Hostwinds VPS Review (2025): The CHEAPEST Managed VPS on Earth... But What's The Catch?
Hostwinds offers Fully Managed VPS plans at prices that seem impossible. Is it a hidden gem for budget-conscious users, or are there hidden compromises? We dig deep to find out.
Overall Rating
Hostwinds: The Honest Pros & Cons
The Unbeatable Advantages
- Incredibly Low Prices: Managed VPS plans at prices lower than many shared hosting plans.
- Fully Managed Support: Their 24/7 support handles all server setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
- Redundant Network: Built-in redundancy to maximize uptime and reliability.
- Nightly Backups: Free automated nightly backups provide excellent data protection.
- Generous Resources: High amounts of RAM and storage for the price.
The Catch...
- Slower Performance: Uses standard SSDs, not NVMe, resulting in slower speeds than premium hosts.
- Dated Interface: The client area and control panel feel less modern than competitors.
- Limited Datacenters: Only 3 locations (Seattle, Dallas, Amsterdam).
- Add-ons Cost Extra: While the base price is low, things like cPanel cost extra.
Performance Test: What Does Budget Speed Look Like?
We tested their entry-level managed VPS. The performance is adequate for the price. It's not a speed demon, but it is stable. The server handled our basic WordPress site without any major issues. This is a workhorse server for static sites, development projects, or low-traffic applications where budget is the primary concern. Don't expect it to power a high-traffic e-commerce store.
Dashboard & Control Panel
Hostwinds uses a custom "Cloud Control" panel which is functional for managing your VPS (reboots, OS installs, etc.). For website management, you'll need to purchase a cPanel or Plesk license during checkout. While the custom panel is okay, the overall user experience feels a step behind more modern hosting providers.
Managed Linux VPS Pricing
| Plan | CPU Cores | RAM | SSD Storage | Price/Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (Unbeatable Price) | 1 Core | 1 GB | 30 GB | $8.24 |
| Tier 2 | 2 Cores | 2 GB | 50 GB | $16.49 |
| Tier 4 | 4 Cores | 6 GB | 100 GB | $39.59 |
| Tier 6 | 8 Cores | 12 GB | 200 GB | $76.99 |
Hostwinds vs. The Competition
| Feature | Hostwinds | InterServer | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Managed Price | ~$8.24 | $6.00 (Unmanaged) | ~$4.99 (Semi-Managed) |
| Performance Tier | Budget | Budget | Mid-Tier |
| Free Control Panel | ✘ | ✔ | Custom Panel |
| Support Level | Fully Managed | Fully Managed | Semi-Managed |
| Nightly Backups | ✔ | ✘ | Weekly |
Final Verdict: Is There a Catch?
Yes, but it might be one you're willing to accept. Choose Hostwinds if...
Your number one priority is getting a fully managed VPS for the absolute lowest price possible. If you are running a small personal project, a development server, or a low-traffic website and can accept standard performance in exchange for huge cost savings and hands-off management, then Hostwinds is an incredible value that's hard to beat.
