When it comes to choosing your own hosting environment, which one works best for the programming languages that you will be using is of primary importance. For instance, PHP will need to be run in a UNIX environment, whereas ASP will be run in a Windows environment. Python, PHP, Perl and Ruby on rails are all run in the UNIX environment.

UNIX is synonymous with reliability and high performance. Even still, its source code is available entirely for free. Additionally, add-ons come mostly for free in the UNIX environment as well. For more technically oriented websites and companies, this open-source environment is one that is preferred. It is possible to run very complex and customized websites with much smaller budgets using UNIX hosting. Overall, UNIX hosting is significantly cheaper than Windows hosting.

Sticking to the cost differences and the fact that UNIX is generally more affordable, you should easily be able to get a UNIX hosting plan that is significantly cheaper than a Windows hosting plan. UNIX hosting providers generally use this fact to pass on savings to their customers as well as provide additional services because the cost of providing hosting is cheaper than in a Windows environment. This can mean increased customer service and attention to the individual compared to a Windows provider. So you should be sure that the potential thousands of dollars extra that you pay for your Windows hosting is really worth it for you.

One of the major disadvantages of UNIX hosting, especially in a mobile world, is that you can only enable mobile access to a UNIX account via telnet, or sometimes SSH. Of course, you want to be well aware of the strengths and weaknesses between Windows and UNIX before you embark on launching your website.