The best VPS hosting services for 2025: Expert tested

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, so your web hosting can grow alongside your website or project.

VPS hosting can give you more control over your hosting experience and provide more resources than what’s typically offered on shared hosting plans — and website visitors’ experiences improve when you aren’t competing with others for power and bandwidth. Our top picks include Ionos and Hostinger.

What is the best VPS hosting service right now?

After digging into the details and testing a range of VPS hosting providers, we selected Ionos as the best VPS hosting service overall. It strikes the right balance between performance, security, and price. Plans start at only $2 per month.

Read on for the rest of our top picks for VPS hosting services, ranging from highly customizable and scalable offerings to products geared toward beginners to services for people seeking solid support options.

Also: Best email hosting services and best virtual private networks

The best VPS hosting services of 2025

Ionos is our top pick for VPS hosting right now. The company offers a good balance of price, customization, and security, making it a solid option for businesses of most sizes.

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 as steep as you might think.

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When I tried Ionos, I found the setup process pretty painless. The free SSL certificate and domain on some plans are a nice touch, saving you a bit of cash and hassle when getting started. Security is well covered, too — Ionos includes 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.

All in all, Ionos offers solid value for the price. It’s reliable, easy to customize, and comes with the features you need without breaking the bank.

Regarding pricing, Ionos is also very affordable. The 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.

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When you think Hostinger, think of getting great value for your money. If you’re working with a tight budget but still want reliable VPS hosting, this is a great option. 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 handles most small- to medium-size 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.

That said, 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.

Hostinger is also ZDNET’s pick for the best web hosting service of 2025. ZDNET author Charlie Osborne is a customer of Hostinger and has found the service to be generally very reliable, with minimal downtime and a reasonable price. However, support leaves something to be desired, and it can be difficult to quickly resolve issues you may encounter.

Hostinger VPS plans start at $4.99 per month on a two-year contract. Bandwidth and resource levels vary by subscription, though if you’re in the market for the most RAM possible, Hostinger offers more than Ionos on its top-tier $20 per month option.

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InMotion Hosting is known for having some of the best customer support in the business. Its support team is available around the clock to help you with starting out or even more complex setups.

The support staff is quick to respond and genuinely helpful, which can make a big difference if you aren’t super familiar with server management.

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.

Performance is solid. The SSD storage ensures your site loads quickly, and the company includes free backups to keep your data safe. Plus, the plans are scalable, so as your business grows, your hosting can grow with you.

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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. But this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for most users, especially those in North America.

You can try it out for a month starting at $8.99. 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.

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A2 Hosting is all about speed. 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 A2 Hosting, I noticed pages loading quickly and staying consistent, even with more traffic hitting the site.

The SSD storage helps too, cutting down on load times and making your site more responsive overall. This is especially useful if you’re running a website with a lot of content, or one that gets a lot of user interaction.

A2 Hosting 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, its anytime money-back guarantee means you can try it out without worrying about getting stuck if it’s not the right fit.

The one thing to watch out for is the renewal rates — they can be higher than the initial prices. But if speed is what you’re after, A2 Hosting is a solid choice. Furthermore, A2 Hosting is ZDNET’s pick for the best cheap web hosting service.

You can choose between managed or unmanaged VPS hosting plans, including various Linux distros. Unmanaged hosting subscriptions begin at $3.99 per month on a one-year contract, whereas managed hosting plans are on offer from $36.99 per month with a three-year term.

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DigitalOcean is a go-to option if you’re looking for VPS hosting that lets you customize just about everything. 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 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 — and I recently scaled up again after hitting 10,000 visitors in a month. It’s ridiculous how simple it is.

On the flip side, 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. But if you’re comfortable figuring things out on your own, DigitalOcean’s flexibility and clear pricing make it a solid choice. Pricing begins at $4 per month.

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Kamatera is a great pick if you need VPS hosting that can grow with your business.

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. 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, though you can also deep-dive into technical options, such as processors, storage, RAM, and data center location, if you want to customize your plan.

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.

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If you’re just dipping your toes into VPS hosting, GoDaddy is a great place to start.

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.

GoDaddy also offers affordable plans, often with discounts, making it a budget-friendly option if you’re just starting. However, 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.

Plans start at $8.99 per month on a three-year term.

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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 our 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/month	Overall performance	Customizable plans, strong security features
Hostinger	$4.99/month	Budget-friendly	Affordable plans, easy control panel
InMotion Hosting	$4.49/month	Customer support	24/7 support, free site migrations
A2 Hosting	$3.99/month	Speed/performance	Turbo servers, SSD storage
DigitalOcean	$4/month	Customization	Highly customizable, developer-friendly
Kamatera	Pay-as-you-go / $4/month	Scalability	Flexible resources, global data centers
GoDaddy	$8.99/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.

Though everyone has different requirements, 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, without any major headaches.
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.

VPS (virtual private server) hosting is a type of web hosting where a physical server is divided into multiple virtual servers. Each virtual server 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, which 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.

Also: The best cloud hosting services: Expert tested

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, which 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.

Other VPS hosting services we’ve tested

There are a few other VPS hosting providers that could be a good fit for you, depending on what you’re looking for:

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The best VPS hosting services for 2025: Expert tested

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