Summary: Pick Windows RDP if you need a graphical desktop, run MetaTrader / Excel / .NET apps, or are unfamiliar with the command line. Pick Linux VPS if you run web servers, Docker, Python automation, or want 20-40% cheaper pricing for the same hardware. Both ship as VPS at DigiRDP — same NVMe, same vCPU, same network.
The 30-second answer
Windows RDP = full Windows desktop accessed via Remote Desktop Protocol. Best for trading platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader, NinjaTrader), Office automation, .NET development, scraping with browser automation, and anyone allergic to the terminal.
Linux VPS = SSH command-line access to Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky, or AlmaLinux. Best for web servers (Nginx, Apache), Docker containers, Node.js / Python / Ruby apps, databases, and devs comfortable with bash.
Same physical hardware, same NVMe SSD, same dedicated vCPU. The only differences are the OS and (because Windows ships with a paid licence) the price.
Cost difference: Linux is 20-40% cheaper
Windows VPS includes the Windows Server licence (which DigiRDP buys at scale and bundles into the price). Linux VPS has no licence cost — that saving passes through to you.
At the same 2 GB / 1 vCPU / 30 GB NVMe spec, DigiRDP pricing is roughly: Windows VPS $9.99/mo, Linux VPS $5.99/mo. The gap widens at higher tiers — at 8 GB, Windows is ~$35/mo and Linux is ~$22/mo.
If you do not specifically need Windows software, Linux is the better economic choice.
When to pick Windows RDP
- You run MetaTrader 4, MT5, cTrader, or any Windows-only trading platform. 95% of forex retail trading software is Windows-only. There are Linux ports (via Wine) but they are fragile.
- You need a graphical browser session — running scrapers that need full Chrome with extensions, manual research, social media management.
- You build .NET, C#, or Visual Studio applications — Windows is the native environment.
- You use Excel or Office automation — VBA, Power Query, large macro workbooks.
- You are uncomfortable with the command line — Windows gives you File Explorer, Settings, and a familiar UI.
When to pick Linux VPS
- You host websites, web apps, or APIs — Nginx, Apache, Node.js, PHP, Python, Ruby. Linux is the default web server OS.
- You run Docker, Kubernetes, or container workloads — Linux is the native host. Windows containers exist but are heavier.
- You build Python, Ruby, Go, Rust, or Node apps — toolchains target Linux first.
- You run databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB) — production-grade databases are happiest on Linux.
- You want SSH-only access — lower bandwidth, scriptable, secure-by-default.
- You want the lowest price for the same hardware — see cost section above.
Performance — they're the same on the same hardware
Common myth: "Linux is faster than Windows." Reality: on dedicated-vCPU NVMe hardware, the OS overhead difference is under 5% for most workloads. Where it matters:
- Web servers serving 10K+ requests/second: Linux wins by 10-20% (lower kernel overhead).
- Single MT4 instance: Windows wins (Linux MT4 is via Wine emulation = 5-15% slower).
- Disk I/O on NVMe: tied — the storage stack is the bottleneck, not the OS.
- Network latency: tied — the NIC drivers are mature on both.
Pick the OS that matches your software, not for theoretical performance gains.
Can I run both on the same VPS?
No — a VPS is a single OS install. But you can run two VPS plans (one Windows, one Linux) and switch between them as workloads demand. Cheapest combination at DigiRDP: 2 GB Windows ($9.99) + 2 GB Linux ($5.99) = $16/mo total, both with full admin/root access.
If you need the flexibility, ask support about our combo discount — we can usually shave 10-15% off the bundle.