The best VPS hosting services for 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
A virtual private server (VPS) hosting service is the ideal way to power up your new business or web project compared to shared web hosting. With a basic web host, you are usually limited in areas such as bandwidth, computing resources, and storage. However, if you expect heavy traffic volumes and you need dedicated resources with better upload speeds, security, and performance, VPS hosting is going to be more suitable.
VPS hosting can give you far more power, control, and less downtime. While VPS setups are generally more expensive than typical web hosting, the services we recommend offer varied pricing, customizable resources, reliable security, and scalability to suit your needs.
In ZDNET's February update, we completed a thorough review of our 2026 guide and refreshed the services we recommend.
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Best web hosting deals of the week
- Hostinger — Save 80% Off 2 Years Premium Plan + 3 Months Free: $3 (save $10)
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- InMotion Hosting — Save 81% Off 1 Year Core Plan: $3 (save $10)
What is the best VPS hosting service right now?
I selected Ionos as the best VPS hosting service in the market today. This service strikes a balance between performance, security, and price, offering a range of options suitable for individuals and businesses. Plans start at only $2 per month, which is very affordable for VPS hosting, and free 24/7 support is available.
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. Automatic weekly backups are included as standard.
After thoroughly researching and testing a range of VPS hosting providers, I identified the best services, from highly customizable offerings to beginner-friendly products and those seeking solid support.
Read on for the rest of my top picks for VPS hosting.
Sort by AllThe best VPS hosting services of 2026
Show less View now at IonosIonos is my top choice for VPS hosting in 2026, as it balances price, customization, and security, making it a solid option for businesses and individuals of many sizes.
Why we like it: Ionos makes VPS hosting easy, especially if you like having options to tweak your setup. You can adjust the server setup to fit your exact needs. 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.
When I tried Ionos, I found the setup process pretty painless. The free Secure Sockets 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, as Ionos automatically includes distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection and regular backups.
In terms of performance, Ionos delivered. I didn't encounter any significant slowdowns, and everything remained up and running smoothly. The company is also exploring AI applications suitable for SMBs.
The only real downside I noticed was the customer support -- it's a mixed bag. Sometimes, you get great help; other times, it feels like the support people are just ticking boxes. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to be aware of.
Who it's for: All in all, Ionos offers solid value for the price, making it a great all-around service for most 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 test it risk-free for one month. Subscriptions are tiered from $2 per month to $22 per month, depending on the power and resources you want including the number of CPU vCores, memory, and storage.
Ionos provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Who should look elsewhere: There are more suitable options on our list that will appeal to beginners with less technical experience or those who want even more power and plan flexibility. Overall, Ionos will work well for many people interested in signing up for VPS hosting.
Ionos features: Affordable VPS plans | Customizable configurations | Free SSL certificate and domain | DDoS protection | Regular backups | Unlimited traffic up to 1 Gbit/s | Full virtualization | Claims 99.9% uptime
Pros
- Affordable pricing with solid features
- Customizable VPS setups
- Free SSL certificate and domain with some plans
- Strong security with DDoS protection and regular backups
- Customer support can be hit or miss
Ionos is my top choice for VPS hosting in 2026, as it balances price, customization, and security, making it a solid option for businesses and individuals of many sizes.
Why we like it: Ionos makes VPS hosting easy, especially if you like having options to tweak your setup. You can adjust the server setup to fit your exact needs. 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.
When I tried Ionos, I found the setup process pretty painless. The free Secure Sockets 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, as Ionos automatically includes distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection and regular backups.
In terms of performance, Ionos delivered. I didn't encounter any significant slowdowns, and everything remained up and running smoothly. The company is also exploring AI applications suitable for SMBs.
The only real downside I noticed was the customer support -- it's a mixed bag. Sometimes, you get great help; other times, it feels like the support people are just ticking boxes. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to be aware of.
Who it's for: All in all, Ionos offers solid value for the price, making it a great all-around service for most 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 test it risk-free for one month. Subscriptions are tiered from $2 per month to $22 per month, depending on the power and resources you want including the number of CPU vCores, memory, and storage.
Ionos provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Who should look elsewhere: There are more suitable options on our list that will appeal to beginners with less technical experience or those who want even more power and plan flexibility. Overall, Ionos will work well for many people interested in signing up for VPS hosting.
Ionos features: Affordable VPS plans | Customizable configurations | Free SSL certificate and domain | DDoS protection | Regular backups | Unlimited traffic up to 1 Gbit/s | Full virtualization | Claims 99.9% uptime
When you think of Hostinger, think of great value for your money. This VPS service my favorite when budgets are a factor.
Why we like it: Hostinger effectively handles most small- to medium-sized projects. 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 one of ZDNET's picks for the best web hosting service of 2026. ZDNET author Charlie Osborne is a Hostinger customer and has found the service to be generally reliable, with minimal downtime and a reasonable price. Support is on hand, although it can take a minute to get to the right department.
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 KVM 1 two-year contract. Bandwidth and resource levels vary by subscription, although they start at 1 vCPU core, 4GB of RAM, and 4TB of bandwidth. You can't really argue with this price point, especially if you're starting a new project.
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 challenging to resolve issues quickly that may appear.
Hostinger features: Affordable VPS plans | User-friendly control panel | WordPress optimization | Public API | 24/7 customer support | Free dedicated IP | Weekly backups | AI assistant | Some plan flexibility | 30-day money-back guarantee
Pros
- Very affordable pricing
- Easy-to-use control panel
- Optimized for WordPress and other CMS platforms
- Beginner friendly
- May lack advanced features for larger-scale needs
- Customer support could be improved
When you think of Hostinger, think of great value for your money. This VPS service my favorite when budgets are a factor.
Why we like it: Hostinger effectively handles most small- to medium-sized projects. 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 one of ZDNET's picks for the best web hosting service of 2026. ZDNET author Charlie Osborne is a Hostinger customer and has found the service to be generally reliable, with minimal downtime and a reasonable price. Support is on hand, although it can take a minute to get to the right department.
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 KVM 1 two-year contract. Bandwidth and resource levels vary by subscription, although they start at 1 vCPU core, 4GB of RAM, and 4TB of bandwidth. You can't really argue with this price point, especially if you're starting a new project.
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 challenging to resolve issues quickly that may appear.
Hostinger features: Affordable VPS plans | User-friendly control panel | WordPress optimization | Public API | 24/7 customer support | Free dedicated IP | Weekly backups | AI assistant | Some plan flexibility | 30-day money-back guarantee
InMotion Hosting is known for its excellent customer support, making it one of my top choices for VPS hosting today.
Why we like it: Simply put, its performance is solid and backed by excellent customer support. 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 both starting out and more complex setups.
Review: InMotion Hosting
It also makes switching over from another host quite 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.
Features of note include dedicated IP addresses, flexible core, RAM, and storage options, alongside Docker compatibility and bare metal servers.
Who it's for: This service is for anyone who wants to learn about VPS by signing up for just a month. It's also for 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.
Also: Best malware removal software of 2026
You can try it out for a month, six months, or up to three years. Plans start at only $5 per month for the entry level. The most resource-intensive subscription will cost you the better part of $110 per month.
You should also be aware that control panel options can increase the cost of your monthly bill. However, if you opt for a premium plan, your bandwidth is unlimited, and you will also be given dedicated IP addresses. Security packages and backup services are also available.
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 | Flexible plans | Unlimited bandwidth | Dedicated IPs
Pros
- Excellent 24/7 customer support
- Free site migrations and easy-to-use server tools
- Fast performance with SSD storage and free backups
- Scalable plans that can grow with your business
- Fewer data centers compared with some bigger providers
- Renewal price hikes, can become expensive
InMotion Hosting is known for its excellent customer support, making it one of my top choices for VPS hosting today.
Why we like it: Simply put, its performance is solid and backed by excellent customer support. 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 both starting out and more complex setups.
Review: InMotion Hosting
It also makes switching over from another host quite 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.
Features of note include dedicated IP addresses, flexible core, RAM, and storage options, alongside Docker compatibility and bare metal servers.
Who it's for: This service is for anyone who wants to learn about VPS by signing up for just a month. It's also for 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.
Also: Best malware removal software of 2026
You can try it out for a month, six months, or up to three years. Plans start at only $5 per month for the entry level. The most resource-intensive subscription will cost you the better part of $110 per month.
You should also be aware that control panel options can increase the cost of your monthly bill. However, if you opt for a premium plan, your bandwidth is unlimited, and you will also be given dedicated IP addresses. Security packages and backup services are also available.
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 | Flexible plans | Unlimited bandwidth | Dedicated IPs
Kamatera is a great pick if you need VPS hosting that can grow with your business, thanks to its flexibility and scalability.
Why we like it: You can tweak CPU, RAM, and storage on the fly. This is 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. This helps with latency reduction and keeps your site running fast, even with a high visitor load.
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 range from $4 - $12 per month.
You can also delve deeper into technical and customization options such as processors, storage, bandwidth, and RAM. You can also choose from a range of data center locations and operating systems.
Apps are constantly being added to the Kamatera marketplace that can be used for purposes including workflow automation, app hosting, and server management.
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.
A free trial is also available.
Who should look elsewhere: Backups aren't included for free, so you'll need to account for this if keeping your data safe is a priority. If you're looking for free backups, another of my top picks might be a better fit.
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 | Server location choices
Pros
- Easily scalable with flexible server options
- Global network of data centers for low latency
- Pay-as-you-go pricing with no long-term commitments
- 30-day free trial to test it out
- Backups aren't included for free
Kamatera is a great pick if you need VPS hosting that can grow with your business, thanks to its flexibility and scalability.
Why we like it: You can tweak CPU, RAM, and storage on the fly. This is 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. This helps with latency reduction and keeps your site running fast, even with a high visitor load.
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 range from $4 - $12 per month.
You can also delve deeper into technical and customization options such as processors, storage, bandwidth, and RAM. You can also choose from a range of data center locations and operating systems.
Apps are constantly being added to the Kamatera marketplace that can be used for purposes including workflow automation, app hosting, and server management.
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.
A free trial is also available.
Who should look elsewhere: Backups aren't included for free, so you'll need to account for this if keeping your data safe is a priority. If you're looking for free backups, another of my top picks might be a better fit.
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 | Server location choices
Hosting.com, previously known as A2 Hosting, is all about speed, and it's one of the best options around for high-performance VPS hosting.
Why we like it: Its Turbo servers are designed to make your site load up to 20 times faster. This 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 offers a money-back guarantee. This means you can try it out for 30 days without issue, or potentially up to 90 days in some cases.
Who it's for: You can choose between managed or unmanaged VPS hosting, making this option best suited to anyone who wants greater flexibility and varying performance plans.
The plans include various Linux distros. Unmanaged hosting subscriptions begin at $10 per month on a one-year contract. 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 outside of VPS services.
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 | Variety of plans | Claims 99.9% uptime
Pros
- Turbo servers for faster load times
- High-performance SSD storage
- Free site migration and SSL certificate
- Anytime money-back guarantee
- Renewal rates can be higher
- Recent price hikes
Hosting.com, previously known as A2 Hosting, is all about speed, and it's one of the best options around for high-performance VPS hosting.
Why we like it: Its Turbo servers are designed to make your site load up to 20 times faster. This 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 offers a money-back guarantee. This means you can try it out for 30 days without issue, or potentially up to 90 days in some cases.
Who it's for: You can choose between managed or unmanaged VPS hosting, making this option best suited to anyone who wants greater flexibility and varying performance plans.
The plans include various Linux distros. Unmanaged hosting subscriptions begin at $10 per month on a one-year contract. 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 outside of VPS services.
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 | Variety of plans | Claims 99.9% uptime
DigitalOcean is a go-to option for VPS hosting that allows you to customize almost everything.
Why we like it: It provides you with the tools to build and manage your server exactly as 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 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 visito
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