Windows 10 vs Windows Server comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on May 2, 2022

We performed a comparison between Windows 10 and Windows Server based on our users’ reviews in four categories. After reading all of the collected data, you can find our conclusion below.

  • Ease of Deployment: Users of both solutions agree that their initial setup is straightforward..

  • Features: Users of both products are happy with their stability and scalability. Windows 10 users like its firewall and say the solution is flexible and user-friendly. Several Windows 10 users mention that it requires a high amount of resources. Windows Server users like the Active Directory tool and say the solution performs well overall but needs to improve its security.

  • Pricing: Most Windows 10 users feel that the price of the solution is fair. In contrast, most Windows Server reviewers feel that it is an expensive product.

  • Service and Support: Most Windows 10 users report being satisfied with the level of support they receive. Windows Server users have mixed reviews for the product’s support. Some users are satisfied with the support while others say it could improve.

Comparison Results: Windows 10 is the winner in this comparison. It received higher marks for its technical support and is the less expensive solution.

To learn more, read our detailed Windows 10 vs. Windows Server Report (Updated: March 2023).
685,707 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"It's easy to use.""As we are talking about Microsoft, I have encountered no problems with the installation.""As we are talking about Microsoft, the installation has not posed any problems.""The most valuable features of Windows 10 are the GUI and the compatibility with mostly all the software available on the market.""The things I like most about Windows 10 are its stability and ease of use.""It provides us with very good updates and security patching that is required.""The Windows Store concept, in my opinion, is valuable.""The solution is stable."

More Windows 10 Pros →

"I find the solution to be easy to use, flexible with overall great performance.""Its performance is very good, and it is stable. All applications are working perfectly, and there is no issue.""It is stable and scalable.""The most valuable feature of Windows Server is the ease of use and the applications that are available.""Setting up Windows Server is pretty straightforward. It takes anywhere from a few hours to a day. One person can do it if it's not a complex environment.""This is a stable product.""It's very easy and user-friendly compared to any other operating system.""It is easy to use."

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Cons
"It would be great if they could make the systems boot faster but I think it is more of a function of the PC than the solutions.""I do not like the interface of Windows 10 very much and the performance could be enhanced. Sometimes everything is a little bit cumbersome. When I used the interface of Windows 7 it was much quicker than Windows 10, as far as finding the information. I preferred Windows 7 for this interoperability. It was easier to interact with the Windows 7, to use the control panel. With Windows 10 there are fewer settings in the control panel as well, but there's the different possibility to reach the same information, and sometimes it creates confusion.""I prefer Linux over Windows 10 because the command prompt is better in Linux.""Windows 10 could improve the performance of the interface, it was faster in Windows 8.""Stability-wise, it's okay. Sometimes my laptop slows down when I have a lot of applications open, but this could be a laptop issue rather than a Windows 10 issue.""The solution could improve by providing web applications and have Windows 10 on Azure as a virtual machine.""When it comes to the Home Edition, there is usually just a license.""The interface itself could be more user-friendly."

More Windows 10 Cons →

"The technical support could improve.""They should release a command-line version of the solution.""The performance is good but we have had some issues when we use virtual machines.""Windows should add some more compatibility tools to Windows Server.""The scalability of Windows Server is okay, but it could be better.""The stability is not very good because you have to restart the system to keep the stability.""But one issue I have with Windows Server is the limit on the number of concurrent sessions. You cannot have more than three simultaneous users unless you activate a license. You have to install it so that more people can access the applications simultaneously.""I would like to see easier implementation and better customer service in the future."

More Windows Server Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "There is a licensing for the solution and they could improve on it."
  • "The pricing could be improved."
  • "The solution requires a license and you can purchase one for personal use that lasts for the length of time you are using the solution."
  • "We pay a licensing fee."
  • "We pay for the license, and it's fine."
  • "I have a home license that costs me around 1,000 rupees."
  • "There is a license for this solution and it is a one-time purchase."
  • "There is a license for this solution and it normally comes free with any system."
  • More Windows 10 Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The solution requires licencing."
  • "It's expensive, but we have a need for it and have to purchase it."
  • "One of the problems with Microsoft is the price of licensing, and volume licensing for educational systems is a great option to bequeath licensing for small businesses."
  • "There is a license needed for this solution."
  • "Our customers prefer lifetime licenses."
  • "We had to purchase the solution and also the licenses to go on each computer system."
  • "It could be cheaper."
  • "It is priced very well and we pay an annual license fee."
  • More Windows Server Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Answers from the Community
    Netanya Carmi
    reviewer1650858 - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer1650858 (User)
    User

    Windows Server integrates well with all Microsoft and many other mainstream solutions.


    Building a Failover Cluster is comparatively much easier in Windows Server than with other solutions. We really like the ease of use, stability, and performance of this solution. You get a good active directory that offers consistently evolving features that scales easily. Windows Server supports more memory and uses CPUs more efficiently.


    Windows Server requires a lot of monthly maintenance with vulnerability management. From a security aspect, this should be improved. We would like to see a command-line version of Windows Server. Overall this solution can be very expensive.


    One popular feature of Windows 10 is its connectivity with mobile devices and ability to make cabless connections with external devices. Windows 10 has improved functionality and better integration between the networks and Windows 10 core system. The new subsystem for Linux is great. Windows 10 also offers a very good gaming option. which many of our team members thoroughly enjoy. It is a very stable solution with flexible scalability.


    Windows 10 gets a lot of updates and the automatic updates have caused some problems with our team, resulting in losing files or work. There are instances where updates have caused system crashes and failures. The process needs to be tweaked a bit. The enterprise version has many options, like games that are really intended for home use. The install process can be a bit complex and takes a lot of time to deploy. Windows 10 is a very expensive solution.


    Conclusion:


    These are both great solutions by an industry leader.


    Windows Server is a very robust and powerful on-premises hardware. We were looking to really step up our connections and Windows 10 can only handle about 10 or 20 connections, whereas Windows Server can handle an excess of 50,000 connections. We also needed more memory and more power. Windows10 Pro offers 2TB of RAM, while Windows Server can go to 24TB. Windows Server hardware can also handle more cores and processors; it has 64 sockets to Windows 10’s 2 sockets. Windows Server is the best solution for our organizational needs.

    Shibu Babuchandran - PeerSpot reviewerShibu Babuchandran
    Real User

    Hi @Netanya Carmi ​,


    Key Differences Between a Windows Server and a Windows Desktop


    Here are the key differences between a Windows server and a Windows desktop.


    1. Windows Server Supports More Memory

    One of the main differences between a Windows server and desktop is the amount of memory each can support. A desktop running Windows 10 Enterprise has a 4 GB memory limit on an X86 and a 2TB limit on an X64. These numbers are greatly increased depending on the Windows server version. You can view the memory limitations for the Windows and Windows server releases on the Microsoft Developer site.


    2. Windows Server Uses CPUs More Efficiently

    In general, a server OS is more efficient at using its hardware than a desktop OS, especially a CPU; therefore, if you install Alike on a server OS, you are taking full advantage of the hardware installed on your server, which also allows Alike to offer optimal performance.


    3. More Network Connections Allowed on a Windows Server

    With a desktop version of Windows, network connections are limited to 10-20. A Windows server is not locked down to just 20 network connections; therefore, a Windows server can support well beyond 20 network connections based on your hardware’s capability.


    4. The Server OS is Configured for Background Tasks

    By default, server editions of the Windows OS are configured to give priority to background tasks and services, whereas the desktop editions focus on foreground. While priority can be changed, the desktop edition’s management does not yield the same performance results.

    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:We are in 2022, so why can't we put a note in a folder?! Think how useful it is. As an organization, you and I have a mort of files, and usually a few employees work on the same file. They need to… more »
    Top Answer:We use Windows 10 for regular office jobs and automation design.
    Top Answer:It could be more secure. We don't like it because if you compare it to Linux, Linux is better.
    Top Answer:We have the product that my team works on and we need to, for example, deploy the solution on running servers. That way, the client can access it and the QAs in our team could test it. Also, we have… more »
    Ranking
    Views
    13,925
    Comparisons
    10,423
    Reviews
    173
    Average Words per Review
    332
    Rating
    8.3
    Views
    19,552
    Comparisons
    15,820
    Reviews
    114
    Average Words per Review
    309
    Rating
    8.1
    Comparisons
    Learn More
    Overview

    Windows 10 is one of Microsoft’s most advanced operating systems for personal computers (PCs), tablets, and other similar devices. To date this operating system is active on more than 1.3 billion personal computers worldwide.

    Windows 10 has many features that make it arguably the most popular operating system for PCs on the planet. Included in these are a wealth of security features designed to stop malware from compromising both devices and networks. It has integrations for various multifactor authentication as well as non-password-reliant login technologies such as iris scanning. These keep networks safe from the moment that a user logs in. It also has security tools which not only identify, isolate, and remove threats, but also limit the damage that they can cause.

    Benefits of Windows 10

    Some of the benefits of using Windows 10 include:

    • A wide array of security features that proactively protect your system from malware of all kinds. The Windows Defender Exploit Guard feature constantly scans your system’s background for threats. It identifies, isolates, and removes the malware from your infected network. It can also quarantine infected devices to stave off an outbreak of infection across your network.
    • Allows you to browse the web in a way that protects your network from cyber-threats, enabling you to browse the internet from the confines of a virtual machine. If your device becomes infected, the malware will be unable to spread beyond the virtual machine that it has already infected.
    • The ability to synchronize multiple devices so that you can work from anywhere at any time. Windows 10’s Timeline feature enables you to save your work in a Microsoft application. You can then access this saved work on another Windows 10 device and continue from wherever you left off.

    Reviews from Real Users

    The Windows 10 operating system stands out from the competition for a number of reasons. Two major ones are its ability to secure users from digital threats and its main app management screen, which gives users the ability to easily manage their applications.

    One PeerSpot user who is the founder, president, and COO at an analyst firm, noted Windows 10’s impressive security suite when they wrote, “My impression is that the security via Windows Defender is good enough that I no longer feel a need for another third-party security solution, which had always been the case in the past. I think that perception still holds true.”

    Mike K., a collaboration specialist at a comms service provider, takes note of the main app management screen when he writes, “I like the main window pane where you can sort your mostly used and different types of apps, such as OneDrive, Google Chrome, and Access. I can just open up the main window, and those apps are right there at my fingertips.”

    Windows Server is an operating system that is designed to run on servers and service networked applications. It includes technology that was inspired from their experiences in the public cloud. When compared to earlier Microsoft products, Windows Server 2016 is greatly improved in terms of its security, software-defined infrastructure, and technologies. It enables developers to build modern microservice-based applications in the cloud or on premises.

    Windows Server has many features that make it a most effective product. Included in these are a wealth of security features that enable administrators to both protect their networks from attack and limit the potential damage if malware does enter their system. It has a feature called the Local Security Authority, which protects user credentials from being stolen and exploited. All credentials are authenticated in a digital space that is kept separate from the rest of the system. This virtual space prevents any code not belonging to the Local Security Authority from running. It also has security tools that identify, isolate, and limit any potential system damage should an intrusion take place.

    Benefits of Windows Server

    Some of the benefits of using Windows Server include:

    • A wide array of security features that allow administrators to both secure themselves against digital intrusions and limit the damage should a breach occur. The Device Guard allows administrators to dictate what types of applications can run on their servers. This ensures that only applications that are trusted will be active in their systems. However, should a breach take place, administrators can use features like the Distributed Firewall to isolate the problematic software and prevent it from infecting the rest of the system.
    • Windows Server 2016 allows you to automate various server management tasks. The PowerShell feature enables administrators to turn over some of the more routine server management operations to this software so that they can focus their attention and resources on more complex and pressing tasks.
    • The ability to engage in innovation without having to compromise your security and efficiency. Application and software creators are able to run their software on the server without first having to modify it. In addition, any business looking to run proprietary software has a place where they can safely conduct their business.

    Reviews from Real Users

    There are a number of characteristics that make Windows Server an extremely effective solution. Two major ones are its inherent flexibility and its user-friendly nature.

    PeerSpot user Antonio D., a sales manager at INFOSEC, takes note of Windows Server 2016’s flexibility when he writes, “The product is a good operating system. The features fit our needs very well. For example, with Windows Server, you can use a machine for printing, accessing the internet, or using some applications. You can do it all with one server. You don't need several servers. One is enough.”

    Himanshu T., a system administrator and DevOps engineer at a tech-services company, takes note of the various way in which Windows Server 2016 is easy to use when he writes, “This solution is very user friendly, easy to use for any system administrator, simple to deploy applications, has a wide range of applications available, great UI, and takes less technical skills to operate than some other competitors. Additionally, the active directory has great functionality; if we want to integrate any assets, then we can easily do it.”

    Offer
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    Sample Customers
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    Rakuten, Rackspace, Tyco
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Manufacturing Company13%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Comms Service Provider18%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Educational Organization9%
    Government8%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Comms Service Provider13%
    Manufacturing Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Comms Service Provider18%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Government10%
    Educational Organization8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business39%
    Midsize Enterprise22%
    Large Enterprise38%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise60%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business40%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise40%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise59%
    Buyer's Guide
    Windows 10 vs. Windows Server
    March 2023
    Find out what your peers are saying about Windows 10 vs. Windows Server and other solutions. Updated: March 2023.
    685,707 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Windows 10 is ranked 3rd in Operating Systems (OS) for Business with 176 reviews while Windows Server is ranked 5th in Operating Systems (OS) for Business with 116 reviews. Windows 10 is rated 8.2, while Windows Server is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Windows 10 writes "Modern apps and features like Windows Hello provide a consumer-friendly experience". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Windows Server writes "Easy to use, simple to set up, and scales well". Windows 10 is most compared with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ubuntu Linux, Oracle Solaris, openSUSE Leap and Google Chrome Enterprise, whereas Windows Server is most compared with Ubuntu Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Oracle Linux, CentOS and Oracle Solaris. See our Windows 10 vs. Windows Server report.

    See our list of best Operating Systems (OS) for Business vendors.

    We monitor all Operating Systems (OS) for Business reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.