Windows Hosting uses hardware running the Microsoft Windows Server operating system. It might be your best bet if you’re already familiar with Windows on desktop computers and would prefer to stick with what you know.

Fans of Windows Hosting will tell you it’s one of the easier web hosting products to use, less complicated when it comes to adding features to expand your website. Windows Hosting is also backed by Microsoft, which regularly provides updates to keep your hosting secure and free of bugs.

On the more technical side, Windows server hosting is the only hardware capable of running the Visual Basic or .NET programming languages. It’s also your best option for scripting Active Server Pages (.ASP).

Once you start comparing the Linux vs. Windows hosting server, you’ll see the biggest difference when you log in. Linux use a command-line interface, where users enter strings of text to perform actions, compared with the familiar point-and-click interface used by Windows servers.

Some applications and features are only available for one specific type of hosting. For example, the popular cPanel hosting application runs only on Linux servers. Meanwhile, the Visual Basic or .NET programming languages are only available with Windows Hosting.

If any of this sounds overly confusing, check in with your web developer before making a purchase. If you’re planning to create a website on your own but web hosting seems too complex, instead take a look at our easy-to-use Website Builder or Managed WordPress.