Contabo VPS Review (2025): The German GIANT With Insane Specs... Is It A Performance Scam?
Contabo is legendary for offering an absurd amount of CPU cores, RAM, and storage for unbelievably low prices. But is the performance real, or is this the ultimate example of "too good to be true"?
Overall Rating
Contabo: The Unfiltered Pros & Cons
The Winning Features
- Unbeatable Price-to-Spec Ratio: Get more CPU cores, RAM, and NVMe storage for your money than anywhere else.
- Generous NVMe Storage: Huge amounts of fast storage, even on the cheapest plans.
- Free DDoS Protection: Solid, always-on protection against common network attacks.
- Multiple Global Locations: Datacenters in Europe, US, Asia, and Australia.
- Full Root Access: Complete control for experienced users.
The Hidden Costs
- Inconsistent CPU Performance: CPU cores are heavily shared, leading to the "noisy neighbor" effect.
- Slow Customer Support: Support response times are notoriously slow.
- Setup Fees: Many plans have a one-time setup fee.
- Not Beginner-Friendly: The control panel and support model are for experienced users only.
Performance Test: Is It A Scam?
We tested their "Cloud VPS M" plan. It's not a scam, but you need to understand the trade-off. You get a massive amount of resources, but the CPU cores are shared among many users. This means that while you have 8 cores "available," your actual sustained performance is much lower. It's fantastic for applications that need a lot of RAM but not constant, high-speed CPU power (like storage servers or development environments). It is not ideal for mission-critical, CPU-intensive applications.
Dashboard & Control Panel
Contabo uses a custom control panel for managing your VPS instances, billing, and support. It's functional but can feel clunky and dated compared to modern cloud providers. There is no free control panel like cPanel included; you must purchase a license for cPanel or Plesk separately if you want a graphical interface for website management.
Cloud VPS Pricing
| Plan | vCPU Cores | RAM | NVMe Storage | Price/Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud VPS S | 4 Cores | 8 GB | 100 GB | $5.50 |
| Cloud VPS M (Best Value) | 6 Cores | 16 GB | 200 GB | $9.00 |
| Cloud VPS L | 8 Cores | 30 GB | 400 GB | $14.50 |
| Cloud VPS XL | 10 Cores | 60 GB | 800 GB | $28.00 |
Contabo vs. The Competition
| Feature | Contabo | OVHcloud | Hetzner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price/Resource Ratio | Best | Excellent | Excellent |
| CPU Performance | Inconsistent | Good | Excellent |
| Support Speed | Slow | Moderate | Moderate |
| Setup Fees | ✔ (Sometimes) | ✘ | ✘ |
| Starting Price | ~$5.50 | ~$5.20 | ~€4.51 |
Final Verdict: Is Contabo a Scam?
No, but it's a very specific tool. Choose Contabo if...
You are an experienced user who needs a massive amount of RAM and storage for the absolute lowest price, and you don't need consistent high-speed CPU performance or fast support. For things like a personal Plex server, a large storage box, or a non-critical development environment, Contabo's value is simply impossible to beat.
