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When you create a business website, the actual design is only part of the process. You also need a hosting provider to actually put your website online, where customers can find it. A virtual private server (VPS) is one type of hosting option. Although VPS hosting costs more than shared hosting, it tends to be more stable, faster and scalable.

We researched the best VPS hosting services, comparing them on value, features, reputation and customer service. Below, we highlight our top picks. With this information, you can find the fitting VPS hosting service for your business.

Best VPS hosting services

Why trust our small business experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 13 companies reviewed.
  • 1,851 data points analyzed.
  • 100+ hours of research.

Best VPS hosting services comparison

LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLANUNLIMITED BANDWIDTHSTORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDED24/7 LIVE CHAT
$39.00Yes80 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$39.00
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHYes
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)80 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$16.99Yes40 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$16.99
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHYes
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)40 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$2.00No10 GBNoYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$2.00
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHNo
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)10 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDNo
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$91.99Yes120 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$91.99
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHYes
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)120 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$49.95Yes50 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$49.95
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHYes
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)50 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$26.33Yes30 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$26.33
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHYes
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)30 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$59.00No40 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$59.00
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHNo
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)40 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$13.99No50 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$13.99
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHNo
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)50 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$6.00No30 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$6.00
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHNo
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)30 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes
$36.99 billed annuallyYes120 GBYesYes
LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN$36.99 billed annually
UNLIMITED BANDWIDTHYes
STORAGE LIMIT (FOR LOWEST-PRICED MONTHLY PLAN)120 GB
AUTOMATIC BACKUPS INCLUDEDYes
24/7 LIVE CHATYes

Methodology

We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.

We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the best VPS hosting services of 2024.

Expert score (10%): Each provider we surveyed was assigned an expert score based on four main criteria: features, value for money, reputation and ease of use. Each of these categories was weighted equally and ranked numerically from “terrible” to “excellent” to determine a quantitative score.

Value (32%): The first thing our research team checked when determining value was whether pricing was publicly available for a given provider. For business owners trying to budget, knowing costs upfront is a must. We also assessed whether there was a free trial available (rarely the case for VPS hosting services). We then looked at actual prices, considering monthly, annual, biennial and tri-annual plan costs, as available.

Features (47%): Based on our research, we determined a number of core features to compare VPS hosting services on, including storage and bandwidth limits, cPanel availability and security features like automatic backups and SSL certificates.

We also considered assets that would make life easier for small business owners, like a free business email, free domain name and website builder. Since WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used to build websites, we also considered whether one-click WordPress installation was offered.

Finally, we looked at extras like the presence of a content delivery network (CDN), which improves speed and security and free domain name privacy, which can help protect the personal identities of website owners. Uptime guarantee, which determines how reliably the server will be online, was another consideration.

Service and support (8%): If something is amiss with your website’s hosting, you want to know who you can turn to for help. We looked at the service and support options and availability for each provider surveyed. First, we checked if a self-help knowledge base (with resources like video tutorials and written guides) was available. We then looked for three unique support options: live chat, phone and email.

Customer reviews (3%): When comparing tech products of any kind, it’s worth seeing what real-world users are saying in reviews and ratings forums. Popular platforms for user feedback include Capterra, G2 and Trustpilot. For our research, we looked at Trustpilot ratings, prioritizing providers with a 3.5 rating or higher.

What is VPS hosting, and how does it work?

A VPS is a type of hosting provider that stores the software and data needed to run a website, ensuring it can be found by potential customers online. VPS is an alternative to shared hosting. With shared hosting, you share resources, like storage space and memory, with other users on the server. 

With a VPS, you’re still sharing a physical server with other users, but you get your own resources.

Benefits of VPS hosting

VPS hosting may be more costly than shared hosting. However, there are a few advantages of VPS hosting that can make it a worthy investment, including:

  • Speed: With a VPS server, you generally get greater bandwidth (and, in some cases, memory), which can mean speedier site loading.
  • Reliability: A VPS hosting account won’t be impacted by other site traffic to the server, giving you greater reliability and control.
  • Scalability: VPS hosting generally allows for greater flexibility. As your business grows, you can scale up your web presence accordingly.

How to choose the best VPS hosting service

There are many VPS hosting service providers to choose from. On top of that, each provider has different types of VPS hosting plans to compare as well. Below are some essential features we suggest focusing on, as well as some add-ons and extras you may want to look for on top of the basics.

Key features to look for

There are a few critical considerations you should always keep in mind when selecting a VPS hosting service. Here’s a quick guide on what to know:

  • Sufficient storage space: You want enough storage to hold all the code, photos and videos of your website. For context, 100 GB is about 100,000 high-quality photos.
  • Unlimited bandwidth: Bandwidth can influence how fast your website’s pages load. Look for unlimited bandwidth to avoid frustrating users with slow load times.
  • vCore number: vCore refers to the virtual processor cores allocated to your VPS—it’s the portion of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) you have access to. The more vCores, the more “brainpower” your VPS has, meaning improved performance.
  • cPanel: cPanel is a control panel for web hosting that simplifies site management, making it more user-friendly. In one place, it lets you do everything from checking bandwidth to organizing site files.
  • Automated backups: Backing up your website regularly can help with recovery if your site is hacked or otherwise compromised. It’s an important security feature.
  • Uptime guarantee: Reputable providers usually have an uptime guarantee of around 99%, meaning you don’t have to stress that your site will suddenly be offline.

Add-ons and extras 

The above points are essential considerations that you shouldn’t ignore when selecting the best VPS hosting service for your needs. Here are a few other perks that aren’t must-haves but are worth considering, as they can make life easier for small business owners:

  • Domain name: If you haven’t yet purchased a dedicated domain name for your business website, you may be able to save money by getting one through your VPS hosting service. Some providers include a domain name for free for at least a year.
  • Business email: A business email can make your company look more professional in official correspondence. Some providers will throw in a business email with your hosting package.
  • Website builder: A website builder makes it faster and easier to create your business website with templates or tools like artificial intelligence (AI) to write content. This is an add-on feature you may have to pay extra for.

Customer service

If your business website is offline, you risk losing potential customers. It’s thus essential that your VPS hosting provider has a reliable customer service time you can consult in case of tech glitches or other issues. 

In our research, we found that most hosting providers offer 24/7 live chat as a bare minimum, with some also providing 24/7 telephone chat. Access to a customer support email and an online knowledge base are also standard. We’d advise against any provider that doesn’t have at least 24/7 live chat support.

How much does VPS hosting cost?

PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
$39.00$39.00$39.00$39.0030 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$39.00
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$39.00
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)$39.00
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)$39.00
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$16.99$14.99$14.99$14.9930 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$16.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$14.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)$14.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)$14.99
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$2.00N/AN/AN/A30 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$2.00
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$91.99$85.99$81.99$81.9930 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$91.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$85.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)$81.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)$81.99
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$49.95$49.95N/A$49.9530 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$49.95
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$49.95
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)$49.95
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$26.33$26.78N/AN/A30 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$26.33
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$26.78
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$59.00$44.84$20.06N/A30 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$59.00
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$44.84
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)$20.06
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$13.99$8.49$7.99N/A30 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$13.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$8.49
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)$7.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
$6.00N/AN/AN/A30 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)$6.00
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days
N/A$85.99N/A$81.9930 days
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (MONTHLY BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (ANNUAL BILLING)$85.99
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (BIENNIAL BILLING)N/A
PLAN MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION COST (TRIENNIAL BILLING)$81.99
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE30 days

The VPS hosting services we researched ranged from less than $5 to nearly $100 per month. Given the range of prices, it’s important to do your research to determine exactly what each provider and plan will give you. In general, more affordable options will probably be more limited in terms of features and functionality. For example, the cheapest provider on our list, IONOS, has a plan for less than $5 per month but comes with only one vCore. 

Some providers offer reduced rates if you sign up for a longer-term plan, say 12, 24, or 36 months. This can be one way to save money on your VPS hosting services. In general, you don’t want to pay for extra features that you don’t need. For example, higher-tier plans may provide coverage for multiple websites. If you only have one website to run, it’s not worth paying extra for more. 

Focus on the essentials first, like storage, bandwidth and security features, like SSL certificates. You can then consider the “nice to have” add-ons you’re willing to pay more for, like domain privacy.

What we don’t recommend

When selecting a VPS hosting service, we strongly suggest reading the fine print of the specific plan you are signing up for. More affordable, lower-tier plans may have limited functionality than higher-tier plans. For example, a lower-tier plan may come with less storage and bandwidth.

Additionally, beware of sign-up discounts that renew at a higher annual rate. Some providers may have an introductory offer that takes as much as 40% off the standard rate. When the plan renews, your costs for VPS hosting will increase to the standard rate. While a starter rate can still be a great way to save money initially, you want to note such price jumps for future business budgeting.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Hosting providers have servers that store website data, from code to media elements and enable online access. VPS is one type of hosting service in which users of the hosting provider share a single physical server, but each has their own set of specified resources, like storage space, memory and CPU. This makes VPS unique from shared hosting services, in which users of the hosting provider share not only the physical server but also these resources.

Theoretically, a VPS can host an unlimited number of websites. However, there are resource restraints placed on a single VPS account, such as RAM and CPU limits. With this in mind, some providers limit the number of websites a single VPS can host. For example, a less expensive, limited resource plan may allow for only one website, while a costlier, more resource-rich plan may allow for two or more.

One major drawback of VPS hosting is that it’s more expensive than shared hosting. For small businesses on a budget, this can make shared hosting a more favorable option. Managing a VPS server also requires more technical knowledge and regular maintenance. If you lack this technical expertise, your business website may be exposed to security risks.

While you may be able to find free VPS hosting services, these generally have distinct drawbacks. They may require you to have ads on your website, which creates an unprofessional appearance, for example. 

Free providers may also have poor security and sub-optimal performance and generally experience more downtime. Finally, the customer support you’ll get in a free service will likely be limited.

With dedicated hosting, a single server’s resources are allocated for your business website. With VPS hosting, a portion of that single server’s resources is allocated for your business website. Those resources could include things like RAM and CPU.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Alison Kilian

BLUEPRINT

Alison Kilian has been working as a journalist and ghostwriter for over ten years. She has written for internationally recognized publications and brands, including Forbes Books, ABC News, U.S. News & World Report, and Axel Springer Media.

Sierra Campbell is a small business editor for USA Today Blueprint. She specializes in writing, editing and fact-checking content centered around helping businesses. She has worked as a digital content and show producer for several local TV stations, an editor for U.S. News & World Report and a freelance writer and editor for many companies. Sierra prides herself in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to readers. Her expertise includes credit card processing companies, e-commerce platforms, payroll software, accounting software and virtual private networks (VPNs). She also owns Editing by Sierra, where she offers editing services to writers of all backgrounds, including self-published and traditionally published authors.