11 FAQs About Linux Hosting
Laura Bernheim
Contributing Expert
Linux isn’t just a hidden gem in the hosting world; it’s a powerhouse driving the most popular shared, VPS, cloud, and dedicated server platforms worldwide.
Due to its cost-effectiveness and accessibility, the Linux-based operating system is typically used for cheap web hosting plans, enabling each web host to pass the savings on to its customers.
However, Linux is not one-size-fit-all.
The software and programming languages you choose for your website significantly impact the best operating system for you. If you’re using WordPress (or other PHP and MySQL apps), Python, or JavaScript, opting for a Linux host is a smart move.
Developers using ASP.NET, C++, C#, and others typically flock to Windows hosting.
If you’re a small business owner, freelancer, or independent web publisher, you can leverage Linux shared hosting plans for the cheapest costs on data center hardware. VPS plans and dedicated servers running Linux offer more resources to developers.
1. What is Linux Hosting?
Linux boasts a 14.8% market share among desktop and server operating systems. Its popularity stems from being free and open-source, making it an accessible option for those seeking budget-friendly hosting.
Since Linux is free, it’s included with most shared hosting plans. This lets web hosting companies save on OS licensing costs and pass those savings directly to you.
Just like ice cream with its many flavors, Linux hosting comes in a wide variety of distributions branching out from the main Linux kernel.
Put simply, Linux web hosting is a plan that comes with an operating system derived from Linux (instead of Windows). It’s the most popular web hosting service, thanks to its flexibility and affordability.
Unless a plan specifically highlights the Windows OS (operating system) or optimizations for running ASP.NET, Visual Basic, and other Windows programming languages, you can safely assume the hosting plan runs on Linux.
Linux started as an open-source operating system, providing a stark contrast to Microsoft’s proprietary corporate licensing approach.
The Linux operating system’s GNU general public license allows companies to add services and sell commercial products with Linux. Likewise, open-source developer communities can customize or create new features to the kernel and distribute it for no charge.
Companies like Google, Oracle, and IBM run Linux servers in large-scale cloud data centers. Meanwhile, small businesses and independent publishers can utilize shared Linux hosting for their web design needs.
All of these operating system distributions share the use of the same kernel and core distribution of Linux, governed by Linus Torvalds and the Free Software Foundation.
The Linux Foundation is another group that works for industry collaboration on the operating system via open-source fundamentals. The GNU GPL allowed Linux to develop as an operating system over 30 years to compete with Microsoft as a free solution for anyone to use.
Linux hosting is installed on 49.2% of global cloud workloads, and 61.3% of the websites in the world run on the Linux operating system.
2. Why Should I Use a Linux Server?
A Linux server enables a web host to make enterprise-grade data center services available to website owners through shared hardware.
For business owners and developers, partnering with the best Linux hosting providers is more cost-effective than managing your own hardware and network connections at an on-premise facility.
Here are more reasons most small business owners and independent web publishers should choose shared Linux hosting plans.
- Affordability: Only pay for hardware and support services.
- Best performance: Lightweight, adjustable code.
- Open-source code: Globally supported for a variety of use cases.
- Stable, private, and secure: Rare vulnerabilities are found and fixed quickly.
- Vast developer community: Global expertise and support.
- Compatibility and versatility: Adaptable for many devices, languages, and tasks.
Cheap Linux VPS plans allow you to opt between managed and unmanaged platforms with multiple versions of the Linux operating system available to install with server frameworks.
Most companies use Linux to avoid the more expensive costs of Microsoft products over time when supporting their websites and mobile apps.
3. How Much Should a Linux Web Hosting Plan Cost?
With a Linux hosting plan, you can host a website for under $2 per month for a single domain. Prices might rise to between $3 and $5 if you want the super-helpful cPanel portal and support for unlimited domain names included.
The cheapest VPS plans start around $5 per month for 1 vCPU with 1GB RAM. You can find dedicated server hosting as cheap as $50 per month at some sites, although average prices are upward of $100 monthly.
| Shared Hosting | VPS Hosting | Dedicated Server |
| $2 to $6 per month | $5 to $20 per month | $75 to $125 per month |
Shared web hosting plans allow you to get started developing a suite of domains at the cheapest rates in the industry. Linux server distro hosting is priced a few dollars cheaper on average across service products in the industry.
Expect to pay more for Windows-based shared and VPS server plans.
With any operating system, you need to decide between managed and unmanaged services.
We recommend most website owners rely on the experience of data center professionals to get the most value from web hosting plans with managed cloud services.
On unmanaged plans, you are responsible for all software licensing costs, cybersecurity, and systems administration for your hardware. Save money with managed cloud services that bundle licenses for cPanel into plans that would cost more to procure independently online.
Begin with just what you need and expand as your website traffic and processing demands increase. Use network metrics and data analytics to guide you. The ideal web hosting provider will simplify this journey for you.
4. Can I Get Linux Hosting for Free?
Yes, you can get Linux hosting for free. However, free hosting is a bit of a double-edged sword. While saving money on your web hosting plan is certainly a perk, the cons of a free service may outweigh the pros for certain use cases.
Free hosting has some disadvantages, such as:
- Lesser performance (RAM, CPUs, bandwidth, etc.)
- Potential security issues
- Lack of a free custom domain name
- Site advertisements
- Less control and customization
Students and developers might find these drawbacks acceptable for projects and coding practice. In such cases, free hosting can be a smart way to save money on your web hosting plan.
For professional environments or businesses, it’s smart to spend just a few dollars monthly on a top-notch Linux hosting plan. You’ll enjoy a wealth of features, including customer support, plus enhanced security and stability.
Alternatively, you can check out Linux hosts that offer free trials, such as Kamatera, which offers free hosting for 30 days.
5. How Do I Choose the Best Linux Web Hosting Service?
For most small business users, the best Linux hosting service is a cPanel plan that includes a fully managed environment on shared hardware.
Programmers and developers often require command-line access to a Linux server through SSH connections for configuration settings; cPanel allows people without extensive experience to control their web server and domain name configurations through the web browser.
For VPS server plan management of Linux installations, Webuzo is one of the top control panels, making it easy to deploy any operating system stack completely. Use cPanel to set up email, FTP, and MySQL databases for domains.
Features to Look for in the Best Web Hosting Provider:
- cPanel: The easy-to-use interface is the industry standard in shared hosting.
- Free domain: Even better, look for a web host with support for unlimited domains.
- One-click installations: Choose from more than 400 software programs to build your site.
- Security: Free SSL certificates, automatic updates, and 24/7 monitoring.
Managed platforms are perfect for those without much experience, as they can depend on data center engineers who bring years of expertise to the web host.
We most strongly recommend Linux hosting plans that offer additional web application firewalls, antivirus scanning, and DDoS protection. Web security is a major issue for publishers, which small businesses can address by relying on managed platforms.
The inclusion of Softaculous, Fantastico, or other one-click script installers makes it easy to launch scripts like WordPress to run on Linux servers with PHP and MySQL database support within minutes of signing up for a new account.
6. What are the Differences Between Linux and Windows Hosting?
When it comes to cost, Linux and Windows hosting differ mainly in the licensing fees for using the operating system on a web server.
With the most popular Linux operating systems, there’s no cost to use the server distribution. Companies like Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu have enterprise licensing divisions for corporate data centers, government institutions, and other large businesses.
These companies then provide versions of their Linux distribution to the public as a free community product that can be used on VPS or dedicated server plans.
Keep in mind, using cPanel requires either AlmaLinux, Ubuntu, or CloudLinux.
Main Differences Between Linux and Windows Hosting Plans:
| Linux | Windows | |
| Development | Open source | Private/commercial |
| Cost | Free or commercial | Commercial only |
| Web Panel | cPanel or Plesk | Plesk |
| Database | MySQL, PostgreSQL | MS SQL, Microsoft Access |
| Web Server | Apache, NGINX | Microsoft IIS |
| Languages | PHP, Perl, Python | ASP.NET, C#, Visual Basic |
| Security | Highly protected against most threats | More prone to attacks and user error |
| Support | Community-based | Commercial support plans |
To be fair, more features are cross-supported between Linux and Windows than ever before. That includes PHP and ASP.NET applications, along with the Plesk web panel. We stuck with what you’ll most commonly find.
Windows Server offers different pricing tiers for a single business server, enterprise organization, or data center license. Microsoft Azure has a complete suite of cloud products that competes with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform.
Microsoft will even allow Linux servers to run on Azure or to use Linux with Hyper-V virtualization.
7. Which Linux Distribution Should I Use?
The best Linux distribution depends on the requirements of the project for web server support.
cPanel is compatible only with CentOS, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux, or Cloud Linux, so choose one of these options if you plan to use cPanel for managing your domains.
One major perk of cPanel is that you won’t need to worry about installing any operating system or maintaining a web server. The web host manages cloud services for you, supporting a shared Linux hosting plan.
Bundling an included cPanel license on shared, VPS, or dedicated servers is worth about $15 per month if you were to acquire the license separately.
Most Popular Distributions for Linux Hosting Plans:
- Ubuntu: Pre-packaged web server distributions for bare metal and virtual hardware.
- Debian: Used with Apache, NGINX, lighttpd, Caddy, Tomcat, and other web servers.
- CentOS: Popularly used with cPanel, but is being replaced by Rocky or Alma Linux.
- Fedora: Official release of web server distro by the Apache Software Foundation.
- Cloud Linux: Engineered by the developers of cPanel for the requirements of hosting.
Outside of the cPanel ecosystem, a Debian installation profile is available for most popular web server frameworks. Apache officially sponsors the Fedora platform.
Data center operators frequently use Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, SUSE, and Ubuntu solutions for managing cloud networks with OpenStack and Kubernetes.
Developers working with Docker and container applications have made nano operating systems like Rancher, Alpine Linux, and CoreOS popular with groups that need the highest level of hardware speed for elastic scale.
8. What is the Best Linux Distro for Beginners?
If you’re just getting started with Linux, you may be wondering which distro is best for beginners. For shared Linux hosting users, this won’t be a problem as the host will manage everything server-related for you.
Switching from Windows VPS to Linux VPS is a different experience. VPS hosting demands more hands-on management, and a simple distro will likely make this transition smoother.
Each Linux distribution has unique features, interfaces, and tools tailored to different needs. If you’re after simplicity, we recommend trying Ubuntu.
This prepackaged web server distribution is one of the most popular distros, and for good reason. Known for its user-friendliness and community support, Ubuntu is an ideal choice for beginners.
Here are some of its key features:
- A modern graphical user interface
- A vast software and tools repository
- Quick software installs
- Valuable hardware support
- Timely security updates and bug fixes
Whatever your purpose, Ubuntu is a great starting point for your web server journey and is an excellent option for anyone new to Linux.
9. When Should I Get Linux VPS Hosting or a Dedicated Server?
Linux VPS hosting is best for most CMS website owners who are running active eCommerce, blog, or social networking sites.
Adding a Linux VPS with 2 vCPU cores and 2GB RAM will provide content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla with a higher level of resources. This leads to better performance.
Several companies like InMotion Hosting offer Linux VPS plans that include a pre-installed cPanel environment with specific performance and security optimizations for those CMSs in mind.
InMotion Hosting improves basic Linux VPS hosting with SSD storage for the fastest website performance. InMotion Hosting and Bluehost offer the best Linux VPS hosting for WordPress hosting with a free cPanel license and domain name included in the deal.
Reasons to Upgrade to VPS and Dedicated Hosting Plans:
- Web traffic support: Upgrade when your sites have higher levels of web traffic.
- More CPU for scripts: Support I/O requests with more dedicated CPU cores.
- More RAM for databases: Improve performance on VPS plans with more RAM.
- High-performance websites: Boost conversion rates on eCommerce stores.
- Increased availability: A VPS or dedicated server can better withstand spikes.
If you have a specific runtime requirement for Red Hat Linux, Arch Linux, Ubuntu Server, Oracle Linux, or Fedora Server, check the options available with the hosting provider in advance.
If managed VPS and dedicated server plans don’t offer support for your operating system, you can opt for an unmanaged platform and install the OS yourself using the command line.
Oracle Linux, Arch Linux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are not commonly supported in commercial web hosting, but many managed VPS platforms run Ubuntu Server with integrated cPanel management for domains.
10. Which Hosts Let Me Choose My Operating System?
Managed VPS plans or dedicated servers often come with a very limited choice when it comes to operating systems and other software to configure your stack.
Unmanaged plans, however, allow you to choose your operating system from many popular distro options using server images, or ISO prints.
A Linux server distribution is not always free, so the best Linux hosting option depends on your project requirements.
Here are some of our favorite hosts with unmanaged VPS options and a wide selection of operating systems:
| Host | VPS Price | Operating Systems |
| Hosting.com | $3.99 | AlmaLinux, CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian |
| Hostinger | $4.49 | CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE |
| InterServer | $3.00 | Debian, OpenSUSE, Ubuntu, CentOS, AlmaLinux, Fedora |
| Kamatera | $4.00 | RockyLinux, AlmaLinux, CentOS, Cloud Linux, Debian, OpenSUSE, Ubuntu |
| Hostwinds | $4.99 | CentOS, Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian |
We particularly love the Turbo Server configuration Hosting.com offers, which provides users a higher-quality web server with low-density hardware guaranteed to perform faster than most other options.
Hosting.com is also one of the best companies for customer support, using phone, live chat, and email ticketing channels.
Shared hosting plans or reseller accounts usually don’t let you choose your operating system. That’s why the best Linux web hosting often comes from unmanaged VPS plans, giving you the freedom to install any operating system distribution you prefer for development.
Linux web hosting resources on unmanaged VPS plans require a higher level of developer support for cybersecurity issues.
To install any OS without limitation to a particular Linux distro, sign up for unmanaged VPS plans or use a Linux dedicated server. However, be aware that Linux server hosting does not always include customer support from a hosting company for developer-related issues.
For many small businesses, a Linux enterprise server license can be quite costly. To help with this, web hosting companies offer free open-source versions of runtime stacks like Fedora Server with Apache or Ubuntu Server with NGINX.
11. How Should I Get Started With Linux Shared Hosting?
Once you choose a web host that best meets your needs, you will need to create a new account likely using a credit card or PayPal. Some companies now enable cryptocurrency payments or ACH withdrawals.
A top-notch hosting service should provide a complete Linux OS package with a cPanel license or offer other free control panels like Plesk or Webuzo for configuration management.
Be sure to pick a hosting provider that includes WordPress development tools, Git integration, WP-CLI, and free themes, all within an optimized runtime environment.
A Linux dedicated server is the priciest option, so it’s smart to start with a shared web hosting company before moving up to dedicated hosting.
If you’re looking to create a custom Linux setup for website development or mobile app support, pick a hosting provider that lets you easily upgrade from shared hosting to VPS plans and dedicated servers, all on a single managed platform.
This approach helps you save both time and money on system administration while working with database scripts on a hosting provider. Ensure the web host provides customer support with live chat to help you get started and resolve any issues efficiently.
