2020's Best "Windows Hosting" Providers

It’s 2020, and the number of niches within the web hosting industry is nothing short of mind-boggling. As you browse the top hosts, you can filter your search by server type, control panel preference, and, yes, even your choice of operating system. As someone who likes having total control over customization, the myriad of options aren’t as intimidating to me as web hosting beginners.

Let’s discuss the best plans for Windows lovers a bit more in-depth: delving into not only why we recognized the hosts above but also which providers are up to snuff to deliver ready-to-go VPS, dedicated, WordPress, and even reseller Windows hosting needs.

The difference between Linux and Windows web hosting boils down to the operating system installed on the server — it’s that simple. Whether you choose to use Windows or Linux typically depends on what you’re hosting and what programming languages you need to support.

Windows hosting is pretty much exclusive to those who need to run Windows-specific software, such as ASP, ASP.NET, Access, or Visual Basic. Linux hosting is a much broader audience. More often than not, you’ll be perfectly served with Linux hosting. Only sign up for a Windows-based service if you have a specific reason for doing so!

So, how did we come to our top plans listed above? As you know, we thoroughly assess uptime rates, storage specs, supported software, and customer support in general. Below are some of the features we find most appealing in a Windows web host:

• Choice of multiple Windows operating systems
• Easy installs for popular software
• Tons of storage, bandwidth, and MS SQL databases
• 24/7 network monitoring, expert support, and virtually no downtime (99.99% or better)

When looking at this list and our reviews, it’s important to weigh quantity (cost) against quality (features) of the service. You can’t go wrong with any of the providers we’ve recommended but some are better for certain customers than others.

Simpy put, Liquid Web excels at all things dedicated hosting. You’ll get access to top-of-the-line Windows servers, leading-edge security, and, of course, the always-on-call assistance of the Heroic Support® squad. One of the many reasons we love Liquid Web is the balance of quality performance and stomachable pricing. If you’re looking for a robust dedicated server on which to run Windows, Liquid Web is your best bet.

A relatively fresh face in the web hosting industry, Hostwinds is a premier hosting destination for those looking for ultra-reliable and scalable virtualized Windows hosting. The provider offers a staggering 99.9999% uptime guarantee on high-powered VPS machines and gives customers the ability to choose how much managed support to include with the hardware.

If you’re looking for a Windows- and WordPress-specific hosting plan, I’m intrigued to know what project you’re embarking on! The popular content management system typically runs in Linux environments, but you can make the two technologies get along with a little bit of elbow grease. Our recommendation for this particular combo is HostGator, which boasts 99.9% uptime, easy installations for all your favorite scripts, and the support is second to none.

Even though Windows hosting is the rarer of the two OS-specific hosting types, it doesn’t mean it has to be a financial burden. A few of the web’s leading low-cost hosting providers also offer Windows plans. You can see our favorites for shared hosting — the most affordable environments — but let’s recap our favorite offerings for dedicated and virtual server needs:

• The free amenities that come standard with Liquid Web make the host a leading choice among dedicated hosting options.
• If you’re looking for VPS hosting, you recognize the need to scale and support larger amounts of traffic. Hostwinds provides the Windows options and competitive pricing you’ll need to thrive.

Now, reselling your Windows hosting services is an interesting choice. Generally speaking, reseller hosting is a great way to make some extra cash off your superfluous server resources. Most plans are based in Linux environments, but AccuWebHosting is a one-stop shop for highly customizable and affordable plans.

Have you made your selection? Like sitting down to the table at your favorite restaurant and perusing the dinner menu, don’t be afraid to mix and match ingredients to craft exactly the hosting meal you crave. Windows hosting environments might be harder to find, but the companies who provide the services are highly tuned to customer satisfaction and forward-thinking technologies.