Windows dominates desktop market share at 72% globally with broader software compatibility, while Linux powers 96% of cloud servers and offers superior customization, cost savings, and security for developers and enterprises. The choice depends on your primary use case: consumer productivity favors Windows, while servers, development, and open-source environments favor Linux.
Linux vs Windows — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Free, open-source operating system dominating cloud servers and development environments with extensive customization capabilities.
Microsoft's proprietary operating system with 72% desktop market share, offering broad software compatibility and mainstream hardware support.
Global Market Share. Server Market Dominance. Desktop Market Share. Licensing Cost. Available Commercial Software. Security Vulnerability Response Time. Gaming Support (Native Games)
Choose Windows if you need broad commercial software compatibility, gaming support, corporate IT support, and mainstream hardware driver support for everyday consumer and business use. Choose Linux if you prioritize cost savings, server infrastructure, development work, security, customization, and don't require specific Windows-only commercial applications.
Linux: Third-party tools (Samba, SSSD) | Windows: N/A
Linux: $200-500 (used laptops) | Windows: N/A
Linux: Varies by distribution (Debian has 70,000+) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 100+ (Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, etc.) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 8.2M+ open-source projects | Windows: N/A
Linux: 60-120 (configuration needed) | Windows: N/A
Linux: ~750,000+ (Debian) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 99%+ of major providers | Windows: N/A
Linux: Docker, Kubernetes, OCI native | Windows: N/A
Linux: 120-480 (requires manual kernel compilation and system configuration) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 3% (all Linux distributions combined as of 2026) | Windows: N/A
Linux: Not tracked (kernel-only, varies by distribution) | Windows: N/A
Linux: ~2-3 years per kernel release cycle | Windows: N/A
Linux: 0 (kernel only, no applications) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 96% of cloud servers run Linux (all distributions) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 2,000+ active Linux kernel maintainers globally | Windows: N/A
Linux: 10 (complete control over every component) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 24-48 hours | Windows: 30-90 days
Web Server Operating System Market Share
Linux: $0 (Free) | Windows: $200 (Pro edition)
Average Onboarding Time (Non-Technical User)
Linux: 40-100 hours | Windows: 8-20 hours
Available Linux Distributions/Windows Versions
Linux: 600+ active distributions | Windows: 1 official (multiple editions)
Linux: Open-source (full transparency) | Windows: Closed (limited transparency)
Linux: 10-15 years typical | Windows: N/A
Linux: No (requires third-party tools) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 8-12 weeks average | Windows: N/A
Linux: 600+ distributions | Windows: N/A
Linux: Limited; command-line primary | Windows: N/A
Linux: 120-300+ minutes (requires distribution selection, kernel compilation) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 9 (advanced - no GUI by default) | Windows: N/A
Linux: Varies by distribution (typically 2-10 years) | Windows: N/A
Linux: Not applicable (kernel is 150-300 MB separately) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 96.3% of cloud servers run Linux kernel | Windows: N/A
Commercial Support Cost (per system/year)
Linux: Free (community) to $500+ (vendor-dependent) | Windows: N/A
Linux: 200-800 MB typical | Windows: N/A
Linux: 6-24 months (varies) | Windows: N/A
Linux: Extensive (Red Hat, Canonical, SUSE) | Windows: N/A
Linux: N/A | Windows: Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, MSI, Razer, and 50+ others
Linux: N/A | Windows: Varies by model, typically 8-12 hours
Linux: N/A | Windows: $299-$499 (budget Windows laptops)
Linux: N/A | Windows: 8-16GB depending on model
Linux: N/A | Windows: Vast library: Gaming, enterprise, development, niche applications
Linux: N/A | Windows: High customization: Taskbar customization (2026), upgrade options, themes
Linux: N/A | Windows: Windows 11: 18 new security features in 2026, built-in speed tests, improved malware protection
Linux vs Windows — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Linux vs Windows. Contains 91 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Linux vs Windows — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Linux vs Windows.
Why do most servers run Linux instead of Windows?
Linux dominates 96% of cloud servers primarily due to lower total cost of ownership ($0 vs $160+ per license), faster security patching (24-48 vs 30-90 days), superior command-line tools for automation, and open-source transparency. Major cloud providers (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure Linux) standardized on Linux for scalability and cost efficiency across millions of server instances.
Yes, but with limitations. Linux supports approximately 2,500 Steam games (3.8% of Steam library) vs 65,000+ on Windows. Gaming compatibility improved dramatically with Proton (2018+), a compatibility layer allowing Windows games to run on Linux. However, competitive gaming, new AAA releases, and hardware-specific software (like GPU optimization for gaming) remain heavily Windows-focused, making Windows superior for gaming overall.
Is Linux really more secure than Windows?
Linux has structural security advantages including faster vulnerability patching (24-48 hours vs 30-90 days), open-source code transparency enabling community audits, and less malware targeting (2% of malware targets Linux vs 85% targets Windows). However, security also depends on implementation—a poorly configured Linux server is less secure than a hardened Windows system. Enterprise Windows environments with proper patches and firewalls are equally secure.
Should I switch from Windows to Linux for personal use?
Only if you meet specific criteria: 1) You don't need Windows-specific software (Adobe Creative Suite, specialized business apps), 2) You're willing to spend 4-8 weeks learning command-line basics, 3) You have hardware with Linux driver support. For casual users, gamers, and those in creative industries, Windows remains the better choice. Linux excels for developers, servers, and power users wanting customization.
What's the difference between Linux distributions?
Linux is the kernel; distributions (Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora, etc.) bundle it with different package managers, pre-installed software, and philosophies. Ubuntu (32% desktop share among Linux users) prioritizes ease-of-use; Red Hat (used by 60% of enterprises) focuses on stability and support; Fedora emphasizes cutting-edge features. Choice depends on your use case: beginners prefer Ubuntu, enterprises prefer Red Hat/CentOS, developers often choose Fedora or Arch.
Global Market Share: Linux has 96%, while Windows has 72%.
Server Market Dominance: Linux has 96% of cloud servers, while Windows has 4% of cloud servers.
Desktop Market Share: Linux has 2.5%, while Windows has 72%.
Licensing Cost: Linux has Free (most distributions), while Windows has $120-$200 per license.
Available Commercial Software: Linux has ~10,000 major applications, while Windows has ~100,000+ major applications.
Consider: Security Vulnerability Response Time
Security Vulnerability Response Time: Linux has 24-48 hours average, while Windows has 30-90 days average.
Gaming Support (Native Games): Linux has ~2,500 Steam games, while Windows has ~65,000 Steam games.