What is the best VPS OS?

Chris Worner · Nov 22, 2016

Hi all,

what is the best VPS OS and why?

Here's a list for reference

Centos
Ubuntu
Debian
Fedora
Red Hat
Slackware
Windows 2008

I personally vote for Debian and Centos, because I am using it to install my hosting control panels on them. what about you? why?

stackstar · Nov 22, 2016

This is a question that has been debated for a while and I think a lot of the choice depends on the preference and experience of the person making the choice.

For example, I would opt for more enterprise operating systems like CentOS/Redhat because for someone like me I would be managing hundreds of servers and things like patch management, security patches and enterprise support are what I would have to consider at that level.

Many developers I work with prefer Ubuntu perhaps because of their existing comfort with the Ubuntu desktop environment which isn't a huge jump to an Ubuntu server OS.

Slackware is on your list? I haven't used that since the 90s

LJSHost · Nov 22, 2016

I would use Debian for any server that does not require cPanel.
Debian is best for me due to the stability, Debian servers have always caused me the least amount of issues over the years.

All popular Linux distributions and each and fill any role, it's personal preference above anything else.

manoaratefy · Nov 23, 2016

Good morning,

I currently use Debian. But I think that Debian and CentOS is the most used OS for hosting websites. These two distributions are flexible, free and very stable.

As LJSHost says, each distribution has his own role for a specific target.

24x7CSM · Nov 24, 2016

You can not really differentiate an OS for a VPS since usage of OS is based on the purpose. So if you have ASP website to host windows would be the best OS , reason it supports ASP others do not. If you want Cpanel then windows is not best OS .. so its all about the purpose.

Inevitable · Nov 24, 2016

Debian is good server service for me, I'm very familiar with it than others and everything is quite easy.

stew4 · Nov 28, 2016

I would also vote for Centos and Debian as they're really stable.

Carlos Kerika · Nov 30, 2017

The best VPS OS is the one that best suits your needs. What mainly makes any OS awesome is the support quality it offers.

Debian is a Linux-based OS which is very popular. However, it differs a lot from Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system (RHEL) based systems, though is shares certain management features common in all Linux systems. Debian shares conservative approach with CentOS, yet update packages are applied much more often and their number is significantly higher. Compatibility with a high amount of software is much wider due to its constantly updated packages. It is a stable too.

Ubuntu resembles Debian a lot. Its orientation is more on desktop or graphic interface solutions. It still can be used as a decent server OS but not very popular out there.

Fedora is also RHEL based system. It is developed fast, and updates are often released. The OS management differs much in the different Fedora versions available.

CentOS is another RHEL-based systems. This means some Fedora operatives, like EPEL, contain packages compatible with CentOS. The difference between the two makes some control panels and software incompatible between CentOS and Fedora.

I hope this information will help you make a more informed decision. Thank you.

24x7serverman · Dec 1, 2017

Personally I am using CentOS and Debian. When you have to manage number of users then CentOS is always best. It is stable and secure OS. CentOS is the only OS compatible with the popular cPanel web hosting control panel. When CentOS 7 is properly configured, and running on quality hardware.

caredexy · Dec 6, 2017

I personally choose CenTOS. Why? Because the advantage of CentOS is that if you are transitioning from Redhat to CentOS or have a Redhat requirement, that CentOS will be 100% compatible with your requirement of a Redhat operating system which can help you greatly.

WebHostingUK · Dec 10, 2017

The best VPS OS depends on what you want to run and how comfortable you are managing Linux.

For most people, I would usually suggest Ubuntu Server as the easiest starting point. It has a huge amount of documentation, regular updates, good software compatibility and is widely supported by control panels, web stacks, WordPress setups, Laravel apps, Docker and general web hosting tools.

Debian is also a very strong choice if you want something stable, lightweight and predictable. It is a good option for users who prefer a cleaner base system and do not need the very latest package versions.

For users coming from CentOS-style hosting environments, AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux are both solid choices. They are popular for more traditional hosting setups, enterprise-style environments and control panel hosting where RHEL compatibility matters.

My rough recommendation would be:

Ubuntu VPS – best all-round option for beginners, developers, WordPress, apps and general web hosting.
Debian VPS – best for stability, simplicity and lightweight server setups.
Rocky Linux VPS – good for enterprise-style hosting and users who previously used CentOS.
AlmaLinux VPS – another strong CentOS replacement, especially for hosting/control-panel style setups.

For a first VPS, I would personally choose Ubuntu unless you have a specific reason to use something else. It is usually the easiest to get help with, and most tutorials assume Ubuntu or Debian commands.

It is also worth thinking about the type of hosting you actually need. If you only want to host a normal website and do not want to manage the server yourself, standard web hosting or managed cloud-style hosting may be easier than a VPS. A VPS is best when you specifically need root access, custom software, full server control or a custom Linux environment.

A few useful comparison pages:

Ubuntu VPS Hosting: Ubuntu VPS Hosting UK | UK Self-Managed VPS & VDS
Debian VPS Hosting: Debian VPS Hosting UK | UK Self-Managed VPS & VDS
Rocky Linux VPS Hosting: Rocky Linux VPS Hosting UK | UK Self-Managed VPS & VDS
AlmaLinux VPS Hosting: AlmaLinux VPS Hosting UK | UK Self-Managed VPS & VDS
VPS Hosting UK: VPS Hosting UK | NVMe Cloud Virtual Private Servers
Compare VPS vs VDS Hosting: VPS & VDS Hosting UK | Compare Virtual Server Options

In short:
Choose Ubuntu for the easiest all-round VPS experience. Choose Debian for stability. Choose AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux if you want a CentOS/RHEL-style hosting environment.

YourLastHostLLC · Dec 12, 2017

+1 CentOS

philmorehost · Dec 20, 2017

Chris Worner said:
Hi all,

what is the best VPS OS and why?

Here's a list for reference

I personally vote for Debian and Centos, because I am using it to install my hosting control panels on them. what about you? why?

I will say Centos, Centos 7 precisely.
It has reach features and easy to manage compare to others.
Especially when managing the network interfaces.

TehParadox · Dec 20, 2017

I found centos 7 is best for every kind of work

Adesuwa08 · Dec 23, 2017

Using VPS and OS depends on what you are doing, I don't know no much about it, google it up to see their differences. Their uses varies in some situations, so there is no one better than the other. But for me I prefer OS more, because I have wired my brain to like it.

DanielN · Jan 2, 2018

I have been using Debian for Stability and CentOS for scalability.
Have been installing Ubuntu for friends due to familiarity.

To be fair they are quite similar if you use them for simple things.

vps6 · Mar 13, 2018

CentOS and Debian, because a lot of clients are used to it and very familiar. but it depends on each client because they have different views about it.

valvps · Mar 13, 2018

I do not think there is a better operating system

I think one is better suited to one than the other

I get used to centos

james11hayes · Mar 14, 2018

I would like to prefer CentOS. Because it is free and highly customizable, secure and stable. Close link To RHEL allows to CentOS to have a quite few corporate-level security updates. Regardless if your website made in ASP and ASP.net then you have to choose windows environment.

What is the best VPS OS?

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