Linux VPS or Windows RDP: which one to choose?
Windows software or a Linux stack: how to choose between a Linux VPS and a Windows RDP VPS, with prices per GB of RAM as of 7 November 2026.
Choose a Linux VPS if you want Docker, n8n, a website or a Minecraft server, and a Windows RDP VPS if your software only runs on Windows, such as an .exe application or a .NET app tied to Windows. For the same capacity, RDP costs more: as of 7 November 2026, the Mini is 4.99 € on Linux for 8 GB, against 7.49 € on Windows.
- Windows RDP if your software is an .exe or a Windows service; Linux for Docker, n8n and websites.
- At 8 GB of RAM, Linux Mini is 4.99 € and RDP Mini 7.49 € as of 7 November 2026.
- The price per GB of RAM shows a gap of about 0.30 € in favour of Linux.
- SSH connection on Linux, Remote Desktop on Windows.
Check what your software requires
The operating system decides everything else. Read your application’s documentation before paying for a server.
- Windows executable (.exe), Windows service or Office-linked tools: Windows RDP.
- Docker, Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL or n8n: Linux.
- A .NET app can run on Linux; check the application’s documentation.
Compare the price per GB of RAM
As of 7 November 2026, plan prices differ by system. The calculation below gives an approximate price per GB of RAM, useful for comparing at the same capacity.
- Linux: Mini 8 GB at 4.99 € (about 0.62 € per GB), Essentiel 16 GB at 9.99 € (about 0.62 €), Performance 48 GB at 21.99 € (about 0.46 €), Pro 64 GB at 34.99 € (about 0.55 €).
- Windows RDP: Mini 8 GB at 7.49 € (about 0.94 € per GB), Essentiel 16 GB at 14.99 € (about 0.94 €), Performance 48 GB at 32.99 € (about 0.69 €), Pro 64 GB at 52.49 € (about 0.82 €).
Connect according to the system
On Linux, you connect over SSH: ssh user@vps-address. On Windows, you use Remote Desktop, on port 3389, from the Windows mstsc client or the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on macOS.
- On Linux, open the SSH port and keep an SSH key.
- On Windows, change the administrator password at the first connection.
Secure your server
An exposed server receives connection attempts all the time, whatever its system. On Linux, follow secure a Linux VPS in 15 minutes. On Windows, limit port 3389 to what is strictly needed and use long passwords.
- Never leave a default password on a server reachable from the internet.
- Update the system regularly, in both cases.
Why choose ACLClouds for Linux or Windows
ACLClouds offers both, with KVM as virtualization, servers located in France and a control panel available in 7 languages. For a single Windows software, the Mini RDP plan at 7.49 € is enough; for a Linux stack, the Mini plan at 4.99 € gives the same amount of RAM.
- Linux Performance: 48 GB of RAM, 8 vCPU and 150 GB of storage, at 21.99 €.
- Windows RDP Performance: 48 GB of RAM, 8 vCPU and 195 GB of storage, at 32.99 €.
Frequently asked questions
Does a .NET application require Windows RDP?
Not always. Many .NET applications run on Linux, but it depends on the libraries used. Check your application’s documentation before choosing.
Can you move from a Linux VPS to a Windows VPS?
It is not a simple switch: the server usually has to be reinstalled and the data migrated. Back up everything first and test the restore on the new machine.
Is RDP more expensive than Linux?
Yes, for the same capacity: as of 7 November 2026, RDP Mini is 7.49 € against 4.99 € on Linux for 8 GB of RAM, and the gap stays visible at each level.