Windows VPS vs Linux VPS. What is the difference?

With the constant development of technology, hosting has become an integral part of our lives. Be it a website or an online application, everything requires it to be hosted on the Internet.

However, over the past decades, such an abundance of services for renting servers and hosting platforms has appeared that you can’t help but understand how to make a choice. The most common of them is virtual private servers (VPS) and dedicated servers. Of these three types, VPS has been gaining the most popularity in recent years, attracting more and more users with its flexibility and price. With this popularity comes questions, such as the choice of operating system.

In this article, we will look at the two most popular types of virtual private virtual servers − Windows VPS and Linux VPS, and also study their similarities and differences in detail.

Operating system: Linux or Windows?

Let's take a closer look at Windows VPS and Linux VPS. The biggest and most obvious difference between the two is the operating systems (OS) they run on. Each OS has its pros and cons, its specific tasks, which determines the different characteristics of these types of VPS.

Windows VPS run on the Windows Server operating system. Developed by Microsoft, this OS is focused on providing a user-friendly graphical interface and compatibility with a wide range of Microsoft products such as Office, Microsoft SQL Server and ASP.NET, which makes the operation and management of the server easier, and these servers usually run accounting in the cloud.

Linux VPS, on the other hand, run on Linux, an open-source operating system that comes in many different distributions. Among the most popular are Ubuntu, CentOS and Debian.

Linux distributions

Due to the fact that Linux is completely open source, it has a large community, which provides significant advantages, which we will discuss in more detail in this article. In general, Linux has always been the more popular OS for servers, albeit more difficult to use.

This is partly because Linux cloud servers are great for all types of websites and applications, including CMS-based projects, custom projects, and e-commerce projects.

Despite the competition, both operating systems are time-tested and remain viable. Microsoft periodically releases new versions of Windows Server, the latest being Windows Server 2022, and various Linux distributions are updated every couple of years to integrate new features and address security concerns.

Both OSes also strive to support older versions for as long as possible, giving all users enough time to adapt to new changes and migrate smoothly.

OS support

Windows Server is entirely dependent on Microsoft's support team, while Linux has a huge community of both regular users and developers who can answer questions and provide explanations through their own experiences, documentation, and projects.

Ease of use

Now that we've covered the basics of operating systems, it's time to discuss the differences between the two types of servers, starting with ease of use.

As mentioned, Windows VPS runs on Windows Server, which has a built-in graphical user interface (GUI). This makes server management easier for beginners and those without technical command line experience. Another advantage of this type of server is that most people are already familiar with the Windows operating system and quickly adapt to the various management functions. This intuitive interface makes them a great option for beginners.

Screenshot of the Windows Server 2019 interface

With a Linux VPS, things can be more complicated if you're just starting out. First, you need to understand the different distributions and their versions, as well as the features that each of them offers. Different projects may perform better in different environments and operating systems, so you'll need to do a little research before you start managing your server.

In terms of interface, Linux servers do not have a built-in GUI. Instead, the command line (CLI) is used to execute commands and control the server.

Screenshot of Linux Debian CLI interface

However, the lack of a GUI is not a major problem as there are many tools online that you can download and install on your server to add a graphical, intuitive interface to your Linux VPS. This can help simplify some of the more time-consuming tasks initially.

In general, managing a Linux server can be more difficult for new users compared to Windows servers. However, it is important to note that the learning curve may vary depending on previous technical experience, as some Windows tools and syntax may be more difficult to understand and manage.

Cost and licenses

Now let's talk about cost, since this aspect plays an important role when choosing a VPS based on Windows Server.

Although Windows Server may be better for beginners, it requires a separate license fee. Most providers include this in the total cost of the server, so you may notice a significant difference in price between Windows and Linux VPS with the same resources.

Additionally, any additional software such as RDP access or Office that you want to install on the server also requires a license fee.

Linux servers do not require any additional fees as most of the software is developed under the free GPL license, which means it is completely open source and free to use. This is why switching from a Linux VPS to a Windows VPS can be more expensive, as all the additional costs and licenses need to be taken into account.

Performance and Monitoring

The next aspect we will look at is the performance and monitoring of both types of servers. In general, performance largely depends on the server's available resources, such as processor cores, RAM and disk space, and available network bandwidth, rather than on the operating system.

However, Windows VPS servers typically introduce a small amount of overhead due to the large and complex structure of the OS, which can result in a slight performance hit that will not be noticeable in most cases.

It's a small price to pay for all the other benefits, such as its graphical interface. Although this explains why e-commerce platforms and large projects with more intense traffic are most often hosted on Linux VPS servers due to the constant flow of uninterrupted performance.

Additionally, both types of servers support performance optimization, allowing you to customize your server. For example, for Windows VPS, you can configure registries and services to increase server speed. In the case of Linux, there are tools such as kernel tuning and performance profiling to ensure maximum resource optimization and exceptional performance.

Resource Monitoring

Another aspect we want to talk about is the monitoring tools that come with both types of servers. In general, Windows VPS offers built-in tools such as Performance and Resource Monitoring that can be helpful in determining system resource consumption. However, they can be quite difficult to understand for beginners due to the large amount of information and data they contain, which can affect their understanding, in addition, not all data is updated asynchronously.

On the other hand, Linux tools use tools like htop and nmon which can monitor CPU, disk, RAM and network usage in real time with more detailed information. Examples of additional monitoring tools include Nagios, Grafana and Prometheus, which can be used to identify any performance issues.

Network Configuration Tools

Despite the fact that server resources are important, you should not forget about the network and its settings. Windows VPS servers use the familiar Network and Sharing Center, which, while easy to use, doesn't provide as many in-depth configuration options.

In comparison, Linux VPS servers have tools such as ifconfig and ip that can easily help you manage your cloud server at a more granular level, allowing you to configure IP addresses and firewall rules. Additionally, Linux servers also typically exhibit lower latency compared to Windows VPS servers due to the additional load the operating system may have.

Moreover, both Linux and Windows servers can handle high volume of traffic and parallel requests, but Linux is better at eliminating bottlenecks and improving performance.

Software Compatibility

When it comes to compatibility, Windows VPS servers typically lag behind Linux for one reason: the Windows Server operating system is designed primarily to run Windows-based applications such as Office, SQL Server, and ASP.

However, due to the open source nature of Linux, the operating system remains quite flexible in terms of software. It is compatible and supports a variety of open source applications that can run on various distributions, with one of its main advantages being its ability to work with content management systems such as WordPress, Drupal and Joomla, as well as e-commerce platforms such as Magento and Shopify.

Documentation and support for Windows Server is extensive in terms of software support from Microsoft, with detailed installation guides, troubleshooting tutorials, and regular updates.

In contrast, Linux is supported by a community that also provides useful knowledge and guides. However, it is important to note that different distributions have different levels of support, as some become outdated over time and new versions are released. For example, large distributions such as Ubuntu and Debian have a much larger community compared to Alma or Rocky.

Security and data recovery features

Another important feature where both types of cloud servers differ is the level of built-in security. Due to their popularity and familiar nature, Windows servers are often the target of attacks and exploits.

This, in turn, has led Microsoft to actively update and improve its security features over the past few years, patching vulnerabilities and introducing additional protective layers. While this sounds great at first glance, such updates can cause compatibility issues that require manual configuration to resolve.

Linux servers are generally considered to be more secure because the operating system is open source, which means it has much wider community support, so bugs, issues, and vulnerabilities are discovered earlier and fixed as quickly as possible.

Updates are typically done through the respective distribution's package manager to ensure everything remains secure. Linux uses iptables and SELinux to configure and install firewall rules and security profiles for a cloud server, which can provide much greater control over security settings. Windows VPS servers can use a firewall and group policies.

In terms of user management, Windows VPS handles permissions through Active Directory, while Linux VPS uses PAM and group-based access control for more flexible management.

When it comes to secure data recovery, Microsoft uses many different recovery tools, including third-party solutions as well as MS's own, while Linux uses open source tools such as Rsync, Bacula, and ZFS.

Additionally, Windows Server also has event logs and structured error messages, whereas Linux provides kernel dumps and error messages that provide much more information that can be useful for server administrators.

Both offer excellent scalability

Another important note is that both types of servers can scale up and down to meet the user's resource needs. The same applies to load balancing, with Windows requiring a little more manual configuration than Linux, which supports automatic scaling through tools such as Apache and Nginx.

Server Management Tools

In terms of server management, Windows VPS comes with Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and PowerShell, which includes a graphical user interface that can help you manage your server. Windows Server also uses the Package Manager - WinGet to install and manage software.

Linux, in comparison, uses a command line interface and third-party tools such as PHP, Nginx and MySQL to manage web applications, which can be more difficult for new users. As for package managers, they vary depending on the Linux distribution, for example apt-get for Debian and Ubuntu, and yum for CentOS and RHEL.

Process Automation and DevOps

Finally, we want to touch on automation and DevOps. Windows VPS servers use PowerShell and Chef Automate, while Linux uses Ansible and Puppet, all of which can help automate tasks and manage infrastructure, as well as help implement CI/CD using tools such as Jenkins and TeamCity for Windows and GitLab, Spinnaker for Linux .

For scripting, Windows uses PowerShell, while Linux uses Bash. When it comes to helping developers, Windows offers tools such as Visual Studio and .NET, while Linux supports a wide range of programming languages with many tools that can create a variety of applications.

Features of Windows VPS and Linux VPS

Windows or Linux VPS – what to choose in the end?

In general, both types of servers have their advantages and disadvantages. Windows VPS servers are more suitable for beginners due to their familiar and intuitive user interface. However, keep in mind that Windows Server requires a license, just like other Microsoft products.

Linux VPS servers can be more difficult to manage for beginners due to the fact that they do not have a GUI. But due to its open nature, there is more community support, available software and server management tools.

However, both options are excellent choices and will suit your hosting needs as they offer exceptional security, resources and monitoring tools, and automation options.