Dedicated Server Pricing Compared (2026)
Last updated: August 2026 · Prices are approximate entry-level rates and change frequently — always confirm on the provider's site.
Dedicated server pricing is confusing by design: intro rates, renewal jumps, setup fees, and "managed" tiers that mean different things at every company. Here's the honest side-by-side for our Top 6 providers, followed by the costs that don't show up on the pricing page.
Entry pricing at a glance
| Provider | From (approx.) | Management | Standout | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contabo | ~$94/mo | Self / add-on | Best specs per dollar | Visit → |
| InterServer | ~$70/mo | Self / managed | Price-lock guarantee | Visit → |
| Hetzner | ~€40/mo | Self-managed | Server Auction deals | Visit → |
| UniHost | ~$75/mo | Managed incl. | Wide location choice | Visit → |
| Bluehost | ~$90/mo | Managed (cPanel) | Easiest for beginners | Visit → |
| Liquid Web | ~$189/mo | Fully managed | Best-in-class support | Visit → |
The costs pricing pages don't show
- Setup fees. Some providers (including Contabo on certain plans) charge a one-time setup fee. Amortize it over your expected contract length before comparing.
- Renewal pricing. Intro rates that jump 30–60% at renewal are common with mainstream brands. InterServer's price-lock and Hetzner's flat pricing are the exceptions worth noting.
- Location surcharges. Asia-Pacific data centers typically cost 10–30% more than US/EU. See our Japan hosting guide for why it's usually worth it.
- Management tiers. "Managed" ranges from "we reboot it if it dies" to Liquid Web's full sysadmin service. Price the tier you actually need, not the headline rate.
- Bandwidth overages. Check what's included and what an extra TB costs — this varies wildly.
How much should you budget?
As a rule of thumb for 2026: a capable self-managed dedicated server runs $70–120/month (Contabo, InterServer, Hetzner); a managed server with real support runs $150–250/month; and enterprise configurations with high-core CPUs, 256 GB+ RAM or Tokyo/Singapore locations run $250+. If those numbers stretch your budget, our cheap dedicated servers guide shows where to save safely — and if you're not sure you need dedicated at all, read dedicated vs VPS first.