DigitalOcean vs Vultr vs Contabo: VPS plans compared
DigitalOcean, Vultr and Contabo are three popular places to rent a VPS, and they are built around different ideas. DigitalOcean and Vultr sell a broad cloud platform, while Contabo is known for offering large server specs at a low monthly price. This page compares what each provider says about locations, billing and included traffic, and shows the lowest-priced plan each one has at every RAM size in the VPS Compass catalog.
If you want the widest choice of locations, Vultr lists the most. If you want a cloud platform with managed services around your server, DigitalOcean and Vultr both list managed databases and Kubernetes. If your main goal is the most RAM, CPU and storage for the money, compare Contabo against the others in the price tables below. Check the minimum term and renewal price before you buy, because they differ between providers.
At a glance
These details come from each provider’s own website as of October 22, 2026. Locations, included traffic and billing terms can vary by plan and region, so confirm them on the provider’s site before you order.
| DigitalOcean | Vultr | Contabo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locations listed | 16 data centers in 13 cities, across 8 countries | 32 cloud locations on 6 continents | 3 in the US plus 8 others worldwide |
| Billing | Bundled-plan Droplets are billed per second (60-second minimum) with a monthly cap at the flat price | Many plans list both monthly and hourly rates | Minimum initial contract of 1 month; a renewal is the same length as the initial term |
| Included traffic | Outbound transfer varies by plan, starting at 500 GiB a month; inbound is free | Each plan lists its own allowance, starting at 0.5 TB on the smallest plan | 32 TB outbound and unlimited inbound on its VPS page; Australia and Japan list 10 TB outbound |
| Beyond a basic VPS | Managed databases, Kubernetes and Spaces object storage | Managed databases (MySQL and PostgreSQL), Kubernetes, cloud GPU and bare metal | See Contabo’s site for dedicated servers and storage products |
Sources: each provider’s own location, pricing and VPS pages, read on the review date above. We list what the provider states; we have not benchmarked network speed, disk performance or uptime.
Lowest-priced plan at each size
For each RAM size, these are the cheapest active plans in the VPS Compass catalog for each of the three providers, lowest price first within the provider. Price is the only thing used to pick the plan, so check the specs in each row. A size with no row for a provider means the catalog has no plan from that provider at that size. Prices shown in a currency other than USD include an approximate USD equivalent.
Up to 1 GB RAM
| Provider | Plan | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Price / mo | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Basic Regular 1 GiB | 1 | 1 GB | 25 GB SSD | $6.00 | View deal → |
| Vultr | Cloud Compute Regular 1GB | 1 | 1 GB | 25 GB SSD | $5.00 | View deal → |
| Contabo | No plan at this size in our catalog right now | |||||
2 GB RAM
| Provider | Plan | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Price / mo | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Basic Regular 2 GiB / 1 vCPU | 1 | 2 GB | 50 GB SSD | $12.00 | View deal → |
| Vultr | Cloud Compute Regular 2GB | 1 | 2 GB | 55 GB SSD | $10.00 | View deal → |
| Contabo | No plan at this size in our catalog right now | |||||
3 to 4 GB RAM
| Provider | Plan | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Price / mo | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Basic Regular 4 GiB | 2 | 4 GB | 80 GB SSD | $24.00 | View deal → |
| Vultr | Cloud Compute Regular 4GB | 2 | 4 GB | 80 GB SSD | $20.00 | View deal → |
| Contabo | Storage VPS 10 | 2 | 4 GB | 300 GB SSD | $5.28 | View deal → |
5 to 8 GB RAM
| Provider | Plan | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Price / mo | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Basic Droplets - 8 GiB | 4 | 8 GB | 160 GB SSD | $48.00 | View deal → |
| Vultr | Cloud Compute Regular 8GB | 4 | 8 GB | 160 GB SSD | $40.00 | View deal → |
| Contabo | Cloud VPS 4 | 4 | 8 GB | 100 GB SSD | $5.28 | View deal → |
9 to 16 GB RAM
| Provider | Plan | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Price / mo | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Memory-Optimized 16GB | 2 | 16 GB | 50 GB SSD | $84.00 | View deal → |
| Vultr | High Performance 4vCPU/12GB | 4 | 12 GB | 260 GB NVMe | $72.00 | View deal → |
| Contabo | Cloud VPS 6 | 6 | 12 GB | 200 GB SSD | $7.20 | View deal → |
Prices in these tables were last checked October 19, 2026. They can change at any time. Prices shown are the lowest publicly listed rate; some require a longer billing term or renew at a higher price, so confirm the terms on the provider’s site.
Which one fits which job?
- You want servers close to your users in many regions. Vultr lists the most locations of the three (32 cities), followed by DigitalOcean (13 cities) and Contabo (11 locations). Check that the exact city you need is available for the plan you pick, since not every plan is offered everywhere.
- You want managed services next to your server. DigitalOcean and Vultr both list managed databases and Kubernetes, which saves you from running them yourself as your project grows.
- You want the most specs for the least money. Compare the tables above. A lower price does not always mean a better deal: look at RAM, vCPU, storage and the billing term together, and see how the plan is sold (term, renewal price, traffic allowance).
- You want to pay only for what you use. DigitalOcean bills bundled Droplets per second with a monthly cap, and Vultr lists hourly rates on many plans. Contabo’s listed minimum is one month, so it suits servers you plan to keep running.
- You are just learning or testing. A small plan from any of the three is enough. Look at how easy it is to cancel or resize before you commit to a longer term.
What to check before you choose
- Minimum term and renewal price. The advertised price may need a longer term, and renewals may cost more. Contabo lists a minimum initial contract of one month; confirm the exact terms for the plan you pick.
- Location. Choose a data center near the people who will use your project. It affects how fast pages and API calls feel.
- Traffic and port speed. A monthly allowance and a port speed are separate limits. Check both, and what happens when you pass the allowance.
- Backups and snapshots. Find out whether they exist and what they cost. Keep your own copy of your code, database and uploaded files either way.
- Support. Read what each provider actually offers, such as ticket, chat or phone, and how quickly it replies. We have not tested support response times.
- Acceptable-use policy. Read what the provider prohibits before you build on it, especially if your project sends email, scrapes websites or runs a proxy.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheapest, DigitalOcean, Vultr or Contabo?
It depends on the size you need, which is why we list the lowest-priced plan at each RAM size above. The cheapest provider at 1 GB is not always the cheapest at 8 GB, so compare the size you actually need.
Which has the most data center locations?
Vultr lists 32 cloud locations, DigitalOcean lists 16 data centers in 13 cities, and Contabo lists 3 in the US plus 8 others worldwide.
Is Contabo good for production?
That depends on your needs. We list the specs, prices and terms each provider publishes, but we do not benchmark network speed or test uptime. For anything important, read recent independent reviews, check the support options, and keep your own backups with any provider.
Can I move between providers later?
Yes, but moving takes work: you rebuild or copy the server, update DNS and test. Keeping your setup in scripts or containers, and keeping backups, makes a move much easier.
Are the prices here exact?
They are the lowest publicly listed rate we recorded on the check date shown, and they can change at any time. Some require a longer billing term or renew at a higher price. Always confirm the current price and terms on the provider’s own site before you order.
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