--- title: "Linux or Windows VPS: which to choose and how they differ" description: "How a Linux VPS differs from Windows Server: SSH or RDP, RAM and disk needs, which tasks require Windows (MetaTrader, 1C, .NET Framework) and what beginners should pick." url: https://tihost.io/en/blog/linux-vs-windows-vps language: en section: "Basics" published: 2026-10-05 updated: 2026-10-05 publisher: Tihost (https://tihost.io) --- # Linux or Windows VPS: which to choose and how they differ > **In short:** Linux is the default choice for a VPS: websites, bots, Docker, VPNs and databases run on it with 1-2 GB of RAM, and you manage it over SSH from the command line. Windows Server is needed when software runs only on Windows - MetaTrader, many 1C configurations, .NET Framework applications; it needs at least 2 vCPU and 4 GB of RAM, and you connect to it over RDP with a graphical desktop. **Key takeaways:** - A Linux VPS (Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux) suits websites, Telegram bots, Docker, VPNs and databases: the system without a desktop takes a few hundred megabytes of RAM and 3-5 GB of disk. - Windows Server on a VPS is needed for software that runs only on Windows: MetaTrader 4/5 trading terminals, many 1C configurations, .NET Framework applications and IIS. - You connect to a Linux server over SSH (port 22) and work on the command line; you connect to Windows Server over RDP (port 3389) with a graphical desktop. - Microsoft's documentation lists at least 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of disk for Windows Server with the desktop; in practice comfortable work needs 2 vCPU and 4 GB of RAM. - Tihost VPS offer both Windows and Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and more) at order time and on reinstall; the OS can be changed from the panel or the Telegram bot. ## How does a Linux VPS differ from a Windows VPS? The main difference is how you work: a Linux server is managed with text commands over SSH, Windows Server with a mouse through a remote desktop. That drives the differences in resources, documentation and which software you can run. | | Linux (Ubuntu, Debian) | Windows Server | | --- | --- | --- | | Access | SSH, port 22, command line | RDP, port 3389, graphical desktop | | Idle memory | A few hundred MB | Usually 1.5-2 GB with the desktop | | System on disk | 3-5 GB | Tens of GB with updates | | Minimum configuration | 1 vCPU / 1-2 GB RAM | 2 vCPU / 4 GB RAM | | Docker, VPN, web servers | Native, most guides are written for Linux | Possible, but fewer guides and ready-made setups | | Windows-only software | No (except workarounds such as Wine) | Yes: MetaTrader, 1C, .NET Framework, IIS | | Updates | Per package, usually without a reboot | Cumulative, often with a reboot | | Automation | Bash scripts, cron, Ansible | PowerShell, Task Scheduler | *Memory and disk figures are rough values for a clean system without your applications.* ## How do you connect: SSH or RDP? SSH (Secure Shell) is encrypted text access to a Linux server: `ssh root@IP` from the terminal on macOS, Linux or Windows 10/11 opens the server's console. Switch logins to SSH keys - step by step in [how to connect to a VPS over SSH](https://tihost.io/en/blog/ssh-connect-to-vps). RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is Windows' remote desktop protocol: you see the server's screen and work with a mouse as on a regular computer. Windows has a built-in client (Remote Desktop Connection, `mstsc`), macOS has Microsoft's Windows App, Linux has Remmina. Setup and hardening are in [Windows VPS: connecting over RDP](https://tihost.io/en/blog/windows-vps-rdp). > Bots constantly brute-force an RDP port 3389 open to the internet, just like SSH port 22. Windows Server needs a long administrator password and firewall restrictions; Linux needs key-based login with password login disabled. ## How many resources do Windows and Linux need? Microsoft lists at least 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of disk for Windows Server with Desktop Experience, but it is slow at that minimum: the graphical shell, services and Defender antivirus alone take about 1.5-2 GB of memory. Plan 2 vCPU and 4 GB of RAM for one RDP user, and 4 vCPU and 8 GB for several users or trading terminals. Ubuntu or Debian without a desktop on the same server take a few hundred megabytes, so a 1 vCPU / 2 GB VPS runs a bot, a VPN or a website under Linux but barely loads the desktop under Windows. Per-workload sizing is in [how much RAM a VPS needs](https://tihost.io/en/blog/how-much-ram-vps). ## Which tasks actually need Windows? - **Trading terminals and expert advisors**: MetaTrader 4 and 5 and other trading software are built for Windows; on a VPS they run around the clock without your own computer. - **1C:Enterprise**: the client and file-based databases are usually deployed on Windows; the 1C server has a Linux version, but many add-ons and external components are written for Windows. - **.NET Framework and ASP.NET applications on IIS**: .NET Framework runs only on Windows. Modern .NET (formerly .NET Core) is cross-platform and runs well on Linux. - **Software with no Linux version**: accounting tools, banking clients, in-house utilities, a remote workstation with Office. - **Active Directory and Microsoft infrastructure** - domain controllers, group policies. ## When is Linux the better choice? For almost every other server task: websites on nginx or Apache, PHP, Python, Node.js, PostgreSQL and MySQL, [Docker](https://tihost.io/en/blog/install-docker-ubuntu-debian), WireGuard VPNs, [Telegram bots](https://tihost.io/en/blog/telegram-bot-on-vps), game servers. Most server software is documented for Linux first, the same configuration needs fewer resources, and the OS license is free. Even Microsoft SQL Server has shipped for Linux since 2017. ## What should a beginner choose? If you need a specific Windows program, take Windows Server - you will not need the command line. In every other case start with Ubuntu LTS: it has the most guides and answered questions, and the first steps - updates, a user, an SSH key and a firewall - are covered in the [first VPS setup](https://tihost.io/en/blog/vps-first-setup). Ubuntu is compared with Debian, AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux in [which Linux to choose for a server](https://tihost.io/en/blog/ubuntu-vs-debian-server). ## Linux and Windows on a Tihost VPS Windows, Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux and FreeBSD are available when ordering and when reinstalling. Access is full: root on Linux, Administrator on Windows. You can reinstall the server with another OS from the web panel or the Telegram bot @tihost_bot, and the browser VNC console shows the server's screen even when SSH or RDP is unreachable. For Windows Server pick 2 vCPU / 4 GB or more - from $7.70 per month. **Launch a server in 2 minutes.** AMD Ryzen 9, NVMe and DDoS protection in Germany, Finland and Poland. Pay with crypto or card. [Order a Server](https://tihost.io/login) ## FAQ ### Which is better for a VPS - Linux or Windows? Linux is better for websites, bots, Docker, VPNs and databases: it needs fewer resources, it is free and most server guides are written for it. Windows Server is the choice when you need software that runs only on Windows, such as MetaTrader or 1C. ### How much RAM does a Windows VPS need? Windows Server with the desktop formally starts on 2 GB of RAM, but one RDP user needs 4 GB and 2 vCPU for comfortable work. Several users or several trading terminals need 8 GB and 4 vCPU. ### Can I run MetaTrader on a Linux VPS? MetaTrader 4 and 5 are Windows programs; on Linux they run through the Wine compatibility layer, which is unofficial and can break. For round-the-clock trading a VPS with Windows Server is more reliable. ### How do I connect to a Windows VPS? You connect to a Windows VPS over RDP (port 3389): on Windows with the built-in Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc), on macOS with the Windows App, on Linux with Remmina. You need the server's IP address, the administrator name and the password. ### Can I switch a running VPS from Linux to Windows? Yes, by reinstalling the OS, but a reinstall wipes all data on the server's disk, so make a backup first. On a Tihost VPS the reinstall is started from the web panel or the Telegram bot. ### Does .NET run on Linux? Modern .NET (version 5 and later, formerly .NET Core) runs on Linux, including ASP.NET Core behind nginx. The older .NET Framework 4.x runs only on Windows and requires Windows Server. --- Updated 2026-10-05 ยท https://tihost.io/en/blog/linux-vs-windows-vps