Writer: Laura Bernheim
Editor: Lillian Castro
Reviewer: Christina Lewis
Although you can seemingly find Linux web hosting everywhere, the best Ubuntu hosting services can be a little harder to find.
Typically, operating systems aren’t the centerpiece of web hosting providers‘ marketing, and many site owners might not worry too much about which system they use. However, if you’re an experienced developer or working on complex projects, you’ll likely appreciate the stability and reliability that Ubuntu brings.
Join major companies, including Slack, Instacart, and Reddit, by implementing Ubuntu Server in your tech stack. Let’s take a look at some of the best web hosting services out there.
-
Navigate This Article:
Best Overall Ubuntu Hosting Services
Ubuntu, which translates to “humanity to others” in an ancient African dialect, was launched in 2004 after a team of Debian developers established Canonical. Their goal was to make free software available to the broadest audience possible.
Ubuntu’s popularity has steadily increased in the past 20+ years. Now, nearly 15% of all sites using Linux rely on Ubuntu.
If you’re looking for an Ubuntu host, you’ll want at least a virtual private server. Take a look at the companies our team has found to offer the best Linux VPS hosting options.
1. Kamatera.com
Monthly Starting Price $4.00
- 40+ Linux distros, from FreeBSD to CloudLinux
- Create and deploy servers in less than 60 seconds
- Unlimited cloud-based scalability on SSD storage
- Simple management console and API
- Sign up today for a 30-day free trial
- Get started on Kamatera now.
Surajdeep Singh
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 minutes | 20 GB NVMe – 4 TB NVMe | 1 – 32 cores | 1 GB – 128 GB |
Kamatera provides cloud hosting services that can be customized to fit the needs of all users. Kamatera operates 24 data centers on four continents, ensuring your site will load quickly, no matter where your visitors are located.
Start with a 30-day free trial with Kamatera, and you can build a web hosting plan that meets your exact specifications. Each configuration comes with a staggering number of operating system choices, including nine from Ubuntu.
Plans start at just $4.00 per month (or an hourly rate), meaning you can build what you need and not pay extra for services and capacity that you won’t use.
- Ubuntu versions: 32- and 64-bit versions of 12.04, 14.04, 16.04, plus 64-bit installations of 18.04 and 20.04
- Type of hosting: Cloud
- Uptime: 99.95%
- Key features: Root access, highly customizable service plans, unlimited scalability balanced with a simple management portal, Intel Xeon Platinum processors paired with SSDs, and unlimited access to a 40 Gbit/s network
If you’re looking for cloud services other than computing, you’ll also be pleasantly surprised by Kamatera’s offerings of block storage and private networks, along with a load balancer, firewall, and managed services.
For those looking to use Ubuntu on a budget for a smaller site, Kamatera would be an excellent option to consider.
2. Hostinger.com
Monthly Starting Price $5.84
- Affordable cloud VPS hosting built for speed with Kodee AI assistant
- Automatic weekly backups and malware scanner
- CentOS, Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian & SUSE
- Full root access with a dedicated IP address
- NVMe SSD Storage and AMD EPYC Processors
- Use multiple OS kernels and install with 1 click
- Get started on Hostinger now.
Sead Fadilpasic
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 50 GB NVMe – 400 GB NVMe | 1 – 8 cores | 4 GB – 32 GB |
With the sheer number of Ubuntu options Hostinger offers with its Linux VPS hosting, you should easily be able to find something to fit your needs and budget.
Although the company uses CloudLinux for its shared hosting services, customers have the option to choose from 14 different Ubuntu configurations at the VPS level.
Most versions include a choice of control panel, including Webmin, Virtualmin, Webuzo, VestaCP, or Plesk Onyx (if you purchase the license).
If you’re searching for a specific Ubuntu version, this web hosting provider is probably your best bet to find it. Read on to discover more:
- Ubuntu versions: 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, and 20.04
- Type of hosting: VPS
- Uptime: 99.9%
- Key features: Root access, user-friendly custom dashboard, affordable domains, a dedicated IP address, on-demand backups and restores, double-parity RAID protection, and advanced DDoS protection via BitNinja
Hostinger’s cloud-based VPS web hosting promises speeds up to 30 times faster than the industry’s leading shared hosting services.
The company’s intuitive auto-installer takes away much of the technical headaches of deploying a server. In addition to popular web scripts, Hostinger provides plenty of operating system templates and multiple servers optimized for WordPress hosting, Minecraft, and VPNs.
Hostinger ensures you will always have access to the support you need.
3. Hostwinds.com
Monthly Starting Price $4.99
- Choice of Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS
- Cloud VPS hosting with hourly or monthly billing
- Impressive 99.9999% uptime guarantee
- Real-time monitoring and instant scalability
- Easy server administration via custom control portal
- Get started on Hostwinds now.
Jack Wallen
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 750 GB SSD | 1 – 16 cores | 1 – 96 GB |
Hostwinds has been providing top-notch hosting services since 2010. That experience shows in its easy-to-use control panel, which allows you to manage all of your accounts and websites from one convenient location. Hostwinds’ VPS hosting plans are among the most flexible on the market today. Plans start at just $4.99 per month, and customers typically see discounts on longer contracts.
- Ubuntu versions: 14.04, 16.04, and 18.04
- Types of hosting: cloud, VPS, and dedicated
- Uptime: 99.99999%
- Key features: Root access available with support for CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora Server hosting
Hostwinds offers a range of hosting products, including managed services for Linux or Windows hosting. We’ve found all Hostwinds products to be extremely cost-competitive.
4. InMotionHosting.com
Monthly Starting Price $14.99
- Enterprise-class CentOS 6 operating system
- FREE OS security patches and updates for VPS
- Root & SSH access, and reseller option with WHM
- FREE cPanel, SSL, and speed-boosting SSDs
- Unlimited FTP accounts and MySQL databases
- Get started on InMotion Hosting now.
Dave McQuilling
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 50 GB SSD – 460 GB SSD | 2 – 16 cores | 4 GB – 32 GB |
InMotion Hosting consistently impresses us. The web host’s state-of-the-art technology — and Ubuntu hosting — keeps InMotion Hosting near the front of the line in pretty much any category.
You can pick your favorite Ubuntu release to set up on an unmanaged cloud-powered VPS or a bare-metal dedicated server. Just remember, managed services are only available with CentOS deployments.
InMotion Hosting invests heavily in around-the-clock US-based customer support, though, so you won’t be left in the dark.
Backing up its service promise, InMotion Hosting provides an industry-leading 90-day money-back guarantee, even for select virtual private server and reseller packages. Dedicated servers feature a 30-day refund policy, another uncommon perk at this level of web hosting.
- Ubuntu versions: 16.04, 18.04, 20.04
- Types of hosting: Unmanaged cloud VPS and dedicated servers
- Uptime: 99.9%
- Key features: Industry-leading 90-day money-back guarantee, root access, dedicated IP address, Codero DDoS protection, and redundant hardware clusters with 24/7 monitoring, plus real-time server images for easy restores
InMotion Hosting believes that excellent service relies on a robust infrastructure, which is why it invests heavily in its systems to deliver the best offerings in the market.
The company’s proprietary UltraStack configuration, a finely tuned blend of NGINX, Redis, PHP-FPM, and Brotli compression, maximizes performance and lives up to InMotion Hosting’s billing as the fastest cloud VPS platform.
The company’s VPS plans strike the sweet spot of being remarkably affordable and supercharged with premium features particularly effective in the WordPress hosting space.
Whatever your needs, InMotion Hosting has you covered. If you want to start small and grow, InMotion Hosting will also easily scale with you.
5. InterServer.net
Monthly Starting Price $3.00
- $0.01 for the first month using code HOSTINGADV
- Then $6/mo. with no contracts, no price changes
- Flexible configurations for Linux cloud VPS
- Choose from Debian, CentOS, Ubuntu & more
- Deploy in 15 minutes or less with 99.9% uptime
- Get started on InterServer now.
Sead Fadilpasic
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 480 GB SSD | 1 – 16 CPUs | 2 – 32 GB |
Similar to many providers, InterServer prides itself on providing multichannel, 24/7/365 customer support.
Often, when we talk about service, we’re actually referring to the personal interactions we have. InterServer really shines by using artificial intelligence in a smart way to meet your needs.
AI has the capability to scan your infrastructure, identify potential issues before they appear, and either make updates or alert your tech team. These advancements ensure uptime and offer users significant performance and security benefits.
Naturally, the forward-thinking InterServer is an ideal option to host and scale your Ubuntu Linux application. Take a look at our overview:
- Ubuntu versions: 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, and 20.04
- Types of hosting: Cloud, VPS, and dedicated server hosting
- Uptime: 99.9%
- Key features: Root access, free migration tool, top-notch spam protection, 50% server capacity for fewer performance issues, remote backup service, and virtualization via KVM, OpenVZ, Virtuozzo, and Hyper-V
Two of the company’s co-founders can regularly be found answering tickets and managing the data center, and we applaud InterServer’s commitment to the efficiency and efficacy of its web hosting services.
InterServer’s personal touch is refreshing in the busy hosting world, especially with its unique price-lock guarantee that ensures your costs stay stable for the life of your account.
6. LiquidWeb.com
Monthly Starting Price $5.00
- Choice of Linux OS and control panel
- Instant provisioning and easy scalability
- RAID-protected SSD VPS options
- 100% network and power uptime guarantee
- Blazing-fast speeds coupled with support
- Get started on Liquid Web now.
Christina Lewis
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 30 GB SSD – 440 GB SSD | 1 – 6 cores | 1 GB – 16 GB |
Liquid Web’s commitment to performance and excellence is evident in features such as its 100% uptime guarantee and dedicated Sonar Monitoring team — whose sole responsibility is finding and resolving issues before they emerge to disrupt service.
Liquid Web primarily provides advanced web hosting services, so the company is less suitable for someone looking for low-cost or shared hosting options.
Its dedicated, cloud, and Linux VPS hosting plans, however, are feature-packed and ready to take your website to new levels.
If money is no object, Liquid Web is the way to go.
- Ubuntu versions: 16.04, 18.04, and 20.04
- Types of hosting: Cloud, VPS, and dedicated servers
- Uptime: 100%
- Key features: HIPAA-compliant security measures, choice of cPanel or Plesk, full root access, and phone and chat support responses guaranteed in less than a minute
Liquid Web offers Ubuntu in self-managed and core-managed options. With self-management, Liquid Web provides support for the hardware, network, and virtualization layers. Core management covers the base operating system, as well as Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
This leading web host connects you with an expert support team, powerful innovations, and exceptionally high uptime rates. We’re confident you’ll be impressed.
But you don’t have to take our word for it. Liquid Web’s Net Promoter Score, which measures customer satisfaction, has consistently ranked in the 60s and 70s — well above the 50-point threshold to be considered excellent.
Liquid Web has crushed that mark year after year, landing it among the brands with the highest customer loyalty in the world.
7. Hosting.com
Monthly Starting Price $10.00
- High-speed hosting and scalability you can trust
- CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora available
- FREE SSL certificate and website migration
- Turbo server upgrade gives 20x faster speed
- Reliable SSD storage in RAID-10 arrays
- Get started on hosting.com now.
Christina Lewis
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 20 GB NVMe – 450 GB NVMe | 1 – 10 cores | 1 GB – 32 GB |
Some site owners prefer being early adopters and taking a chance on new technologies, while others prefer the tried-and-true mainstays. If you’re the latter, you’ll enjoy the comfort of knowing that Hosting.com is one of the oldest, most trusted web hosting providers around.
Launched in 2001, hosting.com has certainly learned a thing or two about how to provide excellent service and features for its customers.
Speed, via Turbo Server, is hosting.com’s claim to fame. With page load speeds averaging 278ms over the past six months, you don’t have to worry about high bounce rates and frustrated visitors.
- Ubuntu versions: 14.04 and 16.04
- Types of hosting: Unmanaged VPS and dedicated servers
- Uptime: 99.9%
- Key features: Free website migration, root access, RAID-10 SSD storage, plus on-demand boot, reboot, and shutdown controls; optional cPanel and Softaculous add-ons, as well as available Turbo Server upgrade for 20x performance
While we’d love to see a few more Ubuntu versions offered, hosting.com still provides plenty of other benefits. With 24/7 friendly and knowledgeable support, you’ve got a dependable host that can grow with you.
Overall, hosting.com offers a very affordable unmanaged VPS plan, starting at just $10.00 per month. Plus, unlike many other providers, you can opt for a month-to-month payment if you prefer to move at a slower pace.
8. GoDaddy.com
Monthly Starting Price $5.99
- CloudLinux servers keep your site online
- On-demand resources let you scale your site
- 125+ software installation scripts via cPanel
- Fraud, virus, and spam protection
- Linux users get unlimited MySQL databases
- Get started on GoDaddy now.
Lynn Cadet
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Setup Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | 25 GB – 100 GB | FREE (1 year) | 4 minutes |
With an eye-popping 21+ million customers, GoDaddy enjoys unparalleled success and recognition in the web hosting industry. Its status as a leading domain registrar isn’t surprising, as GoDaddy makes one-stop shopping a breeze.
You can start with a base Linux VPS hosting plan, which costs only $8.99 per month, allowing you to select CentOS, Ubuntu, and other configurations as needed. Feel free to add as many features as you like, but be cautious because the expenses can accumulate quickly.
- Ubuntu versions: 16.04 (VPS) or 20.04 (Linux dedicated server)
- Types of hosting: Self-managed VPS or any dedicated server
- Uptime: 99.9%
- Key features: Advanced DDoS protection, free SSL certificate for a year, high-performance SSDs on OpenStack with unlimited traffic, monitoring, and alerts, plus Virtuozzo and KVM virtualization
GoDaddy is a fantastic choice for experienced developers because it only provides Ubuntu for self-managed VPS plans; you won’t be able to use a control panel.
In addition to HDD storage or NVMe SSDs, you can run Ubuntu in both self- or fully managed servers.
Unlocking fully managed services also enables customers to take advantage of up to five free website migrations, plus a 70% discount on additional transfers.
9. HostGator.com
Monthly Starting Price $34.99
- HostingAdvice readers take 58% off at signup
- Unmetered bandwidth, domains, and email
- Self- or fully managed services available
- Performance powered by Intel and AMD
- Weekly backups, install scripts & other dev tools
- Get started on HostGator now.
Lynn Cadet
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 120 GB SSD – 240 GB SSD | 2 – 4 cores | 2 – 8 GB |
HostGator is a web hosting company well known for the features and affordability of its shared hosting plans. If you’re looking to use Ubuntu, however, you will need to focus on semi-managed VPS hosting and dedicated servers.
By default, the customer-centric web host installs CentOS and cPanel on its fully managed VPS hosting packages. Because cPanel only works on a select few operating systems (hint: Ubuntu isn’t one of them), you’ll want to order a HostGator VPS without a control panel.
Once you complete your purchase, you can ask HostGator to add Ubuntu. However, be cautious; these customizations might mean you won’t get the full support that a managed VPS plan offers. Essentially, use Ubuntu at your own discretion.
- Ubuntu version: 16.04
- Types of hosting: VPS and dedicated servers
- Uptime: 100% network guarantee
- Key features: Intel and AMD hardware, weekly backups, full root access, and free content transfers with any plan upgrade
Since HostGator can’t provide its usual premium support for custom Ubuntu setups, VPS and dedicated servers come with a network guarantee.
While uptime guarantees cover server availability, HostGator puts 100% confidence in providing a fast and reliable network. It’s a slight difference, but one you probably want to be aware of.
10. HostPapa.com
Monthly Starting Price $19.99
- FREE wholesale domain reseller account
- Unlimited domains, websites, and email hosting
- Enhanced SSD storage and Intel Xeon processors
- FREE cPanel/WHMCS license, and Softaculous installs
- Instantly provision up to 32GB of RAM
- Get started on HostPapa now.
Laura Bernheim
| Setup Time | Disk Space | CPU | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 minutes | 60 GB SSD – 1 TB SSD | 4 – 12 cores | 2 GB – 32 GB |
HostPapa is a full-service web hosting company that prides itself on providing high-powered resources for site owners, especially small businesses, to grow their online presence.
As with a few hosts on our list, Ubuntu is available on self-managed VPS plans; fully managed services are only available with CentOS and cPanel. However, we appreciate that HostPapa offers two modern versions of Ubuntu in 18.04 and 20.04.
- Ubuntu versions: 18.04 and 20.04
- Type of hosting: Self-managed VPS
- Uptime: 99.99%
- Key features: Fully automated provisioning and on-demand scaling from a proprietary management portal; proactive monitoring and DDoS protection, plus RAID redundancy, brute-force protection, and server-level firewalls
In addition to the standard web hosting plans, HostPapa also offers domains, web design services, email and productivity solutions, and a wide range of security upgrades.
To further boost its services, HostPapa maintains a variety of support tools, including a knowledge base, video tutorials, 24/7 customer service, and a blog to ensure customers are set up for success.
What Is Ubuntu Hosting?
According to Ubuntu leadership, the open-source operating system “runs from the desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet-connected things.” More precisely, Ubuntu is a distribution of Linux, the most popular operating system hosting providers use.
Ubuntu hosting is simply a web server environment using Ubuntu as an operating system. With that foundation, users can then build, publish, and scale assorted websites and applications.
Ubuntu is readily available for free and benefits from a large, supportive community focused on enhancing both functionality and user experience with the operating system.
The global community is especially significant given the philosophy behind the word ubuntu — a concept that embraces compassion as a fundamental element of a greater whole.
Several hosting providers offer the popular Linux distribution as an option for virtual private server and dedicated hosting. Customers will usually use root access to install Ubuntu, configure related packages, and edit files as needed.
At the end of the day, a stellar Ubuntu or Linux host offers top-notch hardware, security, and customer service—all while being easy on your wallet.
How Much Does It Cost to Host Ubuntu?
Whenever someone asks me this question, I immediately respond with, “It depends.” But don’t worry — I’ll elaborate.
The amount you pay for a hosting plan has less to do with Ubuntu and more to do with what kind of server you need, the size of your website, and what extra features you want.
For example, if you’re running a small site with limited traffic, a shared hosting plan is only going to cost a few dollars a month. On the other hand, an enterprise hosting plan that uses several dedicated servers can run you thousands. See what I mean?
In general, here are the starting prices you can expect to host Ubuntu:
| Hosting Type | Monthly Starting Price |
|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $1-$5 |
| VPS Hosting | $2-$10 |
| Cloud Hosting | $5-$10 |
| Dedicated Hosting | $30-$100 |
And remember, these are just starting prices. Your hosting plan will get pricier as you add more resources and features. It’s common for a shared hosting plan to cost $15 a month when you include extra bandwidth and RAM, multiple websites, and enhanced security features.
What Is the Difference Between Ubuntu and Linux?
The Linux OS is a core open-source operating system that has been around since 1991.
You’ll find this operating system in every Amazon service, all Android devices, and on most social media platforms—even the International Space Station switched from Windows hosting to Linux hosting back in 2013.
As you can imagine, Linux has transformed tremendously over the past three decades to keep up with the evolving needs of computing. Developers have been tirelessly improving the core Linux hosting code, known as the kernel, to boost or introduce functionalities for various applications.
Even better, that new code or operating system is typically brought back to the larger open-source community for continued use and development.
Think of Linux at the top of a family tree. CentOS, Fedora, Debian, Gentoo, and openSUSE are some of the major descendants (or forks), with hundreds of other operating systems branching out from there. Ubuntu traces its roots back to Debian.
Ubuntu might have a Linux hosting foundation, but it has its own style and features.
Why Should I Use Ubuntu Hosting?
First off, you should consider Ubuntu hosting if a Linux server fits your needs. If a Windows server would be more appropriate for your overall goals, then you obviously might wish to reconsider using Ubuntu.
Once you’ve established you need a Linux hosting environment, take a look at some of the advantages of Ubuntu:
- It’s free. Sure, most Linux distros are free… but not all of them. Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Oracle Linux, and SUSE Linux are a few of the main commercial options.
- It’s easy to use. Not being able to use cPanel may be a bit daunting, but Ubuntu is known for being user-friendly.
- It’s open-source. The collaborative option appeals to many users who believe in the altruistic sharing of information (plus lower costs and community-based support).
- It’s highly customizable. Easily adjust settings or add tools that make your Ubuntu environment more comfortable or efficient.
- It’s secure. Ubuntu’s built-in firewall and virus protection do a great job of protecting users and their data.
- It’s supported by an active community. Having an active, global group of developers on standby is a strong selling point. You have somewhere to ask questions when you hit a snag.
All in all, Ubuntu is a well-maintained and efficient operating system for web hosting servers; it’s powerful and secure without being obtrusive.
How Do I Choose the Best Ubuntu Hosting Service?
With countless hosting services offering Ubuntu, choosing the right one for your website boils down to understanding your project’s needs and evaluating the quality of the web host’s services.
For evaluating the needs of your project, you will want to have in mind your budget, expected traffic, required storage, security needs, and any extra computing requirements.
- Step 1: Figure out what Ubuntu release you want (or need) to use. You may decide the version doesn’t matter, but if you discover you need functionality from the Groovy Gorilla release (20.10), you can easily rule out providers that only offer Bionic Beaver (18.04).
- Step 2: Determine your budget. Be sure to keep in mind extra features like domains and security upgrades when calculating the overall amount you will pay for the website. Weed out any providers with plans that are outside of your budget.
- Step 3: Make a list of priorities for your website. Is it more important that you never risk having a potential customer trying to reach your site when it’s down? That you don’t lose a reader to slow page load times? That your data (and clients’ data) is safe?
- Step 4: Compare the list to the available plans. We have tried to help you with this step by creating this guide, but you can always evaluate each host separately or look up customer reviews.
When you are evaluating a hosting provider, you’ll want to know about the quality of its hardware and network, data center locations, server monitoring protocols, and security systems (both physical and digital). Other relevant information to consider in the decision-making process is the hosting provider’s years in business, overall reputation, and level of dedication to customer service.
Learn Your Linux: Why Ubuntu Is Our Go-To Distribution
Ubuntu holds all the benefits of Linux hosting, including security, easy maintenance, broad hardware compatibility, low cost, and support.
Ubuntu often enhances these features to differentiate itself from other Linux distributions, offering a unique advantage for Linux server users.
For example, tools like Aptitude make it easy to find, install, and manage software for Ubuntu. The ability to give Ubuntu a test drive at home with Ubuntu Desktop is also quite appealing.
Don’t underestimate the power of the Ubuntu community when choosing a Linux server distribution. Whether you want to join, learn, or connect, the Ubuntu community supports you in a dozen different ways.
Finding hosting for Ubuntu is relatively easy because many top hosting providers also rank among the best for Ubuntu hosting.
While it might be tricky to find a host for a lesser-known Linux distribution, when it comes to Ubuntu, you have a plethora of options available.
HostingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). HostingAdvice.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
