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Most small business websites need only a simple web hosting plan to run smoothly and handle email. There are two main types of hosting: Linux hosting and Windows hosting. Both have advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice depends on what your business needs.
In most cases, small business owners choose Linux hosting over Windows hosting, and there are several good reasons for that.
Expenditure Factor
Linux hosting plans are usually cheaper than Windows plans, because Linux has no licensing fees. For small businesses, price matters a great deal. Most don’t need Microsoft-specific technology such as the MS-SQL database, so a Linux server gives them everything they need at the lowest cost.
Open Source Factor
Linux is open source software, developed by people all over the world. Because it is so adaptable, it has become the main platform for the technologies used across the hosting industry, from the Apache and Nginx web servers to the popular cPanel control panel. That means a Linux plan usually gives you more features than a Windows plan at the same price.
Scripting Language Factor
The most popular website languages and tools, including PHP, Python, Perl and Node.js, run natively on Linux web servers, as do WordPress, Joomla and Drupal. Windows hosting is mainly needed if your site is built with Microsoft technologies such as classic ASP or older ASP.NET applications that rely on MS-SQL. For most small business owners, Linux hosting is the natural choice.
Dependability Factor
Linux is well known for being stable and dependable. Linux servers can run for long periods without needing a restart, so your website stays up with less effort and at a lower cost.
Familiarity and Speed Factor
Linux has a longer history in the hosting industry than Windows. There is no big difference in speed between the two, but Linux servers are often slightly quicker at serving ordinary web pages.
Efficiency Factor
Windows servers support ASP and ASP.NET, Microsoft’s programming frameworks for building dynamic, database-driven pages with MS-SQL Server or Access. The licenses for these add to the cost. Linux does the same job with free tools such as PHP and the MySQL or MariaDB databases.