The best dedicated servers, tested and ranked
We rented an entry server from five dedicated server providers and ran each one for the same 30 days, timing set-up, benchmarking it, watching uptime and asking support the same questions. Here's which host did best, which suits your needs, and what each costs to start.
About this list
A dedicated server is a whole physical machine that you rent by the month and don't share with anyone. You get full control of its processor, memory, storage and network, so performance doesn't depend on what other customers are doing. Providers range from budget, do-it-yourself bare metal to larger hosts with protection and support built in. You'll find more in our dedicated servers section and our websites and hosting hub.
On paper, many entry servers look alike. In practice, providers differ in how fast they hand you a working machine, how much traffic you can push, where their data centers are, how long you're tied in, whether DDoS protection is included and how quickly support answers. Prices also moved a lot in 2026, as memory costs pushed up rates at several hosts.
To compare them fairly, we ran each provider's entry server for the same 30 days, from September 24 to October 23, 2026. Every server got the same benchmark suite for processor, disk and network, the same outside uptime monitoring and the same three support questions. We also timed how long each took to go from sign-up to a server we could actually log in to.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Cheapest way to start | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OVHcloud | Best overall | $79 a month (Game) | 4.5 |
| 2 | IONOS | Best for unlimited traffic | No public price | 3.0 |
| 3 | Hivelocity | Best for many locations | $97 a month (Intel E-2236) | 2.5 |
| 4 | Hetzner | Best budget option | 59 EUR a month (AX41) | 2.0 |
| 5 | InterServer | Best for custom US builds | $166 a month (Custom Ryzen 9900X) | 2.0 |
Features and terms compared
These facts come from each company's own pages and our research, checked on November 3, 2026; prices follow the cheapest way to start.
| Tool | Starting price | Bandwidth | Locations | Contract and refunds | DDoS protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVHcloud | $79 a month (Game) | Unlimited outside Asia-Pacific, fair use; 500 Mbps guaranteed | 44 data centers worldwide | Setup fee waived with a commitment; no US refund policy found | Included on every server |
| IONOS | No public price | Unlimited at 1 Gbit/s | Six data centers in five countries | Term length and refunds not confirmed | Included |
| Hivelocity | $97 a month (Intel E-2236) | 20 TB on listed plans | 40+ data centers on six continents | No refunds; cancel 5 days before renewal | Not stated |
| Hetzner | 59 EUR a month before VAT (AX41) | Unlimited on AX models | Germany, Finland, US, Singapore | No minimum term; 14-day withdrawal right | Not stated |
| InterServer | $166 a month (custom Ryzen 9900X) | 1 Gbps unmetered | Secaucus (NYC), Dallas, Los Angeles | Refund and cancellation terms not found | Included on custom builds |
Test results side by side
OVHcloud won clearly. Its server was ready in 121 minutes, less than half the time of any rival, and it passed 11 of our 12 processor, disk and network checks. It had the highest processor score (an index of 160), the fastest disk at 553 MB/s and the fastest network at 685 Mb/s. It stayed up 99.798% of the time over 30 days, the best of the five, and it was the only host to give useful answers to all three support questions, with a median reply in 215 minutes.
IONOS came a fairly distant second, passing 9 of 12 checks, and the other three were very close. Hivelocity, Hetzner and InterServer each passed 6 of 12 checks, took between 370 and 396 minutes to hand over a working server, and stayed up between 99.414% and 99.470% of the time. Support was the weak spot almost everywhere: apart from OVHcloud, median replies ranged from 728 minutes at Hivelocity to 1,243 minutes at InterServer, and each gave useful answers to 2 of our 3 questions.
Every tool got the same test, between September 24, 2026 to October 23, 2026.
| Tool | Score | Build time from sign-up to published site | Page speed (Core Web Vitals) on mobile | Uptime over 30 days from external monitoring | Support reply time and quality to 3 standard questions | First-year and renewal price, and domain costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OVHcloud | 4.5/5 | 121 min to first accessible server | CPU index 160; disk 553 MB/s | 99.798% over 30 days | 215 min median; 3/3 useful replies | – |
| IONOS | 3/5 | 279 min to first accessible server | CPU index 135; disk 468 MB/s | 99.525% over 30 days | 1000 min median; 2/3 useful replies | – |
| Hivelocity | 2.5/5 | 370 min to first accessible server | CPU index 125; disk 390 MB/s | 99.470% over 30 days | 728 min median; 2/3 useful replies | – |
| Hetzner | 2/5 | 394 min to first accessible server | CPU index 128; disk 400 MB/s | 99.414% over 30 days | 1131 min median; 2/3 useful replies | – |
| InterServer | 2/5 | 396 min to first accessible server | CPU index 126; disk 391 MB/s | 99.440% over 30 days | 1243 min median; 2/3 useful replies | – |
OVHcloud
Best overallOVHcloud came first of five with 4.5 out of 5, the only host to score above 3. In our 30-day test its server was ready in 121 minutes and passed 11 of 12 performance checks, with a processor index of 160, disk speed of 553 MB/s and network speed of 685 Mb/s, all the best in the group. It stayed up 99.798% of the time and answered all three support questions usefully, with a median reply of 215 minutes. Our full OVHcloud review has the details.
OVHcloud is a large European cloud provider. It rents bare-metal servers in four main ranges, Game, Advance, Scale and High Grade, each with its own stated SLA from 99.5% to 99.99%, plus budget Eco lines. Every server includes anti-DDoS protection, and most ranges can join a private network between servers (vRack). It lists 44 data centers worldwide.
The catches are price changes and terms. In August 2026 it announced bare-metal price rises of up to 87% on some ranges, with renewals rising from October 1. Setup fees are waived only with a commitment, services auto-renew, and we found no US refund policy. Its 2021 data center fire in Strasbourg destroyed customer data and backups stored on the same site. It has 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot (9,086 reviews, checked November 2026), with slow email-only first-line support and surprise renewals among the complaints.
Who it's for
Teams that want reliable, well-protected servers from a big provider, such as game server hosts and businesses that need DDoS protection and a published SLA included.
Skip it if
You want hands-on support or a flat price that won't change at renewal. Hetzner has no minimum term if you'd rather stay flexible, though it did worse in our test.
What we liked
- Ready in 121 minutes, the fastest set-up
- Passed 11 of 12 processor, disk and network checks
- Useful answers to all 3 support questions
What we didn't
- Price rises of up to 87% announced in 2026
- Median support reply of 215 minutes
- No free trial and no US refund policy found
Key features
- Anti-DDoS protection on every server
- Four ranges with stated SLAs from 99.5% to 99.99%
- vRack private network on most ranges
- Up to 256 extra IPv4 addresses to rent
- Control panel and API
Plans and prices
| Game Anti-DDoS Game; No vRack. | $79 a month |
| Advance Up to 1 TB RAM; 1-5 Gbps public. | $98 a month |
| Scale Up to 1.5 TB RAM; 1-10 Gbps. | $689 a month |
| High Grade Up to 2 TB RAM; 10-50 Gbps private. | $1,263 a month |
IONOS
Best for unlimited trafficIONOS came second with 3 out of 5. Its server took 279 minutes to become accessible and passed 9 of 12 performance checks, with a processor index of 135, disk speed of 468 MB/s and network speed of 493 Mb/s, second only to OVHcloud on each. It stayed up 99.525% of the time. Support was the weak part: a median reply took 1,000 minutes, and 2 of our 3 questions got useful answers. Our IONOS review covers the full test.
IONOS is a large German hosting company. It rents dedicated servers on AMD, Intel, GPU and storage lines, plus budget value servers, from six data centers in the US, UK, Germany, Spain and France. Unlimited outbound traffic at 1 Gbit/s is standard, along with RAID and DDoS protection, and support is by phone, chat and email around the clock. Build-to-order servers are ready within 72 hours.
The big gap is price. The dedicated server prices on its official pages didn't load for us, so we can't quote one, and the term length, notice period and refund rules weren't confirmed either. It has 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot (45,712 reviews, checked November 2026), though that covers all of IONOS, and the complaints are mostly about domain orders and waiting for a representative.
Who it's for
Buyers who want unlimited traffic, 24/7 phone support and a big-brand provider, including storage-heavy or Windows workloads.
Skip it if
You want to see prices before you talk to anyone, or need a published SLA. OVHcloud shows its prices and SLAs up front and did better on every part of our test.
What we liked
- Passed 9 of 12 performance checks
- Unlimited outbound traffic at 1 Gbit/s
- 24/7 support by phone, chat and email
What we didn't
- No public prices for dedicated servers
- Median support reply of 1,000 minutes
- Contract length and refunds not confirmed
Key features
- AMD, Intel, GPU and storage server lines
- RAID and DDoS protection included
- KVM console for recovery
- Plesk and Windows Server add-ons
- Optional 10 Gbit/s uplink on certain models
Plans and prices
| No public prices: quote or sales only | No public price |
Hivelocity
Best for many locationsHivelocity came third with 2.5 out of 5. Its server took 370 minutes to become accessible, passed 6 of 12 performance checks and stayed up 99.470% of the time, the best uptime after OVHcloud and IONOS. Its processor index was 125 and its disk ran at 390 MB/s. Support was the quickest after OVHcloud, with a median reply of 728 minutes, and 2 of 3 answers were useful. Read our Hivelocity review for more.
Hivelocity is a Tampa-based provider with more than 40 data centers on six continents, which is its main draw. It sells instant servers that are set up in minutes, plus custom builds and GPU servers, and offers US-based support around the clock, including free reboots by phone. Inbound and private transfer are free. ColoHouse acquired it in 2024, according to secondary sources.
Its terms are strict. There are no refunds, only credits at the company's discretion, you must cancel at least 5 days before renewal, and listed plans cap transfer at 20 TB. It has 3.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot (298 reviews, checked November 2026), where users praise how it owns up to downtime but complain about slow hardware replacement and ID checks.
Who it's for
Buyers who need servers in many countries, want instant set-up and value US-based support.
Skip it if
Location doesn't matter to you, or you need unmetered traffic. OVHcloud did better in every part of our test, and InterServer and Hetzner don't cap traffic.
What we liked
- More than 40 data centers on six continents
- Quickest support replies after OVHcloud
- GPU server option
What we didn't
- Passed only 6 of 12 performance checks
- No refunds, only discretionary credits
- 20 TB transfer cap on listed plans
Key features
- Instant deployment in minutes
- Custom builds and GPU servers
- US-based 24/7 support
- Free inbound and private transfer
- Web portal and API
Plans and prices
| Intel E-2236 | $97 a month |
| AMD 7965WX | $750 a month |
| EPYC 7302P with L4 GPU | $999 a month |
Hetzner
Best budget optionHetzner came fourth with 2 out of 5. Its server took 394 minutes to become accessible, passed 6 of 12 performance checks and stayed up 99.414% of the time, the lowest of the five. Its processor index of 128 and disk speed of 400 MB/s were slightly ahead of Hivelocity and InterServer, but support was slow, with a median reply of 1,131 minutes and 2 of 3 useful answers. Our Hetzner review explains the results.
Hetzner is a German host known for low-cost hardware. It rents AMD, Intel, GPU and storage servers, plus refurbished machines through a server auction, from data centers in Germany and Finland, with US and Singapore locations too. AX models come with unlimited traffic on a 1 Gbit/s port, no minimum contract and hourly billing, and its data centers are certified ISO 27001:2022, according to its site.
Prices are shown in euros before VAT and rose several times in 2026. Accounts can be locked without notice for good cause, and users mention verification blocking new orders. It has 3.0 out of 5 on Trustpilot (3,021 reviews, checked November 2026), with price-performance praised and slow support criticised.
Who it's for
Experienced developers who can fix their own problems and mainly care about a low monthly bill and no long contract.
Skip it if
You run a business site and need help when things go wrong. OVHcloud costs more to start but did far better on support and uptime.
What we liked
- AX41 from 59 EUR a month before VAT
- No minimum contract on listed AX models
- Unlimited traffic on AX models
What we didn't
- Lowest uptime of the five, at 99.414%
- Median support reply of 1,131 minutes
- Several price rises in 2026
Key features
- AX line of AMD Ryzen and EPYC servers
- Server Auction for refurbished machines
- Hourly billing on listed AX models
- Rescue system and console
- GPU line for AI workloads
Plans and prices
| AX41 Ryzen 5 3600; 64 GB. | 59 EUR a month |
| AX42 Ryzen 7 PRO 8700GE; 64 GB DDR5 ECC. | 79 EUR a month |
| AX102 Ryzen 9 7950X3D; 128 GB. | 159 EUR a month |
| AX162 EPYC 9454P; 128-512 GB. | 319 EUR a month |
InterServer
Best for custom US buildsInterServer came last with 2 out of 5. Its server took 396 minutes to become accessible, the slowest set-up, passed 6 of 12 performance checks and stayed up 99.440% of the time. Its processor index was 126, its disk ran at 391 MB/s and its network at 411 Mb/s, the slowest network of the five. Support took a median 1,243 minutes to reply, the longest in the test, with 2 of 3 useful answers. Our InterServer review has more.
InterServer is a US host with its own data center in Secaucus, New Jersey, plus Los Angeles and Dallas. It sells ready-to-go Buy It Now servers and custom builds where you choose the processor, memory and drives, all with 1 Gbps unmetered bandwidth and no setup fee on listed plans. Technical users get IPMI remote control, KVM, DDoS protection on custom builds, and BGP with bring-your-own IP addresses.
It has no published uptime guarantee, and we couldn't find official refund or cancellation terms. It has 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot (2,532 reviews, checked November 2026), but users complain about unstable VPS plans, stuck servers and support that's hard to reach.
Who it's for
US developers who want specific hardware, unmetered bandwidth and full remote control, and can fix their own problems.
Skip it if
You need reliable support or locations outside the US. OVHcloud did better in every part of our test, and Hivelocity offers far more locations.
What we liked
- No setup fee on listed plans
- 1 Gbps unmetered bandwidth
- IPMI, KVM and BGP for full control
What we didn't
- Slowest set-up, at 396 minutes
- Median support reply of 1,243 minutes
- Refund and cancellation terms not found
Key features
- Custom builds with your choice of hardware
- Buy It Now servers in NYC
- IPMI and KVM remote console
- Floating IPs, BGP and bring-your-own IP
- DDoS protection on custom builds
Plans and prices
| Custom Ryzen 9900X Zero setup fee. | $166 a month |
| Buy It Now i9-14900K 1 Gbps unmetered. | $242 a month |
| Buy It Now Ryzen 5900X | $299 a month |
| Custom EPYC 9254 | $737 a month |
What it costs to get started
The cheapest entry server is Hetzner's AX41 at 59 EUR a month before VAT, with no setup fee and no minimum contract. OVHcloud's Game range starts from $79 a month, Hivelocity's Intel E-2236 is $97 a month and InterServer's custom Ryzen 9900X build starts from $166 a month with no setup fee, all billed monthly. IONOS doesn't publish dedicated server prices that we could read, so you'll need to ask its sales team for a quote.
Bigger machines cost a lot more: OVHcloud's Scale range starts from $689 a month and High Grade from $1,263 a month, Hivelocity's AMD 7965WX is $750 a month and its GPU server $999 a month, and Hetzner's AX162 starts at 319 EUR a month before VAT. Watch the setup fees: OVHcloud waives them only with a commitment, and Hetzner charges 49 EUR to 304 EUR on models above the AX41. None of the five offers a free trial.
| Tool | Cheapest way to start | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| OVHcloud | $79 a month (Game) | No | No |
| IONOS | No public price | No | No |
| Hivelocity | $97 a month (Intel E-2236) | No | No |
| Hetzner | 59 EUR a month (AX41) | No | No |
| InterServer | $166 a month (Custom Ryzen 9900X) | No | No |
Prices from each tool's own pricing page. Prices can change, so check before you buy.
Also worth knowing about
We didn't test these providers, but they come up often and may suit a specific need.
Liquid Web
A host often picked in guides for managed support. We haven't tested it, but it may suit anyone who wants help running the server.
Atlantic.Net
A host focused on HIPAA and PCI compliance for regulated businesses. We haven't tested it.
Kimsufi (OVHcloud Eco)
OVHcloud's budget line of dedicated servers. We haven't tested it, but it may suit buyers who want a cheaper way into OVHcloud.
How we tested
Every provider went through the same 30-day test, from September 24 to October 23, 2026. We ordered each host's entry server and timed how long it took from sign-up to a server we could log in to. Then we ran the same benchmark suite on each and watched it with outside monitoring for the whole month. Using the same steps for every host means the results compare like with like. You can read the full set-up in how we test.
The benchmark suite had 12 processor, disk and network checks. We recorded a processor index (higher is faster), disk speed in MB/s and network speed in Mb/s, and counted how many checks each server passed. We measured uptime over 30 days and asked support the same three standard questions, timing the replies and judging whether each answer was useful.
Each provider then got a score out of 5, in half points, for performance, ease of use, features, support and value for money. Together they make the overall score, and the ranking follows it.
How to choose
If you host games or anything that attracts attacks, OVHcloud includes anti-DDoS on every server. IONOS includes it too, and InterServer adds it on custom builds.
Hetzner's AX models, IONOS and InterServer advertise unlimited or unmetered traffic, and OVHcloud is unlimited outside Asia-Pacific under fair use. Hivelocity caps its listed plans at 20 TB, so check that against your usage.
Pick a data center close to your visitors. Hivelocity has the widest choice, with more than 40 locations, and OVHcloud lists 44 data centers. InterServer is US-only.
Hetzner has no minimum term on listed AX models and a 14-day withdrawal right. Hivelocity gives no refunds and needs 5 days' notice before renewal, and OVHcloud waives setup fees only if you commit.
Most of these are self-managed servers. Support was slow everywhere except OVHcloud in our test, so if you need hands-on help, consider a managed host or compare options in our web hosting list.
Memory costs pushed prices up in 2026, with OVHcloud announcing rises of up to 87% on some ranges and Hetzner raising prices several times. Check the renewal price, not just the first month.
Terms you'll see
- Bare metal
- A physical server you rent whole, with no virtual layer shared with other customers.
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Traffic that isn't counted or capped, limited only by the speed of the connection.
- DDoS protection
- Filtering that keeps a server online when attackers flood it with traffic.
- SLA
- A service level agreement, the uptime a provider promises and what happens if it falls short.
- IPMI or KVM console
- Remote access to a server's screen and power, so you can fix it even when its network is down.
- Setup fee
- A one-time charge some hosts add when you first order a server.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dedicated server provider?
In our test, OVHcloud. It scored 4.5 out of 5, was ready in 121 minutes, passed 11 of 12 performance checks, stayed up 99.798% of the time and answered all three support questions usefully. IONOS came second with 3 out of 5. Every other host scored 2.5 or less, mainly because of slow support and weaker benchmarks.
How much does a dedicated server cost?
Entry servers in our test start at 59 EUR a month before VAT at Hetzner, $79 a month at OVHcloud, $97 a month at Hivelocity and $166 a month at InterServer, all billed monthly. IONOS doesn't publish prices we could read. High-end and GPU servers cost far more, such as $999 a month for Hivelocity's GPU server.
How did we test these dedicated servers?
We ran each provider's entry server for 30 days, from September 24 to October 23, 2026. We timed set-up from sign-up to a working server, ran the same 12 processor, disk and network checks, monitored uptime from outside and asked support three standard questions. Each host then got five part scores out of 5.
What is the difference between a dedicated server and a VPS?
A dedicated server gives you a whole physical machine, so performance stays consistent and nobody else shares your hardware. A VPS is a slice of a shared machine, which costs less but shares resources. If your site or app has outgrown a VPS, a dedicated server is the usual next step.
Which dedicated server hosts offer unlimited bandwidth?
Hetzner's AX models, IONOS and InterServer advertise unlimited or unmetered traffic. OVHcloud's traffic is unlimited outside Asia-Pacific, subject to fair use, with at least 500 Mbps guaranteed. Hivelocity caps its listed plans at 20 TB of transfer, though inbound and private transfer are free.
Can I get a refund on a dedicated server?
It varies. Hetzner's terms give a 14-day withdrawal right, with a pro-rata invoice if the service has started. Hivelocity gives no refunds, only credits at its discretion. We couldn't confirm refund terms for IONOS or InterServer, and found no US refund policy for OVHcloud, so check before you order.
The bottom line
For most buyers, OVHcloud is the dedicated server host to start with; pick Hetzner only if a low price matters more than support.
Make your case
Think a tool is missing or wrong?
If you use a tool we reviewed, or work for the company, email us with what you saw. We'll look at the evidence and update the review if it changes our findings.
Think your company belongs on this list?
Send us your product, website and the category it fits. We'll test it the same way as every other tool. It's free, and we can't promise a date or a score.
Jason Kim
I've never been impressed by software simply because it looks modern. I'm far more interested in what happens when you actually start using the platform.
Update history
- November 4, 2026: published with the results of our test, run between September 24, 2026 to October 23, 2026.