On this page you’ll find the best VPS hosting providers.
But we’ve prepared more!
Here you’ll also find:![13 Best VPS Hosting Providers for 2024 [Latest Tests]](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/QDS1pRht-cR1uxpTUn6LwuVboXHWWv0vIEJyD4M4qYB5FuztAYu08-Khyp2iss0_nMhez6-JXRdBD6L4H0V5gfLA2c__IBO5kqgj_gRTKUcMlbvceEr108ZrCHf-hLzAQ-Jm9ApoqKV2nnyjYMbsVAY "13 Best VPS Hosting Providers for 2024 [Latest Tests] 1"){kind=small}
And most importantly – you get to check out our unbiased and data-driven reviews, which will help you make the best possible choice.
13 Best VPS Hosting Providers for 2023
1. Ultahost
Ulta Host emerged as the top choice among 13 managed VPS hosting services in our review, with data centers located across the USA, Germany, India, and Canada. At a starting rate of only $4.50/mo, they offer unbeatable features such as free DDOS protection, ultra-fast NVMe SSD speeds, built-in security updates, and free SSL certificates. Our testing also revealed their top-notch customer support, and the Trustpilot ratings of 4.75 stars confirm their reliability and quality.
• Powerful hardware resources and SSD storage
• Highly customizable plans
• Scalability
Ultahost is an affordable and scalable web hosting provider that specializes in Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting. Their hosting plans offer users the flexibility and control of a dedicated server, with a range of features and options for customizing their server for Windows or Linux. In this review, we will dive into Ultahost’s VPS hosting service, analyzing key features, pros and cons, and pricing plans.
Key Features:
- High-Performance VPS Hosting: Ultahost offers high-performance VPS hosting solutions with powerful resources and fast SSD storage, ensuring fast and reliable performance for your websites and applications.
- Easy-to-Use Control Panel: The platform offers an easy-to-use control panel that allows you to manage your VPS hosting environment with ease, including features like one-click installs, automatic backups, and more.
- Multiple Operating Systems: Ultahost supports multiple operating systems, including Windows and various Linux distributions, giving you the flexibility to choose the platform that best suits your needs.
UltaHost’s servers are Linux-based, but they also provide support for Windows, Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora, Red Hat, and AlmaLinux. Powered by the latest Intel processors, these servers offer unlimited storage space and bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and more. Even if you’re already using another VPS server, you can easily migrate to UltaHost free of charge, with personalized support to ensure a seamless onboarding process.
Pros:
- Competitive Pricing: Ultahost offers competitive pricing for its VPS hosting solutions, with plans starting at just $4.50 per month.
- 24/7 Support: The platform offers 24/7 customer support via email and live chat, ensuring that you can always get the help you need.
- Scalable Resources: Ultahost offers scalable resources that allow you to easily upgrade your VPS hosting plan as your website or application grows.
Cons:
- Limited Data Center Locations: Ultahost has limited data center locations, which may limit your options for choosing a server location that is closest to your target audience.
Ultahost is one of the best VPS hosting providers for Linux, offering four scalable pricing tiers and top-notch features. The entry-level VPS Basic package starts at only $5.50/mo and includes 1 GB RAM, 30 GB NVMe SSD, and 1 CPU Core. VPS Business ($9.50/mo) and VPS Professional ($16.50/mo) come with 2 and 3 CPU Core, respectively, as well as 2/4 GB RAM and 50/75 GB NVMe SSD. Finally, the VPS Enterprise plan costs $21.50/mo and includes 4 CPU Core, 6 GB RAM, and 100 GB NVMe SSD.
Each package provides customers with free daily backups, a free SSL certificate, 1 IPv4 Dedicated IP, unlimited bandwidth, and round-the-clock customer support. All servers come with DDoS protection and firewalls for enhanced security. Plus, Ultahost offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you’re not satisfied with the service.
2. Kamatera
Providing superior hosting services to clients for over two decades, Kamatera is a reliable, experienced, and one of the best VPS hosting companies. It has 13 global data centers worldwide. Kamatera understands that every business has different hosting needs; hence they offer a variety of plans for you to choose from.
• 99.95% uptime guaranteed
• No hardware maintenance
• Fast and reliable
Kamatera Express is the company’s ultimate VPS hosting package, which allows you to deploy a server in seconds. It is customizable and compatible with Centos, Windows, BSD, Ubuntu, and Linux. Moreover, all this is available without an unnecessary price increase. And you know what that means? You get the ability to have a custom server dashboard at an affordable price!
Also, other benefits worth mentioning include the control to scale up and down as and when needed or significant savings, plus with an uptime of 99.95%. Rest assured, your business will never sleep.
Features
Some great features that are the highlights of Kamatera the best VPS host are:
- Cloud block storage
- Cloud private network
- Cloud Firewall for industry-leading protection against cyber threats and malware.
Support
It ensures 24/7 individual support through options like live chat, phone call, and via email.
Verdict
Kamatera is rated as one of the best VPS hosts for numerous reasons – scalable VPS servers, block storage, cloud firewall, load balancer, and more. In addition to this, they also extend a fully managed service, which means they manage everything for you. At the same time, you can dedicate your resources to other revenue-generating areas of your business.
3. Scala Hosting
Scala Hosting focuses heavily on VPS hosting services and has crafted an impressive platform.
• Very scalable
• Powerful control panel
• Excellent support
Scala Hosting is a relatively small company with a quite insightful vision that keeps it firmly ahead of the tide. While many VPS hosting providers realized the need to move away from cPanel after its considerable price increase, Scala Hosting developed its own control panel more than five years ago.
SPanel is a robust, versatile, and powerful solution that had enough time to mature and become a well-rounded product that makes site management a breeze.
1. Scala Hosting Hardware & Features
During the initial setup, users can choose a pre-made VPS or configure the virtual machine that suits their needs the best.
You are truly spoilt for choice:
- 1-24 CPU cores
- 2GB-32GB RAM
- 1GB-500GB SSD
- 1GB-2TB HDD
Anything along these specs is attainable with the click of a button. Set up whatever pleases you, choose a data center in the US or Europe and go.
One thing missing from Scala’s website is the bandwidth allocation. Support told me it is about 3TB by default. Removing the cap costs $10 per month, but 3TB is a decent traffic allowance for many sites.
What impresses the most in the Scala Hosting platform is the focus on security. SPanel is highly functional but also very secure as it comes with the real-time monitoring system SShield Security Guard.
That’s another proprietary technology that observes closely all sites and weeds out any malicious activity within seconds. What makes it truly special is the artificial intelligence that powers it. This way SShield learns quickly, protects better, and generates fewer false-positives.
Another in-house feature is the SWordPress Manager, which makes WordPress sites work better and faster. It helps with the management of multiple installations and adds an extra layer of protection, making Scala Hosting one of the best VPS hosting providers for WordPress.
2. Scala Hosting Support
Often smaller hosts have much better support. Fewer clients mean fewer support agents; that allows for a more careful selection of the personnel and additional time and effort in training them.
Scala Hosting is a point-in-case in this regard because its support agents are well-trained, friendly, and proactive. They are ready to go beyond the line of duty and do their best to resolve issues that are not, strictly speaking, within their responsibilities.
That quickly became evident when we were researching for this Scala Hosting review, but the company users confirm as much. Scala enjoys a stellar reputation and that’s largely thanks to the support agents, who are the respectable and friendly face of the company.
Our Verdict
Scala Hosting is an excellent choice for sites of all sizes. Scalable, quick, and versatile, the in-house built platform provides tremendous value for experienced and new VPS users alike.
4. Hostinger
Hostinger is a wise choice for less demanding projects with a tight hosting budget.
• Very affordable
• 30 days money-back guarantee
• Full root access
Hostinger Hardware & Features
Hostinger is packed with the best VPS hosting features for a budget-friendly price.
Choosing Hostinger means getting the latest NVMe SSD storage and AMD EPYC processors for fast and responsive performance. Additionally, it has enhanced security with an AI firewall system that analyzes network traffic and blocks cyberattacks.
The platform won’t try to wow you with powerful plans. As one of the cheapest shared hosting services, its most expensive offer gives you 8 vCPU cores, 32Gb RAM, and an 8 TB bandwidth for only $21.99 per month.
In contrast, the lowest-tiered hosting plan is only $5.99 monthly, and you’ll also get a 54% discount on your first subscription.
Simply put, the incredibly low prices are the company’s main selling point.
The devil is in the details, though. The seemingly amazing $21.99/mo could possibly bump your bill to a hundred after the initial subscription period. Users should be careful about what they’re being charged with.
Hostinger Support
For technical support, Hostinger has two options. The platform provides an AI assistant for queries that need fast answers.
In addition, Hostinger claims a dedicated team is available 24/7 to help you. However, this feature is only for existing clients. When tested, the platform’s email ‘help desk’ responses weren’t impressive. You might be better off using AI or searching for solutions online.
Our Verdict:
Hostinger’s lowest-tiered hosting plan is less than $10 a month, and you can even get a sizable discount on your first subscription. Even with this budget-friendly price, the platform still gives you a good feel of how VPS hosting works. It’s best for low-demanding projects that don’t rely on technical support.
5. Bluehost
Bluehost offers you three plans with the Ultimate pack including 4 cores, 8GB RAM and 120GB SSD storage space.
• Experienced in WordPress
• Free SSL certificate
• 30-day money-back
Another one of EIG’s prized possessions, Bluehost ranks just after HostGator in terms of market share. Standing proud at 2.26%, the Utah-based provider powers over 2 million websites.
BlueHost has been operating on the shared hosting market since 2003, but it wasn’t until 2013 that it added VPS and Dedicated hosting to its list of offerings.
So, were the last six years enough time for the provider to excel in the virtual server market?
Let’s have a look.
1. Bluehost Hardware & Features
Just as HostGator (and every other EIG spawn), Bluehost is not very keen on providing a rich feature set or a big bundle of extra goodies. When you are that big, you let your name work its magic and bring in new clients.
A typical case of quantity over quality.
As you can see, the plans are deceivingly similar to the HostGator VPS deals (what a surprise, huh). The only major difference comes with space allocation on the most expensive plan — while HG offers 240GB, Bluehost caps at only 120GB.
At least it uses SSD instead of HDD, so you can expect a much faster performance.
What else can you expect from your VPS package?
Not much, really. Apart from the free domain and SSL certificate, everything else is either paid or unavailable. The company terms reveal that even backups are entirely up to the client, and the host cannot be held responsible for any loss of content.
How reassuring…
2. Bluehost Support
There isn’t much good to say about the EIG…pardon…Bluehost support. Time and time again, I enter their chat with a clear mind, trying to objectively test them, even with newbie-level questions.
I suffer a bitter disappointment on every occasion.
The operator never reads or comprehends what you are saying. Instead, they utilize a limited set of replies and links, no matter how relevant.
On the bright side, Bluehost’s lack of adequate assistance can easily push a customer towards self-help guides and tutorials. There are plenty you can make use of so you don’t have to rely on support unless there is a server issue outside your control.
Our Verdict
Even though Bluehost holds a large chunk of the shared hosting market, it can’t compete with the best VPS hosting providers. It might be simplified and comprehensive enough for first-time virtual server users, but in the long run, it’s neither cheap nor powerful enough.
This completes our top 11 choices for the best VPS hosting provider.
6. 20i
20i Managed Hosting stands out as a top choice for high-performance, multi-platform cloud VPS hosting. With over 60 global data center locations, the service includes free website & server-level monitoring, email, SSL, backups, DNS control, CDN, and more built-in, all managed through their user-friendly My20i Control Panel. Developers are well catered for, with offerings such as a PHP version switcher, Git version control, Redis and ElasticSearch. 20i’s commitment to green hosting and 24×7 onsite technical support adds to its appeal.
• Multi-cloud VPS hosting
• No hardware maintenance
• Expert support 24×7
7. HostGator
HostGator offers you three fixed VPS plans. The highest-end package includes 4 cores, 8 GB of RAM, and 240GB HDD space.
• Multiple layers of security
• Full root access
• Free website templates
HostGator is probably the biggest hosting company acquisition of tech holding Endurance International Group (EIG). Valued at $300 million at the time of sale in 2012, this move was just the first of many that included similar companies.
Today HostGator is still one of the biggest players on the hosting market. In fact, it holds the #4 spot, preceded only by GoDaddy, Amazon AWS, and 1&1 IONOS.
Still, shared hosting clients are HG’s biggest asset. Can we expect proper care and quality on the VPS hosting servers as well?
Let’s have a look.
1. HostGator Hardware & Features
A lot of shared hosting users are understandably confused when it comes to making out the differences between shared and VPS solutions, especially if the time has come for an upgrade. Perhaps a few questions might help.
Are you frequently running out of system resources on the shared plan?
Do you need to access a setting which is not possible with your current permissions?
Are you in desperate need of more freedom for customization?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you should seriously consider moving up one step on the hosting ladder.
HostGator has three fixed VPS plans, but they don’t shine with a lot under the hood.
The most expensive plan, the Snappy 8000, comes with only four cores, eight gigs of RAM, and 240GB HDD space.
Not even SSD? Well, that’s a bummer.
If the prices were reasonable, maybe those plans would make sense.
But they really aren’t.
The seemingly reasonable prices can quickly turn into a nightmare when you realize this is just the introductory rate, with the renewals proving much steeper.
So HostGator is rather poor feature-wise and not that affordable. How about its customer assistance?
2. HostGator Support
One thing you need to know about EIG-owned companies is they all share their support operators. So you can forget about the personal touch and in-depth assistance.
HostGator offers help via chat, phone, email, and fax, but my previous experiences were less than impressive.
Still, I always start a new review with an open mind, so it was time for a new test.
I would like to say HostGator has been improving, I really do. But sadly, it seems some things will never change. My operator was rather slow and struggled even with the most straightforward questions.
Here’s an example:
Me: Do you have SSD on your VPS servers? (a simple yes/no question)
*two minutes of silence*
Operator: As I understand you want to know if there is SSD on your VPS hosting services. I would be glad to help you with that. (basically repeating my question).
*five more minutes of silence*
Me: Soooo…?
Operator: We offer SSD storage on our Dedicated Servers
*the operator pushes me a link to their DS deals*
So I spent about 10 minutes with a single yes/no question only to be pushed some irrelevant link for a service I never mentioned.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Our Verdict
Hostgator might have millions of clients on shared servers, but when it comes to the best VPS hosting providers, the HG services are not up to par. Bare-bone accounts with a handful of features and dubious support backing — you wouldn’t have to look hard to find a better deal.
8. Hostwinds
Hostwinds offers both managed and unmanaged services on Linux and Windows operating systems. The entry-level VPS deals guarantee 1 CPU core, 1GB RAM, and 30GB SSD space.
• Extremely affordable plans
• Highly scalable
• Full server management
For almost a decade, Hostwinds has been providing all types of hosting services — shared, business, VPS, cloud, dedicated, reseller. The company headquarters are in Seattle, WA, with three data centers in the US and Europe.
When it comes to VPS solutions, Hostwinds likes to appeal to every need — you can find both managed and unmanaged services on Linux and Windows operating systems.
So the host has its bases covered, but does it have what it takes to secure the match?
1. Hostwinds Hardware & Features
The best thing about Hostwinds is undoubtedly its accessibility.
Whether you are merely looking for a cheap VPS server or have a resource-hungry project in need of a lot of processing power — you can find something suitable here.
Let’s say you’ve only tried shared hosting before. Your website is outgrowing its current home and you are ready for the next step. But a virtual server is an entirely new experience and often substantially more expensive.
Hostwinds makes it effortless to do the switch.
The entry-level VPS deals give you 1 CPU core, 1GB RAM, and 30GB SSD space to play around with.
The best thing is:
The package comes at just $5.17/mo with the introductory discount, a price most hosts can’t match even on a shared environment.
But what if you are at the other end of the spectrum?
What if you have a big project with an elaborate setup?
How does 16 CPU cores, 96GB RAM, and 750GB SSD space sound?
Impressive, I know!
You can be sure you’ll always get a bunch of things with Hostwinds — SSD storage space, free website transfer, an enterprise firewall.
Not much, but enough to get you going.
2. Hostwinds Support
Hostwinds is not shy when it comes to helping a client in need. You can find a helping hand via live chat, phone, email, and support tickets. In fact, it’s incredibly easy to contact support, as the chat window kept popping up while I was browsing the host’s site.
Alright, let’s give it a go.
It was quite refreshing to get a polite operator who wasn’t in a hurry to finish the conversation. We had a nice, long chat about the possibilities I had with the new VPS environment and how I should proceed once my project started to grow.
It was easy trusting them at this point.
The online reviews were not as flattering as I expected, though. One common issue that seems to arise occasionally concerns the company’s billing policies. More than a few clients seem to have had troubles with their cancellation requests, refunds, and hidden charges popping up on their credit card bill.
That’s one thing you can easily miss in a sales conversation, so keep it in the back of your mind when starting a new venture with Hostwinds.
Our Verdict
HW is a provider of both Linux and Windows VPS hosting, and that’s just one example of how versatile the company is. This is also the best VPS hosting in terms of scalability options. Adding up to 96GB RAM seems like an unreachable bar for the other hosts.
As long as you don’t jump headfirst and try the service before committing with Hostwinds long-term, you should be absolutely safe on their virtual servers.
9. Liquid Web
Each Liquid Web account comes with free CDN, a dedicated IP address, integrated firewall and advanced security, and DDoS protection. Moreover, the company offers 100% network and power SLA guarantees.
• Fully managed solutions
• Top-notch support
• Easy scalability
Here is one company that is all about the personal touch.
Liquid Web started as a shared provider but soon realized that, with so many clients, it would be hard to provide adequate assistance for everyone. So it decided to focus on high-end VPS, Cloud, and Dedicated services.
Today Liquid Web provides upkeep and maintenance for over 30,000 clients in 130+ countries. The company utilizes about 250 engineers, administrators, developers, and support operators to make right on its promises.
1. Liquid Web Hardware & Features
Liquid Web’s VPS services take the best of two worlds — the server power of a dedicated solution and the freedom of customization associated with any good cloud service.
Even the starter VPS package comes with 2CPU cores, 2GB RAM, and 40GB SSD storage, which is quite a lot. The bandwidth cap is even higher, with 10TB set as a monthly limit on all plans.
Feature-wise things are only getting better.
Each account comes with a ton of goodies for both small and large-scale projects. Just imagine — free CDN, a dedicated IP address, integrated firewall and advanced security, DDoS protection — you have it all with Liquid Web.
But wait, there’s more…
The company is so confident in its services that it boldly offers a 100% network and power SLA guarantees.
And then there is root access.
I get how this can be a good selling point, but here is something to consider. The whole idea of a Managed VPS service is that the provider’s staff will be doing all the tinkering.
After all, they know best how the system works, right?
If you give root access to the client, they can also make changes to the server, and the whole thing becomes a mess.
That defies the whole point of a managed server — you are paying more to get this extra support. So why not leave the technicalities to your host and just supervise the results?
Speaking of support, let’s see how well Liquid Web ranks among some of the best VPS hosting providers out there.
2. Liquid Web Support
When in need of assistance, Liquid Web is always there.
Like, literally always.
The company advertises 24/7/365 support via phone, live chat, and email, and as far as my tests went, they are determined to keep that promise.
I tried the chat assistance on a few occasions, at a different time of day, and my impressions were extremely positive.
The operators were very kind and helpful, always ready to get into details when a certain reply wasn’t clear enough.
No wonder the Liquid Web website praises them as “the most helpful humans in hosting.”
Our Verdict
Liquid Web might not be the best VPS web host for startups, but if you can afford the monthly bill and you like a fully customizable, feature-packed environment — you should definitely give it a go.
10. A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting has four data centers in the US, Europe, and Asia that deliver lightning-fast speeds.
• Two free dedicated IPs
• Solid State Drive speed boost
• Free SSL certificate
Ever wondered what the “A2” in A2 Hosting stands for?
As it turns out, CEO Bryan Muthig was so proud of his hometown, Ann Arbor, MI, he decided to name his startup hosting-business after it.
Another wink to his birthplace, also known as The Tree Town, is the fact that A2 is very keen on green initiatives, battling climate change and helping with reforestation.
That’s all praiseworthy, but do the services match the expectations?
1. A2 Hosting Hardware & Features
A2 Hosting makes use of 4 data centers, strategically spread across the globe — Michigan and Arizona in the US, Amsterdam in Europe, and Singapore in Asia. This way, wherever your customers are, they will still get optimal load speeds.
Speaking of speeds, this is something this VPS provider takes very seriously. From the free SSD boost options to their paid Turbo feature — making your web projects lightning-fast is a prime mission for A2.
One thing that really stands apart is that, in addition to Windows and Linux VPS hosting, you can choose from Unmanaged, Managed, and Core VPS services.
The list of free extras coming with each account is quite impressive as well.
SSL certificates, Cloudflare CDN, dedicated IPs, site migration, firewall, DDoS protection — and you are not paying a dime for anything.
The plans are reasonably priced, starting from $32.99/mo with the introductory discount. That being said, your room for growth is rather limited. Even with the most powerful package, you are still looking at a virtual private server with just 8 CPU cores and 8GB RAM.
And then there is the question of support — how safe do you feel in A2 Hosting’s hands?
2. A2 Hosting Support
It’s not always fast and easy to find the A2 support via the live chat, but when you do — you’ll quickly forget that inconvenience.
I brought up certain technicalities in a couple of pre-sales conversations, and the operator was always competent and up for the task.
Apart from the live chat, you can always count on support tickets for advanced technical queries.
Looking around the knowledge base, things appear to be a bit barren. I guess that’s somewhat understandable, as A2 is not a particularly famous provider with a large community.
Our Verdict
What makes A2 Hosting one of the best VPS hosting companies is the balance of its offerings. While the accounts are not supercharged with a lot of resources, they are affordable and prove good value for the money.
Nothing too flashy or too forgettable — just the right amount of hosting magic!
11. Media Temple
Media Temple offers you six distinct VPS packages with a base plan that includes 2GB RAM, 30GB SSD storage and 2TB bandwidth.
• Wide range of server plans
• Tech support over chat
• High-end infrastructure
Media Temple started as Intergress Technologies back in 1998, the early days of the hosting industry. Founder Demian Sellfors had a design background, and that had a strong impact on the decision to choose a specific niche — B2B internet services.
Tech leader GoDaddy acquired Media Temple in 2013 in a mutually beneficial deal. GD added more insight on developer and designer-oriented services, while MT got a much-needed cash stream.
So did Media Temple retain its positive reputation after the GoDaddy switch?
Let’s dig a bit deeper in their VPS deals.
1. Media Temple Hardware & Features
One thing Media Temple certainly doesn’t lack is versatility. There are six distinct VPS packages:
The plans are pretty robust, especially for a low-demanding project, but there isn’t much you can do to scale your resources. Let’s say you choose the Level 1 plan.
You get:
- 2GB RAM
- 30GB SSD storage
- 2TB bandwidth
At some point, you may realize you are quickly running out of RAM while other resources are way below their cap. Naturally, your best bet would be to simply pay for some extra RAM and continue growing.
With Media Temple, you don’t have that option — you can only upgrade to the next level plan.
At a glance, the provider seems mainly focused on perfecting its hardware instead of packing the accounts with a lot of features a client might never try.
The support operator confirmed I would be able to get a free SSL from the cPanel, but that’s about it. Even a free CDN is off the table.
Speaking of support, do Media Temple has what it takes to compete with the best VPS hosting providers?
2. Media Temple Support
Round-the-clock assistance is a standard in the hosting world, and MT makes no exception — phone, email, chat, tutorials — this host has got your back.
The chat operator was polite and on point when answering my questions. It wasn’t the fastest chat connection or conversation, but I got everything I needed, which makes me forget those minor hiccups.
VPS hosting reviews of Media Temple around the Web are not all flattering. What struck me most, though, was that most negative reviews were old and most probably outdated. MT’s customer support seems to have improved in recent years.
Overall, the support seems well-versed in the particulars, which is something you should expect from a niche-specific provider.
Our Verdict
Enterprise users are the best audience for Media Temple’s services. SMB’s can still take advantage, but the higher initial investments and limited feature set can easily be a turn-off for the small business owner.
12. FastComet
FastComet combines virtual servers and cloud computing in one hybrid of a service.
• Robust plans
• Observer proprietary monitoring
• First-class support
FastComet has been around for only a few years, but the core team does not lack hosting experience.
The long years collaborating with other providers were certainly time well-spent. The FC team already had a good idea of what worked well and what issues needed addressing.
So they got to work.
Today, more than 70 employees ensure all 50,000+ startup, medium, and enterprise projects under the FastComet belt get the excellent performance they bargained for.
1. FastComet Hardware & Features
We are not talking about any ordinary cPanel VPS hosting provider here.
FastComet combines virtual servers and cloud computing in one hybrid of a service. This means you are still getting vast customization and optimization options without relying on the confines of a single server.
Would you like to host as many websites as you wish on an SSD-powered server, ensuring their optimal performance?
Yeah, thought so.
The pricing might seem a bit high at first, but you have to consider how much you are saving with the free extras included. You can take advantage of a free domain or site transfer, free cPanel license, free Cloudflare CDN, free daily backups…
Yep, there is a lot of “free” going on with the FastComet plans.
Keeping a watchful eye on every single project is something FC takes very seriously. The company is very proud of the monitoring system Observer it developed. It is a lightweight platform which uses predictive and proactive mechanisms to keep your server healthy and secure at all times.
Sounds perfect, but will support be there for you in times of need?
2. FastComet Support
The answer to the question above is a resounding “yes!”
For starters, the host likes to keep all communication channels open — you can contact them 24/7 in a live chat, by phone, email, support tickets, whatever works best for you.
The support team’s level of knowledge is beyond amazing.
None of those templated responses and unnecessary links without the operator checking your case in detail. Such knowledge and attitude is something you don’t see every day, even from top VPS hosting providers.
To make the deal even sweeter, you have a bunch of extra guides.
FastComet’s knowledge base doesn’t look particularly rich in content until you find the list of tutorials. It gives you a selection of very useful step-by-step guides that take you through the ABC’s of hosting, domains, various applications, and whatever any starter might need.
Overall, an A+ experience.
Our Verdict
FastComet has it all — fast servers, feature-rich accounts, phenomenal support — everything you can expect from the best VPS hosting providers in 2021. The only downside to that well-rounded deal is the cost — starting from $59.99/mo, it’s not exactly a bargain, especially if you are just starting off.
13. DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean hosts client projects in 12 data centers across the world. Database management, Kubernetes containers, simple object storage, and developer tools are just a few of the benefits you’ll enjoy.
• Remarkable scalability
• Developer-friendly
• Great price
If Media Temple is more of a designer-oriented provider, DigitalOcean is the #1 choice for developers, way ahead of the competition.
DigitalOcean popped up on the hosting screen just a few years ago, in 2011, but founders Ben and Moisey Uretsky already knew what course they wanted to take. The company quickly made its name as masters of cloud technology and server provisioning.
DigitalOcean hosts client projects in 12 data centers, spread across New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt, Singapore, and Bangalore.
1. Digital Ocean Hardware & Features
DO is much more than your average hosting provider. You can expect to find database management, Kubernetes containers, simple object storage, and developer tools in the long list of offerings.
If you expect to find a page called “VPS hosting” on the company website, you better look elsewhere.
DigitalOcean’s virtual servers are called Droplets, and you have the broadest choice when it comes to resource allocation. You can find anything between
- 1 to 32 CPU cores
- 1GB to 192GB RAM
- 25GB to 3.8TB SSD space
- 1TB to 32TB monthly bandwidth
The cherry on top is the pricing structure. Aimed at a tech-friendlier audience, DigitalOcean is cutting on all unnecessary features and subsequently — monthly charges. Smallest VPS servers start at just $5/mo, which is peanuts, especially for this type of hosting service.
Five bucks for a whole month — less than a McDonald’s Happy Meal!
And that’s the regular price – renewals keep the same low rate.
Developers don’t need a lot of free stuff as long as the hardware and infrastructure are reliable enough. DigitalOcean promises 99.99% uptime guarantee, pre-defined firewalls, pre-built open source apps, and API/CLI support.
2. Digital Ocean Support
DO’s online reviews reveal mixed customer feelings. While some are overly ecstatic with the service, many are appalled by the company’s support (or lack thereof).
For starters, you can forget about phone and chat assistance — all communications go through a ticketing system.
Again, I get that.
Developers only need support when there is a server issue outside the scope of their expertise.
But, as it turns out, DO’s ticket support is not very fast and not always efficient. Some clients report waiting for over a few days for a response to a server down issue.
Now THAT is something I can’t justify.
Our Verdict
DigitalOcean has a very niche-specific set of services and doesn’t exactly cater to the wider audience. If you are a techie and know your way around virtual servers — that might be the perfect choice in terms of cost and customization. But if you often rely on support from your host and VPS hosting is terra incognita for you — much better options await.
14. InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting offers you a base plan including 4GB RAM, 75GB SSD space, and 4GB of bandwidth.
• Affordable plans
• Unlimited websites
• Free SSL certificate
InMotion Hosting is a 300+ employee company with substantial experience in the industry. Starting off in 2001, it has accumulated hundreds of thousands of happy customers and some prestigious awards from CNET and the Better Business Bureau.
InMotion might be a hosting behemoth, but is it all because of the long company experience, or is there more to it?
1. InMotion Hosting Hardware & Features
Why do clients usually choose VPS hosting?
To get faster service?
To increase their online sales?
To handle much more incoming traffic?
All of these are key goals for hosting clients, and InMotion makes sure to address them all.
The managed VPS plans pack everything needed to run a project of a formidable size. The cheapest plan comes with 4GB RAM and 75GB SSD space, as well as 4GB of bandwidth, a very cost-effective solution for SMBs.
InMotion unlocks CPU cores on its virtual servers, meaning you can evenly spread your traffic in times of high load and avoid service interruptions.
There is an added benefit for all ecommerce shops in need of hosting. The virtual servers are tweaked to provide optimal performance for some of the most popular shopping carts — Magento, WooCommerce, OpenCart, PrestaShop, and more.
Price-wise, there is a noticeable difference between introductory and renewal deals. So if InMotion looks like the host for you, you better prepay for a longer period and secure the lower price. Moreover, if you are running a WordPress website, you’ll be happy to know that InMotion is also one of the best WordPress hosting providers on the market.
It is practically a risk-free experience, as there is a 90-day money-back guarantee.
2. InMotion Hosting Support
InMotion Hosting does not seem to support ticketing, but they try to keep pretty much every other communication channel open. We are talking about phone support, live chat, emails, knowledge base, and community support.
My past experiences with chat support had always been a hit or a miss. This time, unfortunately, it was another miss.
Even though my operator was reasonably competent, the whole conversation felt rather awkward. It felt like I was a teacher who gave a surprise pop quiz, and the company rep was a student desperately trying to remember the lesson he learned by heart.
The tutorial base is quite extensive but still accessible for a novice user to get around.
I thoroughly enjoyed the section with web hosting infographics, an excellent method to visually represent complex technical terms.
Our Verdict
InMotion Hosting is a versatile host that likes to cater to small companies and large enterprises alike, ensuring a cost-effective service with an optimized setup for ecommerce users. While support can be a little frustrating at times, there are enough additional resources to keep you in the loop.
How To Choose The Best VPS Hosting Provider?
How did we shortlist the top choices for the best VPS hosting provider?
If you want to rely on your own unbiased opinion, here are a few things to consider before you choose your VPS host.
- RAM — operating memory is just as essential for your server as it is for your personal computer. More RAM on your machine means your website will load faster and perform better.
- CPU cores — another performance booster, CPU speeds things up when your site loads. It’s often intertwined with the amount of RAM on the server. Make sure to check if the host shares the CPU processing power or dedicates it to your VPS hosting account.
- Bandwidth — this represents your monthly traffic consumption, the amount of data that passes between your website and its visitors. Many hosting providers like to advertise unlimited/unmetered bandwidth caps. However, this often means you will run out of other resources (like RAM and CPU) long before you gain massive traffic.
- Disk space — as your website expands, so does the need for more space. SSD storage is gradually becoming an industry-standard because of its superior read/write speeds and reliability.
- Uptime — this one is a no-brainer. Downtime can result in severe financial losses and even bring a business down. Make sure your new VPS hosting provider is known for its dependability and perfect uptime.
- Dedicated IP — sharing an IP address with other users or reusing old IPs brings many outside risks to your website. Having your own IP comes with increased stability and security. Furthermore, this feature is essential for adding other extras, like an SSL certificate.
- Scalability — having your own VPS server comes with certain perks, and one of them is definitely scalability. Adding the right amount of resources as your website grows will give you great customization freedom without going hard on your monthly bill.
- Datacenter locations — many web projects target an international audience, so you need to ensure your new VPS host has reliable worldwide coverage. The closer you are to most of your visitors, the better user experience you can deliver.
- Security — one of your top priorities. You can have the most amazing and most popular website, but there isn’t much point to your excellent metrics if anyone can breach the site and make a mess. Check what security measures your potential host applies on its VPS servers and see if it has any additional options to make your website impenetrable.
- Support — the best VPS hosting providers will also have the best support to back up their clients. Even if you are a website building guru, chances are you will need assistance at some point. Strong confidence at the support level of your host is a must.
Conclusion
Seems like a lot to take in, but don’t worry — it’s easier than it looks once you understand the basics.
Is shared hosting different than VPS hosting? Yes, it is.
How is it different? Fewer clients on the server, more dedicated resources, and increased freedom.
How to choose my VPS plan? Check your current resource consumption and add some growth room.
From there on, it’s a matter of specific project needs and personal preferences.
This should cover just about everything to get your website on the road to fame and fortune.
Think something is missing? Let me know, and I will be glad to enrich this guide.
FAQs
Is VPS better than shared hosting?
In many ways — yes. While the setup and infrastructure seem deceptively similar, there are significantly fewer clients on a VPS. The fewer people on a server there are — the more resources and better security for everyone.
Furthermore, there are significantly fewer limitations on a VPS environment, and you can easily add additional processing power as your project grows. There is no scalability in a shared environment — if you hit the limits, you must upgrade.What is KVM hosting?
KVM stands for keyboard-video-mouse and outlines a type of server virtualization and management. KVM makes a standard VPS server feel and operate as a dedicated server. The client is completely isolated from others on the same machine and uses their own amount of processing power.
Do I need VPS hosting?
If you are just starting out with a new project, a VPS plan might be an overkill. You can try a reliable shared hosting package first and upgrade to VPS when you outgrow its confines. It’s best to check your current resource consumption beforehand and consult with your potential provider about the best plan to start with.
How much is VPS hosting?
Prices can vary considerably between hosts, but the best VPS hosting providers will keep a good ratio between price and resources. You can easily find offers for less than $10/mo, but if you need something more powerful, be prepared to invest at least $30-$40/mo.
By Raj Vardhman
Raj Vardhman is a tech expert and the Chief Tech Strategist at TechJury.net, where he leads the research-driven analysis and testing of various technology products and services. Raj has extensive tech industry experience and contributed to various software, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence publications. With his insights and expertise in emerging technologies, Raj aims to help businesses and individuals make informed decisions regarding utilizing technology. When he's not working, he enjoys reading about the latest tech advancements and spending time with his family.