The software you need to run usually decides it. Linux carries no licence fee and idles in a few hundred megabytes, so a Linux VPS with 2 GB of RAM starts at $3.00 a month in our catalog (prices checked October 21, 2026). Windows Server adds a licence the provider passes on and wants about 2 GB for itself, so a Windows plan of the same usefulness needs a bigger and pricier server
The choice is about your software
Before comparing prices, list what has to run on the server. Some applications exist on one platform only, and that fact often settles the decision:
- needs Windows: ASP.NET Framework apps, MSSQL Server, Microsoft Access, Windows-only accounting or ERP packages, desktop software that has to run around the clock
- runs best on Linux: Nginx or Apache, PHP, Python, Node.js, MySQL or PostgreSQL, Docker, most bots and APIs
Modern .NET runs on Linux too, so a new .NET project is no longer a reason for Windows on its own
Remote Desktop or SSH
Windows is managed mostly through a graphical Remote Desktop session, which feels familiar if you live in Windows already. Linux is managed over SSH on the command line, which is lighter and easy to script but assumes you are at home in a terminal. Neither is harder in the abstract, and matching the one you know saves time. If you want a graphical shortcut on Linux, a free control panel covers the routine work
Windows costs more in licence and in memory
Windows Server carries a licence fee, and providers either add it to the plan price or sell separate Windows plans. The system also needs more resources to sit idle: plan on at least 2 GB of RAM for Windows itself, 4 GB for anything useful on top
Put in money, on our catalog prices:
| Workload | Linux plan | Price | Windows needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small website or bot | RackNerd KVM 2 GB, 2 vCPU | $3.00, billed yearly | 4 GB plan plus licence |
| Web app with a database | Hostman Cloud 4, 2 vCPU, 4 GB | $10.00 | 6-8 GB plan plus licence |
| Busy database | Hostman Cloud 5, 4 vCPU, 8 GB | $22.00 | 8-16 GB plan plus licence |
Linux prices checked October 21, 2026. Windows licence charges differ by provider, check the plan page before ordering
A Windows server for the same job typically lands one size up and adds the licence on top, so budget at least twice the Linux price. That is fine when the software needs Windows, and money wasted when it does not
When Windows is the right call
Windows earns its place when the software demands it or the team works in the Microsoft ecosystem: an ASP.NET Framework application, MSSQL Server, a Windows-only ERP or accounting package, or anything that expects a desktop. Remote Desktop also makes hands-on tasks easy for people who do not want to learn Linux. Give a Windows box more memory headroom than the same workload on Linux
For most projects Linux wins on price and choice
For most websites, apps, APIs, bots and databases, Linux is the default: no licence, lower memory overhead, a huge ecosystem of free software and fine-grained control. Almost every plan on our cheap VPS list is Linux. Paired with an unmanaged plan, it keeps costs lowest, a trade-off covered in the managed vs unmanaged guide
How to decide
- List the software that must run. If any of it is Windows-only, choose Windows
- If not, choose Linux, Ubuntu or Debian are the common defaults
- Size the server by the workload, see how much RAM a VPS needs, and add 2 GB for Windows
- Shortlist providers with the calculator for your budget and location
Frequently asked questions
Is a Windows VPS more expensive than Linux?
Yes. The Windows Server licence adds to the plan price, and Windows needs more RAM, so the same workload usually needs a bigger plan. Budget about twice the Linux price
Can I run .NET on a Linux VPS?
Modern .NET runs on Linux. Older ASP.NET Framework apps and MSSQL Server setups usually need Windows
How much RAM does a Windows VPS need?
At least 2 GB for the system itself, and 4 GB or more for anything useful on top of it
How do I connect to a Windows VPS?
Through Remote Desktop (RDP) from Windows, macOS or a mobile app. A Linux VPS is managed over SSH
Can I switch a VPS from Linux to Windows later?
Usually by reinstalling the system or ordering a new plan, which erases the disk. Back up first and plan it as a migration