AlmaLinux gives you the RHEL platform (same ABI, same ten-year lifecycle, same ecosystem) for free. Red Hat charges four figures a year per server for the real thing. The interesting question isn't which is cheaper; it's what, precisely, the subscription buys and who actually needs those things. This guide itemises the answer: support SLAs, ISV certifications, live patching and lifecycle add-ons on one side; Alma's genuine independence perks (including drivers Red Hat dropped) on the other, plus the free 16-system Red Hat option most people forget exists.