What is Linux Hosting?
Linux hosting is web hosting on servers that run the Linux operating system. It’s the industry default: most websites, including nearly every WordPress site, run on Linux servers with software like Apache or Nginx, PHP, and MySQL. Unless a site specifically needs Windows-only software, “web hosting” almost always means Linux hosting.
More About Linux Hosting
If you’ve ever bought a standard hosting plan, you’ve almost certainly used Linux hosting, even if the label never said so. The software stack most sites depend on was built for Linux, which is why hosting providers run it on their servers.
Why Most of the Web Runs on Linux
Unix-family operating systems, overwhelmingly Linux, power roughly nine in ten of the websites whose server operating system is known (W3Techs, July 2026). Three reasons keep it that way. Linux is open source, so hosts pay no per-server license fees. It has a long reputation for stability under server workloads, often staying up for months between reboots. And the standard web stack (Apache or Nginx, PHP, MySQL) grew up on Linux, so compatibility is never in question.
Linux Hosting vs. Windows Hosting
What your site’s software needs decides this. Pick Windows hosting only when your project depends on Windows-only technology, most commonly the classic ASP.NET Framework or other legacy software that runs solely on Windows. Modern Microsoft tools have loosened the tie: ASP.NET Core and even Microsoft SQL Server now run on Linux. Almost everything else, including WordPress and other PHP apps, runs natively on Linux. That’s why Windows hosting is the specialty product and Linux is the default.
Do You Need to Know Linux to Use Linux Hosting?
No. On a shared plan, you may never see a command line. The host maintains the operating system, and you manage your site through a control panel in your browser. Knowing Linux commands only starts to matter if you manage a server yourself. That usually means an unmanaged VPS or dedicated server, where SSH access and shell skills let you install software and tune the machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WordPress Linux or Windows hosting?
Linux. WordPress is written in PHP with a MySQL or MariaDB database, the stack Linux hosting is built around. It can technically run on Windows servers, but virtually all WordPress hosting, including managed WordPress plans, runs on Linux.
Why is Linux hosting cheaper than Windows hosting?
Licensing. Linux is open source and free for hosts to run at any scale, while every Windows server carries Microsoft license costs that show up in the plan price. At equal hardware, the Linux plan almost always costs less.
Does Linux hosting work with a Windows or Mac computer?
Yes. The server’s operating system has nothing to do with your computer’s. You manage a Linux-hosted site from any browser on any device, and files you upload work the same regardless of which OS you created them on.
What operating system does DreamHost use?
DreamHost servers run Ubuntu LTS, a widely used long-term-support Linux distribution, across its hosting plans. On shared and managed plans you never manage it yourself: the operating system, security patches, and server software are maintained for you.
