Contabo is a widely-known web hosting provider that has been in the industry since 2003. It provides high-quality services and excellent performance to all users while constantly being up to date with all the latest technology developments and innovations. We recognize it for award-winning customer support, affordable prices, and global availability. Contabo also provides a vast range of services, including self-managed (or unmanaged) VPS (Virtual Private Server), with long-lasting hardware and a fully-unified hardware platform in all of its data centers.
Contabo offers excellent value for money because it offers high-performance servers with a 99.996% uptime guarantee for low prices. Its powerful cloud VPS packages are an excellent choice for those who have grown out of their shared hosting plans and need something more powerful. Also, its cloud VPS packages are excellent for more complex projects and can be used for a wide range of purposes. The AMD EPYC 7282 16-core processors Contabo uses are ideal for handling greater workloads and larger projects, among other things.
However, let’s get into more details and learn more about the services and features that you will get with Contabo VPS hosting. That way, you can decide whether this provider is suitable for your website.
Getting Started with Contabo VPS Plans
You can find everything you need easily on Contabo’s website. Its VPS offer is at the top of the homepage, so you won’t have any problems locating the service and opening it to see which plan you want to buy.
You can also change the language of the website from English to German, change your location (country), and use euros, dollars, or pounds as your currency. Now, let’s get into the details.
Contabo offers four self-managed VPS plans that you can choose from. Each plan allows you to use either NVMe or SSD for your storage.
Self-managed or unmanaged VPS implies that the provider (in this Contabo) won’t be setting up or managing your server. So, if you get a self-managed VPS, you will have to set up, install, and manage your server by yourself. Also, self-managed VPS plans are much cheaper than managed ones, so they fit all kinds of budgets and are much more affordable. All in all, self-managed VPS plans are ideal for more experienced users and developers who have the technical expertise to manage and maintain a whole server by themselves.
As for beginners, we recommend getting the “Managed Server” add-on from Contabo for your VPS plan.
With this add-on, you will get two hours of technical support every month for all kinds of tech issues, including fixing bugs, installations, configurations, updates, optimizations, and any other server-related issues. Also, you can hire an in-house IT team or an IT specialist to handle all the server-related tasks for you. Whichever option you go for, ensure that you have expert technical support that can set up everything correctly and manage everything in the future.
Contabo provides you with full root access to your server to deploy the operating system and apps you want. Also, you can use your resources, like RAM and storage, for whatever you like without being affected by other users on the server, like you would with a shared hosting plan.
Choose from multiple OS options, including Ubuntu, Windows, CentOS, FreeBSD, Debian, OpenSUSE, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux. You can also choose from multiple panels and apps, including cPanel, Plesk, Docker, and Webmin. Furthermore, you can upload your own .iso or .qcow2 image via web UI or API.
The entry-level plan comes with four vCPU Cores, 8GB RAM, 50GB NVMe or 200GB SSD Storage, one snapshot, and 32TB traffic. You can upgrade your VPS plan and get the most powerful option, which includes ten vCPU Cores, 60GB RAM, 400GB NVMe or 1.6TB SSD Storage, four snapshots, and 32TB traffic.
Contabo allows you to upgrade your VPS packages at all times. So, whenever you need it, you can upgrade your VPS package without sacrificing the availability and uptime of your website. You can also buy more add-ons, storage, and IPs at any time. All you need to do to upgrade your plan or resources is contact Contabo’s Customer Support Department via a ticket or phone; they will provide you with all the information you need.
Each Contabo VPS plan comes with high-performance AMD EPYC 7282 processors, which can handle large workloads and complex projects. Also, each plan includes 32TB of outgoing traffic and unlimited inbound data transfer. With Contabo, you can enjoy a connection speed between 200Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s.
Contabo also includes always-on DDoS protection that will automatically detect and stop DDoS attacks coming your way.
Also, each VPS plan comes with dedicated IPv4 and IPv6 addresses; you can buy more whenever you want. You can get a full refund for one month of services from Contabo if you cancel your services and ask for a refund within 14 days of getting your Contabo VPS package.
It’s time for testing! To review Contabo in the best way possible, I will purchase a plan and go through the whole process of setting it up step-by-step. For this purpose, I will buy the Cloud VPS S, which is the cheapest option, because I won’t be hosting anything. Also, the only difference between each plan is the number of resources they offer, so I will be able to explore everything with this plan.
To buy a plan from Contabo, you first need to decide which one you want and then click on “Select” to continue.
After you click on “Select,” you will be redirected to the following screen.
Contabo allows you to buy a VPS plan for one month, three months, six months, or 12 months. You will also have to pay for a setup fee, which decreases as you choose the longer billing period. If you go for 12 months, you won’t have to pay the setup fee. You won’t get any other discounts if you opt for a longer billing period. However, you won’t have to prepay the full amount. Instead, you can pay in monthly installments for whichever plan you get.
I will choose the monthly term since I am only testing out the provider. However, you should consider the remaining billing terms if you want to host your website or app. Once you choose your term length, you need to choose your region. You can choose from multiple locations, including Germany, the United States (Central), the United States (East), the United States (West), Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Next, you need to choose your storage type and OS Image. For storage, you can choose either NVMe or SSD storage. You can choose from Ubuntu, Windows Server, CentOS & RHEL Variants, Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux for your OS. Or, you can get cPanel, Plesk + Windows, Plesk + Linux, Webmin + LAMP, Docker, LAMP, and Webmin. Also, you can use your existing custom Image.
Next, you need to create a login and password for your server and configure your networking.
Next, you can buy add-ons if you want to. I will skip this since I don’t need any add-ons for testing, but you should definitely take your time and decide if you need anything. Once you’re done, click on “Next” to continue the process.
Now, you need to create a Contabo account. Or, if you already have one, you need to log in to your account. You need an email to create your account with Contabo. Once you are done with creating your account or logging into your old one, click on “Next” to continue.
Once you click on “Next,” the following screen will appear.
Here you need to enter your credit card details and click on “Next” once you’re done.
Here, you can review your order, and once you are ready, click on “Order & Pay,” and you will be redirected to the following screen.
And you’re done. Now, you need to wait for an email with your login credentials to log into your account and get started. The email usually arrives within seconds. Also, the setup process only takes a few minutes and is straightforward.
Setting Up a Contabo VPS Plan
Once you receive your login credentials, click on the link provided in the email to log in to your Contabo Control Panel. When you log in, you will be greeted with the following screen.
You can review your services and everything regarding your VPS server in the Control Panel. Also, you can place new orders with just a few clicks.
Contabo sets up your services before sending you your login credentials, so you won’t have to do anything yourself. Also, you already set up your location, OS, and Control Panel when you ordered your server, and Contabo already gave you the password to your Control Panel. So, we have everything we need. Now, let’s review what you can do via your Control Panel.
In the “Your Services” menu, you can review all your active services with Contabo. Also, you can see when your next payment is due. You can manage your server here and do a number of tasks, including upgrading your VPS, moving to another region, ordering add-ons, ordering a Windows server, extending your SSD storage, reinstallations, solving connection issues, starting a rescue system if you cannot log in to your server, setting up a name for your server, and canceling your services.
In the “Customer details” menu, you can view and update your personal information, change your email address, change your Control Panel password, activate Two Factor Authentication for your Control Panel, and authorize people to have certain permissions for your server.
The “API” menu allows you to access the username and password to use your API. Here you can also regenerate your client secret and get a new password.
In the “Custom Images” menu, you can order a custom image and view all available standard images, like Rocky Linux 9, OpenSUSE leap 15.4, Ubuntu 22.04 Plesk, and more.
In the “Object Storage” menu, you can access your existing Object Storage or order new storage. To do that, you need to set up a password by clicking on the “Send Password Link” button. Once you do, you will receive an email with a link where you can set your new password.
The “Private Networking” menu allows you to create a private network for your server by clicking on the “Create new Private Network” button.
In the “Billing” menu, you can find all your billing information, including your current balance, payment method, past invoices, and general information about Contabo’s billing and payment system.
In the “Payment Method” menu, you can change your payment method by clicking on the “Change Payment Method” button.
In the “Server Control” menu, you can manage your dedicated server if you have one. You can also order a dedicated server directly from this menu by clicking on “See All Dedicated Server Models” and choosing your best option.
The “VDS Control” menu is for those who have purchased a Virtual Dedicated Server from Contabo. You can manage it here or order a VDS by clicking on the “See All VDS Models” button.
In the “VPS Control” menu, you can manage your server and do all the tasks I mentioned in the “Your services” menu. Also, you can check the status of your server, restart it, start it, stop it, turn Cloud-Init on and off, and make snapshots of your server.
The “IP Management” menu allows you to manage your IP addresses and assign your additional IP addresses to specific dedicated servers, colocation servers, or VPS.
In the “OS reinstalls” menu, you can see the status of your operating system, i.e., whether it is pending, running, failed, started, or finished.
In the “Domains” menu, you can manage your existing domains and register new ones. You can view Contabo’s Domain price list here as well. However, you need to confirm an additional agreement for domains before you can manage them. You can find the agreement in the “Domains” menu attached to the word “here.”
The “DNS Zone Management” menu allows you to create and manage DNS zones for your domains. Each domain needs a separate DNS zone, and all zone entries are free of charge with Contabo. You can create a zone by entering your domain name in the “Domain” box, specifying a specific IP address (optional), and clicking on the “create zone” button.
In the “Reverse DNS Management” menu, you can manage the reverse DNS (PTR) records for your IP addresses and add PTR records for an IPv6 address.
The “Tutorials” and “FAQ” menus redirect you to the tutorials and FAQ pages on Contabo’s website, where you can find a wide range of helpful tutorials, articles, and solutions to issues or questions most Contabo customers have asked in the past.
The “Zerops” menu allows you to order Zerops, an automated infrastructure orchestration platform. With Zerops, you can automate many tasks, like building, deploying, running, and managing runtimes, databases, storage, and more.
You can order new Contabo services via your Control Panel. Each of the “New Order” options redirects you to the specific webpage where you can order the services, and the ordering process is similar to the one we covered above.
Lastly, you can find company details, general terms, and data privacy information on the top part of your Control Panel. You can also find a customer support ticket and log out of your account there.
Overall Reliability – Performance and Security
Contabo uses fast and responsive AMD EPYC 7282 16-core processors, which allow the provider to offer excellent performance to all its users.
Also, all of its VPS plans include 32TB of traffic and a connection speed between 200Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s. Another factor that improves the speed and performance Contabo offers is its lightning-fast storage options, which include SSD or Gen 4 PCle NMVe SSD, which are much faster than traditional HDD storage.
Contabo has multiple data centers worldwide, which it manages and keeps up to date with all the latest technology and security measures. It has data centers in 10 different locations, including the US (West), US (Central), US (East), United Kingdom, Germany, and Singapore. Contabo uses optimized hardware for its data centers, including hardware from Dell, HP Enterprise, AMD, Samsung, and Intel.
Its data centers are monitored 24/7 via CCTV, and the personnel uses magnetic cards to access the servers and the facility. Also, each Contabo customer must set up Two-Factor Authentication for their account so that the accounts are secure and do not fall prey to unauthorized usage.
Contabo provides its customers with a 99.996% uptime guarantee, which is considered great in the industry. With this, Contabo guarantees that your site or app will be online 99.996% of the time and will experience minimal downtime, usually during server maintenance.
You will also get free DDoS protection no matter which plans you buy. Contabo has developed its own DDoS protection software, which is automatically activated for all servers. The software recognizes 99% of all attack patterns and will stop such attacks while keeping your server active.
Contabo VPS Customer Support
Since you will be getting a self-managed server, you will have to take care of your server by yourself. However, if you have any questions, Contabo will help you through its award-winning customer support. Contabo offers a wide range of useful tutorials where you can learn all kinds of important information. You can also find tutorials on completing various tasks, like performing a file system check, using the Contabo Backup Space, and more.
You can also contact Contabo’s support team by submitting a ticket or by phone. Contabo’s team monitors its support tickets every day from 8 am to 11 pm CEST and is available via phone from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 8 pm CEST. Also, you can get managed services if you want expert help for setting up, installing, and managing your server.
Now, let’s test out Contabo’s ticketing system. To submit a ticket, you need to go to Contabo’s website, find the “Support” page at the bottom, and click on “Submit Request” under the “Support Ticket” title.
After clicking on “Submit Request,” you will be redirected to the following screen.
Here, you must pick a topic that best suits your issue or question. I will choose the first one. After you choose a topic, the following screen will appear based on your choice.
Now, you need to select the question that describes your issue best. Once you do, click on “Send a request to Contabo” below the list of questions. The following screen will appear.
Here, you need to add your email and press Enter to continue. The following screen will appear.
You can type your question here and click on “Send a request to Contabo” once you’re finished. And you’re done.
Now, all that is left to do is wait for an answer via the email you provided. If you send the ticket between 8 am to 11 pm CEST, you will get a fast response to your question. And when I say fast, I mean under an hour! Also, the response I got was well-written, and the agent answered everything I asked simply yet usefully. So, I can say with great certainty that Contabo’s customer support is not only fast but helpful as well!
Specific Features of Contabo VPS
Now, let’s make a quick summary of all the things that make Contabo an excellent choice for VPS users:
- A connection speed between 200Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s and an uptime guarantee of 99.996%
- Ten worldwide data centers that utilize hardware from top-tier companies
- Full root access is provided with all of its plans
- The ability to choose from multiple OS templates
- Supports both Plesk and cPanel
- Always-on DDoS protection, which recognizes 99% of all attack patterns
- Excellent DevOps features, including custom images, cloud-init, and SSH keys
- Award-winning customer support that provides fast and knowledgeable answers
- No extra fees for transfers
- DNS Management Through Web Interface
Pros and Cons of Contabo VPS
Pros:
- Easy site navigation
- Affordable prices
- High-quality hardware
- Full control over your server
- Easily scalable resources
- A wide range of hosting plans
- Easy setup process
Cons:
- No 24/7 live chat support
- Outdated website design
- One-time setup fees for all billing terms except the 12-month term (still, it is super affordable)
Summary
All in all, Contabo’s VPS offer left me with a very positive impression. Its services are affordable, and its site and Control Panel are easy to navigate. Also, even though the prices are low, the features and services are top-notch, and the hardware the provider uses is excellent.
Not only does Contabo offer great value for money, but it also provides excellent customer support, which stood out to me while I was reviewing the brand. Its data centers cover many regions worldwide, and its VPS plans offer enough power for complex projects and larger websites. It might not be as suitable for beginners, but with its “Managed Services” add-on, beginners can use its services and get the support they need for their servers.
So, if you ask me, Contabo VPS is an excellent choice for hosting one or more websites and apps!
