Debian vs Windows Server comparison

Debian and Microsoft are both solutions in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category. Debian is ranked #14 with an average rating of 9.0, while Microsoft is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.3. Debian holds a 5.5% mindshare in OSB, compared to Microsoft’s 9.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Debian users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 94% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Debian

Read 12 Debian reviews

3,059 Views
2,937 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Windows Server

Read 195 Windows Server reviews

10,306 Views
10,306 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

Debian

Windows Server

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 14, 2025

Windows Server and Debian compete in enterprise environments. Windows Server has the upper hand in integration with Microsoft services and support, while Debian is more appealing for cost-effectiveness and flexibility.

Features: Windows Server offers seamless integration with Microsoft products, robust security, and active directory services, making it ideal for businesses using Microsoft ecosystems. Debian provides flexibility, a wide range of open-source software packages, and a lightweight architecture, which appeals to organizations needing customizability.

Room for Improvement: Windows Server could enhance its cost competitiveness and reduce complexity in technical deployment. Improvements in its open-source compatibility could broaden its appeal. Debian could bolster its customer support infrastructure and simplify setup processes for less technical users. Enhanced integration features could improve its compatibility with proprietary software environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Windows Server provides a structured deployment model with extensive support, easing implementation for businesses. Debian's deployment can be more complex, requiring technical expertise, and relies on community-based support, which may be insufficient for some enterprises.

Pricing and ROI: Windows Server involves higher initial costs due to its comprehensive features and services, appealing to Microsoft-dependent businesses. Debian, being open-source, offers a cost-effective entry point with minimal licensing fees, providing long-term savings despite less built-in support.

To learn more, read our detailed Debian vs. Windows Server Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Debian vs. Windows Server

December 2025

Download the complete report

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

6.5

Debian users save money through no license costs, reduced maintenance, and efficiency, with some saving up to 60%.

Sentiment score

5.5

Windows Server boosts efficiency and resource management, with users reporting significant cost reductions and improved virtualization and Azure services.

There were direct cost savings since Debian has no licensing fees, and we did not require paid support, so it saved us considerable money.

Badal Shrivastav

Embedded Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree

We were able to save a substantial amount by using Linux instead of Windows and spending a lot of money on Windows licenses.

reviewer2774055

Cybersecurity Engineer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees

I have seen a return on investment; specifically, the cost is around zero because there is no need for a license, and since my whole team uses Debian, we are fine with the number of employees needed.

Sabry Tarek

DevOps Technology Lead at TriStratus Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Debian report

Windows Server offers excellent value for money, particularly when compared to alternatives.

Dan Campeanu

Security Engineer at ProVision

The tool supports many applications.

Neill-Walker

Agile Consultant at MSOLdigi

You get a standard platform that is very secure and stable.

Gustavo Schleider

Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows Server report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

6.7

Debian's community support effectively aids users through forums and documentation, minimizing the need for official customer service.

Sentiment score

6.2

Customer service is generally effective, but technical support quality varies, and experiences with Microsoft are mixed.

We rely on community resources for support, such as documentation, forums, and asking questions online.

reviewer2774055

Cybersecurity Engineer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees

Whenever I had a query, I used Google to search for it and found very helpful information from public platforms.

reviewer2774466

Cloud Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

While it does not have traditional paid customer support like some commercial distributions, the Debian community and documentation are very strong.

Badal Shrivastav

Embedded Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree

For more quotes and insights, download the Debian report

If you go through a partner who sells or supports Windows, the support could be around seven out of ten, because Windows relies on these partners for assistance.

WilyonTjahyadi

Head of Major Account Sales Operation 1 at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Microsoft's technical support for Windows Server has been lacking, with rare responses even with premium support.

Dan Campeanu

Security Engineer at ProVision

They resolved our problems within the defined SLA.

NirajSingh

Relationship Manager at Cognizant

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows Server report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.1

Debian offers scalability and stability, ideal for cloud environments, with open-source benefits and effective management of high traffic.

Sentiment score

7.6

Windows Server is flexible and scalable, efficiently adapting to varying organizational sizes despite some management complexity.

We don't spin up new Debian instances arbitrarily.

reviewer2774055

Cybersecurity Engineer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees

As the growth of our infrastructure is required, we can host many Debian servers.

reviewer2774466

Cloud Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

We decided to use Debian because we needed a more stable and predictable base, especially for long-running systems where frequent changes or upgrades could cause issues.

Badal Shrivastav

Embedded Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree

For more quotes and insights, download the Debian report

I've worked in companies with 20,000 to 100,000 users, and it scales beautifully without issues.

Gustavo Schleider

Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees

The solution is used extensively in our organization, and we have plans to increase the usage.

SHUBHAM BHINGARDE

Project Engineer at CDAC

We use it everywhere, and it serves approximately two thousand users in our company as a backend service.

Khalid Mgahed

System Engineer at Alnajat charity

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows Server report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

8.5

Debian is valued for stability and reliability, ideal for developers prioritizing long-term support over rapid updates.

Sentiment score

7.5

Windows Server is highly stable and reliable, with improvements since 2012, often rated 8-10 out of 10 by users.

I rate Debian an eight out of ten because it excels in stability, reliability, and package management, which are very important for long-running production systems.

Badal Shrivastav

Embedded Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree

That long-term support has helped me and my customers by being stable and running well.

reviewer2797047

Embedded Developer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

In my experience, Debian is very stable.

reviewer2774055

Cybersecurity Engineer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Debian report

We have experienced no blue screens or crashes and often achieved an uptime of 2,000 to 3,000 days without any issues whatsoever.

Dan Campeanu

Security Engineer at ProVision

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten.

GurpreetSingh4

Manager at Accenture company

I rate the stability a 9 out of 10.

Kepa-Ayerbe

Connectivity Platform Cyber Security Specialist at BASF Business Services GmbH

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows Server report

Room For Improvement

Debian needs improvements in package management, installer, cloud integration, hardware support, GUI updates, and contributor support for better usability.

Windows Server users seek improved security, better integration, usability, optimization, pricing, automation, documentation, patching, and technical support.

I believe security on Debian is top-notch due to its long history and the many individuals and organizations that rely on it, meaning there are many eyes on it.

reviewer2774178

Founder at a media company with 1-10 employees

If Debian had a memory-based distribution, similar to Alpine, that would be great, as we could get benefits in terms of memory or embedded systems.

Sabry Tarek

DevOps Technology Lead at TriStratus Ltd

Debian was easy to set up.

reviewer2774466

Cloud Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Debian report

From a security perspective, sometimes, malware attacks and hackers take advantage of the tool's vulnerabilities.

Deepak Nagar

Manager, Strategic Alliances at Softcell Technologies Limited

Deploying antivirus and firewall software on the server is advisable, but having an external firewall adds an extra layer of security.

Abey Varghese

Project and Service Delivery Manager Cloud at MANAPPURAM COMPTECH AND CONSULTANTS LIMITED

Windows Server needs to improve its speed and stability.

Daniel Hermink

Oracle business analyst at Sensience

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows Server report

Setup Cost

Debian's open-source nature offers cost savings on software, making it a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft Windows and Ubuntu.

Enterprise buyers struggle with Windows Server licensing due to its complexity, varied pricing, and high costs compared to Linux.

My experience with Debian's pricing, setup cost, and licensing has been that it is all free.

reviewer2796165

IT Support Manager at a educational organization with 5,001-10,000 employees

As long as I remain within the limit of that credit, I can create machines as much as I want without exceeding the monthly limit.

reviewer2774055

Cybersecurity Engineer at a tech consulting company with 51-200 employees

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is quite favorable; since Debian is totally free, it is one of my first options.

Sabry Tarek

DevOps Technology Lead at TriStratus Ltd

For more quotes and insights, download the Debian report

It is quite expensive.

WilyonTjahyadi

Head of Major Account Sales Operation 1 at a manufacturing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Previously, a Windows Server with two processors cost around two 154 euros annually, but now it is estimated to be around 3,000 to 4,000 euros for the same configuration.

Dan Campeanu

Security Engineer at ProVision

On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most expensive, I rate it ten out of ten.

Harry Murdani

Manager, IT Security at Averis Sdn Bhd

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows Server report

Valuable Features

Debian offers stability, flexibility, and efficiency, providing cost-effective operations with strong support and extensive software options for organizations.

Windows Server excels in scalability, security, and integration, offering features like Active Directory and seamless Microsoft tool compatibility.

Debian's stability helps me in my daily work because my work relies on stability; I'm trying to deploy production workloads, and Debian offers that stability for me.

Sabry Tarek

DevOps Technology Lead at TriStratus Ltd

Debian has kept my workflow secure by maintaining system stability with day-to-day or monthly updates with security patches, securing the system from external attacks.

reviewer2774466

Cloud Engineer at a consultancy with 11-50 employees

Debian has positively impacted my organization primarily in cost-efficiency, with on-premises hardware running faster and cheaper.

reviewer2796165

IT Support Manager at a educational organization with 5,001-10,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Debian report

The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that every Microsoft product is scalable, flexible, secure, and available on a certain budget.

Deepak Nagar

Manager, Strategic Alliances at Softcell Technologies Limited

The IP directory is the most valuable feature.

Kepa-Ayerbe

Connectivity Platform Cyber Security Specialist at BASF Business Services GmbH

I can manage the firewalls on the server easily, open or close ports to manage security traffic, and use encryption on the hard disk to keep data secure.

Mustafa Farhat

Systems technician. IT Office at LNU

For more quotes and insights, download the Windows Server report

Categories and Ranking

Debian

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

14th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Windows Server

Ranking in Operating Systems (OS) for Business

5th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

195

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Operating Systems (OS) for Business category, the mindshare of Debian is 5.5%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Windows Server is 9.3%, up from 8.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Operating Systems (OS) for Business Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Windows Server	9.3%
Debian	5.5%
Other	85.2%

Operating Systems (OS) for Business

Featured Reviews

Badal Shrivastav

Embedded Linux / BSP Engineer at Veethree

Reliable platform has supported long-term on-prem deployments and predictable OTA updates

If I consider how Debian can be improved, it could be more accessible in making newer software versions available for users who need recent features while still maintaining default stable behavior. While backports help, the workflow could be streamlined. The release cycle can feel slow for rapidly evolving tools, and better guidance around mixing stable, backports, and testing would help. Regarding hardware support, Debian can be improved by supporting multiple BSPs, making it more versatile in the embedded domain. Hardware support for new devices can sometimes lag behind, which is understandable given Debian's focus on stability. Clearer guidance on handling newer hardware or firmware would be beneficial.

Read full review

Gustavo Schleider

Manager, Information & Cloud Systems at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees

Long-standing experience improves reliability and security, making it a trusted platform

It's difficult to see improvements when using it daily. They improved compatibility with other platforms, such as Linux. One improvement I was thinking about some years ago was the ability to manage an on-premises server from Azure. Now, they have created Azure Arc, and we are using it as a very good way of managing on-premises servers. What can be improved is on the Azure side. With Active Directory on the server side and Entra ID on the Azure side in our hybrid environment, we find issues with data syncing to Entra ID. In Entra ID, Microsoft omitted some parameters. In Active Directory, you can put an expiring date to an account, but you cannot do that in Entra ID. We have other means of doing that, but it's common to have consultants working for six months, requiring account expiration or renewal processes. The Entra ID Connect syncing tool could be improved. Though they moved the service to Azure and use an agent instead of having a dedicated server, it remains cumbersome to set up due to the differences between Entra ID and Active Directory.

Read full review

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

17%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Educational Organization

Computer Software Company

Comms Service Provider

11%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

University

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	4

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	78
Midsize Enterprise	41
Large Enterprise	88

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Debian?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing seems acceptable. We have also used Ubuntu. Comparing to Ubuntu, Debian is cheaper.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Debian?

In terms of improvements, I think Debian is fine as it is. I'm not an expert, so for me, it is acceptable.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Debian?

I have been using Debian for a while now. My main use case for Debian is running PostgreSQL and related infrastructure. A specific example of an application I'm running on Debian is PostgreSQL.

See all answers

What do you like most about Windows Server?

The tool supports many applications.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Windows Server?

The user interface of Windows Server needs improvement, especially when working with users, user accounts, and groups. There are multiple ways to accomplish tasks that do not align completely, so t...

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What is your primary use case for Windows Server?

I integrated Windows Server in my infrastructure. We use Hyper-V technology extensively, as it is very important for us, and it functions quite well.

See all answers

Comparisons

Rocky Linux vs Debian

Compared 41% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Debian

Compared 11% of the time

Alpine Linux vs Debian

Compared 8% of the time

AlmaLinux vs Debian

Compared 6% of the time

Fedora Linux vs Debian

Compared 2% of the time

More Debian Competitors

Windows 11 vs Windows Server

Compared 62% of the time

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) vs Windows Server

Compared 10% of the time

Ubuntu Linux vs Windows Server

Compared 9% of the time

Windows 10 vs Windows Server

Compared 5% of the time

openSUSE Leap vs Windows Server

Compared 1% of the time

More Windows Server Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Debian

January 2026

Download Debian product report

Buyer's Guide

Windows Server

January 2026

Download Windows Server product report

Also Known As

Debian 12

No data available

Overview

Debian is a reliable open-source operating system ideal for servers and desktops. With its wide array of packages and stable releases, it suits developers and organizations seeking dependable performance and security.

Debian stands out for its stability and extensive package repository, making it a go-to choice for developers. Its open-source nature ensures transparency and flexibility. Debian's package management system, APT, simplifies software installation and updates. Its security updates are regular and prompt, ensuring systems are protected. With support for multiple architectures, Debian caters to various environments from desktops to large-scale servers.

What are the key features of Debian?

Package Management: APT tool for efficient software installation and updates.
Security: Regular security updates maintain robust protection.
Open Source: Community-driven with transparency and flexibility.
Architecture Support: Compatibility with diverse hardware systems.
Stability: Reliable performance across server and desktop configurations.

What benefits and ROI should be considered in reviews?

Cost Efficiency: Free distribution reduces expenses.
Performance: Stable and reliable for demanding applications.
Customizability: Open-source nature allows tailored solutions.
Community Support: Extensive community for troubleshooting and advice.

Debian is widely used in industries such as web hosting, scientific research, and education, where reliability and long-term support are priorities. Its flexibility allows it to be adapted for specialized applications in scientific computing or educational environments, ensuring it meets industry-specific technical requirements.

Debian

Windows Server offers enterprise-grade solutions with Active Directory, Hyper-V, and Azure integration. Known for its user-friendliness and stability, it is ideal for hosting applications and managing domains, promising scalability and seamless network management across environments.

Windows Server is integral for businesses needing reliable infrastructure for server virtualization and enterprise application deployment. It excels in integrating with Microsoft applications, providing robust support for database hosting, Active Directory management, and remote access. Users benefit from its comprehensive features supporting intense workloads, virtual setups, and efficient domain management. However, it could improve its port security, vulnerability monitoring, and interface intuitiveness. Pricing models also require adjustments to be competitive, and better integration with Linux would enhance system compatibility. Regular updates can impact stability, and the command-line interface could be more efficient compared to Linux.

What are Windows Server's key features?

Active Directory: Facilitates user and resource management.
Hyper-V: Enables server virtualization for enhanced efficiency.
Azure Integration: Connects with cloud services for scalability.
Work Folder Synchronization: Supports seamless data access across devices.
Security: Offers robust measures for protecting enterprise data.

What benefits should users look for?

Ease of Use: Intuitive design simplifies administration.
Stability: Reliable performance across demanding environments.
Integration: Seamlessly connects with Microsoft services.
Scalability: Grows alongside business needs.

Windows Server is implemented across industries for virtual server hosting, enterprise application deployment, and managing complex IT infrastructures. Organizations use it for database hosting, Active Directory management, and leveraging Microsoft's ecosystem, supporting backend operations and enhancing communication security.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco

Buyer's Guide

Debian vs. Windows Server

December 2025

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