to figure out, especially if you’re new to Linux.
Also, the software availability isn’t always straightforward. You sometimes have to add extra repositories to get certain packages, which can be slightly annoying.
And honestly, the system can feel a bit old or less cutting-edge at times since it focuses more on stability than having the latest features. That’s good in one way, but it can also feel a bit limiting.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
For me, openSUSE Leap mainly solves the problem of system instability and unexpected breakages. I’ve used other distros where updates sometimes mess things up, but with Leap, updates feel safe and predictable. That gives a lot of peace of mind.
It also helps with system management. Tools like YaST make it easier to configure things without digging too deep into command-line stuff every time, which saves time and effort.
Another benefit is in a work/dev setup—it provides a reliable environment where I don’t have to constantly fix issues. I can just focus on my work instead of worrying about the system breaking after an update.
Christopher D.
User-Friendly, Low-Spec Compatible OS
Reviewed on Feb 04, 2026
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
I love openSUSE Leap for its nice UI, which is more pleasing to the eye than many Linux distros. It's great that it's open-source, and I find it easy to use. The initial setup was easy for me as well. It's a free OS that runs smoothly on a relatively low spec machine, which fits perfectly for programming on my old laptop.
What do you dislike about the product?
My technical knowledge of Linux is relatively low, and at times I struggled with getting some development tools set up through the command line. However, I think that's a Linux and/or personal issue rather than an issue with the software.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
OpenSUSE Leap is a free OS that runs well on a relatively low spec machine.
Hla Bhone A.
Hands-On with openSUSE Leap – Pros, Cons, and Real-World Use
Reviewed on Jul 28, 2025
Review provided by G2
What do you like best about the product?
What I really like about openSUSE Leap is how stable and reliable it feels. The YaST tool is super handy — it makes things like system updates or network setup way easier, even if you’re not a command-line expert. It’s a solid choice that just works without much hassle.
What do you dislike about the product?
Some software isn’t as up-to-date, and the community feels smaller compared to other distros like Ubuntu.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
What problems is openSUSE Leap solving and how is that benefiting you?
Nagendra Kavadi
Provides BTRFS file system, which allows you to take snapshots
Reviewed on Jun 17, 2024
Review provided by PeerSpot
What is our primary use case?
I use openSUSE Leap for testing purposes. Before officially using any server in our office, we test it using the solution. My office usually uses production servers on the SUSE Linux enterprise version. Before that, I'll use those products in openSUSE Leap and get them tested.
What is most valuable?
The solution's most valuable feature is the BTRFS file system, which allows you to take snapshots. If I want to do some patching activity where I need a restore point, I can use this feature as a restore point to roll back.
What needs improvement?
Both openSUSE Leap and the SUSE Enterprise version use the same kernel. Suppose I have a lower environment where I can run openSUSE to test all my products. It would be helpful if I could easily switch to SUSE Linux Enterprise for production. It would be helpful if we could easily switch from openSUSE Leap for testing to SUSE Linux Enterprise for production.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using openSUSE Leap for the last three years.
How are customer service and support?
We post our questions and doubts on the portal and receive help within a day or two.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Red Hat is costlier than openSUSE Leap.
How was the initial setup?
The solution’s initial setup is straightforward.
On a scale from one to ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy, I rate the solution’s initial setup an eight out of ten.
What about the implementation team?
It took me almost 30 to 40 minutes to deploy the solution.
What was our ROI?
The solution has saved our organization time and cost.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
openSUSE Leap is an open-source solution that is free of cost.
What other advice do I have?
I only use the tool for testing purposes on my team, but multiple people use it. We don't make a team effort to install the solution. When it comes to maintenance, we ask our company to buy SUSE Linux Enterprise. My team consists of 13 people.
We are currently integrating the solution with Ansible to do some coding. Although not a full-fledged automation, we are integrating the solution with Ansible and executing a couple of playbooks connected to openSUSE Leap. I would recommend the solution to other users looking for an open-source solution.