RDP vs VPS – What Are the Differences?

RDP and VPS often show up in the same hosting offers, yet they solve different problems. RDP is the link between your device and a remote Windows machine, while a VPS is the machine itself, hosted in a data center. Most of the time, the two meet when you log in to a Windows VPS over Remote Desktop.

Below, I explain each term, how they work together, and which one fits your project.

What is an RDP?

RDP expands to Remote Desktop Protocol. Microsoft created it so you can open the full desktop of a distant Windows machine over the internet or a local network.

Once connected, your mouse and keyboard drive the remote computer, and its screen appears in a window on yours. On the other end there can be an office PC, a bare-metal server, or a VPS. On your end, all you need is a Remote Desktop app: Windows ships with one, and free apps exist for macOS, iOS, and Android.

An "RDP plan" from a hosting company is normally just a Windows server, most often a Windows VPS, that comes ready for Remote Desktop logins.

What is a VPS?

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server which is a small virtual unit of a large physical server. One physical server is divided into multiple virtual servers with the help of virtualization technology.

Every VPS runs a separate operating system with a reserved slice of CPU, memory, and disk. Root or administrator rights let you set it up however your software requires. Linux VPS servers are normally managed through SSH, and Windows ones through RDP.

What is the difference between RDP vs VPS?

In short, RDP is how you reach a machine, and a VPS is the machine you reach. RDP deals with access to a remote Windows desktop, while a VPS decides where your website, app, or software actually lives.

Here are the other important differences:

• RDP needs a Windows machine on the other end. A VPS can run Linux or Windows.
• RDP gives you a graphical desktop. On a Linux VPS, you normally work in a command line over SSH instead.
• A Windows VPS uses RDP for access, so the two are often bought together as one "RDP server" or "Windows VPS".
• Several users can connect to the same Windows server over RDP, but more than two simultaneous sessions need extra Remote Desktop Services licenses from Microsoft.

For easier understanding, here is the difference between RDP and VPS in tabular form:

When to use an RDP?

RDP makes sense whenever the job calls for a Windows desktop that lives somewhere else: keeping Windows-only programs such as MetaTrader running day and night, letting a remote team work in the same applications, or administering a Windows server through point-and-click tools.

When to use a VPS?

A VPS is the right purchase when you need a server of your own for websites, apps, databases, or game servers, with complete control over it. Linux suits most web projects, and Windows is the choice when your software only runs there. In the Windows case, Remote Desktop is how you'll reach it.

Best Recommendations

Since now you are aware of when to use the power of RDP and VPS networking technologies, here are some of the best recommendations for both:

2 RDP recommendations

Here are the two best companies offering remote desktop access for your business/project:

#1 Kamatera

Kamatera deploys a cloud server for you in less than 60 seconds. It allows you to custom-create your server and scale up or down as and when you desire. The price will vary depending on the features you choose.

You can easily set up a Remote Desktop Server and centralize the use and management of all your installations. With Kamatera, it becomes extremely easy for multiple users to access the same remote desktop and avoid duplication of different installments on each user’s computer.

#2 Contabo

Contabo offers Windows Server on its Cloud VPS plans as a paid license add-on. Even the entry plan comes with 4 vCPUs, 8 GB of RAM, and 100 GB of SSD storage, which is plenty for a Remote Desktop server. Check the order page for the current Windows license price, since it is billed on top of the VPS.

VPS recommendation

For VPS, my recommendation is InterServer, which offers Windows VPS hosting. You can run and access all your Windows applications 24/7 with the host.

The host gives you the widest plan options and allows you to choose a plan based on CPU cores, memory, storage, and amount of data transferred.

The plan price varies depending on the server resources you select. InterServer also offers 24/7 support via its in-house experts.

Conclusion

Both RDP and VPS are of immense importance in the computer networking field but have different use purposes.

• RDP is how you reach and control a remote Windows desktop. It is useful for remote staff and for Windows-only software that must run continuously, such as data processing or forex trading platforms.
• A VPS is the server itself. It is best for website owners and developers who need their own server resources and full administrator access. If that VPS runs Windows, you will manage it over RDP.

FAQ (frequently asked questions)

Which is better: VPS or RDP?

Neither is better, because they do different jobs. You need a VPS (or another server) to run your software, and RDP is one way to connect to it. If you want a remote Windows desktop, get a Windows VPS and connect to it over RDP.

Can I use VPS as RDP?

Yes, if the VPS runs Windows. A Windows VPS comes with Remote Desktop enabled, so you connect to it over RDP and use it as a remote desktop. A Linux VPS can also run a remote desktop, but you would need to install a desktop environment and an RDP server such as xrdp.

What’s the Best RDP provider?

In my opinion, Kamatera is the best RDP provider with 24/7 technical support and a 30-day free trial. You can pick and choose the features you need and pay only for them.