VPS plans with the same headline specs can perform very differently. Use this checklist to choose a VPS provider based on what actually affects your servers day to day.
Before you start
- Know your workload and rough size; see VPS sizing.
- Decide whether you want managed or unmanaged service; see managed vs unmanaged hosting.
Virtualization and resources
- Virtualization type: KVM gives your own kernel; containers may block Docker or VPNs. See KVM vs OpenVZ vs LXC.
- CPU: shared or dedicated vCPUs, CPU generation, fair-use policy.
- Storage: NVMe vs SSD, local vs network storage, any IOPS limits.
- RAM: guaranteed, not burst.
Network
- Port speed and monthly transfer, overage rules; see bandwidth vs port speed.
- Data centre locations near your users; see choosing a server location.
- IPv4 included, IPv6 support, extra IP pricing, reverse DNS control.
- DDoS protection; see DDoS protection basics.
- Outbound port 25 policy if you send email; see port 25 blocked.
Control panel features
- VNC/serial console, rescue mode and OS reinstall.
- Custom ISO upload, snapshots and backups (included or paid, retention, off-site?).
- Firewall, API access and monitoring graphs.
Support and reliability
- Support hours and channels, typical response times, technical depth.
- Published SLA and how credits work; see uptime and SLAs.
- Status page and maintenance communication.
Terms and pricing
- Renewal price versus promotional price.
- Acceptable use policy (mail, crypto mining, proxies).
- Refund or trial period, cancellation process, data deletion on cancellation.
Test before committing
- Start with a monthly plan.
- Benchmark CPU, disk and network; see benchmark a server.
- Watch steal time over several days; see CPU steal time.
- Open a support ticket with a technical question to judge the response.
Frequently asked questions
Is the cheapest VPS a good idea?
For experiments, yes. For production, consistency and support usually matter more than a small price difference.
Should backups be included?
Provider backups are convenient, but keep your own off-site copies too.
What if I only need websites?
Shared or reseller hosting may suit better; MdmHost offers cPanel web hosting and reseller hosting.