Compare any replacement on three things: where its data centres are, how the server is billed and what support comes with it, because that's where cloud providers differ most. A managed host suits teams who don't want to run servers. A plain VPS or bare metal provider suits developers who do.
Linode, now Akamai Cloud, leads its own page with low-latency, edge native applications on Akamai Connected Cloud. That's a very different pitch from renting a simple virtual server, and if a plain server is all you came for, it's a fair reason to look around. Here are nine providers, in no particular order, for developers and small teams comparing where to run their apps next.
Nine hosts in one table
| Tool | Type of hosting | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic.Net | Cloud hosting and infrastructure | Teams shopping for secure cloud hosting |
| Cherry Servers | Bare metal cloud | Workloads that want a physical server |
| Contabo | VPS and cloud servers | Comparing VPS options |
| Hostwinds | Web, VPS, cloud and dedicated hosting | Businesses and developers wanting several hosting types |
| InterServer | Cloud, bare metal and colocation | Mixed workloads across different server types |
| Kamatera | Virtual machines, VPS and IaaS | Flexible cloud servers |
| Liquid Web | Managed hosting and dedicated servers | Teams who'd rather not run the server themselves |
| netcup | Hosting, servers and domains | Root servers plus domains and email |
| RamNode | Cloud VPS | Simple VPS deployments |
Use the table to narrow things down to two or three, then put those through the three questions below. Nothing here is ranked, and the alphabetical order means nothing beyond making it easy to scan.
Three questions that separate cloud providers
Where will your server physically sit?
Latency comes down to distance between your server and the people using it, so start with your users. If most of them are in one country, a data centre near them matters more than a long list of locations you'll never use. If you've got legal or client requirements about where data is stored, write those down before you compare anyone, and confirm the exact location with the provider rather than assuming from a map on the homepage.
How does the billing work?
Cloud providers don't all bill the same way. Some bill you for what you use and others sell a fixed plan for a set term, and the difference shows up when you scale down, take a server offline or move a lot of data out. Read how a server is billed while it's powered off, and how outbound traffic is treated, because those two details catch people out more than the headline plan does.
Who picks up the phone at two in the morning?
Support is where the gap between providers gets widest. Some will help you inside your server, and others will only confirm the hardware's running and leave the rest to you. Neither is wrong, as long as you know which one you've bought. Open a pre-sales ticket with a real technical question and see what comes back, because the quality of that answer is the best preview you'll get.
How the nine split by the work they do
Someone else runs it
Liquid Web is the clearest example of managed hosting here, built around teams who want experts handling the servers. If nobody on your team wants to be on call, start with this kind of provider.
Plain virtual servers
Contabo, Kamatera, Hostwinds and RamNode all sit in VPS and cloud server territory, and netcup adds root servers with domains and email if you'd like those under one roof. Atlantic.Net puts the word secure at the front of how it describes its hosting, which is worth a closer look if that's what your clients ask about first.
Bare metal and mixed estates
Cherry Servers is built around bare metal cloud, meaning a physical machine rather than a slice of one. InterServer covers more ground, from cloud compute and bare metal to colocation, which could suit a team whose apps don't all need the same kind of server.
A to Z, one line each
In no particular order beyond the alphabet, with each line based on what the provider says about itself.
Atlantic.Net
Best for: Security-minded teams, with the vendor billing itself as secure cloud hosting and infrastructure.
Cherry Servers
Best for: Developers after bare metal cloud services, which the vendor describes as raw and simple.
Contabo
Best for: Developers and small teams adding another VPS and cloud server provider to their comparison.
Hostwinds
Best for: Businesses and developers who may move between web hosting, VPS, cloud and dedicated servers with one provider, per the vendor.
InterServer
Best for: Mixed infrastructure needs: the vendor lists cloud compute, bare metal, managed hosting, colocation, storage and round-the-clock support.
Kamatera
Best for: Teams wanting virtual machines and VPS on what the vendor calls enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure, with a free trial named.
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Liquid Web
Best for: Managed hosting and dedicated servers, for teams who'd prefer experts to look after things, as the vendor pitches it.
netcup
Best for: Root servers with, the vendor says, full performance and full control, alongside domains, email and web hosting.
RamNode
Best for: VPS users who like the vendor's own promise of a high-performance cloud VPS that just works.
My advice on picking a host
Decide how much of the server you want to own before you compare a single provider. Most bad hosting decisions come from a team buying a raw server because it looked simple, then realising nobody wants to patch it, or buying managed hosting and resenting how little they can touch. Be honest about who'll be awake when it breaks.
For a wider field, my guide to the best VPS hosting covers more of this category. And if your team is spending too long on the repetitive jobs around your servers, take a look at these AI workflow automation tools as well.
Before you move a live server
- Spin up the smallest server on two shortlisted providers and deploy the same real app to both
- Run the same load test against each from where your users are
- Send each provider the same technical support question and compare the replies
- Check how backups, snapshots and data transfer work, and restore one to prove it
- Lower your DNS time-to-live ahead of time so you can switch quickly and switch back
- Keep the old server running until the new one has handled a normal week
Do you make cloud servers or VPS hosting? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a VPS and bare metal?
A VPS is a virtual slice of a shared physical machine. Bare metal gives you the whole physical server, which suits work that needs consistent performance and more control, and asks more of you to run it.
What does managed hosting mean?
The provider takes on some of the server work, such as updates and monitoring. What's included varies a lot, so ask for the exact list before you assume they'll do something for you.
How do I move my app without downtime?
Build the new server alongside the old one, copy your data, test it, then point your domain at the new address. Keep your DNS time-to-live low beforehand and leave the old server running for a while.
Do data centre locations matter for a small app?
Yes, if your users are concentrated in one region, because distance adds delay. For a small app with a scattered audience, the location matters less than good caching.
Can I run the same setup on another provider?
Usually, if you've been using standard Linux servers and your own configuration. Anything tied to one provider's own services will need a replacement, so list those first.
How do I test support before I sign up?
Send a pre-sales question that's specific to your setup, and judge the reply on how quickly it came and whether it answers what you asked.
