Best Windows VPS Hosting in 2022 – Hosting Done Better
Updated: April 08,2022
Shared hosting is slowly disappearing. In this day and age, people don’t want their websites to be hosted on an unstable, overpopulated server. Instead, people are turning to cloud hosting, which offers more speed, stability, and security than traditional servers.
Whether you’re building a business website, Internet shop, or just want to add to the ever-increasing number of blogs, getting a VPS or cloud server means you can do much more than just manage your website. You can put your whole office on the cloud, have a remote Windows machine available 24/7 while you travel, and perform calculations, rendering, or any other CPU-intensive task.
Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find a hosting provider without a strong VPS infrastructure.
But what is the best Windows VPS hosting out there? What companies offer the best deals, run the latest OS version, and provide the best VPS tools? Read on to find out.
- Free trial
- Fast and easy setup
- Massive scalability
- Expensive
“Go big or go home” is a mantra uttered by many sports stars, leaders, and business gurus. It also seems to be Kamatera’s motto, as this is the best Windows VPS hosting if you want to really go big with your project. Big scalability, big server network, big list of features: check! But does it come with a big price tag, too?
At first glance, it doesn’t look much different from any other cloud hosting platform. The base virtual machine uses 1 CPU core, runs on just 1 GB of RAM, and comes with 30 GB of storage space on an SSD. However, tick the “Customized” option, and the true power of this platform will be unlocked. Servers with more than 100 CPU cores, more than 500 gigs of RAM, and terabytes of storage will be at your fingertips. That’s why Kamatera is widely regarded as the best Windows VPS hosting company.
Amazing customization is accompanied by some great features, too. OS selection includes Windows 8.1, 10, Server 2016, and Server 2019. Moreover, there are nine data centers to choose from. You can add Plesk, WordPress, VoIP, and many other capabilities to your VPS. Other options include up to four IPs, daily backups, and a fully managed server if you’d prefer to take care of other stuff and leave setting up the server to the pros.
But all this comes at a price. The starting price for the basic server is $19/month, which isn’t nearly enough for any serious work. Luckily, there’s a 30-day trial, so you can test the free Windows VPS hosting before committing to a subscription plan. Windows hosting is, in general, much more expensive at this company than picking CentOS or Linux-based servers. That's why we commend the free trial option.
Customer support is available globally every day of the week, but only via phone and email. Kamatera also provides different levels of support based on the plan you purchase. For example, unless you get a more advanced plan, you won’t be able to get help with Windows operating system issues, which isn’t something you’d expect from the best Windows VPS hosting service.
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Two IPs per account
- Affordable plans
- Only Windows Server 2016 available
This gator has been killing its competition since 2002. Based in Texas, HostGator sure does follow the saying, “everything’s bigger in Texas.” It offers unlimited bandwidth for all of its VPS plans, plenty of disc space, and affordable prices.
When you decide to buy a VPS, you’ll get three options: Snappy 2000, 4000, and 8000. These values correlate to the amount of RAM you’ll get, so the most affordable plan comes with 2 GB, while the most expensive one will get you 8 GB of RAM. HostGator’s Windows virtual machines run on dual-core and quad-core Intel processors, come with 120-240 GB of SSD storage, and have no monthly bandwidth limits.
HostGator also guarantees an uptime of 99.99%. That means your website might be offline for just one hour during the whole year. While the only Windows version available is Server 2016, each customer gets a variety of other great services, including a free SSL certificate, free web domain, unlimited email addresses, two IP addresses, and DDoS and firewall protection.
Another reason why many consider this hosting company to be the best Windows VPS hosting provider is its pricing system. With prices starting at $19.95 per month, it blows most of the competition out of the water, especially considering its features and bandwidth. For this price, it’s a rarity to get more than 2 TB of bandwidth per month, let alone an unlimited plan. Granted, you’d still have to sign up for the annual or multi-year plan for the best deals, but these Windows VPS hosting pricing options are worth it if you’re planning on making money through your website.
This brings us to customer experience. HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee and has some of the best customer support teams. Even before you sign up, you can rest assured this is a company that knows a lot about web hosting.
- Affordable
- Very scalable
- cPanel
- Short refund period
Hostwinds proves that the best Windows VPS hosting provider doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated to set up.
Instead of locking customers into just a few pre-made plans with upgrades available only after you sign up, Hostwinds accommodates power users right off the bat. Want a 16-core CPU with 96 GB of RAM and more storage space than you’ll ever need? You can opt for Hostwinds’ Windows VPS hosting plan before you even create an account.
There are four plans that should fit most users’ needs. These come with 1-2 CPU cores, up to 6 GB of RAM, and up to 100 GB of SSD storage. You can’t go completely wild on the bandwidth with these private servers; they come with a 2 TB transfer limit. Even the most expensive Windows cloud server has a bandwidth cap.
Hostwinds’ service comes with some pretty impressive features. First off, you get an uptime of 99.9999%. No, that is not a typo. Converted into minutes, this means Hostwinds guarantees your site won’t be offline for more than half a minute per year. Incredible! Other features include several MySQL versions, 256-bit encryption, one year of free domain, as well as the option of an unmanaged VPS with root access.
It’s also one of the more affordable services around. The plans start at just $10.99 a month for unmanaged and $12.74 for fully managed servers. On the flip side, Hostwinds offers a short 72-hour money-back guarantee. But at these prices, this cheap VPS hosting service isn’t exactly a risky investment. If you ever need to contact customer support, the Hostwinds team is available 24/7/365 via live chat, email, and phone.
- Lots of storage
- Global server network
- Automated backups included in all plans
- Limited OS options
There probably isn’t a more famous domain service than GoDaddy. This Arizona-based internet giant has been in the business world for well over two decades, serving more than 20 million customers around the globe. It has become synonymous with domain hosting, but today it offers both traditional and virtual hosting for private and eCommerce needs.
The options for Windows server hosting are highly varied at this provider. At a minimum, you’ll be getting a single-core CPU with 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of SSD storage, a package that’s already more than enough for anyone looking to run their VPS on a Windows-based platform. Scalability is great, even before you sign up. The maximum pre-made plan includes 16 GB of RAM on 8 CPU cores and 400 GB of storage. No matter which option you go with, you can customize them later on.
GoDaddy doesn’t limit monthly bandwidth, and it lets users create an unlimited number of email and cPanel accounts. The uptime is a fairly decent 99.9%. It’s not on par with some of the other best Windows VPS hosting providers, but it’s still a great deal considering the low cost of the service. The servers run on Windows Server 2016 and have MySQL enabled, with an optional Plesk Obsidian license available. But the biggest strength of this platform lies in its server network. You won’t be limited to virtual server locations since GoDaddy has servers in North America, Europe, and Asia.
GoDaddy offers a very affordable service. Pricing starts at just $4.99 per month for the basic Windows VPS, and it goes as high as $69.99 per month for all the extra bells and whistles. Note that Windows VPS hosting prices skyrocket in case you want a fully managed server. This is an all-inclusive service where GoDaddy’s experts set everything up for you, and monitoring is updated at a one-minute interval.
As expected, the customer service experience is out of this world. International support is available via phone, email, and live chat. Wherever you are in the world, there’s a chance a GoDaddy representative will be available to speak to you in your native language.
- Latest OS available
- Affordable
- Highly scalable
- Limited support for lower-priced plans
InterServer, a company with more than two decades of experience, has proven to be one of the best Windows server VPS hosting platforms. This cloud hosting solution works with any WordPress solution, Webuzo shopping platform, or Windows machine.
InterServer offers an impressive selection of 16 pre-made plans. These options start at single-core virtual machines with 2 GB of RAM and go all the way to 16-core, 32 GB of RAM servers. Storage and bandwidth options are also varied, but there’s currently no option for an unlimited bandwidth plan.
That said, the Windows VPS hosting price of the basic machine is just $10 a month, making this service one of the most affordable around. You’re not limited to these plans, though, as later on, you can quickly request an upgrade depending on your needs. Even the toughest server won’t break the bank, and each comes with a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
Feature-wise, InterServer is quite generous. The OS selection includes the latest - Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 - so you can rest assured that security is at the highest possible level. Among other integrations, you can select Plesk, Cloudflare, Atomicorp, and Nodejs, with apps like Ruby and PHP coming preinstalled with each server. Optionally, this cheap Windows VPS hosting can be upgraded with an automated backup tool to fully protect all your files.
As for the customer service, InterServer offers support via phone, email, and live chat in several languages. The support team is available every day of the year, but for certain inquiries, you’ll need to purchase at least four server “slices” to be eligible. That includes support for the operating system and control panel, while everything else is free for those using the company’s unmanaged Windows VPS services.
- Quick and easy setup
- Scalable solution
- 4.0 score on TrustPilot
- Too many pricing plans
Time4VPS is part of “Interneto vizija,” a Lithuanian-based company that opened its doors in 2003. In 2005, the company became the country’s biggest web-hosting provider, with servers based in Vilnius. Time4VPS is the best VPS host for Windows due to its affordable and flexible VPS packages. In addition, the provider works with Linux OS and offers container and storage VPS hosting solutions.
The Time4VPS pricing scheme consists of eight packages, all of which are currently on discount. The starting plan costs €3.99 per month for 2 GB of RAM, 40 GB of storage, and 2 TB bandwidth. The most powerful hosting solution comes with 64 GB of RAM, 640 GB of storage, and 64 TB bandwidth. The plans are scalable, meaning that once you purchase one, you can always upgrade it. The best thing about this top VPS hosting service is that you don’t have to reinstall the system to upgrade your subscription. Regardless of the plan you opt for, you’ll get a free Windows server license. You can choose between a 2012, 2016, or 2019 license.
Time4VPS offers a complete hosting solution and managerial tools to customize the server easily. Each plan comes with a cPanel license, so even if you don’t have any technical knowledge, you’ll be able to use the features for the server and website maintenance. Access to the admin panel and the option to add Plesk to your VPS is also available.
The backup service is optional, and you’ll need to pay extra for it. This comes as no surprise since even the best Windows VPS hosting companies will charge you additional fees to backup your files and restore backups when needed. Luckily, the Time4VPS backup service is quite affordable - you’ll get full backups regardless of the plan you choose for a €1 monthly fee. The backup restoration service costs €9.99 per restoration request.
Finally, Time4VPS’s customer service is where the company shines. Based on numerous client reviews on TrustPilot, the company’s support is among the best in the industry. The customer care agents are knowledgeable and polite, and they react quickly to help you solve any problem you might have. The support is available 24/7 via live chat and email. You can also communicate with the company’s team through social media channels.
Our Picks: Top VPS Hosting for Windows
- HostGator
- Hostwinds
- GoDaddy
- InterServer
- Kamatera
Our Evaluation Process for Windows VPS Hosting Services
Server Resources
Hardware is what makes the biggest difference between a good and bad virtual machine. Providers give you a set amount of resources to work with, and if that’s not enough for your demands, it’ll cause slowdowns, and customers will abandon their shopping carts. Ultimately, you might end up spending more money if you pick a cheap, underpowered VPS.
Luckily, the hosting sites show the exact hardware specs of each of their Windows VPS hosting plans. These include the number of CPU cores that will be dedicated to your account and websites. The amount of RAM is also important, as is the amount of storage space and monthly bandwidth allowance. Some hosts offer unlimited bandwidth, often calling it an unmetered plan. Bigger is better in all of these departments.
One important feature that distinguishes the best Windows VPS hosting from an average service is the type of drive it stores its data on. Just like any cloud service, such as automated phone services or cloud gaming, it is pivotal to store your data on the best and fastest SSDs.Hard drives are a thing of the past - for the web hosting world at least. SSDs provide much higher access speeds, which is important in this day and age when even a two-second load time is far too slow for a typical website.
Uptime
It’s not just important to host a website on a fast and powerful server. It also needs to be reliable and stay online as close to 24/7 as possible. That’s why we look at the uptime of the top VPS hosting services when we review them.
The uptime is displayed as a percentage of the total time the host guarantees your site will be online throughout the year. It’s measured in hours, so 99.9% uptime means your VPS might face eight to nine hours of downtime during a single year. 100% uptime is a rarity, but it occasionally happens even if the hosting provider doesn’t mention it in its terms of service. As with the resources, more is better here, too. We’re looking for services that guarantee the aforementioned uptime or better.
Additional Tools and Features
Since we’re looking for the best Windows VPS hosting solution, one great option is the ability to select between different versions of the operating system. Windows Server 2016 is the most common option, but it’s even better if you have the ability to install Windows Server 2019 - the newest one.
After examining the OS options, we also take a look at the other features each VPS offers. For example, we analyze what databases are supported (MySQL, Windows SQL, etc.), what kinds of control panels you can use, whether there is an option for an unmanaged server with root access, and anything extra that’s available. The best Windows VPS should also be scalable, allowing you to quickly add more storage space or get a faster cloud server with the push of a button.
At least one free domain name is included in the offer, along with the accompanying email address. Most web hosts either don’t impose a limit on the number of email addresses you can create or set it high enough that you’ll never have to worry about reaching the limit.
Price
The next important aspect to look at is value. To find affordable Windows VPS hosting, we look at the different pricing tiers that each host offers, optional add-ons, and what features are available. Basically, we look at how good a deal you get when you sign up for the service. It’s also important to factor in renewal periods and discounts. Combo deals and long-term plans usually bring the price down.
Customer Support
Good customer experience is also important. Since hosting providers boast about almost nonexistent downtime, it’s fair to also expect 24/7 customer support. We evaluate the availability of the support team, ways to get in touch with the company, and any additional knowledge pages available on the website.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
HostGator has been at the top of the list of VPS providers for many years now. The company is renowned for its big server network, great stability, and near nonexistent downtime, as well as its pricing. It’s one of the best options right now if you want to try out cloud hosting without paying an arm and a leg.
All kinds of users can benefit from a VPS running on a Windows platform. Business users can keep their office on the cloud, having a remote desktop in any part of the world. An unmanaged Windows VPS service gives you full reign over the remote machine, basically like you’re sitting in front of your own PC. Many users, therefore, use this service for hosting various applications, games, and websites, just like a small-scale content delivery network. Some even replace their expensive home computers with a VPS. It’s a really flexible platform.
With VPS, you’re renting computer resources from a remote machine. A Windows VPS is generally more expensive than a Linux one due to the hardware demands of this OS. Windows takes up more storage space, and its licensing comes at a price. So, from the get-go, you need to spend more if you want a Windows-based cloud server.
Free VPS hosting doesn’t exist, as no hosting provider will just give out its resources for free. This is especially true if the VPS in question needs to run Windows, a much more demanding OS than Linux and CentOS. That said, some providers offer free trials for customers before they purchase a plan, and some have generous money-back policies in place. Even though it’s not a 100% free alternative, a good money-back guarantee still lets you test the server without risking your finances if you’re not satisfied.
Unlike shared hosting, a VPS server runs faster, is more stable, and provides a much higher level of control. When you get the best Windows VPS hosting, you can use it in several different ways, too. You’ll be able to install various apps, manage multiple websites and storefronts, run simulations, and even play games remotely. For what it offers, a VPS ends up providing greater value for your money, especially since you’re never locked into any specific machine thanks to a high level of scalability. It’s the modern way to run a business, and many companies vastly prefer it over traditional hosting.
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