Introduction 

In a world where technology is paramount, without a good server, chances are your business won’t take off much either. The world is online, and hence a website is the need of the hour for all businesses alike. Without a website, you will fail to establish credibility. All businesses need websites and to sustain them, they need servers.   

Servers are essential because they determine load times and overall performance. Without a robust server, your website and business will eventually face issues. In this article, we have compiled a list of the 8 best web servers for Windows and web servers for Linux. We have also addressed the most frequently asked questions for you to better understand web servers. 

FAQS

What is the name of the Windows web server?

For Windows, the typical general-purpose server is called Internet Information Services. It runs on Windows and it serves all kinds of HTML pages or files. When it comes to web servers for Windows IIS is standard. 

How do I start a Windows web server?

Now say you want to start a web server, there are 3 steps you need to follow:

1. Hed to XAMPP and then install the Windows version. 
2. Execute the installer, select Apache, and install the web server only. Note that you should not install anything else. 
3. Once the process is done, click finish and you will see the XAMPP control panel. 

What is the difference between a Windows server and a Linux web server?

The two operating systems are completely different, hence there is a stark difference in their web servers too. 

The key difference is that in Linux, the servers are command-line based, whereas, a Windows web server comes with a remote desktop. It is easier to manage than a Linux server because of the graphic user interface or GUI. 

What is a Windows web server and what is a Linux web server?

A Windows server is specifically made for more powerful and robust devices. For web hosting, Windows servers are the way to go. Linux on the other hand comes with a basic GUI and most configurations are taken care of using a command-line interface. It is rudimentary. However, Linux web servers are more popular. The advantages of Windows are that it feels familiar and there is compatibility with other systems.   

How many web servers are Linux?

As per the statistics, there are over 400 web servers for Linux.  

Why is Linux popular for web servers?

There are three major factors that make Linux web servers far more popular than Windows. Linux is far more stable, it is flexible and secure. Linux is also open-sourced, unlike Windows. 

How do I make a Linux server a web server?

Follow these steps to make Linux web servers:

1. Install the Apache server on Linux
2. Verify the service status on the Apache server 
3. Give Apache server access and configure the firewall 
4. Take a look and understand the Apache files and directories.   

8 best web servers for Windows and Linux  

• NGINX

If the best is your criteria, the most popular one, NGINX might be the solution. 33% of all websites on earth use NGINX as their web server. It works with both Windows and Linux. NGINX is preferred because it is extremely high-performance server software. You get fast load times with minimal compromise to your servers. For businesses and sites that face a lot of traffic, NGINX is ideal. While it is not as customizable as Apache, it is still very much great software.    

• Apache 

By far the second-most polar web server out there, Apache hosts well over 31% of all the web servers in the world. It is open-sourced and works across both Windows and Linux. When it comes to web servers for Windows you can rarely trump Apache. Apache allows you to customize your server to a great deal. It also supports PHP, which is why WordPress users love it. Apache also supports a lot of programming languages. The only drawbacks are that it requires constant updates to steer and the site traffic rates can be extremely high.  

• Tomcat

If you’re using Java, Tomcat is a very good option. It uses an open-source environment and it is optimized for performance. It uses various Java specifications and is relatively fast. As it is compatible with both Windows and Linux, Tomcat makes for a server that is designed to handle fluid animations and interactive websites. 

Another important point is that Tomcat comes from the same parent company as Apache making them compatible with one another. You can also use Tomcat with other web servers for Linux so that it can handle requests such as HTTP.  Be warned, however, that it isn’t the best or most secure option for SSLs or Secure Socket
Layers. 

• Litespeed

A great option specifically for Linux web servers, Litespeed focuses on security more than anything. It is also very lightweight, meaning it drains little of your server resources. The best part about Litespeed is that it has built-in protection against DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks.

Litespeed is so robust it is designed to handle random spikes in traffic. And what’s more, it also serves PHP at lightning-fast speeds, making it ideal for WordPress sites. The only drawbacks are that it is open-source, but it doesn’t work for Windows. The open-source version is also incredibly restrictive. To use the full suite of features, you will need to get a paid plan.  

• Caddy 

Amongst the best user-friendly web servers for Windows, Caddy is a great option. It uses HTTP and is compatible with both Windows and Linux. The HTTP allows for encryption and you can protect your data using Caddy. If you have multiple websites, Caddy allows you to deploy them and its streamlined interface makes it easy to use. It is simpler than other options on this list.    

• CentOS Stream

For those that are looking to test and develop apps, CentOS is among the best web servers for Linux. It is specifically built for Linux and you can test your applications on the platform. It is a community-based server which means you can contribute towards improving the experience. As the software is open-source, you will need to update it constantly. This is because it is prone to bugs and is vulnerable to security issues. It is also only usable with Linux.  

• Microsoft IIS

The server that is specifically designed for Windows, is Microsoft IIS. It is by far the best  Windows web server. It comes with server management tools and has an integrated website. It also comes with Azure Active Dictionary. 

It is a great option, especially if you are a developer. Microsoft IIS includes native support for CSS, JavaScript, as well as HTML. The only drawbacks are that it is not very popular and that it is only usable in Windows. The lack of compatibility with Linux makes it a very hard sell.  

• Lighttpd

For those looking to get a web server with low resource usage, look no further than Lighttpd, pronounced as lightly. The optimization is quite good and it takes a massive load off the physical servers. It can also distinguish between dynamic and static content and optimize the performance of your website accordingly. It is designed specifically to work on Linux web servers, however, you can also use it on Windows, albeit it lacks native support. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer any kind of support for HTTP.   

Conclusion 

The aforementioned servers are only a few of the best. Whether you need web servers for Windows or web servers for Linux, these options have you covered. Ultimately, it depends on the suite of features you want for your website. When you choose your web server, you are also choosing the speed of your website. If your goals are performance, you can choose NGINX. It is also very popular, meaning developers will know their way around it. If your priority is user-friendliness and customizability, Apache is the way to go.