Choosing the right web host is a crucial step towards optimizing your online business.
After all, there’s no point paying for a whole bunch of added extras you don’t need. Likewise, if you opt for an overly cheap plan than you could lose valuable visitors due to downtimes or unacceptable speeds.
For many small to medium-sized businesses, a VPS provides the perfect happy medium. The monthly fees are manageable, the hardware can handle enough traffic, and the customization is entirely adequate.
But with so many competing options out there, how can you determine which provider is best for you, not least if you’re limited to the Windows Operating System?
In this article, we’ll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using Windows for your VPS before reviewing the top five hosts in 2018.
Why Choose a Windows Operating System for Your VPS?
First up, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using this operating system to help you determine if it’s really the best choice for you.
The Advantages of a Windows VPS
Most of us are already familiar with Windows, whereas Linux may come across as foreign and overly complex to the novice user. Such familiarity and user-friendliness prompts many to opt for Microsoft’s OS.
Another great drawcard is compatibility. Businesses that depend heavily on Microsoft’s software will find their VPS runs more seamlessly when Windows is installed. The ASP.NET framework, for example, requires Windows for optimal performance.
Finally, unlike Linux, Windows allows the system admin to gain remote access to their VPS from anywhere in the world. This greatly simplifies the administrative process.
The Disadvantages of a Windows VPS
Linux is open-source and, therefore, free. Expect to pay extra to run a Windows VPS.
However, perhaps more important for advanced VPS admins are Linux’s enhanced configuration and customization options. Unlike Windows, Linux supports the use of cPanel which is the preferred control panel among most high-level developers.
Furthermore, many techies consider Linux to be more stable and have superior anti-malware and virus protection to Windows.
5 Best Windows VPS Hosting in 2018
Liquid Web
After a high-performance VPS which scales with ease? Then a cloud VPS from Liquid Web could be the best option for you.
What They Offer
With Liquid Web, you must purchase at least the second-tier VPS plan in order to access a Windows OS. The price of this plan is on par with a dedicated server, therefore it’s worthwhile considering the advantages of a dedicated setup before committing.
Available operating systems include Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and 2016 Standard Edition, both of which can be fully managed, core-managed, or self-managed. Server locations cover western and central U.S. as well as western Europe.
Value-Added Features
The coolest thing about Liquid Web is their cloud VPS technology.
Unlike a normal VPS, a cloud VPS is connected to numerous machines on a larger host network. Consequently, the server is able to draw more resources from the network on a whim, essentially equating to near-instant scalability.
Liquid Web also has regular Windows VPS plans available at half the price of their cloud VPS options. But obviously, with their cloud VPS, what you’re paying for is the much better reliability and scalability.
What We’d like to See
Liquid Web is very much a premium service. The fact that the cheapest plan doesn’t include Windows puts them out of the price range of many potential customers.
Who Is This Web Host Best For?
Given their scalability and relatively high price point, Liquid Web is a top option for profitable businesses who expect to encounter unpredictable spikes in traffic.
The company is also known for their tailor-made solutions, making them the web host of choice for specialist industries with strict regulations such healthcare and the public sector.
1&1 IONOS
For a no-frills budget VPS that gets the job done, few providers are as competitive as 1&1. In fact, this massive German company offers a barebones VPS plan for just a few dollars per month.
What They Offer
Currently, 1&1 IONOS has a total of four VPS plans1&1 has a total of four VPS plans, each with a different monthly cost, server setup, and set of available resources. Be aware that the introductory rate is only valid for 12 months. After that, it doubles in most cases.
Windows Server 2012 and 2016 are both available, but you’ll be required to pay an extra monthly fee for the privilege.
Administrators get full root access and a choice of either U.S. or European-based servers.
Value-Added Features
One of the cool things 1&1 has recently done is to add SSD storage to their servers. According to the company, these have increased load speeds by up to ten times.
Another great plus for high-demand websites is that the company offers unlimited traffic across all their plans.
What We’d like to See
Some users have reported issues with lower than average uptimes. Furthermore, 1&1 IONOS’s refund policy isn’t great and users must pay extra for 1&1’s WebsiteBuilder Plus feature to add code to web templates.
Who Is This Web Host Best For?
Above all else, 1&1 IONOS is an excellent option for beginners. The company keeps their millions of customers happy by providing an easy-to-use and affordable service with quality customer support.
GoDaddy
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would’ve heard of GoDaddy by now. After all, they’re the biggest web host and domain registrar in the world. In fact, the mammoth enjoys an enviable market share of over 5%.
But is bigger necessarily better?
What They Offer
GoDaddy offers four different Windows VPS tiers, the first three of which are fairly similar in price. Each plan includes unlimited bandwidth (see their T&Cs), three dedicated IP addresses, and a free one-year SSL certificate.
Managed, fully-managed and self-managed options are all available, while advanced features such as Deluxe Website Security come at an extra cost.
Value-Added Features
GoDaddy shines in terms of uptime and speed, which are consistently reliable and quick. Given their incredible market penetration, they’re also able to offer more services than other providers. A one-stop shop, if you will.
Examples include domains, website building tools, applications, and even outsourcing a team of web design professionals.
What We’d like to See
GoDaddy could improve a lot in terms of transparent pricing.
Advertised rates, for example, are for the initial sign-up period only, which then almost double upon renewal.
Granted, this is a common ploy in the web hosting industry. Yet GoDaddy takes it a step further.
After your free one-year SSL certificate has expired, the company will charge a hefty US$75 annual fee. Email is another example. Once your trial period has lapsed, this basic and usually free service gets slugged with an extra charge.
Who Is This Web Host Best For?
GoDaddy is a reliable and lightning-quick option that represents excellent value for money. But only really for those looking to host a website for a period of one year or less. After that, the hidden extra fees really begin to stack up.
Exabytes
On the other end of the spectrum, Exabytes is a boutique provider with a mere 100,000 clients.
What They Offer
Exabytes sells eight different Windows VPS plans, all of which are capped.
Customers are able to choose from Singapore and U.S.-based servers, while different types of managed plans are available that vary in price depending on the work required.
Value-Added Features
As a relatively small company, Exabytes knows the importance of keeping their customers happy. Consequently, the company is famous for providing high-quality, 24/7 customer support.
What We’d like to See
Even on their most expensive plan, there’s no option for unlimited resources such as file storage, bandwidth, or traffic. Such an absence could alienate certain users.
Who Is This Web Host Best For?
Exabytes offer a solid service at reasonable prices. However, the company really shines in Southeast Asia where the market is not as competitive as the United States.
A2
Much like Liquid Web, A2 is a premium web host provider. But rather than offering extra scalability, the company focuses more on pumping out super fast speeds.
What They Offer
A2 sells just three different Windows VPS plans, all of which cost marginally more than similar offerings from their competitors. Nevertheless, you’ll get a decent dose of traffic, RAM, CPU cores, and storage on each.
Unlike other providers, the Plesk Control Panel and an SSL Certificate are included free of charge. Servers are based in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Value-Added Features
The company’s biggest claim to fame is their Turbo Server option, which increases page load speeds by up to 20 times.
Furthermore, each plan is fully-managed, which saves small businesses invaluable time.
What We’d like to See
Other than price, it’s really hard to fault this company for anything. It would be nice to see an entry-level plan for those on a budget.
Who Is This Web Host Best For?
More profitable businesses would benefit from a premium service such as A2, particularly those who rely heavily on fast page load times to convert sales.
We’ve covered the top five VPS hosting plans available on the market today, each of which excels in different aspects.
Ultimately, the ideal plan depends on your individual budget and business needs. Compare these plans against your requirements to find what works best for you.
Any comments?