Comparing prices across every provider we track...
CloudHosting.ioCloudHosting.io
Virtual Servers · $100/mo (4 GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 160 GB SSD, 5000 GB transfer)
AWS Lightsail's $100/mo Windows plan is significantly overpriced compared to Linux-based alternatives with better specs. Even accounting for hidden costs and renewal traps, multiple providers offer 4GB+ RAM with 2+ vCPU for $5-$6/mo, making them 15-20x cheaper at entry. The Windows license premium (70-90% markup) is the primary driver; if you need Windows, Lightsail is reasonable, but Linux users should look elsewhere.
4GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 50GB NVMe, 4TB transfer for $6.49/mo intro - matches Lightsail's RAM at 1/15th the cost.
Caveat: Intro price requires 12-48 month prepay; renewal jumps to $11.99/mo (2x higher); only weekly backups on base plan.
4GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 40GB SSD, 20TB transfer for $6.49/mo - matches Lightsail's core specs at 1/15th the price.
Caveat: VAT excluded from listed price; traffic overage billed beyond 20TB EU pool; recent large price increases on other product lines signal potential future hikes.
4GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 40GB NVMe, unlimited traffic, daily backups for $4.54/mo - best raw value if Linux is acceptable.
Caveat: Windows license adds $0.039/vCore/hour (~$28/mo extra); APAC egress loses free status after mid-2026; IPv4 addresses billed separately.
2GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 80GB NVMe, unlimited traffic (1 Gbit/s) for $4.33/mo - cheapest entry point with solid specs.
Caveat: Intro pricing is 3-month or 1-year promo; renewal pricing 2-6x higher; Windows Server license adds per-vCPU surcharge; outbound transfer beyond 2TB pooled allowance charged at $0.036/GB.
Before you switch
| IONOS | VPS Hosting (VPS+) · VPS S+ | $5/mo | 2 GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 90 GB NVMe | Visit |
| IONOS | IONOS CLOUD Cubes (Basic) · Basic Cube XS | $5.76/mo | 2 GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 60 GB NVMe | Visit |
| Contabo | Core VPS · Cloud VPS 4 | $5.94/mo | 8 GB RAM, 4 vCPU, 100 GB SSD | Visit |
| Kamatera | Cloud VMs · Sample: 1 vCPU / 2GB / 20GB | $6/mo | 2 GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 20 GB NVMe SSD | Visit |
| Gcore | Cloud Compute (Standard Gen 0, Linux) · g0-standard-1-2 | $6.15/mo | 2 GB RAM, 1 vCPU | Visit |
| Hostinger | KVM VPS · KVM 1 | $6.49/mo | 4 GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 50 GB NVMe SSD | Visit |
| Hetzner | Cloud Servers · CX23 | $6.49/mo | 4 GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 40 GB SSD | Visit |
| Scaleway | Virtual Instances · DEV1-S | $6.55/mo | 2 GB RAM, 2 vCPU | Visit |
| Namecheap | VPS Hosting · Pulsar | $6.88/mo | 2 GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 40 GB SSD | Visit |
| Oracle Cloud Infrastructure | Compute VM Instances · VM.Standard.A1.Flex - 1 OCPU / 6GB | $8.76/mo | 6 GB RAM, 1 vCPU | Visit |
| OVHcloud | Public Cloud Compute Instances · d2-2 | $8.98/mo | 2 GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 25 GB local disk | Visit |
| GoDaddy | VPS Hosting · 1 vCPU / 2 GB | $8.99/mo | 2 GB RAM, 1 vCPU, 40 GB NVMe | Visit |
Contabo
Hostinger
View AWS Lightsail's plan
Hetzner
OVHcloud
IONOS