Shared hosting is a solid starting point for launching new websites or running smaller projects with limited traffic. But once your site starts growing, you’ll quickly need more power and flexibility. That’s where VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting comes in—it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to upgrade without jumping straight to a dedicated server.
Is VPS Hosting Right for You?
We’ve tested nearly every major hosting provider over the years—and we’re still hands-on with most of them today. For example, the site you’re reading right now runs on managed WordPress hosting. It’s a great pick for people who want a hands-off, worry-free hosting experience, especially for WordPress sites. That said, it can get pricey.
If you’re more technically inclined, cloud hosting is another flexible upgrade from shared hosting. It’s especially appealing to developers or users who want full control over their environment.
VPS hosting sits right in the middle. It gives you more performance, customization, and control than shared hosting, but without the complexity or cost of a dedicated server. Most VPS plans come with a graphical control panel like cPanel, making it easy to manage your site—even if you’re not a developer.
If you think VPS hosting might be right for your needs, check out our top picks below:
- Kamatera — Virtually unlimited scalability
- Hostinger — Most affordable fully managed VPS hosting
- Bluehost — Tons of storage on every plan
- HostGator — Nearly identical to Bluehost, with a broader hosting scope
- LiquidWeb — Memory- and CPU-optimized plans for high performance
- A2 Hosting — Cheapest unmanaged VPS plans
- Scala Hosting — Custom resource allocation based on your traffic needs
Ultimately, the “best” VPS host depends on what you care about most. Do you need rock-bottom pricing? Easy scalability? Tons of storage? Windows compatibility? Different hosts excel in different areas.
If you’re unsure where to begin, Kamatera is a solid starting point thanks to its flexibility and custom resource control.
Kamatera — Virtually Unlimited Scalability
Kamatera offers enterprise-grade cloud VPS hosting that’s perfect for scaling up or down at will. You can deploy servers, add databases, or expand resources in just a few clicks—making it a great fit for businesses expecting rapid growth or fluctuating demand.
It’s also incredibly versatile—you can use Kamatera for websites, apps, email hosting, VoIP services, CRMs, and more. Its use cases go far beyond traditional hosting.
Rather than choosing from a handful of preset plans, Kamatera lets you configure your server specs exactly how you want. Select your preferred data center, OS (including Windows), CPU cores, RAM, storage, bandwidth, IP addresses, and even control panels during setup.
Scaling is just as easy. Add extra storage, bandwidth, or compute power on demand—perfect for handling seasonal traffic spikes, promotional events, or app rollouts.
Pricing is also flexible: unmanaged plans start at just $4 per month, while fully managed plans start around $54. Kamatera gives you full control with minimal upfront commitment—great for developers or growing teams. If you want ease of use, Hostinger may be more beginner-friendly, but Kamatera delivers unmatched flexibility.
Hostinger — The Most Affordable VPS Hosting
Hostinger stands out for delivering high-performance VPS hosting at unbeatable prices. It’s the best deal if you want managed hosting without spending much.
The entry-level VPS plan starts at just $4.49 per month if you commit to a four-year term. Even after renewal, it only goes up to $7.99 per month—still cheaper than most shared hosting options. Here’s what’s included:
- 4 GB RAM
- 50 GB NVMe SSD storage
- 4 TB bandwidth
- Dedicated IP address
- Weekly and on-demand backups
- Free malware scanner
Unlike many budget VPS hosts, Hostinger doesn’t limit your OS choices. You can choose between CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux at checkout. The selected OS installs automatically—no extra steps required.
Hostinger’s custom control panel is one of its best features. It’s much simpler than cPanel and ideal for beginners. Everything is intuitively laid out, with minimal clutter and no steep learning curve.
You also get access to Hostinger’s built-in AI assistant. It can help you configure firewall rules, generate database scripts, and automate basic server tasks—saving you time and effort.
In short, Hostinger is ideal for anyone who wants a low-cost, fully managed VPS hosting experience with great support and usability.
Bluehost — Tons of Storage On Every Plan
Bluehost isn’t necessarily the best in any one category—but if you’re looking for storage space, it’s hard to beat. Even the lowest-tier VPS plan includes a massive 120 GB of SSD storage—three times more than many competitors.
This makes Bluehost a smart choice if you host media-heavy content like videos, podcasts, or high-resolution images. It’s also handy if you run multiple websites on a single VPS instance.
Beyond storage, Bluehost covers the basics well. You’ll get root access, free SSL, unmetered bandwidth, and a free cPanel license on all VPS plans.
The custom version of cPanel is designed to be more user-friendly. Key settings are easier to find, which is great for non-developers. But power users may find it slightly limiting compared to the standard cPanel interface.
Pricing starts at $31.99 per month with a three-year commitment. After renewal, that jumps to $81.99 per month—making it one of the more expensive options in the long term.
The good news? cPanel is included at no extra cost, whereas many other providers charge extra. Still, platforms like Hostinger offer better performance for a fraction of the cost using their own modern, intuitive control panels.
HostGator — Nearly Identical to Bluehost
HostGator is owned by the same parent company as Bluehost, and the similarities are obvious. Their VPS hosting plans are nearly identical in specs, pricing, and features.
The main difference? Bluehost focuses more on WordPress-centric features and tools, while HostGator takes a broader approach to hosting a variety of sites and platforms.
Another small distinction: HostGator uses the traditional version of cPanel, whereas Bluehost uses a simplified, custom version. Some users may prefer the classic layout with HostGator.
Pricing is also very similar, though introductory discounts may vary by a few dollars depending on the promotion. Plus, HostGator includes cloud and reseller hosting options that Bluehost does not.
In short, HostGator is a good fit if you want the power of Bluehost’s VPS infrastructure without the WordPress-first branding.
Liquid Web — Memory and CPU Optimized Plans
If you’re running resource-intensive applications or need maximum performance, Liquid Web offers specialized VPS plans optimized for either memory or CPU power. These plans give you the flexibility to choose the right setup for your workloads—without overpaying for resources you don’t need.
Every VPS plan includes 10 TB of bandwidth, root access, a dedicated IP, CDN integration, DDoS protection, and advanced firewall security. You’ll also get a 100% network uptime guarantee through their SLA—something few hosts offer.
It’s also one of the few top-tier hosts to offer fully managed Windows VPS hosting, making it an excellent choice if you rely on Windows-specific applications.
Liquid Web handles all the heavy lifting: software updates, security patches, server monitoring, and more. You even get free, white-glove migrations handled by their in-house experts—no plugins, no DIY.
If you eventually outgrow VPS, Liquid Web makes scaling simple with private cloud VPS, parent VPS servers, and dedicated hosting options.
Plans optimized for memory or CPU start at just $23 per month—especially competitive when you consider the premium features and dedicated support.
A2 Hosting — Cheap Unmanaged VPS Plans
If you’re a developer or just like getting your hands dirty, A2 Hosting has the cheapest unmanaged VPS hosting on the market. Prices start at just $2.99 per month—perfect for learning, experimentation, or spinning up lightweight projects.
These are truly bare-metal environments. You get root access, your choice of Linux distro, and the freedom to configure everything from the ground up. A2 gives you total control over your software stack and performance optimization—but you’re responsible for everything else.
The entry-level plan includes 1 GB RAM, 20 GB SSD storage, 1 vCPU core, and 500 GB of bandwidth. It’s minimal, but more than enough for developers building apps or learning server administration.
While you manage the software, A2 Hosting still takes care of the hardware and network—so you don’t have to worry about physical infrastructure or connectivity issues.
If you want more speed, A2 also offers “Turbo” unmanaged VPS plans featuring improved hardware, NVMe storage, and better overall performance at a slightly higher price.
Scala Hosting — Customize Resources Based on Traffic
If your website serves over a million visitors per month, Scala Hosting offers some of the most flexible resource configuration options in the VPS space.
Just input your monthly traffic volume, and Scala will generate a recommended configuration for CPU cores, RAM, and storage. You can fully customize each element—up to 24 cores, 64 GB RAM, and 2 TB SSD storage—based on performance needs and budget.
You also get to choose between SPanel (Scala’s intuitive, in-house control panel) and cPanel (for an added cost), along with optional features like daily backups, 24/7 monitoring, and LiteSpeed web server upgrades.
If you plan to resell hosting or manage multiple clients, you can add WHMCS or ClientExec licenses for automated billing and client management.
All plans include essential security features like SShield, built-in caching, spam filtering, daily off-site backups, and free SSLs. And since it’s fully managed, Scala handles server maintenance, software updates, and security for you.
Pricing starts at $29.95 per month and scales with your selected resources. While it’s not the cheapest option, the level of customization and included tools make it worth the investment for high-traffic or complex sites.
How to Choose the Best VPS Hosting Provider for You
Now that you’ve reviewed the best VPS hosting providers, the next step is figuring out which one fits your specific needs. Here’s how to narrow down your options.
Start by answering these three essential questions:
- What level of server resources do you need?
- Do you want a managed or unmanaged environment?
- What’s your monthly or annual budget?
Once you know your answers, it’s easier to eliminate hosts that don’t fit your use case. All the providers on our list are solid—your job is to match their offerings to your priorities.
Here are some other important factors to keep in mind as you compare:
24/7/365 White-Glove Support
Responsive customer support is non-negotiable with VPS hosting. Whether you’re troubleshooting a server error or just need help configuring your environment, fast and knowledgeable assistance is a must.
All the hosts we recommend offer 24/7 support via live chat or tickets, but some go further with proactive monitoring, account managers, or white-glove migrations. Choose a provider that matches the level of support you want.
Uptime vs Downtime
Most VPS providers offer excellent uptime, usually above 99.9%. That said, it’s worth reviewing their uptime guarantees and actual performance data when available. If uptime is mission-critical, look for a 100% SLA (like Liquid Web) or consider providers with distributed data centers for redundancy.
Performance
Performance is one of the main reasons to upgrade to VPS in the first place. Even entry-level VPS plans deliver better speeds and load times compared to shared hosting—because you’re not competing with other websites for resources.
Every provider on this list offers SSD or NVMe storage, decent RAM, and root access. If you want an extra edge, look for turbo plans, LiteSpeed servers, built-in caching, and CPU-optimized setups.
Just keep in mind: optimizing your site itself (with clean code, image compression, caching plugins, etc.) often has a bigger impact than switching providers.
Scalability
Look for hosts that make it easy to upgrade (or downgrade) your VPS as your traffic changes. Whether you grow steadily or experience sudden spikes, you want a provider that lets you scale quickly without downtime or a full migration.
Some hosts—like Kamatera or Scala Hosting—let you manually configure resources on demand. Others offer tiered plans that you can switch between with minimal friction. Either way, check upgrade paths ahead of time so you’re not boxed in later.