Sign inRDP vs VPS: the difference, and which one to buy
What each one is, how they differ, and a simple way to choose. With real prices.
The short answer
An RDP server is a remote computer you control through Remote Desktop, with a screen, mouse and windows, just like the PC in front of you. When people buy RDP they almost always mean a Windows server.
A VPS (virtual private server) is a slice of a powerful machine that behaves like its own server. Most VPS plans run Linux and are managed from a command line over SSH. When you buy a VPS you usually get a Linux server for websites, scripts and databases.
Underneath they are the same kind of server. The difference is the operating system you put on it, and what that lets you run.
Side by side
- Software. Windows RDP runs Windows programs: MetaTrader, Tally, Adobe tools, Excel macros. A Linux VPS runs Linux software: NGINX, Node, Python, Docker, databases.
- Access. RDP gives you a full desktop. A VPS gives you a terminal, with a desktop only if you install one.
- Licence. Windows needs a paid Server licence, included in our RDP price. Linux has none, which is why a VPS starts lower ($6.99 against $9.99 a month).
- Resources. A Windows desktop uses more memory at idle, so pick a slightly larger size for Windows than for the same job on Linux.
- Admin. Both give you full control: Administrator on Windows, root on Linux.
Which should you buy? Use-case examples
Start from the software you need to run. That decides the operating system, and the operating system decides the product.
MetaTrader is Windows software, so you need a Windows RDP. Several terminals and a few expert advisors fit comfortably on a 4 vCPU, 8 GB plan, placed in a city near your broker.
Tally runs on Windows. A shared company file on one server lets a small team open the same data from any device.
Web servers run best on Linux and cost less without a licence. A small VPS handles a typical site or API.
Python or Node scripts that run all day need uptime, not power. Use a Linux VPS, or Windows Basic if the script needs a Windows program.
What does each cost?
Every plan has one fixed monthly price, never billed by the hour. Pay yearly and the price per month drops. Windows RDP starts at $9.99 a month for 1 vCPU and 2 GB, and a Linux VPS at $6.99 a month for 1 vCPU and 1 GB. Compare all sizes on the RDP plans page and the VPS plans page.
Where to put the server
Pick the city closest to the people or services that connect to it. For a US audience start with USA RDP or USA VPS. For Europe look at Germany, the UK or the Netherlands. See all 33 locations.