In short
- Linux is used over SSH with your key; Windows Server through Remote Desktop as administrator.
- If your software only exists for Windows you need Windows Server; if it runs on both, Linux is usually simpler.
- Windows Server asks for more resources than a light Linux, so not every plan suits it.
How you log in to each one
On a Linux VPS you log in over SSH with your key, as the system administrator. On a Windows Server VPS you log in through Remote Desktop as Administrator, with a desktop window like any PC.
Choose by your software
If what you want to run only exists for Windows, you need Windows Server. If it works on both, Linux is usually the simpler option for websites, bots, databases and services.
Which Linux distribution
Ubuntu and Debian are the most common and have the most tutorials, the easiest choice if you are starting. AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and CentOS Stream are from the Red Hat world and make sense if your software asks for it.
If you do not use a terminal
On Linux you work with commands. If you are not comfortable with that, Windows Server with its desktop may feel more familiar, even though it needs more resources than a simple Linux.
Resources matter
Look at each plan's memory, processor and disk. Windows Server asks for more resources than a light Linux, which is why not every plan suits it.