Operating System

Linux or Windows Hosting: What Your Stack Actually Requires

The Linux vs Windows hosting decision usually isn't really a preference - it's decided by whether your application specifically requires ASP.NET, MSSQL, or Access, and for everything else, Linux tends to win on cost and software support.

PHP-native

Linux runs PHP and MySQL without a compatibility layer

ASP.NET / MSSQL

The main technologies that actually require Windows hosting

$2.09/mo

Starting price for Linux-based web hosting

1-click

Installers for WordPress and other PHP software on Linux

In short

Windows hosting is only strictly necessary when an application is built on ASP.NET, requires a Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) database, or depends on Microsoft Access - technologies that don't run natively on a Linux server. Everything else, including PHP applications like WordPress and WooCommerce, runs on Linux, which typically costs less and supports a far broader range of open-source software and 1-click installers. Hosting Cheap's Linux-based web hosting starts at $2.09/mo with cPanel-style tools built around that broader software support.

The Linux versus Windows hosting question gets treated as a matter of taste more often than it should be, when in practice it's usually a straightforward technical requirement: does the site or application actually depend on a Microsoft-specific technology, or doesn't it. ASP.NET applications, sites requiring a Microsoft SQL Server database, or tools built around Microsoft Access all need Windows hosting specifically, because those technologies are built by Microsoft to run on Microsoft's own server operating system.

Outside of those specific cases, Linux is the default for a reason that has little to do with brand preference - PHP, the language WordPress, WooCommerce, and most open-source CMS platforms are built on, runs natively on Linux, and the vast majority of 1-click installers, community plugins, and hosting tooling assume a Linux environment underneath. Choosing Windows hosting for a PHP-based site adds a layer of compatibility overhead that simply isn't necessary.

When Windows hosting is genuinely required, not just preferred

Windows hosting earns its place specifically when an application is built directly on Microsoft's own technology stack: an ASP.NET or ASP.NET Core application, a site whose database is specifically Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) rather than MySQL, or a tool built around Microsoft Access that needs server-side support. These aren't preferences - an ASP.NET application doesn't run on a Linux server without significant rework, because it's compiled against the .NET framework Microsoft built for Windows.

Outside of these specific technical dependencies, there's rarely a functional reason to choose Windows hosting over Linux. A business evaluating hosting should start by checking what their actual application or developer requires - if nothing in the stack is Microsoft-specific, Windows hosting adds cost and complexity without a matching benefit.

Why PHP and WordPress point firmly toward Linux

PHP was built and has always run most naturally on Linux, and the overwhelming majority of PHP-based software - WordPress, WooCommerce, Joomla, Drupal, and most other open-source CMS platforms - was developed and tested primarily in Linux environments. Running PHP on Windows hosting is technically possible but adds a layer of compatibility considerations that simply don't exist when running it on the operating system it was built around.

1-click installers for WordPress and similar software are built assuming a Linux environment underneath, along with the cPanel-style control panel tooling that makes setting up a database, installing an SSL certificate, or managing email accounts straightforward. Choosing Linux hosting for a PHP site means every piece of that tooling works the way it was designed to, without a Windows-specific workaround layered on top.

The real cost difference between Linux and Windows hosting

Windows Server requires a Microsoft licensing fee that Linux, as open-source software, simply doesn't carry, and that licensing cost gets passed through to hosting customers one way or another - through a higher base price, a smaller resource allocation at the same price point, or both. Linux hosting doesn't carry that licensing overhead, which is a large part of why Linux hosting plans are typically priced lower than an equivalent Windows plan.

That cost gap compounds at scale: a single Windows license fee on one small hosting account is a modest markup, but a business running several sites, a reseller managing dozens of client accounts, or an agency hosting many WordPress installs across VPS resources all multiply that licensing overhead across every account. For any of these use cases where Windows isn't a hard requirement, Linux hosting's lower baseline cost adds up quickly.

Making the actual decision for your specific site

The decision is genuinely simple once framed correctly: check whether the site or application specifically requires ASP.NET, MSSQL, or Access - if any of those apply, Windows hosting is the right and often only functional choice, regardless of cost. If none of them apply, which covers the large majority of WordPress sites, WooCommerce stores, and general PHP-based websites, Linux hosting is both the lower-cost option and the one with broader native software support.

Hosting Cheap's Linux-based web hosting starts at $2.09/mo, with managed WordPress from $4.19/mo and VPS from $9.99/mo for sites that need dedicated resources, all built around the cPanel-style panel and 1-click installers that assume a Linux environment. Free managed migration and a 30-day money-back guarantee make it possible to move an existing PHP-based site over and confirm compatibility before committing long-term.

Linux vs Windows Hosting: Which Should You Choose?

Linux hosting built around what PHP and WordPress actually need

Linux hosting runs PHP, MySQL, WordPress, and WooCommerce natively, without the compatibility overhead or Microsoft licensing cost that comes with Windows hosting - unless an application specifically requires ASP.NET, MSSQL, or Access.

Hosting Cheap's Linux-based hosting pairs a cPanel-style panel and 1-click installers with pure NVMe SSD storage, so the broader software support doesn't come at the cost of performance.

Native PHP and MySQL support without a Windows compatibility layer
No Microsoft licensing overhead built into the hosting price
1-click installers and cPanel-style tools built for a Linux environment
Free managed migration for moving an existing PHP-based site over

Why Hosting Cheap

What you get

Built for PHP natively

WordPress, WooCommerce, and most CMS platforms run without a compatibility layer on Linux.

No licensing markup

Linux carries no Microsoft licensing fee, keeping the hosting price lower as a result.

Broader software support

The majority of open-source hosting software and 1-click installers assume a Linux environment.

Familiar, capable tooling

A cPanel-style panel makes databases, SSL, and email management straightforward on Linux.

Room to scale affordably

Move from web hosting to VPS from $9.99/mo without switching away from Linux.

Safe to test first

A 30-day money-back guarantee lets you confirm compatibility before committing long-term.

How It Works

Get set up in a few steps

Check your actual stack requirements

Confirm whether anything in your site depends specifically on ASP.NET, MSSQL, or Access.

Choose Linux unless required otherwise

Pick Linux hosting for PHP, WordPress, or WooCommerce sites without a Microsoft-specific dependency.

Migrate and confirm compatibility

Use free managed migration, then test every feature during the 30-day guarantee period.

Included

Everything you need, on every plan

Confirm whether your application specifically requires ASP.NET, MSSQL, or Access
Check that your CMS or software - like WordPress - is PHP-based and Linux-native
Compare Linux and Windows plan pricing at the same resource tier
Verify 1-click installers and cPanel-style tools are included on the Linux plan
Ask whether free managed migration supports moving your specific stack
Confirm NVMe SSD storage and daily backups apply regardless of operating system
Check that email hosting and SSL setup work the same way on the Linux panel
Use the 30-day money-back guarantee to confirm compatibility before renewing

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When do I actually need Windows hosting instead of Linux?

Windows hosting is genuinely required when an application is built on ASP.NET, needs a Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) database, or depends on Microsoft Access. Outside of those specific technologies, there's rarely a functional reason to choose Windows over Linux.

Does WordPress need Windows or Linux hosting?

WordPress is built on PHP and MySQL, both of which run natively on Linux. Linux hosting is the standard, lower-overhead choice for WordPress, WooCommerce, and most other open-source CMS platforms.

Why is Linux hosting usually cheaper than Windows hosting?

Windows Server requires a Microsoft licensing fee that gets passed through to hosting customers, while Linux is open-source with no equivalent licensing cost, which is a major reason Linux hosting plans are typically priced lower.

Can PHP run on Windows hosting if I prefer it?

Technically yes, but it adds a compatibility layer that isn't necessary on Linux, where PHP runs natively. Choosing Windows for a PHP site usually adds cost and complexity without a functional benefit.

What happens if my site needs both PHP and an ASP.NET component?

In that case, the ASP.NET or MSSQL dependency decides the hosting requirement, since Windows hosting is the only option for those technologies - the PHP portion would then need to run on the same Windows environment or through a separate arrangement.

Can I move an existing Linux-based site over without downtime?

Yes, free managed migration transfers an existing PHP-based site's files, database, and configuration onto Linux hosting without a manual rebuild.

Get Linux hosting built around PHP, not a Windows workaround

Native PHP and MySQL support, cPanel-style tools, and pricing that skips the Windows licensing markup.

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