This is the hub for everything VPS on this site. Below is how to choose, then picks by use-case, then links to the hands-on comparisons and setup guides.
How I evaluate a self-hosting VPS
I look at four things, roughly in this order:
- RAM — the usual bottleneck. Match it to the app (see table below).
- Disk — type (NVMe vs SSD) and amount; photo/media libraries eat space fast.
- Network — bandwidth, port speed, and route quality (critical if your audience is in China — see CN2 GIA).
- Management — managed (someone patches it) vs unmanaged (you do).
Real benchmarks (yabs.sh / fio / iperf3) for individual providers live in their reviews; this page is the decision framework.
How much VPS does each workload need?
| Workload | RAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vaultwarden (passwords) | 1 GB | Runs on the cheapest box |
| n8n (automation) | 1–2 GB | SQLite to start |
| Nextcloud (files) | 2 GB | Disk-hungry with photos |
| Immich (photos + AI) | 4 GB+ | ML features want RAM |
| Local LLM (7B+) | GPU VPS | CPU only for small models |
Top picks by use-case
Best value — Hetzner
The most resources per dollar. Ideal if you’re comfortable on the command line and want to run several services on one box. You manage updates and backups yourself.
Hands-off — Cloudways
A managed layer (on top of DigitalOcean/Vultr/etc.) that handles the server so you don’t. Costs more than raw Hetzner, but you skip patching, firewall and backup chores. See the deep dive: Cloudways vs Hetzner.
Developer cloud — DigitalOcean / Vultr
Clean dashboards and APIs, snapshots, lots of regions, and GPU instances (Vultr) for AI workloads. Great default if you want standard cloud ergonomics. Compare them: Vultr vs DigitalOcean.
China access — CN2 GIA
If your users are in mainland China, route quality matters more than raw specs. A CN2 GIA line keeps latency low and stable — see the real-world numbers in the BandwagonHost HK HKHK_8 review.
Approximate entry prices change often (Hetzner from ~€4/mo, DigitalOcean/Vultr from ~$5–6/mo, Cloudways from ~$11/mo, BandwagonHost from ~$50/yr) — always check the provider’s current pricing.
Set it up
Once you’ve picked a box, these guides get you running:
- Nginx Proxy Manager — free HTTPS
- Then deploy: Nextcloud · Immich · n8n · Ollama + Open WebUI
