Best VPS hosting services for 2025
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VPS hosting is a hosting type great for small to mid-sized businesses, developers, and agencies. It gives you more control and resources than shared hosting, but is less expensive than a dedicated server.
It is the go-to hosting solution for growing websites, web apps, online stores, and even gaming servers. VPS hosting makes it easy to scale the resources up or down. It also provides site owners with more control over the server with root access and highly customizable setups.
In this guide, you can find recommendations for tried and tested VPS providers as well as comparisons and top picks for real-life use cases. The 7 best VPS hosting services list was based on my and the Cybernews research team’s hands-on testing and research.
7 best VPS hosting providers in short
- Hostinger – best all-round VPS hosting
- Liquid Web – best Windows VPS hosting
- Kamatera – best VPS hosting for developers
- DreamHost – best VPS for beginners
- A2 Hosting – best VPS hosting for eCommerce
- ScalaHosting – best managed VPS
- IONOS – best affordable VPS hosting
Our in-house research team and expert writers work hand in hand to regularly test hosting services and provide accurate and fact-checked information. Discover the ins and outs of how we test and evaluate website hosting providers.
1. Best VPS overall
For the best VPS host, ease of use is one of the most important aspects, as VPS servers typically require manual configuration. This includes installing control panels, managing databases, configuring security settings, and more. A user-friendly management interface — especially one that simplifies OS and control panel installations — is crucial. Performance and price-to-value ratio are also key factors.
Hostinger
| Best for: | Unmanaged VPS hosting |
| Starting price: | $4.49/month |
| Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
| Storage: | 50GB-400GB NVMe SSD |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat |
Hostinger offers excellent VPS plans with root access and full control of the server provided. An intuitive interface, easy-to-scale plans, excellent performance, and a great resource-to-price ratio make it my number one choice for Linux-based VPS hosting.
Why did we pick Hostinger? Expert insights
My experience with Hostinger has always been very positive, mostly because it is so easy to use. The dashboard’s intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate – the design is one of the best I’ve seen overall.
While VPS hosting is in general quite complicated, Hostiner makes it much easier to start with it. One of the things that really helps in that department is the excellent Kodee AI assistant, which offers the best AI support I’ve seen so far. It answers all kinds of questions fast, and the information is, in 9 out of 10 cases, reliable and correct. Another big convenience is that Hostinger provides one-click operation system installations, so setting up your VPS takes just a couple of clicks instead of a full manual configuration.
Other than that, Hostinger also offers good pricing plans, starting from $4.49/month. The performance test results were also excellent, with 100% uptime. For more details on how it is to use Hostinger, read our Hostinger review.
2. Best Windows VPS hosting
The best VPS host for Windows OS should be especially reliable when it comes to performance. This includes a high uptime guarantee and robust hardware, such as storage and CPU.
Liquid Web
| Best for: | Windows VPS hosting |
| Starting price: | $5.00/month |
| Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
| Storage: | 40GB-960GB SSD |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat |
Liquid Web offers excellent managed Windows-based VPS solutions for businesses, enterprises, and large projects like applications or eCommerce sites. It is the ideal option for users who require high availability and performance.
Why did we pick Liquid Web? Expert insights
Liquid Web is my top pick for Windows-based VPS because it offers truly exceptional performance and reliability that Windows VPS hosting requires. For example, it uses high-performance CPUs that are designed specifically for handling resource-intensive workloads (such as Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC). To put it more simply, Liquid Web’s advanced hardware is what makes this provider ideal for resource-intensive and large projects.
Besides the technical specifications, our in-house tests also showed excellent performance results, such as a 100% uptime over a one-month testing period. Finally, Liquid Web offers both managed and unmanaged VPS services. If you choose to pay extra for managed VPS, Liquid Web will take care of the technical server management, and you can dedicate your time to developing your project. Read our Liquid Web review to learn more about our hosting experience with it.
3. Best VPS hosting for developers
Hosting a development environment on a VPS is great for bigger projects that require a lot of resources. For a good development experience, a VPS host should be easy to scale as your project grows.
Kamatera
| Best for: | VPS hosting for developers |
| Starting price: | $4.00/month |
| Money-back guarantee: | 30-day trial |
| Storage: | 20GB - unlimited NVMe SSD |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat |
Kamatera is one of those VPS hosts that offer very competitive pricing and extremely easy-to-scale plans. It is the perfect solution for developers with projects that require more resources as they grow – you can deploy both small and large-scale projects with minimal budget and high resource customization.
Why did we pick Kamatera? Expert insights
Kamatera is my top choice for developers because it makes scaling resources up and down especially easy. The provider also supports quite a wide range of operating systems, with the option to add your own. You can choose the CPUs for your server, customize RAM and storage, and choose a data center location. It also offers a Managed Kubernetes service for deploying containerized applications.
One of Kamatera’s key benefits is the pay-as-you-go pricing model, which makes it the most flexible host on this list in terms of cost. You can choose to pay hourly or monthly, and you can cancel anytime. For more information on the hosting experience, read our Kamatera review.
4. Best VPS for beginners
For a beginner in VPS hosting, ease of use is the most important part. A well-designed control panel, excellent customer support, and an up-to-date knowledge center are crucial for a beginner-friendly VPS host.
DreamHost
| Best for: | VPS hosting for beginners |
| Starting price: | $10.00/month |
| Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
| Storage: | 60G -360GB NVMe SSD |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat |
DreamHost offers simple and easy-to-understand managed VPS plans. Any website owner will be able to fully focus on running their business or projects while DreamHost will take care of all the technical aspects behind the scenes.
Why did we pick DreamHost? Expert insights
The simplicity of DreamHost's managed VPS plans is perfect for beginner users who may not yet know exactly which resources they need and how many. The VPS being managed also allows users to focus solely on running their projects. What I liked the most about DreamHost VPS was its AI Business Advisor, which not only helps with VPS-related issues but also answers questions related to running a business in general. Perhaps the only superior AI assistant to it is Hostinger’s Kodee.
However, DreamHost might feel too limiting for more advanced users who prefer to have control over the server. The plans don’t include root access and are not as customizable as they could be. I would’ve appreciated more plan options with more or fewer resources. To learn more about hosting with DreamHost, read our DreamHost review.
5. Best VPS hosting for eCommerce
The best VPS for eCommerce should show excellent performance, especially in terms of uptime and traffic handling. If you expect your store to have a lot of visitors at all times, you’ll need the assurance that it’s always available, can handle heavy traffic well, and loads fast for customers everywhere in the world.
A2 Hosting
| Best for: | VPS hosting for eCommerce |
| Starting price: | $3.99/month |
| Money-back guarantee: | 30 days |
| Storage: | 25-500GB NVMe SSD |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat |
A2 Hosting is a high-performing host that offers both managed and unmanaged VPS hosting solutions. Its focus on performance optimizations and site security makes A2 Hosting a good choice for large eCommerce companies.
Why did we pick A2 Hosting? Expert insights
A2 Hosting is a high-performance-focused hosting service that not only introduces features for performance optimization but also offers a good price-to-resource ratio. You can choose between managed and unmanaged VPS hosting. The Turbo VPS solution is especially great for those looking to optimize speed, such as large eCommerce projects that rely on fast page load speeds to function properly.
A2 Hosting is also relatively customizable, although not to the same level as, for example, Kamatera. Nevertheless, developers and online store owners will appreciate the reasonable pricing for reasonable resources, especially in terms of storage and CPU cores. If you want to know more about the hosting experience, check out our A2 Hosting review.
6. Best managed VPS
With a managed VPS host, you’ll want to dedicate all your time to developing your project or running your site. This means that the best managed VPS host should expertly handle the technical aspects – updates, performance, security, databases, and backups.
ScalaHosting
| Best for: | Managed VPS hosting |
| Starting price: | $14.95/month |
| Money-back guarantee: | Anytime partial refund for unused services |
| Storage: | 50-2000GB NVMe SSD |
| Customer support: | 24/7 live chat |
ScalaHosting is a reliable provider that offers fully managed VPS hosting that also includes free site migration. Although some may consider it expensive, I think the price is reasonable considering that managed VPS hosting always costs more.
Why did we pick ScalaHosting? Expert insights
ScalaHosting managed VPS hosting solutions are suitable for a variety of users – business owners, developers, online store owners, and those looking to host web applications. You can choose between Linux and Windows OS.
The best part about ScalaHosting is that it manages the server very well while you are free to develop your project and run your business. This includes taking care of speed optimizations, managing site security, updates, and backups. One of the nicest perks is that it offers free site migrations if you’re transferring from another provider. If you’re curious for more, check out our ScalaHosting review.
7. Best affordable VPS hosting
VPS hosting can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. For the best VPS host at an affordable price, low costs should not compromise the resources and reliability. Also, good plans for scaling your project should be available at an affordable rate.
IONOS
| Best for: | |
| Starting price: | |
| Money-back guarantee: | |
| Storage: | |
| Customer support: |
IONOS has long been the most affordable VPS hosting provider, with plans starting at just $2.00/month. It offers Linux and Windows-based VPS and has excellent customer support to help with any issues.
Why did we pick IONOS? Expert insights
VPS hosting is usually significantly more expensive than shared hosting, and this can be a problem if you require specific resources but don’t have a large budget. IONOS offers 6 VPS hosting plans, which is more than any other host on this list offers. The pricing of the most expensive plan is still cheaper than most ScalaHosting or half of DreamHost plans, and with more resources than each.
Besides its great price, IONOS also provides excellent support. All my experiences with IONOS support agents were positive. Finally, since IONOS is originally from Europe, you can be assured it will follow the best data security practices. For more details, be sure to read our IONOS review.
VPS hosting comparison
| Starting price | RAM | Storage | Uptime test results | Support | Best for | |
| 1. Hostinger | $4.49/month | 4GB-32GB | 50GB-400GB NVMe | 100% | 24/7 live chat | Unmanaged VPS hosting |
| 2. Liquid Web | $5.00/month | 4GB-32GB | 40GB-960GB | 100% | 24/7 support via chat, phone | Windows VPS hosting |
| 3. Kamatera | $4.00/month | 4GB-32GB | 20GB-unlimited | 100% | 24/7 live chat, phone, email | VPS hosting for developers |
| 4. DreamHost | $10.00/month | 4GB-32GB | 60G -360GB NVMe | 100% | 24/7 live chat, email | VPS for beginners |
| 5. A2 Hosting | $3.99/month | 4GB-32GB | 25-500GB NVMe | 100% | 24/7 live chat | VPS for eCommerce |
| 6. ScalaHosting | $14.95/month | 4GB-24GB | 50-2000GB NVMe | 100% | 24/7 live chat | Managed VPS hosting |
| 7. IONOS | $2.00/month | 1GB-24GB | 10-720GB NVMe | 85% | 24/7 live chat and phone | Affordable VPS hosting |
Our ranking methodology
At Cybernews, our expert research team continuously reviews and tests hosting providers. For VPS hosting, we test and consider such aspects as resource availability and features, as well as the reliability of performance. We consider a variety of use cases and out of 58 hosting providers, we choose the ones that fit those use cases best. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the general VPS hosting testing criteria. The percentage in the brackets indicates the overall importance of a given aspect for the final evaluation and rankings.
- Resources and features (35%). Assessing VPS resources and features includes evaluating the availability of essential resources such as RAM, CPU cores, storage types (SSD vs HDD), and bandwidth limits. Additionally, we consider scalability options, automated backups, recovery features, and choice of operating systems (Linux or Windows). Ease of use is tested by reviewing various control panels (like cPanel or custom solutions). Lastly, we also consider features like SSL certificates or dedicated IP addresses.
- Performance (25%). The Cybernews research team continuously tests each host’s performance. The tests we run include uptime and server response time monitoring, stress testing, and site load speed testing. Performance is crucial for VPS hosting, and we want to make sure we recommend only the best hosts.
- Pricing (15%). VPS hosting is naturally more expensive than shared hosting, and the costs add up if you want to scale. We make sure that you are getting the resources you pay for by weighing the performance test results with the plan pricing of each host. Additionally, we compare providers to find the ones that offer the best value.
- Security (15%). Site security is a crucial part of any website hosting. To ensure that the providers offer adequate security measures, we review the protection features included in the services. This includes testing built-in DDoS mitigation, reviewing the availability and quality of firewall services, proactive security monitoring, and assessing compliance with regulatory standards such as GDPR.
- Customer support (10%). Since VPS hosting requires technical expertise and is generally more complicated than shared hosting, quality customer support is crucial. We evaluate the quality of support of each host by contacting the support agents and assessing their responsiveness, expertise, and professionalism.
Key factors to consider when choosing VPS hosting
A VPS hosting plan should provide your business or project with the right amount of resources, necessary features, and tools, and ensure top-tier performance. Before signing up with a VPS host, make sure to consider the following factors:
- Uptime and reliability. To ensure that your website or application is always accessible, the VPS host should ensure reliable uptime and minimal downtime. In our testing process, such uptime is always 99% or above.
- Server resources. Consider how many resources, such as CPU cores, RAM, and storage, your project or business needs. Choose a VPS plan that meets at least the minimum requirements – you can always upscale or downgrade your plan if the situation changes.
- Root access and OS options. Most VPS hosting plans come with root access, but not all. Consider whether your project needs it. Also, make sure the OS options fit your needs. For example, not all providers offer Windows VPS hosting, so double-check with the hosting provider before committing.
- Managed vs unmanaged VPS. Evaluate the time and expertise you’re willing to dedicate to your VPS. Managing a VPS requires technical expertise and is time-consuming. If you have neither the expertise nor time and would rather spend your energy on your project, consider a managed VPS. However, an unmanaged VPS might be the better choice if you prefer the flexibility and control it offers.
- Customer support. Since VPS hosting is more complicated than shared hosting, professional and timely customer support is essential. Choose a provider that offers support options most attractive to you, such as a live chat, a chatbot, a knowledge center, and others.
- Scalability and migration. As your project or business grows, you’ll need to access more resources. Make sure your host offers easy ways to scale up your plan. Take into account that you might also need to migrate between providers. For this, ensure that the offered migration option suits your site, budget, and other requirements.
- Data center location. If you’re hoping to reach global audiences, consider your host’s data center locations. Most hosts may have only one location, such as a city in the US, and others may offer a variety to choose from worldwide.
- Price-to-performance ratio. Ensure you’re getting what you paid for, including the promised resources and performance. For this, read some reviews from experts and other users alike to get a feel of whether the price is fair for what the host offers.
What is VPS hosting?
VPS or virtual private server hosting is a type of hosting where a web host offers a dedicated virtual server with resources dedicated to a single user. The virtual server is still hosted on a physical server that multiple users share, but the resources, such as storage and bandwidth, are allocated to each user separately. This usually means that with VPS hosting, you can enjoy a more reliable uptime, faster site loading times, and more resources than with shared hosting.
Additionally, VPS hosting plans are usually very flexible and easy to scale. You can often choose how many resources you need, including CPU, RAM, storage, and sometimes bandwidth.
How does VPS hosting work?
VPS hosting works by providing a user with a virtual private server for hosting their site. This means that a physical shared hosting server is divided into several virtual servers, each for one user. This process is called virtualization.
These virtual servers are isolated from each other, so you get a whole server with a set amount of resources (such as RAM and storage) for yourself. You don’t share these resources with anyone else. Depending on your host and plan, you may also get root access and full control over the virtual server. This results in a hosting experience similar to that of a dedicated server, just less expensive.
Who needs VPS hosting?
In my experience, VPS hosting is great for bigger online stores, web applications, and gaming servers. What these sites have in common is that they need more resources to run properly than shared hosting can normally offer. VPS hosting is also usually cheaper than cloud or dedicated hosting, so it’s a good option if you don’t have an unlimited budget.
Additionally, VPS hosting offers a lot of opportunities for scaling your site if your resource requirements grow. If your host includes root access, you’re also free to set up the server in a way that suits your business best.
Overall, VPS hosting is the best option for those who need a dedicated server-like experience with a lot of resources to host a medium to large site, such as a gaming server, an online store, a web application, and similar.
Is VPS hosting better than shared hosting?
Whether VPS hosting is better than shared hosting depends on your unique needs as a user. For most websites, shared hosting is the best option, since it is usually affordable, easier to manage, and offers good resources. However, VPS hosting is better if your website or project is large, and you prefer flexibility and control.
Here are the main differences between shared and VPS hosting:
| Shared hosting | VPS hosting | |
| Server resources | Shared with other users, limited | Not shared, easy to scale, and provides more resources |
| Hosting management | Usually cPanel. Easier for beginners and not very complicated. Has some flexibility and customization, but less than VPS hosting | Managed or unmanaged, a variety of control panels. Managed is better for beginners, unmanaged is complicated but offers more control |
| Cost | Usually more affordable than VPS | More expensive than shared hosting, and less expensive than dedicated or cloud hosting |
| Performance | Depends on the server load. Heavy load from other sites can impact performance | More reliable than shared hosting, fast enough for large sites, and depends less on server load |
| Best for | Small to medium-sized websites, blogs, portfolios, and small online stores | Medium to large websites, eCommerce websites, gaming servers, and web applications |
What OS options are available for VPS?
The VPS operating system options depend on the provider. Linux-based operating systems and Windows are the most popular. For example, in our list, Hostinger offers a variety of Linux-based OS for VPS, but Liquid Web offers both Linux and Windows.
Do I need a managed or unmanaged VPS?
VPS hosting can be managed or unmanaged. With managed VPS hosting, the hosting provider will set up and manage the server for you – this includes installing a control panel, setting up security, and taking care of performance optimizations and updates. Managed VPS is a good option for beginners and those who want to focus on running their site rather than hosting. With unmanaged VPS hosting, you’ll need to set up and keep up the server yourself. Users who prefer more freedom and flexibility will appreciate this option more, but it could be too difficult and time-consuming for beginners.
Final thoughts
VPS hosting is a highly versatile option that’s great for those looking for something more than shared hosting but without the cost of a dedicated server. It’s a go-to solution for agencies, small to mid-sized businesses, and developers. With scalable resources and reliable performance, VPS is suitable for hosting sites such as online stores, launching web applications, and other large-scale projects.
My favorite VPS host is Hostinger, simply because it offers a great price-to-performance ratio, is easy to navigate, and offers good scalability and customization options. However, if you’re looking for a managed VPS or one that’s the best for Windows, this list has other excellent providers like Liquid Web or Kamatera.
The best VPS host for you is the one that meets your unique requirements. This means that for running an online store, Hostinger might not be your first choice. Before choosing a VPS provider, consider what your project needs, and pick a host based on that.
Best VPS hosting FAQ
Should I host my website on a VPS?
It depends on the type of website. If it is a blog, a portfolio, or a landing page, shared hosting will be enough. However, if your site is a large online store, a web app, or a large online news outlet, VPS hosting is a better choice.
How much traffic can VPS hosting handle?
How much traffic a VPS can handle depends on server specifications such as RAM and CPU. Generally, a VPS server with 1-2 CPU cores and 2-4GB RAM can handle around 10,000 to 30,000 monthly visitors.
How much does a good VPS cost?
A good VPS can cost you anywhere from $2 to a few hundred dollars per month, depending on the amount of resources and whether it’s managed or unmanaged. Managed VPS will usually start around $10 per month, while unmanaged will be cheaper. For the best value VPS, consider the amount of resources you will get, and compare different providers to each other.
Can I get a VPS for free?
No, VPS hosting is rarely available for free. To run a VPS server requires high-quality hardware, energy, and expertise, which costs money. Any provider that offers free VPS hosting is most likely a scam or includes hidden costs. However, there are some very cheap VPS hosts with prices starting from just $2 per month.
Which VPS is best for the US?
The best VPS provider for the US is the one with US-based data centers. Our list includes some providers suitable for the US, such as Hostinger, A2 Hosting, DreamHost, and others.
What are the disadvantages of VPS hosting?
VPS hosting has many advantages, but there are also some cons. VPS is more expensive than shared hosting, especially managed VPS hosting. Unmanaged VPS requires technical expertise that beginners might not have. For the server to run properly, you must set it up correctly, which leaves a lot of room for error.
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