Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.
Want to get right to the point? Our top pick for the best VPS hosting services is definitely Hostinger.
VPS (virtual private server) hosting takes your websites to the next level.
New and smaller websites typically use shared hosting — which means you share an entire server with other websites. It’s affordable but it limits how much your site can scale as your business grows.
With VPS hosting, you’re still sharing a physical server with other websites, but you have dedicated resources like RAM and CPU reserved for your site on a virtual server all to yourself.
This allows your website to grow and accommodate more traffic.
After extensive research and personal hosting experience, we’ve narrowed down the top VPS web hosting services on the market today.
In this article, we give you an in-depth review of each one and share our methodology for finding the best VPS hosting provider for your next website.
Hostinger
Cheapest VPS Hosting
Get the benefits of VPS hosting at shared hosting prices with plans starting as low as $3.95 per month for one CPU core, 1 GB of RAM, 20 GB of storage space, and 1 TB of bandwidth. Includes dedicated IP addresses, top-level data backups, and dedicated 24/7 live chat customer support.
The 8 Best VPS Hosting Options to Consider:
- Hostinger – Most budget-friendly VPS hosting
- Bluehost – Most feature-rich VPS hosting service
- DreamHost – Best for unlimited bandwidth
- Liquid Web – Best for managed VPS hosting
- HostGator – Most scalable VPS hosting service
- A2 Hosting – Best VPS hosting for developers
- InMotion – Best VPS hosting for migrations
- HostPapa – Best VPS hosting for enterprises
#1 – Hostinger Review – The Most Budget-Friendly VPS Hosting Services
Hostinger
Cheapest VPS Hosting
Get the benefits of VPS hosting at shared hosting prices with plans starting as low as $3.95 per month for one CPU core, 1 GB of RAM, 20 GB of storage space, and 1 TB of bandwidth. Includes dedicated IP addresses, top-level data backups, and dedicated 24/7 live chat customer support.
If you need higher performance and advanced features without the expensive price tag, Hostinger is an excellent choice.
With VPS hosting plans starting at just $3.95 per month, it’s the cheapest option on this list. Plus, even the lowest tier comes with advanced features like dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 internet protocols, dedicated customer support, and top-level data backups.
With other hosts, you’ll find yourself paying a lot more for those features, so you’re getting a ton of bang for your buck.
The introductory plan also includes:
- 1 CPU core
- 1 GB of RAM
- 20 GB of SSD storage space
- 1 TB of bandwidth
- Full root access
- Unrestricted 100 Mb/s connections
So, even at $3.95 per month, you get the powerful benefits of VPS hosting at shared-hosting prices.
Need more bandwidth, cores, RAM, or storage space than that?
No problem! You can easily upgrade to various other VPS hosting plans ranging in price from $8.95 per month to $38.99 per month, depending on what you need.
Plus, you can install a wide range of operating systems and you get unparalleled control of your dedicated resources.
All without paying a kidney (and maybe a leg, too).
Hostinger also offers Window’s-specific cloud-based VPS hosting plans as well, with plans starting at $26 per month. The introductory plan includes 2 GB of RAM, 50 GB of storage, 4 CPU cores, and 4 TB of bandwidth.
#2 – Bluehost Review — The Best Features For VPS Hosting
Bluehost
Best VPS Hosting Features
Trusted by 2+ million websites. Free domain registration, multi-server management, and advanced file management included. VPS plans start at $19.99 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bluehost is our top overall recommendation for shared web hosting. However, they also offer excellent VPS web hosting as well.
More than two million websites across the globe trust Bluehost for web hosting, making it one of the most well known and popular names in the industry—and for good reason.
Bluehost offers one free year of domain registration with all new VPS plans.
Plus, you also get award-winning 24/7 support via phone and live chat for the duration of your subscription.
They currently offer three different VPS plans, including:
All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Which… isn’t quite as good as InMotion’s promise, but one month is still better than nothing.
You can try it out and see what you think before committing to the full length of your contract.
Compared to some of the other web hosting providers on the market, Bluehost really stands out in terms of standard features included with its VPS plans.
As such, each plan includes:
- Multi-server management
- Access control
- Advanced file management
- SSH access
- Server-side customization for cron jobs
- .htaccess files
Furthermore, you can edit, organize, and manage databases directly on the server as well.
You can also opt for various add-ons including additional storage and extra protection if you’re interested in those features, as well. However, this is probably overkill for most users.
So, if you’re currently on one of Bluehost’s shared plans, stick with them when you’re ready to upgrade to a better hosting plan.
It’s much easier than switching providers.
#3 – DreamHost Review — The Best For Unlimited Bandwidth
DreamHost
Best For Unlimited Bandwidth
Starting at $10 per month. Fully managed VPS service trusted by 1.5+ million websites. 100% uptime guarantee.
DreamHost is a well-known name in the world of web hosting. With over 20 years of hosting experience, DreamHost powers 1.5+ million websites in more than 100+ countries.
If you’re in the United States, DreamHost has US-based virtual private servers.
Plus, it’s a fully managed VPS service with a wide range of plans to accommodate sites of varying shapes and sizes.
It’s one of the cheapest VPS plans that you’ll find on the market, with three-year contracts starting at $10 per month. However, most users need more than 1 GB of storage, so it may not work for you.
As such, I recommend the VPS Business plan at a minimum.
VPS Professional gives you the best value but you can always upgrade at a later time if you need to.
On top of that, every Dreamhost VPS hosting plan includes unlimited bandwidth and site traffic, so you don’t have to worry about outgrowing your plan.
Furthermore, it’s easy to expand RAM and storage space based on your needs. Plus, each plan includes a ton of extras, like:
- SSL
- SSDs
- Unlimited domains
With DreamHost, getting started is a breeze. They offer quick setups with simple management and a custom control panel that’s simple for anyone to use while providing robust and powerful control.
You’ll also benefit from DreamHost’s 100% uptime guarantee.
Furthermore, there’s no shortage of advanced VPS features like automatic software updates, the ability to choose between Apache or Nginx, unlimited SFTP users, and plenty of other developer-friendly capabilities.
Plus, their support team is available 24/7 to help you out when you need it.
#4 – Liquid Web Review — The Best For Managed VPS Hosting
Liquid Web
Best Managed VPS Service
VPS Linux hosting starting at $59 per month. Choose a Linux or Windows server. Excellent customer support 24/7/365.
Liquid Web is a little more obscure — but they offer fantastic VPS hosting. Most people haven’t heard of Liquid Web because it’s not for beginners since they don’t offer any basic shared hosting options.
All of Liquid Web’s services are related to managed VPS hosting and dedicated servers.
With a Liquid Web VPS, you’ll benefit from the power of a dedicated server, but with the flexibility of a cloud hosting plan.
You’ll have the option to choose between a Linux or Windows server when you sign up for VPS hosting through this provider. Here’s an overview of the Linux server plans and prices:
While these prices may seem high compared to some of the other options on this list, Liquid Web doesn’t spike your rates upon renewal.
If you’re interested in a Windows server, rates range from $99 to $159 per month, depending on how much RAM you need.
All Liquid Web VPS plans include a dedicated IP, CloudFlare CDN, advanced server security, integrated firewall, root access, and DDoS attack protection.
These servers are easy to scale as well, whether you need to upgrade or downgrade your resources.
Unfortunately, Liquid Web does not offer any free trials. But I’d be surprised if you were unsatisfied with the service.
And you have access to phone, email, and live chat support 24/7/365 if you ever need assistance, regardless of when you need help.
#5 – HostGator Review — The Best VPS For Scalability
HostGator
Best For Scalability
VPS plans starting at $19.95 per month. Customized hosting environment. Scale server resources on-demand. Automatic backups.
HostGator also ranks high on our list of the best overall web hosting services. In addition to being one of the most reputable and reliable shared hosting providers on the market, HostGator has excellent VPS hosting plans as well.
For those of you currently on a HostGator shared plan, you can upgrade to a HostGator VPS as your site grows.
With a virtual private server from HostGator, you’ll have full root access and complete control of your hosting needs. Create a customized hosting environment with custom installs and configuration.
One of the best parts about a HostGator VPS is that scales with you as your needs change. With just one click, you can add resources to accommodate traffic growth. So you’ll never pay for more server resources than you actually need.
If you’re willing to commit to a long-term contract, you can lock in low promotional rates from HostGator:
To get the lowest possible rates, you’ll need to sign up for a 36-month contract. Unfortunately, those prices do spike quite a bit upon renewal. So if you know that you want to use HostGator, it’s in your best interest to get those lower prices for as long as possible.
HostGator provides you with a full suite web development tools, a powerful script installer, and 1,000+ free site templates.
You’ll also benefit from automatic off-site backups every week. This helps ensure that your data remains safe.
HostGator has award-winning customer support. Their team of experts is available 24/7/365 via phone and live chat.
#6 – A2 Hosting Review — The Best VPS For Developers
A2 Hosting
Best VPS For Developers
Unmanaged VPS starting at $5 per month. Managed plans with optional root access starting at $25 per month. Up to 20x faster than other hosting services.
A2 Hosting is synonymous with speed. The company is known for providing the fastest web hosting services on the market today.
In addition to blazing-fast speeds, A2 Hosting is just a great web hosting service overall. Like every other service provided by A2 Hosting, the VPS plans are top of the line.
These virtual private servers are flexible in the sense that there’s an option for everyone. You can choose your A2 Hosting VPS based on the management level that best fits your needs.
While the unmanaged VPS plans start as low as $5 per month, this option is reserved for experienced developers.
Most of you will be better off with the Managed VPS or Core VPS. These are virtually identical, except the Core VPS comes with optional root access. It’s an excellent option for anyone who wants a managed service with the ability for server-level customization.
For developers, A2 Hosting makes it easy for you to completely customize your VPS with full root access. Choose the perfect amount of RAM, disk space, and data transfer that you need.
You’ll also have the option to use A2 Hosting’s Turbo Boost VPS to get page loading speeds up to 20x faster than other hosting providers.
All of the VPS servers, both managed and unmanaged, are backed by A2 Hosting’s 99.9% uptime commitment.
You’ll also have access to friendly and reliable 24/7/365 guru support. A2 Hosting offers an industry-leading “anytime” money-back guarantee, although it does come with some stipulations.
#7 – InMotion Review — The Best VPS Hosting with No-Downtime Migrations
InMotion
Best for Migrations
Fully managed VPS hosting for a hands-off hosting experience. Includes free no-downtime migrations, hands-off server management, advanced performance, optional root access, cPanel management, and free SSL certificates. Pricing starts at $29.99 per month with a 90-day money-back guarantee.
InMotion is one of the best overall web hosting companies on the market. However, if you’re switching from one host to another, it’s an excellent choice because you get free no-downtime migrations.
As such, you can easily switch providers without missing out on visitors or potential sales during the migration process.
Plus, InMotion’s servers are fast, secure, and built for high-performance, making them perfect for growing businesses, high-traffic websites, agencies, and resellers.
While InMotion offers both managed VPS hosting and self-managed VPS plans, its fully managed services are a standout option versus the other choices on this list.
Will managed services, you don’t have to worry about server management on your end. InMotion’s team of experts will take care of patches, updates, and security so you can focus on other aspects of running your business.
There are three managed VPS plans to choose from, including:
These rates reflect a two-year contract, which offers the best value. However, InMotion also offers one-year, six-month, and month-to-month plans at higher price points.
All managed VPS packages come with:
- Unlocked CPU cores
- Optional root access
- Unlimited websites
- Several dedicated IP addresses
- Free SSL certificates
- cPanel access
On top of that, all plans come with a 90-day money-back guarantee (one of the longest trial periods in the industry). So, you have nothing to lose.
Sign up in just a few clicks to see if InMotion is right for you today!
#8 – HostPapa Review — The Best For Enterprise-Grade VPS
HostPapa
Best Enterprise-Level VPS Hosting
VPS plans starting at $19.99 per month. Trusted by 500k+ websites. Root-level access. 30-day money-back guarantee.
More than 500,000 websites trust HostaPapa for web hosting. It’s a top VPS hosting solution for small businesses that want enterprise-level hosting at an affordable rate.
HostPapa delivers all of the power, security, and control that you could possibly ask for in a web hosting provider. You’ll benefit from scalable on-demand resources, root-level access, and high-quality support.
HostPapa’ VPS hosting services addresses the needs of all website owners. They offer self-managed hosting, managed hosting, and fully-managed VPS plans.
Here’s a general overview of the VPS plans and prices from HostPapa:
With plans as low as $19.99 per month, HostPapa fits within nearly every hosting budget. It’s also nice knowing that the rate won’t increase when your contract expires.
All HostPapa virtual private servers are optimized for ecommerce sites.
If you need more than one server, you can always launch an additional VPS directly from your dashboard, regardless of your plan level.
HostPapa uses top of the line technology. It’s a great choice for those of you launching a robust web application. With instant provisioning, your VPS will be ready within 60 seconds of your order verification.
You won’t have to worry about web security with HostPapa. Your VPS comes with monitoring tools, Lets Encrypt SSL, brute force detection, DDoS protection, RAID redundancy, FTPS, a server firewall, and an IP deny manager.
Try a HostPapa VPS risk-free for 30 days by taking advantage of the provider’s money-back guarantee.
When it Makes Sense to Invest Into VPS Hosting Services
VPS hosting isn’t for everyone.
If you’re starting a new website from scratch, shared hosting will be a better option for you 99% of the time. However, when you start experiencing problems and your website beings to suffer from poor performance, you should consider upgrading to VPS hosting services.
Why? VPS plans are more expensive for a good reason.
They’re built specifically for rapid-growth companies and websites that need more resources that can easily be scaled at a moment’s notice.
This is true whether you’re scaling now or in the future. VPS hosting services give you more flexibility and a higher ceiling for ambitious, fast-growth companies that demand enhanced performance.
Even if you’re in the 20k-30k monthly traffic, you could consider a VPS plan if you’re unhappy with the current performance of your website.
Furthermore, if you’re experiencing slow loading times and poor uptime rates because other websites on your shared server are crashing your site, it’s time to invest in VPS hosting.
Methodology For Choosing The Best VPS Hosting Service
There are certain factors that must be taken into consideration when you’re shopping around for a VPS hosting service. I’ll explain the methodology that we used to come up with providers in this guide.
You can weigh these elements against your personal needs to find the best VPS host for your website.
Performance
Whenever you’re evaluating a web hosting service, performance should be the first thing that you look at. I’m referring to things like uptime rates and speed.
If your site is slow or unavailable, what’s the point?
Every web host on our list provides reliable performance. However, some definitely excel in one category over another. For example, A2 Hosting is known for its speed.
Lots of hosts will promise a 99.9% uptime or higher. However, failure to meet that promise usually just results in a credit to your account.
With that said, it’s important to get the support you need during that 0.01% of downtime. It’s also essential to understand how easy it is to access customer support and how transparent your provider is when it comes to reporting issues and pushing out fixes.
Customer Support
Customer support is where you turn during that 0.01% of downtime.
At least that’s where you should be able to turn to. Most providers offer excellent customer support, but that’s not always the case.
Your website should work for you 24/7/365. But if you have a problem in the middle of the night, on the weekend, or during a holiday, getting ahold of your hosting provider ASAP is crucial for resolving the issue.
In many cases, you won’t have to worry about too many problems with a fully managed plan. But there are still circumstances when you’ll want to get assistance.
For those of you switching from one provider to another as you upgrade to VPS hosting, look for a host that offers free migrations.
Server Resources
The purpose of upgrading to a VPS plan is to gain access to dedicated server resources. There are four main resources that you should evaluate when you’re shopping around for VPS plans:
- CPU — The number of processing units within your server to compute information.
- RAM — The amount of memory accessible by your CPUs.
- Bandwidth — The amount of data flowing between your website and sever.
- Storage — Available space for content on your website (images, videos, landing pages, etc.).
You’ll see a wide range of options based on different plans. Consider choosing a VPS plan that makes it easy for you to scale your server resources as needed. This way, you’ll only have to pay for the resources you’re using, and you can prepare for potential traffic spikes.
For example, if you’re running a flash sale or a promotion that’s going to drive extra traffic to your site, you can ramp up your resources to maintain high performance.
Optional Root Access
VPS plans are typically offered one of two ways; managed or unmanaged. There are some hybrid options between the two, like the A2 Hosting Core VPS.
Developers and expert website administrators who want complete control and customization typically lean towards unmanaged services. These will always come with full root access.
However, some managed services also come with optional root access. This is ideal for anyone who needs a hands-off approach to web hosting, but still wants the ability to make custom changes at the server level.
If you don’t know what root access is and you don’t have a developer on your team—don’t worry about this. A fully managed VPS service will be just fine for you, with or without root access.
Long-Term Costs
When you find a VPS hosting provider you’re happy with, you’ll probably want to stick with them for the long-term. So, long-term costs are an important consideration.
The good news is you can try most hosting services risk-free with a money-back guarantee.
This can help alleviate your hesitation in signing a long-term contract since you can try the services and evaluate performance before you fully commit.
However, the bad news is that after your initial contract term, promotional pricing goes away and you’re hit with much higher renewal rates. In some cases, the renewal rate can be as much as 70% higher than the promotional rate you agreed to.
So, it’s important to consider renewal rates and long-term costs rather than out-of-pocket costs today.
You should also think about what happens as your website grows in popularity and you take up more server resources. Will you have to upgrade to a higher plan to keep your site performing at top speeds?
If so, how easy is it to upgrade, and will you experience downtime during the transition? How much extra is it going to cost every month?
These are all crucial factors to consider as you make your final decision.
Hostinger
Cheapest VPS Hosting
Get the benefits of VPS hosting at shared hosting prices with plans starting as low as $3.95 per month for one CPU core, 1 GB of RAM, 20 GB of storage space, and 1 TB of bandwidth. Includes dedicated IP addresses, top-level data backups, and dedicated 24/7 live chat customer support.
Summary
If you’ve outgrown your shared hosting plan, upgrading to a virtual private server is the most logical next step. You’ll benefit from dedicated resources and enhanced site performance.
But there’s a lot to keep in mind when you’re on the search for the best VPS hosting service. Each plan and provider isn’t intended for every website. You can use this guide to find the best VPS service for your unique needs.
- Best Warehouse Management Software - January 15, 2021
- Best Free CRM Software - January 14, 2021
- Best Real Estate CRM Software - January 13, 2021
