Remote Desktop VPS: Your Windows Desktop in the Cloud, from $3.99/mo
A MassiveGRID remote desktop VPS is a Windows Server with Remote Desktop enabled from the first minute, from $3.99 per month in New York, London, Frankfurt or Singapore. Sign in from a Windows PC, a Mac, an iPad, an Android phone or a Linux laptop; your applications, files and sessions stay on the server, two people can work on it at once, and additional RDP user licences cost $8.90 per user per month when a team needs more.
What a remote desktop VPS gives you
A Windows Server with the Remote Desktop role enabled is a full Windows desktop that lives in a datacenter instead of under your desk. You connect over RDP, work in Office, a browser, QuickBooks, a trading platform or whatever Windows software your business runs, and disconnect; the session keeps running, downloads finish, and the next time you connect from a different device the same windows are open. Because the server sits on a Proxmox HA cluster with 3x replicated NVMe storage, a hardware failure restarts it on another node within seconds, which no laptop can offer.
MassiveGRID includes RDP with the two administrative sessions Windows Server allows, so two people can be signed in at the same time, each with their own desktop. Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025 are available, as are Windows 10 and 11 Pro on your own key for software that is only tested on desktop Windows. The administrator password is e-mailed when the server is provisioned, and a KVM console in the portal lets you in even if a firewall rule ever locks RDP out. Our guide to connecting over RDP from every device names the right client for each platform now that Microsoft has replaced its Remote Desktop apps with Windows App.
Sizing a remote desktop server
Windows Server uses about 2 GB of RAM on its own. These are the sizes we recommend, the same ones as in our remote work setup guide:
| Use | vCPU | RAM | NVMe | Monthly from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic office work for one or two people (e-mail, documents, browsing) | 2 | 4 GB | 64 GB | $9.58 shared |
| Multitasking (many apps, spreadsheets, video calls) | 4 | 8 GB | 128 GB | $19.16 shared |
| Heavy work (data analysis, design tools, large databases) | 8 or more | 16 GB or more | 256 GB or more | $79.20 reserved |
| Team of 3 to 8 on Remote Desktop Services | 4 to 8 reserved | 2 GB per user plus 2 GB | 128 GB or more | $39.60 reserved plus $8.90 per extra user |
Prices are the configurator figures in New York, London and Frankfurt on the 180-day Windows Server evaluation; the licence adds $6.31 per vCPU per month when you need it. Shared cores are right for one or two users; once three or more people share a server, reserve the cores with the Windows Dedicated VPS toggle so one person's spreadsheet recalculation is the only thing that can slow another down.
Configure Your Remote Desktop VPS
The 2 vCPU, 4 GB preset is highlighted for one or two people. Switch to Windows Dedicated VPS for a team, pick the city nearest to where you connect from, and add RDP user licences on request after ordering.
Teams, security and the alternatives
Teams. A third simultaneous user needs the Remote Desktop Session Host role and a licence per user; MassiveGRID supplies additional RDP user licences at $8.90 per user per month, added on request, so a team of five costs three licences on top of the server. Our RDS CALs explained article covers the rules and the multiple RDP users guide the setup.
Security. A desktop reachable from the internet gets password-guessing traffic within hours. Keep Network Level Authentication on, set an account lockout policy, move RDP off port 3389 or put it behind a VPN, and keep Windows Update on; the RDP hardening checklist takes about twenty minutes. The server sits behind 12 Tbps of DDoS protection and a cluster firewall regardless.
The alternatives. Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop sell a managed desktop per user per month and require a Microsoft 365 subscription; a remote desktop VPS is a server you own the administrator account to, priced by its resources rather than by seat. Our Windows 365 vs Azure Virtual Desktop vs Windows VPS comparison prices the three for a 2 vCPU, 4 GB desktop. Everything else about the server is the same as any MassiveGRID Windows VPS.
Windows licensing, kept simple
Three ways to run Windows on a Windows VPS, each one visible in the configurator before you order.
180-day Windows Server evaluation
Every Windows Server template (2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025) installs as Microsoft's evaluation build. Activate it online within the first 10 days and it runs fully featured for 180 days, with the days remaining shown on the desktop.
- After day 180 your data and software stay in place, but the server shuts down every hour until a licence is added.
- Adding the licence converts the installation in place. No reinstall.
Licence included
Choose "Licence +$6.31/vCPU" on any plan and the Windows Server licence is part of the order, with the amount shown as its own line in the card total. A 2 vCPU server adds $12.62 a month, a 4 vCPU server $25.24.
- Start on the evaluation and switch later: contact support and the server is converted without downtime for your data.
- Nothing to activate or report; the licence is handled on our side.
Windows 10 or 11 Pro: your own key
Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro templates are available under the evaluation option. They install unactivated, and you enter your own product key after the first login, because hosting providers cannot rent out desktop Windows licences.
- Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025; new servers should use Windows 11 Pro or Windows Server.
RDP included, two admin sessions
Every server comes with Remote Desktop enabled and the two administrative sessions Windows Server allows, so two people can work on it at the same time from Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS or Android clients.
- Need a team on one server? Additional RDP user licences cost $8.90 per user per month. See the multiple RDP users guide for the Remote Desktop Services setup.
Windows VPS, Dedicated VPS, managed or Forex: which one?
Four ways to run Windows at MassiveGRID. All of them sit on Proxmox HA clusters in New York, London, Frankfurt and Singapore with 12 Tbps DDoS protection and a 100% uptime SLA.
| Windows VPS (this page's configurator) | Windows Dedicated VPS | Managed Cloud Dedicated Server | Forex VPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | $3.99/mo | $18.84/mo | See plans | $2.87/mo |
| CPU and RAM | Shared vCPU | Reserved cores and RAM | Reserved cores and RAM | Shared vCPU (Pro tier: reserved cores) |
| Windows licence | 180-day evaluation, or $6.31 per vCPU | 180-day evaluation, or $6.31 per vCPU | Windows Server Standard included, SQL Server Web option | Windows Server pre-installed, licence included on Pro |
| Remote Desktop | Two admin sessions, extra users $8.90 | Two admin sessions, extra users $8.90 | Two admin sessions, extra users $8.90 | Two admin sessions |
| Management | Self-managed, 24/7 infrastructure support | Self-managed, 24/7 infrastructure support | Fully managed: OS, patches, backups, monitoring | Self-managed, MT4 and MT5 setup help included |
| SQL Server | Express free, bring your own licence for Web or Standard | Same, with cores reserved for the database | SQL Server Web licence can be included | Not a database product |
| Best for | Remote desktops, small IIS sites, bots, accounting software | SQL Server, IIS under load, three or more RDP users, emulator and SEO farms | Production Windows and SQL with operations handled for you | MetaTrader, cTrader and Expert Advisors near your broker |
| Configure Windows VPS | Configure Dedicated VPS | View managed plans | View Forex VPS |
Prices are the configurator minimum in New York, London and Frankfurt on monthly billing; Singapore storage and traffic cost more. Terms from 3 to 36 months take 5% to 40% off.
Enterprise Features Included
Every Windows VPS comes with premium features designed for mission-critical applications.
Proxmox HA Cluster
Your VPS runs on a multi-node Proxmox HA cluster. If a node goes offline, HA Manager automatically restarts your VM on a healthy node — no manual intervention needed.
RDP & KVM Console Access
Connect via Remote Desktop (RDP) with full administrator access. KVM console ensures you never lose access, even if RDP or firewall is misconfigured.
12 Tbps DDoS Protection
Advanced XDP technology and patented stateful cloud firewall protect your server from attacks before they consume resources.
Redundant NVMe Storage
Your data is stored on Ceph (3x replicated) and HA NAS with active-passive failover. Blazing-fast NVMe I/O with zero single point of failure.
Full Administrator Access
Complete control to install any software, IIS, .NET, SQL Server, or any Windows application. Your server, your rules.
24/7 Expert Support
Dedicated in-house support team rated 9.5/10. Proactive monitoring and instant assistance for any infrastructure needs.
Deploy Worldwide
Choose from premium data centers with Tier-1 network connectivity and the lowest latency to your users.
New York
U.S.
London
U.K.
Frankfurt
E.U.
Singapore
Asia
Guides for remote desktops
Connect over RDP from Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and Linux
Which client to install in 2026, the first-login checklist and the six common errors.
SetupSet Up a Windows VPS for Remote Work
From ordering to a tuned RDP session: users, drive redirection, printing and display settings.
TeamsMultiple RDP Users on One Server
Remote Desktop Services, user licences and RAM per user.
SecurityRDP Hardening Checklist
Port, lockout policy, NLA and firewall rules for a desktop that is online all day.
BusinessQuickBooks, Sage and CRM on a Windows VPS
Desktop accounting and CRM software with two people working in it at once.
ChoosingWindows 365 vs Azure Virtual Desktop vs Windows VPS
What a 2 vCPU, 4 GB cloud desktop costs per month on each.
FAQ
Questions about remote desktop servers
Your Windows desktop, wherever you sit
Remote desktop VPS from $3.99 a month in New York, London, Frankfurt or Singapore, RDP with two admin sessions included, extra users at $8.90 each, Windows Server 2016 to 2025 or Windows 11 Pro on your key, and a 15-day money-back guarantee.