13 Best Cloud VPS Providers (April 2024)

Hannah Montana (our very own Miley Cyrus) released a song called “The Best of Both Worlds” in January 2006, and I feel that’s when the idiom took center stage (pun intended) — every other writer uses it.

While you may think a PB&J sandwich epitomizes the idiom, and I understand where you’re coming from, cloud VPS hosting truly offers the best of both worlds; It combines the best of cloud hosting and virtual private server (VPS) hosting. Without revealing too much (I enjoy suspense), you can think of cloud VPS hosting as the next best thing after dedicated server hosting for a fraction of the price.

Without further adieu (the stage has been set), read on to learn about cloud VPS hosting and the best cloud VPS providers.

More than 29 million customers run websites hosted on Hostinger servers, and you may be ready to jump on the bandwagon once I’m done talking about the web host, Hostinger provides four top-notch VPS hosting solutions for businesses of all sizes (KVM virtualized).

The KVM 2 plan is truly exceptional. If you compare its price to the features it packages, you’ll find little room for fault. It includes substantial NVMe SSD storage space, AMD EPYC processors powered by DELL and HPE servers, numerous Linux distros, ample bandwidth (not unlimited, though), weekly backups, a dedicated IP address, a snapshot, an AI assistant, a malware scanner, and DDoS protection.

Hostinger doesn’t offer Windows VPS servers, but this doesn’t tarnish its shine. I mean, any VPS hosting plan that includes an AI-powered assistant has my money and loyalty (I’m a simple man) — If you want to hop on board, just click on this link!

If A2 Hosting is the “King of Speed” and Bluehost is the “Emperor of WordPress,” Kamatera deserves the title of “Best Cloud VPS Provider.” Yes, I understand Kamatera’s designation isn’t as fancy as the former, but that’s the beauty of the web hosting provider — it doesn’t beat around the bush.

Kamatera offers a virtual private cloud (VPC) that is isolated, limitlessly customizable, hosted on secure cloud infrastructure, and priced with flexible models. You don’t have to go through a list of exhaustive steps to sign up for a secure VPC environment — simply set up your cloud server by selecting your preferred configurations, selecting a pricing model (monthly or hourly), and clicking on the Sign-Up button. No fluff.

Kamatera’s management portal enables you to increase or decrease cloud server capacity in just a few clicks. You can add network components like a load balancer, a firewall, and a VPN through it as well. If you don’t want to configure your own server, Kamatera also offers three pre-assembled server options: Just choose your preferred data center location and operating system (OS) to proceed.

If I ever took the servers of our listed web hosts for a high-speed test drive, there would be one clear winner: A2 Hosting. That would be a fun sight — imagine a racetrack with 13 mega-sized servers on wheels, controlled remotely! I’d pay to watch that race. If you’ve heard of A2 Hosting before, you probably know its Turbo Servers offer cheetah-like speed.

You probably know they aren’t entirely cloud-based, too, but should that stop you from purchasing a VPS hosting plan? Absolutely not! A2 Hosting offers various Linux VPS plans, ranging from unmanaged to managed. If an unmanaged plan appeals to you, I recommend the Ascent 8 and Ascent 16 plans. While the Runway 1 and Runway 2 plans are good, they don’t include NVMe SSDs and aren’t based on Turbo Servers.

The only downside I see to the Ascent plans are their price tags — they’re expensive. Similarly, I recommend the Soar 8, Soar 16, and Soar 32 plans for managed VPS hosting. With Turbo-based plans, expect faster webpage loads, improved conversion rates (happy customers = happy you), better SEO scores, lower website bounce rates, improved traffic handling, and a faster time to first byte (TTFB).

When a web hosting company has “cloud” in its name, you can vouch for its cloud hosting capabilities. Cloudways sure does know the cloud-ways. The only problem with Cloudways is that it makes you read between the lines. For example, it offers managed WordPress hosting but doesn’t mention the supported server type. After some digging, I figured out Cloudways offers WordPress hosting with enterprise-level cloud virtual private servers.

Cloudways is one of the best hosts for cloud VPS WordPress hosting, so hear me out. Cloudways supports three data center companies: DigitalOcean, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Amazon Web Services (AWS). To register, you must select a server resource category (standard or premium), choose your preferred data center company, and choose a server configuration. I recommend DigitalOcean if you’re on a budget — its plans are the cheapest.

These plans aren’t just resource-heavy but strewn with credible web hosting and WordPress hosting features. Some standout features include multiple PHP versions, Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, an optimized tech stack with advanced caching (including built-in WordPress and Magento cache), NVMe-based servers, a staging area, easy DNS management, one-click server cloning, and automated backups.

IONOS offers the cheapest set of VPS hosting plans out there, but these aren’t exactly cloud-based. Although, they “use the same technological platform as the IONOS Cloud” — albeit with a reduced feature set. IONOS’s virtual private servers are fully virtualized physical servers that house storage space, CPU resources, and RAM.

This doesn’t make IONOS any less appealing, though; It’s one of the most sought-after VPS hosts, especially considering its affordability. Even with its cheapest plans, it offers rapid NVMe SSD storage space, unlimited traffic, firewall management, IPS/IDS, cloud backups, DDoS protection, Linux and Windows options, a centralized cloud panel, a Plesk control panel, encrypted remote access, and multiple email addresses — you couldn’t ask for more.

Mind you, you can’t configure a VPS server for a Linux or Windows OS from the same service webpage — IONOS’s Linux and Windows VPS hosting service plans are separate. They include the same features and similar pricing, though, so don’t worry. However, if you switch from Linux to a Windows server or vice versa, you can’t do so via your existing plan — you’ll have to purchase a new one.

InterServer offers an astonishing 48 cloud VPS hosting plans (yes, you read that right!), each balancing affordability, processor cores, storage space, and memory. These plans are separated into three categories: Linux VPS, Windows VPS, and Storage VPS. Storage VPS plans, in particular, are fascinating (but not of interest, as I’ll explain soon), as they bundle an enormous amount of storage space.

To put it into perspective, the one-core plan has 100 times more storage space than IONOS’s entry-level VPS Linux XS plan. It’s three times more expensive though. The only drawback (a major one) is that these plans use enterprise hard disk drives (SATA), which are slower than SSD and NVMe options. Speed is of the essence in hosting and owing to the slowness of SATA hard drives, I recommend staying away from InterServer’s storage VPS plans.

You still have 32 cloud VPS plans to choose from, so keep your chin up! Each plan includes managed support if you purchase four or more processor slices (4 Cores plan or above), Webuzo control panel (you can also choose a DirectAdmin, cPanel, or Plesk control panel), remote cloud backups, one-click web app installation, self-healing hardware, a secure “jail environment,” and support for multiple database types.

Now may not be the best time to purchase a HostGator plan, as certain working components of its platform are being renovated. Its website builder, for example, is available to existing customers only at the time of writing. However, there’s no doubting its abilities as a VPS hosting company — HostGator is as modern as it gets.

The Houston-based web hosting company offers more control and extra flexibility with its three VPS plans. They’re pretty funnily named, too: Snappy 2000, Snappy 4000, and Snappy 8000. HostGator’s logo features an alligator and alligator snap. I could hardly imagine a name more fitting.

These plans are quite “snappy,” although slightly overpriced. For this reason, it only makes sense to purchase the beginner-level plan, Snappy 2000. It includes decent CPU power and memory, adequate SSD storage space, unlimited bandwidth, advanced functionality, flexible software, a full suite of impressive tools, and weekly backups.

This must be the first time Bluehost is not the preferred option for WordPress on a hosting list (Cloudways takes the cake)! This isn’t a worrying sign, though (far from it), as it confirms that Bluehost is much more than just a famed WordPress hosting provider. It also offers affordable shared hosting and decent VPS server hosting plans. And yes, I mean it when I say its VPS offering is “decent.”

While this kind of sours the whole “Bluehost offers more than just WordPress” agenda, it’s an unfortunate reality. At first glance, I wasn’t overly impressed, but considering the features included, other hosts in the same price range, and the reliability that comes with the web hosting provider, Bluehost is a reasonable option for VPS hosting, especially if you want to enter the hosting market with more powerful tooling than shared hosting.

Bluehost’s entry-level plan, the Standard plan, will get you started with your very own virtual private server — it’s the one I recommend. It includes ample SSD storage space, unmetered bandwidth, a cPanel control panel license, access control, professional email (powered by Google Workspace), and unlimited FTP accounts. Again, it’s not the most impressive, but it gets the job done.

Sometimes, web hosting providers throw around fancy words to capture your attention (all the time, really; it’s basic marketing). InMotion Hosting describes its VPS hosting solutions as “high-performance” and “ultra-reliable.” Well, for a change, a web host is underselling itself — InMotion Hosting’s VPS hosting plans are truly remarkable.

Very few hosting companies include substantial NVMe SSD storage space, processing power, memory space, and unlimited bandwidth in their plans, but InMotion Hosting is one of them. This combination is ultra-desirable and the chief reason InMotion Hosting should be among your shortlisted candidates.

InMotion Hosting offers seven VPS hosting plans. I recommend the eight gigabyte-plan for beginners and SMBs. This plan includes multiple dedicated IP addresses, DDoS protection, a choice of control panel, live chat support, built-in redundancy, eCommerce optimizations, and numerous data center locations.

HostArmada’s relative youth in the hosting space is comparable to a teenager playing basketball with a group of adults. But boy, can it play ball. While its managed cloud VPS hosting plans aren’t exactly slam dunk worthy, they’ll help you win any game with utmost grace and composure.

HostArmada’s four VPS plans are powered by NGINX web server software and are “created with care.” Each plan has merits and demerits, but I prefer the Web Raider plan. While it’s pretty expensive in the grand scheme of things, it’s an ideal solution for a mid-sized business.

The Web Raider plan encompasses unlimited websites, outstanding SSD storage, multiple CPU cores, sufficient memory and bandwidth, multiple PHP versions, a drag-and-drop website builder, loading speed optimization, and pre-optimized WordPress. It also includes provisions for enhanced caching and malware scanning and removal — take the plunge.

I’ll lead Liquid Web’s introduction with its standout feature: a 99.999% uptime guarantee. As I said earlier, web hosts tend to oversell themselves. Liquid Web, though, is doing itself a disservice by labeling its web hosting solutions as just “premium.” I feel it’s time to coin the term “ultra-premium,” as that’s exactly what Liquid Web promises.

Liquid Web brings lightning-quick, fully managed cloud VPS hosting to your doorstep. The best thing about Liquid Web is that it realizes customers may have different expectations, and it caters to each of them. For example, if you seek a top-class VPS hosting experience but don’t require over-the-top server specs, its general category of plans is more than enough.

However, if your website is memory-intensive, you can opt for a memory-optimized plan with, well, as you guessed it, enhanced memory. Additionally, if you need to purchase a plan that can handle high-traffic demands, Liquid Web has crafted four CPU-optimized plans. Each plan includes a mesmerizing array of features, so have fun exploring them.

GreenGeeks is a win-win for all parties: the parties being you and the environment. The green web hosting provider is environmentally friendly and does its part to make a difference. It puts back into the grid threefold the power it consumes in the form of green energy. Since servers consume a ton of electricity, this makes a significant difference and ensures a constant supply of renewable energy in the system.

Mind you, GreenGeeks isn’t just here to win hearts — it means business and has some fancy tricks up its sleeve. The fanciest of them all may be its WordPress hosting contingent — its managed VPS hosting plans pale in comparison. While GreenGeeks doesn’t fare well against other giants in the VPS hosting space, it’s far from a bad choice. After all, more than 55,000 customers trust the green hosting provider.

I recommend GreenGeeks for high-powered managed VPS only, as other hosts offer cheaper and better plans for entry-level VPS hosting. To this end, take a look at the eight-gigabyte plan. It includes all the features you expect of a premium VPS host, along with a 300% green energy match and a tree planted in your name!

As the world’s leading domain registrar, I wouldn’t fault you if you decided to choose GoDaddy due to its stellar domain name service.

That’s not all GoDaddy is renowned for, though — take one look at its powerful self-managed VPS hosting plans to understand where I’m coming from. GoDaddy offers a series of standard performance (decent specs) and high performance (excellent specs) plans for VPS hosting.

The 2vCPU/four gigabyte-RAM plan, in particular, is one of my leading choices for beginner-level VPS enthusiasts. It includes multiple vCPU cores, significant RAM, ample NVMe SSD storage space, snapshot backups, Linux and Windows operating system compatibility, cPanel and Plesk control panel options, peak security, and global data center options. The four vCPU/eight gigabyte-RAM plan is a doubly powerful alternative, but it costs almost twice as much.

Cloud VPS hosting combines the scalable, virtualized resources of VPS hosting with the dynamic provisioning of cloud hosting. This means you can enjoy nearly instant access to virtualized resources from any remote server (in the cloud network) without having to modify your server settings or migrate your data.

While traditional VPS hosting is good, cloud VPS hosting is even better. However, this isn’t set in stone, as some traditional VPS hosting plans outweigh their cloud VPS counterparts. A2 Hosting, for example, offers Turbo Server-powered VPS plans that are comparable to, if not better than, most of the cloud VPS plans I’ve reviewed.

Here are the benefits of cloud VPS hosting:

• Access to a pool of almost dedicated server resources.
• The cloud adds an extra layer of security.
• Complete control of your pool of resources.
• A quick overall user experience is guaranteed.
• You can customize firewall permissions.
• Network resources like a load balancer or a VPN can be added to your plan at the click of a button.

Additionally, any top web hosting provider will allow you to upscale or downscale your server resources through your control panel in a matter of minutes. This level of flexibility is highly sought-after.

It’s a common misconception that VPS hosting is more expensive than cloud hosting. Cloud hosting usually follows a pay-as-you-go model, which means you only pay for the cloud computing resources you use. While this may seem inexpensive initially, pricing can soar sky-high when you add resources like a load balancer or a VPN to your server cluster.

VPS hosts, on the other hand, charge a monthly or annual fee — you know what you’re signing up for from the get-go. Quite naturally, combining cloud hosting and VPS hosting (cloud VPS hosting) will cost more than both hosting categories individually.

A top-class cloud VPS plan can cost between $2 and $350 monthly. Liquid Web, for example, is known to be heavy on the pocket. Its cheapest cloud VPS plan starts at $16.00 monthly, and that includes the 74% signup discount.

IONOS, on the other hand, offers cheap cloud VPS hosting starting at just $2 per month (the VPS Linux XS plan) and rising to $30 every month (the VPS Linux XXL plan). Be strict with your budget, enlist the VPS hosting features you require, shortlist five worthy plans, compare them, and purchase the best fit.

VPS hosting is a better overall option than cloud hosting, but not by much. I prefer cloud hosting for businesses with a high-traffic website or network of such sites (provided they don’t harness a dedicated hosting plan), the reason being the “infinite” server resources at your disposal.

A cloud hosting plan draws on server clusters rather than a single server (as is the case in VPS hosting). This means if a server in the network cluster reaches maximum capacity, your website will simply draw on the resources made available by another server. The resources associated with a VPS hosting plan are finite in comparison. If your virtual private server goes down or your website receives a tremendous traffic spike, you may face issues in the short term.

However, you can easily upgrade your VPS hosting plan or server resource allocation, so this is merely a problem on paper or, in other words, a remote possibility. What is a fact, though, is that VPS hosting affords much more server control than cloud hosting. So if you’re an SMB or an eCommerce website owner and seek full root access for total control over your server instance, VPS hosting is the one for you. Most cloud hosting plans offer partial root access at best.

Liquid Web is among the best VPS hosting providers in the biz. While it’s not the best fully managed VPS host, it’s part of the conversation. The next-gen VPS host offers plans powered by the latest AMD EPYC processors, ample SSD storage space, Acronis backups, a 100% power and network guarantee, Cloudflare CDN, optimized security with ServerSecure protection, an integrated firewall, and, of course, full root access.

And this is just the start. Liquid Web provides three categories of fully managed Linux VPS hosting: general, memory-optimized, and CPU-optimized. Each category boasts four plans, which include all the features listed above. Memory-optimized plans include increased memory and caching optimizations, while CPU-optimized plans have more associated vCPU instances.

While these plans aren’t exactly affordable, with the cheapest being the Essential plan under the general category, you get a lot of bang for your buck. If you’re a Windows person, Liquid Web offers a selection of Windows VPS hosting plans as well.

Google Cloud Platform provides hundreds of products, including Cloud SQL, Cloud CDN, Cloud Firewall, Cloud Load Balancing, Google Kubernetes Engine, Vertex AI Platform, and Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) — look at the sheer variety! Google’s VPS platform, VPC, is a global virtual network spread across more than 200 countries and territories.

It offers an uptime guarantee of 99.99% and includes features like automatic virtual topology setup, VPC flow logs for immediate visibility, the ability to bring your own IP addresses, VPC peering, a globally distributed firewall, traffic forwarding, and packet mirroring. Pricing varies from region to region and is charged in GiB (gibibyte).

While Google Cloud’s VPC is unlikely to get you off your seat, it comes with Google’s stamp of authority and reliability and is a fascinating proposition. Additionally, if you sign up for it, you will receive $300 in free credits and access to more than 20 other GCP products. One stone… 20-plus birds!

I loosely touched upon the steps you should follow when choosing a cloud VPS hosting plan. Let’s take a deeper dive.

1. Determine your budget: Given the variety of options out there and their varying pricing models, you must pinpoint your budget first.
2. Decide what features you want: Next, do some research and make a list of the top features you want included in your plan. Be sure to include your preferred storage type (SSD or NVMe), storage space, operating system, control panel, security features, etc. The best plans include support for caching and a CDN, so keep an eye out.
3. Create a ranking by price: Now, identify the hosts and plans that meet this criteria and rank them from most expensive to cheapest — this way, you’ll know what the best in the biz offers.
4. Weigh your options: Analyze each plan and associate it with value for money. For example, if the most expensive plan offers the best set of features (as it should in an ideal world), it offers good value for money and is a worthy choice. However, if a cheaper plan includes comparable features, it provides better value for money and should be preferred.

Once you’ve determined the best cloud VPS plan for you, there’s only one thing left to do — enter your credit card details and remember to pay your monthly bill on time (autopay is a blessing in disguise)!

Proclaimed as the best cloud VPS provider (by yours truly), Kamatera is an exceptional web host. It values performance and scalability, is resilient and cost-effective, has a global network of data centers, and values data privacy. There are all the ingredients you need for a secure private cloud deployment. What’s more, a 30-day free trial ensures you can jump ship if you’re unsatisfied with the host’s performance.

If you admire Kamatera’s affordability, you’ll love IONOS. From shared hosting to VPS hosting, IONOS is like a magician who never gets a trick wrong. It’s the most affordable VPS hosting provider on this list, so if you’re strapped for cash, check out the VPS Linux XS plan — its value for money is unparalleled.

If A2 Hosting offers it, it delivers — I hold the web hosting service in high regard. A2 Hosting provides a series of magnificent plans for VPS hosting. If you prioritize speed and performance, you won’t be disappointed. IONOS and A2 Hosting don’t offer true cloud VPS plans, though, so if a cloud VPS is what you want (understandably so), Kamatera is your best option.

Hostinger deserves a pat on its back as well — you can’t go wrong with it. And, of course, Liquid Web deserves its flowers. There are my top five for you.