The best VPS hosting services for 2024: Expert tested

Ionos is our top pick VPS hosting right now. The company offers a good balance of price, customization, and security. It's 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 exactly what you need. The control panel is straightforward, so you don't have to be super technical to get things going.

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 -- they include DDoS protection and regular backups automatically, so you don't have to worry about that side of things.

Performance-wise, Ionos delivered. I didn't run into any major 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 they're just checking boxes. It's not bad, but it's something to be aware of, especially if you think you'll need a lot of support.

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.

Ionos features: Affordable VPS plans | Customizable configurations | Free SSL certificate and domain | DDoS protection | Regular backups

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.

Hostinger handles most small to medium-sized projects really 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.

Review: Hostinger

Hostinger features: Affordable VPS plans | User-friendly control panel | WordPress optimization | 24/7 customer support | Free dedicated IP

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 out 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're not super familiar with server management.

It also makes switching over from another host pretty painless. The free site migration service handles all the technical stuff, 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.

The only real downside is that InMotion has fewer data centers compared to some of the bigger players, which might affect performance if your audience is spread out globally. But for most users, especially those in North America, this shouldn't be a big issue.

Review: InMotion Hosting

InMotion Hosting features: SSD storage | Free site migrations | 24/7 customer support | Scalable VPS plans | Free backups

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've got a site 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 a lot of 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.

A2 Hosting features: Turbo servers | SSD storage | Free site migration | Anytime money-back guarantee | Free SSL certificate

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 get your server set up and customized to your needs.

When I used DigitalOcean, I found it to be especially good 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, if you ever get stuck or want to learn more, the strong developer community and extensive documentation are super helpful.

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 I scaled up once we launched, and then 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 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.

DigitalOcean features: Customizable VPS plans | Easy-to-use interface | Active developer community | Extensive documentation | Transparent pricing

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's got data centers around the world, so you can pick a location close to your audience, which helps with reducing latency and keeping your site running fast.

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. 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.

Kamatera features: Scalable VPS plans | Global data centers | Pay-as-you-go pricing | 30-Day free trial | Custom server configurations

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.

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.

Review: GoDaddy

GoDaddy features: Easy-to-use interface | 24/7 customer support | Affordable pricing | Integrated domain registration | Simple setup process