Linux dominates general-purpose VPS hosting. Windows VPS remains a steady but smaller request, driven by specific application needs rather than general preference.
Who still asks for Windows
- Teams running ASP.NET applications that are not yet containerized or moved to .NET on Linux.
- Users who need a full desktop via RDP for remote work or specialized software.
- Legacy line-of-business applications that assume a Windows environment.
Cost and operational differences
Windows licensing adds to the monthly price. Management tools, update behavior, and security defaults differ from the Linux world. Many of the automation and panel options that Linux users take for granted are different or absent. Support staff must be comfortable in both environments if the host offers both.
When we recommend it
When the application genuinely requires Windows. When the workload can run on Linux (including modern .NET), the Linux VPS is usually simpler and less expensive. Forcing a Windows requirement onto a stack that does not need it adds cost without adding value.
The niche is real and will persist. It is no longer the default path for new projects the way it sometimes felt a decade ago.
Written at the desk
ChadBe the first to weigh in.