When you sign up for web hosting, one of the first choices you may encounter is between Linux hosting and Windows hosting. For most people, this choice is straightforward — but for some websites and applications, choosing the wrong platform causes problems down the line. This guide explains the practical differences and helps you decide which one suits your needs.

What Is Linux Hosting?

Linux hosting runs on the Linux operating system — a free, open-source platform that powers the vast majority of web servers worldwide. It supports PHP, Python, Perl, Ruby, and MySQL databases, making it compatible with WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop, and almost every popular web platform. Because Linux is open source, it tends to be cheaper to run, and those savings are passed on to customers through lower hosting costs.

If you are building a website with WordPress or most other popular content management systems, Linux hosting is almost certainly the right choice.

What Is Windows Hosting?

Windows hosting runs on Microsoft Windows Server. It is the correct choice if your website uses technologies that are exclusive to the Microsoft ecosystem — specifically ASP.NET (Microsoft's web development framework), Visual Basic, or Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) databases. Windows hosting also supports PHP and MySQL, so you could run WordPress on it, but there is usually no advantage in doing so.

Windows hosting tends to cost slightly more than Linux hosting because of the Microsoft licensing fees involved.

Which Should You Choose?

The answer is almost always determined by your website's technology requirements:

  • Choose Linux if you are using WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop, or any PHP/MySQL-based platform. Also choose Linux if you are building a custom site in PHP, Python, or Ruby.
  • Choose Windows if your website uses ASP.NET, is built with Visual Studio, or requires Microsoft SQL Server. If you have had a custom website built by a .NET developer, check with them before choosing your hosting platform.
  • Not sure? Ask your developer. They will know immediately which platform their application requires.

Does It Affect Performance?

For equivalent hardware and configuration, Linux and Windows hosting perform comparably. Performance is more affected by server hardware quality, network infrastructure, and how many sites share the server than by the operating system itself. Both platforms are well-proven for hosting websites of all sizes.

Common Mistakes

  • Choosing Windows hosting unnecessarily. Many people assume Windows hosting is somehow better or more familiar because they use Windows on their PC. Your desktop operating system has no bearing on your hosting requirements.
  • Not checking your platform's requirements first. If you are having a custom website built, always confirm the technology stack with your developer before purchasing hosting.
  • Trying to run a .NET application on Linux. While some .NET applications can run on Linux through .NET Core, this is not universal. If in doubt, choose Windows hosting for .NET projects.

For the majority of small businesses, tradespeople, and first-time website owners using WordPress or a similar platform, Linux hosting is the practical, cost-effective choice. Windows hosting is a specialist option for specific technology requirements.

Need reliable hosting for your website? View our hosting plans at Eazyhosting — we offer both Linux and Windows options to suit your needs.