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Microsoft IIS vs Windows Server

Based on 61 and 60 real audits

View Microsoft IIS details | View Windows Server details
MetricMicrosoft IISWindows ServerWinner
Performance4445Windows Server
Accessibility8888Tie
Best Practices8485Windows Server
SEO9090Tie
Security6565Tie
TTFB534ms549msMicrosoft IIS
Composite7171Tie
Performance
Microsoft IIS
44
Windows Server
45
Accessibility
Microsoft IIS
88
Windows Server
88
Security
Microsoft IIS
65
Windows Server
65
SEO
Microsoft IIS
90
Windows Server
90
Composite
Microsoft IIS
71
Windows Server
71

Windows Server outperforms Microsoft IIS in 2 of 7 categories, with a stronger composite score (71 vs 71). Microsoft IIS leads in TTFB.

When to choose Microsoft IIS

Choose Microsoft IIS when your primary concern is server response time. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

When to choose Windows Server

Choose Windows Server when your primary concern is performance and best practices. Its audit data shows consistent strength in these areas across the sampled sites.

How this comparison was built

Scores are medians across 61 audited Microsoft IIS sites and 60 audited Windows Server sites in the BeaverCheck database. Every audit runs the same 100+ checks — Lighthouse performance, security headers, accessibility, SEO, server response time — against a real URL. No vendor input, no sponsorship, no affiliate links. Read the full methodology →

FAQ

Which is faster, Microsoft IIS or Windows Server?
Based on real BeaverCheck audits, Windows Server sites score higher on Lighthouse performance (45 vs 44 on average).
Which has better security, Microsoft IIS or Windows Server?
Microsoft IIS sites score higher on security analysis (65 vs 65 on average).
Which has better accessibility, Microsoft IIS or Windows Server?
Accessibility scores measured by Lighthouse WCAG 2.1 checks favor Microsoft IIS (88 vs 88). Both technologies can be made fully accessible with care — the difference reflects common patterns in the sampled sites, not inherent platform limits.
Which is better for SEO, Microsoft IIS or Windows Server?
Microsoft IIS sites score higher on Lighthouse SEO signals (90 vs 90 on average), which cover meta tags, crawlability, mobile friendliness, and structured data. Content strategy and backlinks still matter more than platform choice for ranking.
Which has faster server response (TTFB), Microsoft IIS or Windows Server?
Microsoft IIS sites show lower Time to First Byte (534 ms vs 549 ms on average). TTFB depends heavily on hosting and CDN setup rather than the technology itself, but the sampled sites suggest a meaningful difference in common deployment patterns.
Should I choose Microsoft IIS or Windows Server for my website?
Both platforms have trade-offs. Windows Server scores higher on overall composite score while Microsoft IIS may excel in metrics you care about most. Run a free BeaverCheck audit on a real site using each to compare the metrics relevant to your use case.
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