Updated on 8 Jun 2026
Windows hosting providers enable you to build and maintain websites with ASP.NET or MSSQL Server, which Linux hosting won't run. Using a Windows hosting provider can be useful if you already use Windows on your PC and/or server, as this reduces the learning curve by providing a consistent environment with familiar tools.
But your shortlist of providers will look different from someone choosing between Linux servers for a PHP or WordPress site. The basics may look similar on the surface, but support for Windows tools, database options, control panels and day-to-day management can vary more than you might expect.
Tip: Check out our comparison blog post – Linux VPS vs Windows VPS – to find out more about what differentiates the two operating systems.
Windows hosting or Windows VPS?
Windows Hosting is an ideal choice if your website has been built using Microsoft tools. It runs on Windows operating systems, like Windows Server 2019 or 2022, and specifically supports websites, apps and databases that rely on Microsoft technologies, such as:
- ASP.NET / .NET Core
- MSSQL
- IIS
A Windows VPS (Virtual Private Server) benefits from its own isolated virtual environment on a physical server. This comes with dedicated CPU, RAM and storage reserved just for you, full control to run scripts as you wish, remote desktop access and superior performance and security. A Windows VPS is the ideal choice if you require more power, control or flexibility than shared hosting.
For more information, check out our guide explaining everything you need to know about Windows VPS.
How we compared these providers
We’ve assessed 5 Windows hosting providers on 7 criteria – supported Windows Server versions, .NET and IIS compatibility, database support (MSSQL and MySQL), uptime SLA, security features included by default, and pricing (introductory and post-promotional).
We have direct access to our specs, infrastructure data and customer feedback. For other brands, we relied on publicly available plan details and independent reviews.
Who are the top Windows hosting providers?
1. Fasthosts

We’re a UK-based provider, offering affordable shared web hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers, with solid Windows support. Featuring easy-to-use management tools, a strong uptime guarantee and an abundance of features included, Fasthosts are one of the best UK Windows hosting providers you can find.
I needed professional services to help migrate my server. Dominic was amazing and made everything seamless with no downtime for any of my websites. I was really impressed with the level of service I received and wouldn't even consider going with another host. Thanks Dominic!!!
– Andy, Trustpilot, 24 October 2025
Our Windows Shared Hosting supports Windows Server 2019 and 2022, with built-in support for .NET 8, ASP.NET, IIS and MS SQL Server 2022. The SSD-backed infrastructure and add-on Plesk Web Host Edition mean you can deploy an IIS-hosted application without manual server configuration. For projects that outgrow shared hosting, Fasthosts offers Windows VPS plans with NVMe storage, full RDP access and dedicated CPU/RAM.
We have a 4.8-star rating on Trustpilot from over 17,000 reviews as of April 2026.
Pros:
- Supports latest Windows versions
- Strong SSD performance
- Free SSL
- 99.99% uptime guarantee
- Daily backups
- Scalable tiers
Cons:
- Price increase after 6 months
All hosting runs from our own UK data centres, which are ISO 27001-certified for security and powered by 100% renewable energy. The Tier IV facility in Worcester provides fully redundant power and cooling. For a Windows hosting customer, UK-based infrastructure also means lower latency for UK visitors – typically 30-80ms faster per request than US-hosted alternatives.
2. IONOS

IONOS offers a range of Windows VPS and dedicated servers, with support for ASP.NET, .NET Core, IIS and MS SQL, making it a practical choice for Windows-based applications or sites requiring flexible server resources.
Full disclosure: Fasthosts and IONOS are part of the IONOS Group (IONOS Group SE). However, they operate independently, and each has their own infrastructure, pricing and support teams.
IONOS has a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot from over 39,000 reviews as of April 2026.
Pros:
- Custom firewalls
- DDoS protection
- 99.99% uptime SLA
- Automatic backups
- Easy scalability
Cons:
- Price increases after 24 months
- Some manual setup needed
IONOS handles Windows hosting through its Windows VPS plans, so this is a virtual server setup rather than a standard shared hosting package. Plans include full root access, remote desktop access, Windows Server 2022 or 2025, NVMe storage and unlimited traffic, with Plesk available as a paid add-on. That makes it a better fit for users who want more control over a Windows environment, but less straightforward for someone who just wants a simple hosting plan for a small site.
3. OVHcloud

OVHcloud offers Windows-compatible VPS and dedicated servers with custom ISO support, allowing installation of Windows Server editions and deployment of ASP.NET or IIS applications.
OVHcloud has a 3.9-star rating on Trustpilot from over 6,800 reviews as of April 2026.
Pros:
- MSSQL/MySQL support
- DDoS protection
- Flexible VM resizing
- Good VPS performance
Cons:
- Lower uptime than others
- Backups optional
- User-managed security
Like IONOS, OVHcloud handles Windows hosting through its VPS range rather than a standard shared hosting plan, with Windows available alongside Linux and BSD in a few clicks. Plans include NVMe storage, daily automatic backups, anti-DDoS protection, up to 3Gbps bandwidth on the range, and a 99.9% SLA.
4. Contabo

Contabo is known for offering quality VPS and dedicated servers that support Windows Server installations. Suitable for ASP.NET, IIS and RDP access, Contabo provides developers and businesses a reasonably priced option for Windows hosting with high resource limits.
Contabo has a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot from over 9,000 reviews as of April 2026.
Pros:
- Easy scaling
- Free DDoS protection
- Good developer stack
Cons:
- No formal SLA – 99.9% uptime stated but not backed by compensation
- Limited support channels
- MSSQL requires your own license
- Paid backups only
Contabo pitches Windows hosting as a VPS product for buyers who want more server resources for the money. Its plans pair full root access with relatively generous RAM and NVMe storage at the entry level, so it’s likely to appeal more to cost-conscious users running Windows workloads than to beginners looking for a polished shared hosting experience. The catch is that the Windows licence is priced separately, and the overall setup is still more hands-on than a typical website hosting plan.
5. GoDaddy

One of the most well-known hosting providers, GoDaddy provides Windows shared, VPS and dedicated hosting plans with Plesk control panel support, pre-configured environments for ASP.NET and IIS, and options including MS SQL Server – aimed at individuals or businesses needing an easy way to host Windows-based websites or apps.
GoDaddy has a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot from over 136,000 reviews as of April 2026.
Pros:
- Shared plans scale up to VPS/dedicated easily
- DDoS protection
- 24/7 phone and live chat
- Good for beginners/inexperienced users
Cons:
- Lower uptime than others
- Higher cost than other providers
- Backup restores cost extra
- Overloaded shared plans
GoDaddy gives you a couple of ways into Windows hosting, including Windows-compatible VPS plans and a separate Windows Hosting setup with Plesk. Its VPS range brings NVMe storage, automated snapshot backups, DDoS protection and optional Plesk, which makes it a reasonable fit for users who want more room to configure a Windows environment. The thing to note is that GoDaddy’s published Windows Hosting stack is based on Windows Server 2019, so it may feel less current than providers already pushing newer Windows Server versions.
The best Windows hosting services compared
We know how important choosing a Windows hosting provider is, and all the different elements that need to be considered when making this decision. We’ve created this helpful comparison guide to help you get all the information you need in one place for the 5 best Windows VPS hosting providers:
|
Fasthosts |
IONOS |
OVHcloud |
Contabo |
GoDaddy |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Server OS version |
2019, 2022 |
2019, 2022 |
2019, 2022 on VPS and dedicated |
2019, 2022 on VPS and dedicated |
2019 |
| Technologies |
ASP.NET, .NET 8, IIS |
ASP.NET, .NET Core, full RDP access |
Compatible with MS stacks—ASP.NET |
ASP.NET, .NET Core, IIS, RDP |
ASP.NET, .NET Core, IIS, PHP |
| Performance |
SSD + caching, excellent SLA |
NVMe SSD, custom CPU/RAM |
Good VPS benchmarking; SSD performance strong |
NVMe SSD, high RAM/CPU |
SSD storage; shared plans have resource limits |
| Control panel |
Plesk |
Plesk |
OVH panel (+Plesk opt) |
Optional Plesk (paid), Contabo panel |
Plesk Onyx/Obsidian |
| Security |
Free SSL, ISO 27001-certified UK data centres, DDoS protection |
Custom firewalls, DDoS protection |
DDoS protection, user-managed firewall |
Free DDoS protection, user-managed firewalls |
Free SSL (select plans), DDoS protection, monitoring |
| Database support |
MS SQL Server (inc. 2022), MySQL |
MS SQL, MySQL |
MS SQL via custom install, MySQL |
MS SQL (customer license), MySQL |
MS SQL 2012/2014/2016, MySQL 5.6+ |
| Uptime |
99.99% guarantee |
99.99% SLA |
99.9% |
99.9% (no formal SLA) |
99.9% guarantee |
| Support |
24/7 UK phone/chat |
24/7 + consultant |
24/7 (support tiers vary by plan) |
24/7 email/ticket, limited phone hours |
24/7 phone & chat |
| Pricing (ex. VAT) |
From 49p/month (£8 p/m after 6 months) |
From £4/month (£8 p/m after 6 months) |
From £3.99/month |
From £12.32/month |
From £7.49/month |
| Backup |
Daily/nightly |
Automatic daily backups included |
Optional snapshots/backups, not always included |
Paid snapshots optional |
Optional paid backups |
| Scalability |
Shared → VPS → Dedicated |
Shared → VPS → dedicated/cloud, seamless upgrades |
Virtual machine resizing; dedicated upgrade |
Easy upgrades from VPS to dedicated |
Shared → VPS → dedicated |