Choosing the best virtual private server (VPS) hosting service can be challenging, with so many options available to consumers, enterprises, and small businesses. VPS hosting offers something for everyone. Varied pricing and plans, customizable resources, reliable security, and scalability give you more control over your web hosting in comparison to a shared hosting plan.
VPS hosting can give you more control over your hosting experience and provide more resources than what’s typically offered on shared hosting plans. In addition, website visitors’ experiences improve when you aren’t competing with others for power and bandwidth.
What is the best VPS hosting service right now?
I selected Ionos as the best VPS hosting service overall. It strikes the right balance between performance, security, and price, offering a range of options suitable for both individuals and businesses. Plans start at only $2 per month.
Another of my favorites is Hostinger. Available from $5 per month, Hostinger provides a range of VPS solutions including varying virtual central processing unit (vCPU) options, random access memory (RAM), and storage.
After digging into the details and testing a range of VPS hosting providers, I’ve found the best services. These range from highly customizable and scalable offerings to products geared toward beginners and services for people seeking solid support options.
Read on for the rest of my top picks for VPS hosting.
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The best VPS hosting services of 2025
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Ionos is my top choice for VPS hosting at the moment, as it offers a good balance of price, customization, and security, making it a solid option for businesses of most sizes.
Why we like it: Ionos makes VPS hosting easy, especially if you like having options to tweak things to your liking. You can adjust the server setup to fit precisely what you need. The control panel is straightforward, so you don’t have to be super technical to get things going, and the learning curve isn’t steep.
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When I tried Ionos, I found the setup process pretty painless. The free secure socket layer (SSL) certificate and domain on some plans are a nice touch, saving you a bit of cash and hassle when getting started. Security is also well covered. Ionos includes distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection and regular backups automatically, so you don’t have to worry about that side of things.
In terms of performance, Ionos delivered. I didn’t run into any significant slowdowns, and everything stayed up and running smoothly. The only downside I noticed was the customer support — it’s a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes, you get great help; other times, it feels like the support people are just ticking boxes. It’s not bad, but it’s something to be aware of, especially if you think you’ll need a lot of support during your foray into VPS hosting.
Who it’s for: All in all, Ionos offers solid value for the price, making it a great all-rounder service for the majority of users. It’s reliable, easy to customize, and comes with the features you need without breaking the bank.
Regarding pricing, the Ionos entry-level plan, VPS XS, offers one vCore CPU, 1GB RAM, and 10GB NVMe storage for $2 per month. You can try it out, even, for one month without risk. Subscriptions go up in tiers, from $2 per month to $29 per month, depending on the power and resources you want.
Who should look elsewhere: There might be more suitable options that will appeal to beginners more — check out the rest of my recommendations.
Ionos features: Affordable VPS plans | Customizable configurations | Free SSL certificate and domain | DDoS protection | Regular backups | Unlimited traffic up to 1 Gbit/s | Claims 99.9% uptime
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When you think of Hostinger, think of great value for your money.
Why we like it: Hostinger handles most small- to medium-sized projects well. It’s optimized for WordPress, which is perfect if you’re running a blog or a content-heavy site. Plus, its 24/7 customer support means there’s always someone available to help if you run into any issues.
The control panel is straightforward, so even if you’re not super tech-savvy, you’ll find it easy to manage your server.
Review: Hostinger
Hostinger is also ZDNET’s pick for the best web hosting service of 2025. ZDNET author Charlie Osborne is a Hostinger customer and has found the service to be generally very reliable, with minimal downtime and a reasonable price.
Who it’s for: If you’re working with a tight budget but still want reliable VPS hosting, this is a great option.
Hostinger VPS plans start at $5 per month on a two-year contract. Bandwidth and resource levels vary by subscription. If you’re in the market for the most RAM possible, Hostinger offers more than Ionos on its top-tier $20 per month option.
Who should look elsewhere: If you’re running a large-scale operation or need more advanced features, Hostinger might not be the best fit. It’s more focused on providing solid, basic VPS hosting at a price that’s hard to beat.
Support also leaves something to be desired, and it can be difficult to quickly resolve issues you may encounter.
Hostinger features: Affordable VPS plans | User-friendly control panel | WordPress optimization | 24/7 customer support | Free dedicated IP | Weekly backups | AI assistant
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InMotion Hosting is known for having some of the best customer support in the business.
Why we like it: Performance is solid. The solid-state drive (SSD) storage ensures your site loads quickly, and the company includes free backups to keep your data safe.
The support staff is responsive and genuinely helpful, which can make a big difference if you aren’t super familiar with server management. It is also available around the clock to help you with starting out or even more complex setups.
Review: InMotion Hosting
It also makes switching over from another host pretty painless. The free site-migration service handles everything technical, so you don’t have to worry about downtime or losing data. On top of that, the server-management tools are straightforward, making it easy to keep everything running smoothly.
Who it’s for: There are two particular use cases here: anyone who wants to learn about VPS by signing up for just a month, and anyone who believes they will need ongoing customer support in their hosting journey.
Plus, the plans are scalable, so as your business grows, your hosting can grow with you.
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You can try it out for a month starting at $9. InMotion offers a great range of plans to suit customers, whether they want to sign up for six months or three years. For instance, one-year plans are priced at $4.49 per month, whereas the most resource-intensive subscription will cost you the better part of 50 bucks per month.
Who should look elsewhere: The only real downside is that InMotion has fewer data centers than some of the bigger players, which might affect performance if your audience is global. This shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most users, especially those in North America.
InMotion Hosting features: SSD storage | Free site migrations | 24/7 customer support | Scalable VPS plans | Free backups | Managed VPS | Dedicated IPs
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Hosting.com, previously known as A2 Hosting, is all about speed, and I consider it one of the best options around for sheer performance.
Why we like it: Its Turbo servers are designed to make your site load up to 20 times faster, which is a big deal if performance is a priority for you.
When I tried Hosting.com, I noticed pages loading quickly and staying consistent, even with more traffic hitting the site.
The SSD storage helps cut down on load times and makes your site more responsive overall. This is especially useful if you’re running a website with a lot of content or user interaction.
Hosting.com also makes it easy to get started by offering free site migration and an SSL certificate, so you can move your site over without hassle. Plus, it’s an anytime money-back guarantee, which means you can try it out without worrying about being stuck if it’s not the right fit.
Who it’s for: You can pick between managed or unmanaged VPS hosting, and so this option is best suited to anyone who wants greater flexibility and varying plans for performance.
The plans include various Linux distros. Unmanaged hosting subscriptions begin at $5 per month on a one-year contract, whereas managed hosting plans are on offer from $38 per month with the same term.
Furthermore, Hosting.com is one of ZDNET’s top picks for the best cheap web hosting service.
Who should look elsewhere: The one thing to watch out for is the renewal rates — they can be higher than initial promotional prices. If future price hikes are of concern, you might want to explore my other recommendations.
Hosting.com features: Turbo servers | SSD storage | Free site migration | Anytime money-back guarantee | Free SSL certificate | Managed or unmanaged hosting available | Various Linux options | Claims 99.9% uptime
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DigitalOcean is a go-to option for VPS hosting that allows you to customize almost everything.
Why we like it: It gives you the tools to build and manage your server exactly how you want. If you like to have control over every detail, this is the platform for you.
The interface is clean and straightforward, making it easy to set up your server and customize it to your needs.
When I used DigitalOcean, I found it to be especially useful for developers. You can choose everything from the storage type to the level of central processing unit (CPU) power, which is great if your project needs something specific. Plus, the strong developer community and extensive documentation are helpful if you ever get stuck or want to learn more.
To put this into perspective, I recently launched a Japanese gaming media site using DigitalOcean. I used smaller Droplets when I first started developing, then scaled up once we launched. After hitting 10,000 visitors in a month, I scaled up again. It’s astonishing how simple it is.
Who it’s for: If you’re comfortable figuring things out on your own, DigitalOcean’s flexibility and clear pricing make it a solid choice, especially if you want to tailor your plan. Pricing begins at $4 per month.
Who should look elsewhere: The customer support isn’t as strong as what you’ll find with some other providers. You’ll mostly be relying on community forums and documentation for help, and so this might influence your decision.
DigitalOcean features: Customizable VPS plans | Easy-to-use interface | Active developer community | Extensive documentation | Managed or unmanaged hosting | Shared or dedicated CPU | Transparent pricing
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Kamatera is a great pick if you need VPS hosting that can grow with your business.
Why we like it: You can tweak CPU, RAM, storage, and more on the fly, which is really handy if you’re dealing with unexpected traffic or need to expand your services.
When I tried out Kamatera, I found the setup process to be smooth and the control panel easy to navigate. It has data centers worldwide, so you can pick a location close to your audience, which helps with reducing latency and keeping your site running fast, even if your visitor load is high.
One thing that stands out is the pay-as-you-go pricing. You only pay for what you use, and there’s no need to lock yourself into a long-term contract. It’s cost-effective if you need that kind of flexibility. Simple subscriptions begin at $4 per month. You can also deep dive into technical options such as processors, storage, RAM, and data center location, if you want to customize your plan.
Who it’s for: If your business is growing or you’re managing a project where resource needs can change quickly, Kamatera makes it easy to scale up or down.
Who should look elsewhere: Just keep in mind that backups aren’t included for free, so you’ll need to account for that if keeping your data safe is a priority. If you’re looking for free backups, this might not be the best option.
Kamatera features: Scalable VPS plans | Global data centers | Pay-as-you-go pricing | 30-day free trial | Custom server configurations | Managed or unmanaged hosting | Highly customizable
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If you’re just dipping your toes into VPS hosting, GoDaddy is a great place to start.
Why we like it: The setup process is straightforward, so you won’t need to be a tech expert to get your server up and running. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, which makes managing your VPS pretty stress-free.
Review: GoDaddy
I’ve had hands-on experience with GoDaddy, and one thing that stands out is how approachable it is for beginners. There’s a lot of helpful guidance along the way, and the customer support is solid. If you run into any issues, it’s got 24/7 support and a ton of tutorials and articles to help you out.
Who it’s for: GoDaddy is suitable for beginners and also offers affordable plans, often with discounts, making it a budget-friendly option if you’re just starting.
Plans start at $9 per month on a three-year term.
Who should look elsewhere: If you’re looking for advanced features or more control over your server, you might find GoDaddy a bit limiting. It’s geared more toward simplicity and ease of use than power and flexibility.
It should also be noted that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized an order forcing GoDaddy to improve its security practices. The FTC said that “despite claiming it provides ‘award-winning security,’ GoDaddy failed to implement standard data security tools and practices to protect customers’ websites and data.”
GoDaddy features: Easy-to-use interface | 24/7 customer support | Affordable pricing | Integrated domain registration | Simple setup process | Claims 99.9% uptime
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When it comes to the best VPS hosting service, Ionos takes the top spot. It offers a great mix of affordability, customization, and security, making it a solid choice for businesses of all sizes. Regardless of your current size, Ionos has the flexibility to grow with you.
That said, the other VPS hosting options on my list are also worth considering, depending on your preferences. Each one has its own strengths, so you can find the right fit for your specific needs.
| VPS hosting service | Starting/best price | Best for | Key features |
| Ionos | $2 per month | Overall performance | Customizable plans, strong security features |
| Hostinger | $5 per month | Budget-friendly | Affordable plans, easy control panel |
| InMotion Hosting | $4.49 per month | Customer support | 24/7 support, free site migrations |
| Hosting.com | $5 per month | Speed/performance | Turbo servers, SSD storage |
| DigitalOcean | $4 per month | Customization | Highly customizable, developer-friendly |
| Kamatera | Pay-as-you-go, or $4 per month | Scalability | Flexible resources, global data centers |
| GoDaddy | $9 per month | Beginners | Simple setup, good support |
| Choose this VPS hosting service… | If you want… |
| Ionos | A well-rounded service that balances performance, security, and customization. Best for those who need a bit of everything. |
| Hostinger | A budget-friendly option that still gives you the essential features you need. Best for small businesses and individuals who want to save money. |
| InMotion Hosting | Top-notch customer support that’s always there when you need it. Best for folks who value having help available 24/7. |
| A2 Hosting | Fast and reliable performance, especially if your site needs to load quickly and run smoothly. Best for those who care about speed. |
| DigitalOcean | The ability to customize every little detail of your server setup. Best for developers or anyone who likes full control. |
| Kamatera | To easily scale your resources up or down as needed, without getting stuck in long-term contracts. Best for businesses that need flexibility to grow. |
| GoDaddy | A super easy platform to get started with, plus solid customer support to help you along the way. Best for anyone new to VPS hosting. |
Everyone has different requirements, but there are a few key things you need to keep an eye out for when you’re picking a VPS hosting service. Here’s a quick rundown to help you make the right choice:
- Performance and uptime: You need your website or app to run smoothly and be available whenever users need it. Look for a VPS hosting service that offers solid performance and reliable uptime, so your site doesn’t end up going down at the worst possible moment.
- Scalability: As your site or app grows, your hosting needs will change, too. Make sure your VPS service can easily scale up or down so you can control resources like CPU, RAM, and storage as needed.
- Security features: Security is a big deal. Look for features like DDoS protection, firewalls, and SSL certificates to keep your data safe and protect your site from potential threats.
- Pricing: Take a close look at the pricing options. Some providers offer pay-as-you-go plans that let you pay only for what you use, while others have fixed plans. Also, watch out for hidden costs like extra fees for certain features or higher renewal rates.
- Ease of use: A user-friendly control panel and easy management tools can make your life a lot easier, especially if you’re not super technical. Choose a service that won’t require a ton of time or effort to manage.
- Support and documentation: Good customer support is a must when you hit a snag. Check whether the provider offers 24/7 support and has plenty of documentation or tutorials to help you solve problems on your own.
When we test VPS hosting services, we like to dive in and really get a feel for how they work. We do this so we can provide honest, reliable, and well-informed recommendations. Here are the ways we test VPS hosting services.
- Hands-on testing: First off, we get hands-on with the services. I’ve worked with several companies and managed multiple projects that relied on VPS hosting, so I’ve had plenty of opportunities to see how these services perform in different scenarios. Actually using these services lets me assess how easy they are to set up, how well they perform (like uptime and load times), and how they handle everyday tasks. This gives me a solid understanding of what it’s like to use these services in the real world. For example, I launched my first (now defunct) website over a decade ago, and I used InMotion Hosting. Being a rookie, I relied on the service’s support team to walk me through several things that I couldn’t quite understand using the documentation. Of course, I’ve used InMotion Hosting since then, but this is just an example to highlight my experience with the service.
- Real user reviews: We pay close attention to what actual users are saying. Reviews can be hit or miss, so we look at a ton of them to spot patterns, both good and bad. This helps us figure out what’s consistently working well with a service and what might be causing users headaches.
- Feature comparisons: We also compare the nitty-gritty details like features, pricing, and security. VPS hosting providers often tweak their offerings, so we stay on top of those changes to make sure our recommendations are up to date and relevant.
- Research: We round out our testing with some good old-fashioned research. We dig into industry reports and expert opinions and check out how each provider stacks up in the market overall. This helps us back up our findings and ensures we’re giving you recommendations based on both experience and solid research.
By combining hands-on experience, real user feedback, detailed comparisons, and thorough research, we’re confident that our VPS hosting recommendations will help you find the right fit for your needs.
Virtual private server, or VPS, hosting is a type of web hosting where a physical server is divided into multiple virtual servers. Each one acts like a dedicated server but shares the physical server with other VPSs. This means you get your own resources, like CPU, RAM, and storage, so you’re not competing with other users for power. This can keep things running more smoothly.
VPS hosting also gives you more control than shared hosting. You can install the software you need and make custom configurations, because you have root access to your server. It’s a good middle ground for websites or apps that need more power and flexibility than shared hosting offers but without the higher costs of a full dedicated server.
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- The FTC ordered GoDaddy to improve its security practices following allegations that the hosting provider failed to provide adequate consumer protection, leading to several data breaches.
- Zservers, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting (BPH) provider, has been sanctioned by U.S. authorities for allegedly enabling ransomware attacks.
- In June, Google and Cloudflare customers experienced service disruptions believed to be caused by API issues.
VPS hosting sits between shared and dedicated hosting in terms of cost and resources.
With shared hosting, your website shares a server with a bunch of other sites. It’s cheap, but if other sites on the server are hogging resources, your site might slow down.
In VPS hosting, you still share a physical server, but you get your own slice of it with dedicated resources. This means better performance and more control over your server settings compared with shared hosting.
Dedicated hosting gives you an entire server all to yourself. It’s the most expensive option, but it offers the best performance and full control over everything. It’s great for big sites or apps that need a lot of power.
Yes, you can find free VPS hosting, but it usually comes with limitations. Most free VPS plans offer limited resources like lower CPU power, less RAM, and reduced storage. These plans are mostly used for testing, learning, or running small, low-traffic projects.
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Keep in mind that free VPS hosting often lacks the support and reliability you’d get with paid services. Also, some providers offer free trials of their paid VPS plans. This can be a good way to try out the service as intended before committing to a subscription. However, for a serious website or app, investing in a paid VPS plan is usually the better choice.
Yes, you can scale your VPS as your business gets bigger. Most VPS hosting providers offer plans that allow you to upgrade your resources, like CPU, RAM, and storage, as needed. This means you can start with a smaller plan and increase your resources over time without having to switch to a different hosting service. Pretty handy.
Scaling your VPS is usually pretty easy and can be done through your hosting provider’s control panel. Or, you can always contact support to help you if needed.
Yes, VPS hosting is generally secure. Since your virtual server is isolated from others on the same physical server, your data and resources are kept separate, which adds a layer of security. Most VPS hosting providers also offer additional security features like firewalls, DDoS protection, and regular backups, to help protect your data. If a service doesn’t offer such features, you probably shouldn’t use it.
However, security also depends on how well you manage your server. Keeping software up to date and using strong passwords are important steps in maintaining a secure VPS.
A VPS hosting plan can cost as little as a few dollars per month, or beyond $100 in the same time period. How much you will pay depends on the service you require including how much RAM and storage you want, the type of support you require, and whether or not you opt for advanced hosting features.
Other VPS hosting services we’ve tested
There are other VPS hosting providers that could be a good fit for you, depending on what you’re looking for:
- In ZDNET’s June update, we performed significant editorial and layout changes.
