The best unmanaged VPS hosting providers offer full control and high performance for experienced users. The top recommended unmanaged VPS hosting provider is UltaHost. It offers high performance, full server control, and fast NVMe SSD at an affordable price.
Unmanaged VPS hosting refers to a barebones form of VPS hosting where users take full responsibility for managing their virtual server. Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a type of hosting that provides dedicated resources within a shared physical server. Unmanaged hosting means that the web host does not include any management services within the plan. Users are fully responsible for configuring and maintaining the server as needed. Unmanaged VPS hosting is therefore a highly customizable and cost-efficient option, but requires high technical expertise. The best unmanaged VPS hosting costs between $4.99 and $20 per month, with many reliable cheap unmanaged VPS plans under $10 available.
Expect 3 benefits from the best unmanaged VPS hosting: full control and customization, efficient resource allocation, and cost savings. Unmanaged VPS hosting allows you to install your own OS, often by mounting a custom ISO. Linux distributions like AlmaLinux, Ubuntu, Debian, and CentOS are easily installed. You can also install Windows OS on unmanaged VPS, but licensing fees apply. Unmanaged VPS costs less than managed VPS because users handle all maintenance, which lowers the hosting provider’s workload.
Unmanaged VPS costs less than managed VPS because users handle all maintenance, reducing the hosting provider’s workload. If needed, it’s possible to upgrade your unmanaged VPS plans to managed services by selecting an upgrade in the client portal or contacting the hosting provider’s support team.
Top Unmanaged VPS Hosting Services
- UltaHost – Best unmanaged VPS for full server control
- ScalaHosting – Best unmanaged VPS hosting for performance
- Liquid Web – Best for premium unmanaged VPS
- DreamHost – Best unmanaged VPS for US servers
- InMotion Hosting – Best unmanaged VPS for Linux servers
- HostPapa – Best unmanaged VPS for small businesses
- Namecheap – Best unmanaged VPS for beginners
- AccuWeb – Best for unmanaged VPS with HDD storage
- Hostwinds – Best for scalable unmanaged VPS
- GoDaddy Hosting – Best unmanaged VPS for unmetered bandwidth
- Hosting.com – Best for budget unmanaged VPS hosting
- What Is Unmanaged Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting?
- How Much Does The Best Unmanaged VPS Hosting Cost?
- What Can I Expect From The Best Unmanaged VPS Hosting?
- Can I Install My Own OS With Unmanaged VPS?
- Can I Run Unmanaged VPS Without A Control Panel?
- Why Do Unmanaged VPS Cost Less Than Managed VPS?
- Can I Upgrade My Unmanaged VPS Plans To Managed?
- Which Is The Best Unmanaged VPS Hosting Provider?
1. UltaHost
- Performance-Optimized servers using fast NVMe SSD
- Support for Linux and Windows OS
- Adaptive scaling as your needs grow
- Enterprise-grade firewall and real-time DDoS protection
- Free SSL included
- 20+ data center locations worldwide
- 99.99% uptime guarantee
- No free domain included
- Weekly free backups only
- 3 year subscription required for cheapest rates
UltaHost’s unmanaged VPS plans deliver high performance and complete server control at an unbeatable price. Their VPS Basic is priced at $3.99 per month, making them the most affordable VPS host on this list. It comes with 1 CPU core, 1 GB RAM DDR5, 30 GB of fast NVMe SSD storage and 1 IPv4 dedicated IP. Unmetered bandwidth is included on higher-tiered unmanaged VPS plans. A dedicated ILO/KVM interface lets users install the OS of their choice. Check our UltaHost review for more details.
2. ScalaHosting
- Free daily backups
- Wide Linux OS selection
- Can choose either SPanel (free) or cPanel (optional) control panel
- Free SSL included
- 3 data center locations worldwide
- Anytime money back guarantee
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
ScalaHosting provides premium VPS hosting plans with a focus on performance. Their Build #1 plan is priced at $20 per month. It comes with 2 vCPU cores, 4 GB of RAM, 50 GB of NVMe SSD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. It also includes 1 free dedicated IP for enhanced security and stability. Check our ScalaHosting review for more details.
3. Liquid Web
- Acronis Cyber Backup (50 GB)
- AlmaLinux, CentOS OS available
- 3 data center locations worldwide
- 100% uptime guarantee
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
- No free SSL included
- No money back guarantee
Liquid Web meets a wide range of web application needs with its unmanaged VPS hosting services. Their Essential plan is priced at $20 per month. It comes with 2 vCPU cores, 2 GB of RAM, and 40 GB of SSD storage. A generous 10 TB bandwidth makes it ideal for businesses who require extensive data transfer. You also get 1 free dedicated IP for improved stability.
4. DreamHost
- Pay-As-You-Go (hourly billing) model
- Supports Linux and Windows OS
- Can load own OS
- 100% uptime guarantee
- No free backups provided
- No free domain included
- No free SSL included
- Only 1 data center location (US based)
- No money back guarantee
DreamHost is a reliable choice for unmanaged VPS hosting services. Their 2GB RAM Server plan is priced at $12 per month. This package includes 1 vCPU core, 2 GB of RAM, 80 GB of SSD storage, and offers unmetered bandwidth for consistent performance. Users also get a complimentary dedicated IP with this plan. Check our DreamHost review for more details.
5. InMotion Hosting
- AlmaLinux, CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian OS available
- 3 data center locations worldwide
- 90-day money back guarantee
- No free backups (paid feature)
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
- No free SSL included
InMotion offers competitively priced VPS hosting services that cater to websites of all sizes. Their Cloud VPS NVMe plan is available for $7 per month. It features 1 vCPU core, 2 GB of RAM, and 30 GB of NVMe SSD storage. The plan also comes with 2 TB of bandwidth and a free dedicated IP for stable performance. Check our InMotion Hosting review for more details.
6. Hostpapa
- Linux CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian OS available
- Free SSL included
- 3 data center locations worldwide
- 3 year subscription required
- No free backups (paid feature)
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
HostPapa offers excellent unmanaged VPS hosting for users who prefer hands-on management. Their Mercury plan is priced at $19.99 per month. It provides substantial resources with 4 vCPU cores, 2 GB of RAM, and 60 GB of SSD storage. Users also get 1 TB of bandwidth and 2 free dedicated IPs for better security and performance. Check our HostPapa review for more details.
7. Namecheap
- Free backups included
- AlmaLinux, Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS OS available
- Can choose from Webuzo, cPanel, InterWorx control panel
- 3 data center locations worldwide
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
- No free SSL included
Namecheap provides unmanaged VPS hosting that combines affordability with fast performance. Their Pulsar plan starts at just $6.88 per month. It features 2 vCPU cores, 2 GB of RAM, and 40 GB of SSD storage. This plan also includes 1 TB of bandwidth and a free dedicated IP.
8. AccuWeb Hosting
- Ubuntu, CentOS, CloudLinux OS available
- Variety of control panels to choose from (cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, ISPConfig, Ajenti, Virtualmin, Webmin, Webuzo)
- Free SSL included
- 13 data center locations worldwide
- 30 GB HDD storage only
- Weekly free backups only (not daily)
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
AccuWeb provides flexible unmanaged VPS hosting services. Their VPS Earth+ plan is priced at $10.99. It includes 1 vCPU core, 2 GB of RAM, and 30 GB of HDD storage. This VPS plan is well-suited for new businesses seeking an affordable hosting solution with generous resources. It also offers 250 GB of bandwidth and a free dedicated IP. Read our AccuWeb Hosting review to learn more.
9. Hostwinds
- Monthly subscription option
- Linux (CentOS, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian) and Windows OS available
- Can load own OS
- 3 data center locations worldwide
- 99.9999% uptime guarantee
- 30 GB HDD storage only
- No free daily backups
- No free domain included
- No free SSL included
Hostwinds offers a variety of VPS hosting plans that appeal to a wide range of users. Their most affordable tier is priced at just $4.99 per month. It features 1 vCPU core, 1 GB of RAM, and 30 GB of HDD storage. This plan also provides 1 TB of bandwidth and a free dedicated IP. See our Hostwinds review to find out more.
10. GoDaddy Hosting
- Free daily backups
- Linux (CentOS, Ubuntu) and Windows OS available
- Can choose either cPanel or Plesk control panel
- Free SSL included
- 3 data center locations worldwide
- 3 year subscription required
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
GoDaddy is a popular domain registrar that also provides high-quality VPS hosting services. Their 1 vCPU / 2GB RAM plan is available at $9.99 per month. It includes 1 vCPU core, 2 GB of RAM, and 40 GB of NVMe SSD storage. This plan is ideal for users who need reliable hosting with ample storage and speed. It also offers unmetered bandwidth to accommodate various website needs. Check our GoDaddy Hosting review for more details.
11. Hosting.com
- Supports Linux AlmaLinux, CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian OS
- Can choose either Webuzo (free) or cPanel (paid) control panel
- Can choose either SPanel (free) or cPanel (optional) control panel
- Free SSL included
- 4 data center locations worldwide
- No free backups provided
- Can’t load own OS
- No free domain included
Hosting.com (formerly A2) offers high-quality VPS hosting options at affordable prices. Their Runway 1 plan starts at a competitive $4.99 per month. It includes 1 vCPU core, 1 GB of RAM, 20 GB SSD storage, and a generous 500 GB of bandwidth. It also comes with a free dedicated IP for an extra layer of security. Check our Hosting.com review for more details.
What Is Unmanaged Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting?
Unmanaged Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a type of hosting where the user takes full responsibility for managing their virtual server. It gives the user complete control over the server setup. This includes the operating system, software, and configurations. The main advantage here is customization. Users can tailor their server to meet specific needs and preferences. The VPS hosting provider’s role is limited to maintaining the physical server and its hardware to ensure network connectivity and overall hardware health.
How Much Does The Best Unmanaged VPS Hosting Cost?
The best unmanaged VPS hosting costs $4.99 to $20 per month. These plans come with the option to load your own OS or select from preloaded Linux or Windows OS. They include a variety of control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and InterWorx and feature Solid State Drives (SSD) or NVMe SSD storage for faster performance. The available range for Central Process Units (CPU) in these plans is from 1 to 4 cores. Between 1 to 4 GB Random Access Memory (RAM) is provided.
Can I use cheap unmanaged VPS plans?
Yes, you can use cheap unmanaged VPS plans. Cheap unmanaged VPS plans cost only $10 or below per month. They’re suitable for websites that need dedicated server resources but have a limited budget. They are also ideal for those who have the technical expertise to manage both the website and the VPS. Check our cheap VPS hosting shortlist for our brand recommendations.
What Can I Expect From The Best Unmanaged VPS Hosting?
You can expect three benefits from the best unmanaged VPS hosting:
- Full Control and customization You get complete control over your server. This means you can customize it with your choice of OS and software.
- Resource-friendly More resources are available for your server since unmanaged hosting doesn’t come with a control panel.
- Cost-effective Experienced users save money by avoiding the costs associated with managed services.
Can I Install My Own OS With Unmanaged VPS?
Yes, you can install your own operating system (OS) with unmanaged VPS hosting. Many unmanaged VPS providers offer the feature to mount a custom ISO to an instance. This ISO file contains the custom OS that you want the VPS to boot from. This allows you to tailor the server environment to your specific requirements.
Can I install Linux OS on unmanaged VPS?
Yes, you can install Linux OS on unmanaged VPS. Options include popular distributions like Alma Linux, CentOS, Ubuntu, and Debian. Linux-based VPS is a cost-effective solution since most Linux distributions are open source and free to use.
Can I install Windows OS on unmanaged VPS?
Yes, you can install Windows OS on unmanaged VPS. Options available include Windows Server Standard, Windows Server Datacenter, and Windows 10. It’s important to note that a Windows-based VPS will incur additional costs for Windows licensing.
Can I Run Unmanaged VPS Without A Control Panel?
Yes, you can run unmanaged VPS without a control panel. Management is done via the command-line interface (CLI) which offers more control and flexibility. This setup is preferred by experienced webmasters who are comfortable with command-line operations. Running unmanaged VPS without a control panel also reduces costs from licensing fees.
Why Do Unmanaged VPS Cost Less Than Managed VPS?
Unmanaged VPS costs less than managed VPS because users handle the server management themselves. This means less work for the provider in terms of maintenance and support, which lowers the price. Unmanaged VPS is 20-50% cheaper than managed VPS. The exact difference in cost depends on the hosting provider and what they include in their managed VPS plans. Check our best managed VPS hosting shortlist for our brand recommendations.
Can I Upgrade My Unmanaged VPS Plans To Managed?
Yes, you can upgrade your unmanaged VPS plans to managed plans. You can either make the change within the client portal for your VPS server, or contact the support team of your VPS provider for assistance.