Which server operating system to choose?

Linux vs Windows Server

A detailed comparison of Linux and Windows servers across 10 key criteria. Find out which OS is the right choice for your site or application in 2026.

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Linux or Windows Server?

Linux Server runs 80%+ of web servers globally — free, open source, faster for PHP/MySQL/Apache, more secure (less malware), lower resource usage, ideal for WordPress, Laravel, Drupal, Magento. Windows Server is only needed for ASP.NET, MSSQL, .NET applications, IIS, Exchange, Active Directory — more expensive ($150+ licence). Linux for 95% of cases. Windows for enterprises with a Microsoft stack. BeoHosting uses AlmaLinux 9 for all plans.

Linux runs 80%+ of web servers (free)
Windows: $150+ licence
Linux: SSH, Windows: RDP
Windows only for ASP.NET/MSSQL/IIS
BeoHosting: AlmaLinux 9 (cPanel default)

Tým BeoHosting

12+ let zkušeností — Specialisté na webhosting a infrastrukturu

Web Hosting
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Naposledy aktualizováno: 25. dubna 2026

Linux or Windows Server - The key differences

Choosing the server operating system is one of the most important decisions when launching a site or web application. Linux and Windows Server are the two dominant choices, each with its own strengths and limitations.

Linux (most often CentOS, AlmaLinux, Ubuntu or Debian) is an open-source operating system that runs around 80% of all web servers on the internet. It is free, stable and optimised for web hosting. BeoHosting uses Linux strežnike z LiteSpeed Enterprise for maximum speed.

Windows Server is Microsoft's operating system designed for enterprise environments. It is essential if your application uses ASP.NET, MS SQL or the .NET Framework. It requires purchasing a licence, which raises costs.

~80%

Of web servers

use the Linux operating system

0 EUR

Linux licence cost

open source and free forever

500+

Days without a restart

common for Linux servers

Srovnání table: Linux vs Windows Server

A direct comparison across 10 key criteria for choosing the server operating system.

Kritérium

Linux

Windows

Price

Free OS - lower hosting costs

Licence 500-6,000 USD - higher costs

Stability

Outstanding - months/years without a restart

Good - occasional restarts for updates

Zabezpečení

Fewer threats, faster patches, stricter permissions

More malware, regular security patches

Compatibility

PHP, Python, Ruby, Node.js, MySQL, PostgreSQL

ASP.NET, C#, MS SQL, .NET Framework + PHP

Control panels

cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, CyberPanel

Plesk, WebsitePanel, IIS Manager

Výkon

LiteSpeed, Nginx - less overhead, faster

IIS - more overhead, slower for the same resources

Community

Huge open-source community, free help

Microsoft support (with a licence), smaller forums

Management

Command line (SSH) + web panels

GUI (Remote Desktop) + PowerShell

Databases

MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, MongoDB (all free)

MS SQL Server (licence), MySQL, PostgreSQL

Popularity

~80% of all web servers online

~20% of web servers, dominant in enterprises

Linux Server - Pros and cons

Advantages of Linux

Completely free (open source)
Outstanding stability and uptime
Less overhead - better performance
Best for PHP, WordPress, Python
cPanel, DirectAdmin and other panels
LiteSpeed and Nginx web servers
Huge community and documentation
Faster security patches

Disadvantages of Linux

Ne support for ASP.NET / .NET Framework
Ne native support for MS SQL Server
The command line can be challenging for beginners
Some enterprise applications require Windows
Ne Remote Desktop (GUI) by default

Windows Server - Pros and cons

Advantages of Windows

Essential for ASP.NET and .NET applications
MS SQL Server database
Remote Desktop (GUI) access
Integration with Active Directory
Familiar to IT admins in enterprises

Disadvantages of Windows

Expensive licence (500-6,000 USD)
More overhead - requires more resources
More frequent restarts for updates
A bigger target for malware and viruses
Closed source - dependence on Microsoft
Smaller choice of web servers (mostly IIS)
cPanel is not available
Slower than Linux for the same resources

Kdy zvolit Linux, and when Windows server?

Choose Linux if:

You use WordPress, Joomla, Drupal
Your site is written in PHP
You use MySQL, MariaDB or PostgreSQL
You want the lowest hosting costs
You need cPanel or DirectAdmin
Výkon and stability are your priority
You want the LiteSpeed or Nginx web server

Linux hosting plans

Choose Windows if:

The application requires ASP.NET or .NET Core
You use the MS SQL Server database
You need Remote Desktop access
Integration with Active Directory
Your team only knows Windows administration
An enterprise environment with the Microsoft stack

Související průvodci a srovnání

Linux vs Windows hostingShared vs VPS hosting Cloud vs VPS hosting LiteSpeed vs Apache VPS hosting Dedicated servers

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Časté dotazy: Linux vs Windows server

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Which server is better for WordPress - Linux or Windows?

Linux is unequivocally the better choice for WordPress. WordPress is written in PHP, which runs natively on Linux with the Apache or LiteSpeed server. Although WordPress can run on a Windows server with IIS, performance is worse, plugin compatibility is weaker and maintenance is more complicated. Over 95% of WordPress sites run on Linux servers.

Is a Linux server more secure than a Windows server?

Linux servers are generally considered more secure for several reasons: open-source code allows vulnerabilities to be discovered and patched faster, Linux is less of a malware target (as it is less widespread on the desktop), and the permission system is stricter. However, security depends on configuration and maintenance - a poorly configured Linux server can be more vulnerable than a well-maintained Windows server.

When should you choose a Windows server?

Choose a Windows server if your application requires Microsoft technologies: ASP.NET / ASP.NET Core, the MS SQL Server database, the .NET Framework, or Remote Desktop access for Windows applications. Also, if your team only has experience with Windows administration, a Windows server can be the more practical choice.

Is a Linux server cheaper than a Windows server?

Yes, a Linux server is almost always cheaper. The Linux operating system is free (open source), while Windows Server requires a licence that costs 500-6,000 USD depending on the edition. This difference is reflected in the hosting price - Linux hosting is usually 20-40% cheaper than an equivalent Windows hosting plan.

Can I run a PHP site on a Windows server?

Yes, PHP can run on a Windows server with the IIS web server. However, performance is usually 10-20% worse than on Linux with the Apache or LiteSpeed server. In addition, many PHP tools and frameworks (Laravel, WordPress plugins) are primarily developed and tested for Linux, so compatibility issues can arise.

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