Skip to content
(+381) 60 3535 720
My account
BeoHosting
BeoHosting
My accountContact
(+381) 60 3535 720
 

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.

Linux hosting plansVPS hosting
QUICK ANSWER

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)

BeoHosting Team

10+ years of experience — Web hosting and infrastructure specialists

Last updated:

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 servers with 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

Comparison table: Linux vs Windows Server

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

Criterion
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
Security
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
Performance
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

  • No support for ASP.NET / .NET Framework
  • No native support for MS SQL Server
  • The command line can be challenging for beginners
  • Some enterprise applications require Windows
  • No 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

When to choose 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
  • Performance 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

Related guides and comparisons

Linux vs Windows hostingShared vs VPS hostingCloud vs VPS hostingLiteSpeed vs ApacheVPS hostingDedicated servers

Ready to launch your website?

SSL protection
Speed
24/7 support

Join 4,000+ satisfied customers. Free migration and 15-day money-back guarantee.

Choose a planContact us
15-day money-back guarantee
Free migration15-day guarantee24/7 support

Frequently asked questions: Linux vs Windows server

Answers to the most common questions about our services.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our guarantees for your peace of mind

Protected from every angle

15-day guarantee

We refund without questions in the first 15 days.

Free migration

We migrate your site with no downtime — you do nothing.

24/7 support

Our experts are here 24/7 via tickets and live chat.