Writer: Laura Bernheim
Editor: Lillian Castro
Reviewer: Christina Lewis
Key Takeaways
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Don't buy a Windows VPS unless you have specific project requirements that demand it, such as needing to use ASP.NET.
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While Windows VPSes tend to cost more than Linux, they are compatible with Microsoft applications, which may be a bonus for your organization.
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Kamatera is the best Windows VPS overall. It even comes with a 30-day free trial.
Ready for a cheap Windows VPS? A virtual private server is a happy middle ground between mass-market shared servers and expensive dedicated servers. More specifically, a Windows VPS gives ASP and C programmers more computing power without the pressures of running and overseeing a dedicated server.
Most VPS providers, however, only offer Linux-based plans. You’d usually have to do some extra digging to find Windows packages to host your ASP.NET application, but, I’ve gathered a list of my favorite hosts for the service. These providers will help you scale your traffic without breaking the bank.
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Navigate This Article:
Best Overall in Windows VPS Hosting
If the price tag is the only thing you worry about when it comes to hosting, you may want to try giving Kamatera a try. The web host offers a 30-day free trial as long as your server customizations cost less than $100. Once your trial ends, plans start for as little as $25.00 a month for a basic Windows virtual server.
1. Kamatera.com
Monthly Starting Price $25.00
- Cloud-powered SSD VPS with Intel Xeon vCPUs
- Run any Linux or Windows operating system edition
- Superb 99.95% uptime rate and 24/7 support
- Up to unlimited Plesk licenses available
- 30-day FREE trial with no hidden fees
- Get started on Kamatera now.
Featuring tons of scalability and operating system choices, Kamatera represents an affordable VPS hosting provider for Windows users. The web host’s global presence and optional managed services ensure your site is performing optimally. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 20 GB SSD – 4 TB SSD | 1 – 32 cores | 1 GB – 128 GB |
Kamatera offers the ultimate level of customization. You can select from multiple Windows Server versions, including Windows Servers 2012, 2016, 2019, and 2022. The host also has Windows Desktop versions 8.1 and 10.
Beyond selecting your operating system, you can choose the amount of RAM, vCPUs, and storage. Servers come with specs as small as one gigabyte of RAM, one vCPU, and 30 gigabytes of SSD storage and as large as 128 gigabytes of RAM, 32 vCPUs, and 4,000 gigabytes of storage.
The cloud hosting company features modern SSDs along with highly configurable and scalable environments. Finally, Kamatera helps you reduce latency by giving you a choice of multiple data center locations, so you can build an online presence that’s close to your users.
Cheapest Managed Virtual Server for Windows
Upgrading from a shared hosting plan to an unmanaged VPS can come with increased technical responsibilities. With an unmanaged VPS, you’re responsible for all third-party software installations, server configurations, and maintenance involved with, in this case, the Windows OS.
If you lack the experience or time for virtual private server administration, several hosts offer managed VPS services and experienced technical support for time-consuming server maintenance tasks, ranging from the mundane to the complex.
If you’re on a tight budget and prefer to delegate server management tasks to your host, InterServer is hard to beat.
2. InterServer.net
Monthly Starting Price $5.00
- Affordable Windows VPS with flexible pricing
- Windows Server 2022
- Deploy within 20 minutes with instant setup
- Plenty of RAM and data transfer
- Cloud backups and snapshots included
- Get started on InterServer now.
InterServer is an up-and-coming brand to watch in the dedicated and virtual server markets. The host touts powerful, reliable VPS hosting for Windows or Linux at a competitive price point. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 480 GB SSD | 1 – 16 CPUs | 2 – 32 GB |
Not only does the team offer a Windows VPS plan starting at $5.00 per month, but the hardware hosting your website or application is located within company headquarters, in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Co-founders Mike Lavrik and John Quaglieri are even on hand to respond to support tickets and run the data center.
Best Value in Windows VPS Hosting
Instead of just highlighting the bargain-basement prices some hosts offer, I prefer to balance cost with attributes such as performance, CPU cores, bandwidth, reliability, security, and customer support, among other factors.
My top recommendations are geared to help you get the most bang for your hosting buck — meaning your website or application has the best chance of appealing to your end users.
I’ve found several esteemed providers that tout cheap Windows hosting plans with loads of high-quality Windows VPS features. See my top picks below:
3. IONOS.com
Monthly Starting Price $12.00
- Powerful Windows VPS for $12/month
- 100% SSD storage and 99.99% uptime guarantee
- Full root access and optional Plesk control panel
- Unlimited bandwidth and instant scalability
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Get started on IONOS now.
A long-time internet industry innovator, IONOS maintains competitive pricing and robust in-house technologies. The host’s virtual cloud servers accommodate unlimited site traffic, and you’re given the power to choose your operating system, datacenter location, RAM, and storage configurations. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 10 GB NVMe – 640 GB NVMe | 2 – 12 cores | 2 GB – 24 GB |
4. Hostwinds.com
Monthly Starting Price $17.24
- Managed or unmanaged virtual servers available in Windows
- Cloud hosting with hourly or monthly billing
- Instant upgrades without downtime
- FREE around-the-clock monitoring
- Automatic nightly backups available
- Get started on Hostwinds now.
Does any hosting provider have more VPS packages than Hostwinds. The company not only offers 10 configurations for managed Linux server partitions, but also provides 10 additional plans each for managed Windows VPS — and unmanaged varieties of both. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 750 GB SSD | 1 – 16 cores | 1 – 96 GB |
5. GoDaddy.com
Monthly Starting Price $17.99
- Fast, scalable, and secure Windows VPS hosting
- Highly customizable servers with full root access
- Windows with Plesk available for managed plans
- Develop high-performance web apps with ASP.NET
- SQL Server 2019
- Get started on GoDaddy now.
GoDaddy’s VPS plans for Windows are perfect for developing highly scalable applications, especially if you’re a fan of the ASP. NET framework. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 40 GB SSD – 200 GB SSD | 1 – 4 cores | 2 – 16 GB |
Cheapest Windows VPS Overall
Fancy features aside, I really do understand the need to stick to a budget. Unlike shared hosting plans, VPS packages typically ask customers to pay per month based on actual computing resources used.
While shared hosting customers can save money by paying in advance for a year of services, VPS customers can sometimes have a hard time understanding how fluctuating monthly prices will fit into their financial plans.
Even though being designated “the cheapest” of something might connote outdated infrastructure or a subpar VPS hosting service, I wouldn’t dare lead you astray. Reintroducing InterServer: the best and cheapest Windows VPS.
6. InterServer.net
Monthly Starting Price $5.00
- Affordable Windows VPS with flexible pricing
- Windows Server 2022
- Deploy within 20 minutes with instant setup
- Plenty of RAM and data transfer
- Cloud backups and snapshots included
- Get started on InterServer now.
InterServer is an up-and-coming brand to watch in the dedicated and virtual server markets. The host touts powerful, reliable VPS hosting for Windows or Linux at a competitive price point. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 480 GB SSD | 1 – 16 CPUs | 2 – 32 GB |
Several hosts start their cheap VPS package offerings small to make sure customers are only paying for the resources needed to power their website or application. As traffic scales, customers can add more resources and customize configurations.
InterServer maintains impressive affordability while still offering top-notch hardware on the Microsoft Hyper-V platform for a hard-to-believe $5.00 each month.
Best Windows VPS With Free SSDs
Whether it’s for your laptop or your Windows virtual private server, solid-state hard drives are a must-have piece of hardware to me.
Once you experience the added speed and stability of SSDs, which have no moving parts and operate much faster than traditional hard disk drives, you won’t want to turn back.
The availability of SSDs, frequently paired with unmetered bandwidth, is a good sign that a web host wants to appeal to knowledgeable hosting customers who care about infrastructure and performance, as opposed to purely profiting off the masses.
That’s what Hostwinds has to offer.
7. Hostwinds.com
Monthly Starting Price $17.24
- Managed or unmanaged virtual servers available in Windows
- Cloud hosting with hourly or monthly billing
- Instant upgrades without downtime
- FREE around-the-clock monitoring
- Automatic nightly backups available
- Get started on Hostwinds now.
Does any hosting provider have more VPS packages than Hostwinds. The company not only offers 10 configurations for managed Linux server partitions, but also provides 10 additional plans each for managed Windows VPS — and unmanaged varieties of both. Go to full review »
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 750 GB SSD | 1 – 16 cores | 1 – 96 GB |
The performance boost from SSDs typically comes with a slightly higher price tag, since the newer storage devices are more expensive and typically have smaller capacities.
But a premier host like Hostwinds adds even more value to its Windows VPS hosting plan by including bonus features such as 99.99999% uptime, antivirus scanning, proprietary security tools, and DDoS protection.
Cheap Windows VPS With Plesk
Unlike cPanel, Plesk supports both Linux and Windows operating systems.
This is the option you’ll most frequently find included with a Windows VPS hosting solution, and most agree Plesk holds the edge when it comes to security, stability, and adding new features and integrations.
If you want to loosen your purse strings, Liquid Web includes Plesk among the company’s managed VPS service, unrivaled support, free migrations, and a 100% uptime guarantee.
A prime example of a host that caters to customers’ specific needs, InterServer is a bit more affordable and even created its own control panel for users who want to explore a different option.
My favorite host, however, for an affordable Plesk/Windows VPS pairing is AccuWebHosting, which deploys the latest Intel Xeon processors and SSD drives at a very affordable rate.
8. AccuWebHosting.com
Monthly Starting Price $6.99
- Performant Windows VPS with SSDs available
- Choice of Windows Server 2016, 2012, or 2008
- 100% uptime guaranteed with Cloud VPS
- Full admin access and FREE backups
- Option to get a FREE VPS for 1 month!
- Get started on Accuwebhosting now.
The signature service of AccuWebHosting, the company's VPS plans come in all shapes, sizes, and operating systems. Blending quality and affordability, AccuWebHosting plans start at less than $10 per month — roughly half of what you'll find elsewhere. Go to full review »
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 40 GB - 125 GB | New or Transfer | 6 minutes |
The top-rated infrastructure brings peace of mind to customers looking for a bargain but wanting to skip a cut-rate hosting service.
What is Windows VPS Hosting?
To understand Windows VPS hosting, we must first go over the definition of VPS hosting.
In the hosting hierarchy, VPS hosting usually lands between shared hosting and cloud hosting, meaning that it’s more powerful than shared plans but packs a smaller punch than cloud services.
VPS is an acronym for “virtual private server.” Like shared hosting, VPS hosting uses a single physical server to house multiple users’ websites and applications. But the difference between the two server types comes down to the use of virtualization technology.
In VPS hosting, web hosts use virtualization software to create isolated server environments for users so they can receive dedicated resources instead of sharing all the resources in one pool like shared hosting.
Windows VPS hosting is VPS hosting that runs the Windows operating system, making it possible for customers to install and manage Windows-specific applications and software. And that’s it.
Windows vs. Linux VPS: What’s the Cost Difference?
A Linux-powered VPS is typically cheaper than hosting a Windows server. While a Linux virtual machine might start at around $5 per month, my favorite Windows hosting providers offer VPS plans in the $10-per-month range.
While Linux shared hosting providers dominate the affordable hosting portfolio, Windows web hosting plans, including those for VPS users, don’t have to break the bank.
- Compare Linux VPS hosting providers and prices
- Compare Windows VPS hosting providers and prices
Pro tip: To maximize cost-effectiveness while getting the most bang for your buck in server resources and hosting features, consider Kamatera. As one of the few hosts to offer both Linux and Windows hosting options, Kamatera boasts Windows VPS plans starting at $25.00.
What are the Pros and Cons of Cheap Windows VPS Hosting?
A Windows virtual private server is ideal for businesses with specific workload requirements. If you’re deciding whether this setup is right for you, check out the pros and cons:
Pros
- Virtual private servers are generally faster and more powerful than shared hosting, but are cheaper than dedicated hosting.
- The Windows operating system is generally easier to use than other operating systems.
- Windows is compatible with all Microsoft applications.
- Users get ongoing customer support for Windows.
Cons
- VPSes are more expensive than shared servers.
- Because Windows isn’t open source (like Linux), you have to pay a fee to use it.
- Windows offers less security than its open-source counterpart, Linux.
- Windows operating systems require more resources than Linux.
Windows has its advantages, most notably its compatibility with certain software. But truthfully, Linux is a better choice for most VPS users. Still, some use cases require a Windows operating system, which I’ll discuss next.
Who Needs Windows VPS Hosting?
Few, if any, hosting shoppers just happen upon Windows hosting, let alone a Windows VPS. If you’ve read this far, you’re intentionally seeking out support for this operating system based on your unique project requirements.
Perhaps you need support for Windows RDP, or Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol, as you’re managing Windows-based applications. Maybe your programming language of choice — or the choice of the organization behind your paycheck — is ASP.NET or another .NET flavor. If you’re shopping for a Forex VPS equipped to securely handle Forex trading with minimal outages, you’re in the right place.
Here are some common uses for Windows VPS hosting:
- You need to run Microsoft-specific software, such as ASP.NET or Visual Basic
- Host websites using IIS (Internet Information Services)
- For Forex or trading bots
- You need support for Windows RDP
Pro tip: Generally speaking, business use cases account for most Windows hosting instances. Don’t choose a Windows hosting plan unless you have a specific reason for doing so.
What Features are Included in a Windows VPS Plan?
The hosts I recommend for Windows-oriented projects or products tout features specific to the operating system and the applications it supports. Expect support for ASP.NET, MSSQL, MVC6, and other Windows-friendly technologies.
Disk space should be ample, and server administrators should have the utmost control over file management and databases. While hosting on a VPS, you should find a dedicated IP address for your Windows project.
Get Great Rates on a Windows Virtual Server
VPS hosting plans give users more control and computing resources by dividing the server among a small group of customers.
While a shared server might host thousands of sites, a virtual private server (VPS) is typically reserved for a dozen or so clients. A VPS runs its own operating system copy and acts as a dedicated server, even though the physical server might contain several virtual environments.
Even though affordable Windows VPS hosting plans might be harder to find than their Linux counterparts, each VPS provider on this list makes the extra work worthwhile.
When developing a highly scalable and available ASP.NET website or application, the Windows operating system is key. Once that box is checked, hosting providers can distinguish themselves by managed services, modern hardware, and user-friendly tools that turn your hosting bargain into a steal.
For more information or other cheap Windows VPS hosting options, be sure to take a look at our Windows VPS hosting reviews.
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