On MultiHOST VPS, both Linux and Windows Server are available. Both run on the same KVM infrastructure but solve different tasks. Here is when to choose which.
Linux — the universal web standard
Ubuntu, Debian, Alma Linux — free distributions with no license fees. Ideal for PHP, Node.js, Python, Docker, Nginx. Most CMS platforms and DevOps tools target Linux first.
Windows Server — when you cannot do without it
Choose Windows if you need:
- Remote Desktop (RDP) for a remote desktop environment;
- 1C and other Microsoft ecosystem products;
- ASP.NET, MSSQL, IIS — enterprise .NET applications;
- Active Directory and Windows-specific software.
On MultiHOST, the Windows Server license is included in the Windows VPS plan — no separate purchase required.
Quick comparison
Linux — lower cost, more flexibility for web and open-source stacks. Windows — compatibility with Microsoft business software and RDP. CPU/RAM performance is the same; the limit is software, not the hypervisor.
Can you combine both?
Yes. Many companies run the website on Linux VPS and 1C or SQL on a separate Windows VPS at MultiHOST. This simplifies scaling and isolates workloads.
Check VPS/VDS plans and select your OS at checkout — installation is automatic.