Contabo Windows VPS: When the License Changes the Plan

What Contabo says about the license

Contabo's Windows VPS FAQ is explicit: on its VPS, you cannot use your own Windows license. Due to its licensing agreement with Microsoft, you use the Windows Server license provided by Contabo, and the terms require a monthly fee determined by the size of the VPS you order.

The Windows marketing page says a Windows license can start at €4.99 a month. I would treat that as a starting point, not a universal price. The exact line depends on the VPS size and the edition, and it appears in the configurator.

The base hardware is the same Core VPS family. For example, the Windows page lists Cloud VPS 4 Windows Server at €5.50/month list, excluding VAT, or €4.40/month on a 24-month term (20% off), excluding VAT, with 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD, one snapshot, and a 200 Mbit/s port. The Windows license is an additional monthly line, not a one-time purchase.

What Windows actually adds to the bill

A Windows VPS has costs that a Linux VPS does not:

• The Windows Server license, monthly, by VPS size.
• More RAM and disk headroom for the Windows OS, updates, and the application stack.
• RDP exposure: a public login surface that needs firewall rules, strong passwords, and updates.
• Windows patching and reboot windows.
• Backup and recovery for a different filesystem and application set.

The license is the visible line. The administration is the hidden one. A Windows box is not a managed Windows service; Contabo provides the server and the license, while the application, updates, firewall, and backups remain your job.

When Windows is the right route

I would choose Windows when:

• The application is Windows-only: IIS/.NET, SQL Server, a line-of-business tool, or a vendor package that does not run on Linux.
• The team needs a remote desktop workstation rather than a Linux shell.
• The workflow depends on Windows-only build tools, COM components, or desktop software.
• The cost of re-platforming the application is higher than the license and administration.

The decision should start from the application, not from the plan. If the app runs on Linux, Windows adds cost without adding capability.

When Linux is the better buy

I would keep Linux for:

• n8n and most automation stacks.
• WordPress, PHP, MySQL, and the common control panels.
• Docker-based services and local AI runtimes.
• Cost-sensitive boxes where the Windows license would be a large share of the monthly bill.

The existing Contabo setup guide is Linux-first for that reason. It notes Windows as a paid add-on path and recommends budgeting the license line if Windows is required. The n8n automation guide and local AI guide assume Linux.

The plan choice if Windows is required

I would compare Cloud VPS 4 Windows and Cloud VPS 6 Windows first. Cloud VPS 4 has 4 vCPU and 8 GB; Cloud VPS 6 has 6 vCPU and 12 GB, with more disk and snapshots. The license fee rises with the VPS size, so the total difference is larger than the hardware difference alone.

For a single line-of-business app with a small user count, Cloud VPS 4 may be enough. For SQL Server, multiple roles, or a remote desktop with several users, I would start at Cloud VPS 6 and check the license line before comparing anything else. The cost calculator can hold the VPS, license, backup, and tax lines in one record.

How I would calculate the Windows line

For the first year, the Windows-specific line is approximately (VPS monthly × 12) + (Windows license monthly × 12) + setup + backups, before VAT. The €4.99 marketing figure is a starting point, not a quote for a specific plan; the license line is sized by the VPS, and the cart shows it. I would record the license and VPS lines separately so the comparison with a Linux plan is honest.

What I would do

I would write the application's Windows requirement first, then build the cart with the Windows image and read the license line. If the total is close to a managed Windows service, I would compare that service before ordering. If the app is portable to Linux, I would test the Linux route before paying the Windows premium.

The first week on a Windows VPS

The first week is mostly about access and patching, not performance. I would run Windows Update and reboot before installing anything, restrict RDP to trusted IPs or a VPN, create a separate admin account, and confirm that the provider console still gives a recovery path if RDP fails. Then I would install the application, set the service accounts, and take a snapshot before the first production change.

I would also check the backup path. A Windows VPS needs a restore that covers the application, its database, and the Windows configuration. A file copy of the website directory is not a full recovery plan. The Contabo backup guide covers the panel side.

What this does not decide

This article does not test RDP latency, Windows application performance, SQL Server, or a Windows restore. It does not quote a license price for a specific plan; the configurator does that. It gives the decision order and the lines to check.

Sources

• Contabo Windows VPS: https://contabo.com/en-us/windows-servers-vps
• Contabo Windows licenses: https://contabo.com/en/windows-licenses/
• Contabo Core VPS plans: https://contabo.com/en/vps/
• AiXVPS Contabo review: /providers/contabo/
• AiXVPS Contabo setup: /providers/contabo/setup/
• AiXVPS cost calculator: /tools/vps-total-cost/