3-year cost calculator
Pre-filled for Windows Server → AlmaLinux. Adjust every figure with your own numbers.
Every figure here is an illustrative estimate, not a vendor quote. Defaults are editable starting points compiled from public information; real, binding pricing comes from the vendor or an authorized distributor. See our methodology.
How this is licensed: On virtual machines, RHEL/SUSE/Windows are effectively counted by vCPU (or per-VM subscription) rather than physical sockets; bare-metal socket/core rules differ. Windows Server Datacenter licenses physical cores of the host but allows unlimited VMs. Set $/vCPU to your subscription model.
All figures are illustrative and fully editable — adjust the cost-per-vCPU and migration inputs with your own numbers. Not guaranteed vendor pricing (defaults reviewed May 2026). For a binding quote, use the request form below to reach an authorized distributor or partner.
Quick comparison: Windows Server vs AlmaLinux
Common trade-offs teams weigh when staying on Windows Server versus moving to AlmaLinux. These are general, commonly-reported considerations — not statements of fact about any vendor — so check them against your own contract and the vendors' current terms.
- Already in production — no migration effort or risk
- Mature ecosystem with vendor support and SLAs
- Per-core licensing plus client access licenses (CALs)
- Datacenter vs Standard edition cost cliffs
- Software Assurance overhead
- Tied to the broader Microsoft licensing stack
- Ongoing per-core + cals cost to budget for
- Higher vendor lock-in to weigh
- Open source — no license fees
- No vendor lock-in
- Cost model: Free (support optional)
- Requires a migration (~15 weeks, medium effort)
- Community support by default — paid support optional
Why teams evaluate alternatives to Windows Server
Reasons commonly cited by users and in public industry coverage for re-evaluating Windows Server. These are general, reported considerations — not statements of fact about Microsoft — and may not reflect your situation or the vendor's current terms. Verify against your own contract before deciding.
- Per-core licensing plus client access licenses (CALs)
- Datacenter vs Standard edition cost cliffs
- Software Assurance overhead
- Tied to the broader Microsoft licensing stack
The migration plan
Roughly 15 weeks for a mid-size estate, in six phases.
Tooling & automation
Reprovision or in-place convert, port packages and configuration via Ansible, validate application compatibility, then cut over in waves.
OffVendor's wizard pre-fills these scripts with your environment — inventory export, disk/schema conversion, bulk provisioning, and validation.
Frequently asked
Is migrating from Windows Server to AlmaLinux worth it?
For most teams facing rising Windows Server costs, yes — AlmaLinux (free (support optional)) typically lowers 3-year total cost of ownership, though the right answer depends on workload complexity and in-house skills. Use the calculator to model your own numbers.
How long does a Windows Server to AlmaLinux migration take?
A typical mid-size estimate is around 15 weeks across six phases — discovery, design, pilot, waved production migration, validation, and decommission. Larger or more complex estates take longer.
What tools are used to migrate from Windows Server to AlmaLinux?
Reprovision or in-place convert, port packages and configuration via Ansible, validate application compatibility, then cut over in waves.