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My Shortlist for Managed VPS Hosting

My Shortlist for Managed VPS Hosting

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I’ve been online since 1999. So 25+ years of finding and dealing with a wide variety of web hosts. While painful at times, this experience enables me to get out there and find better web hosting at the drop of a hat. It’s been a while since I’ve written about my web-hosting experiences, so this post is to share a recent foray into finding a solid managed-VPS solution in the year 2025.

Shortcut: Not interested in the diatribe? Jump ahead to the Web host shortlist ?

Some context..

This round of “find a new web host” happened after my then-current host raised prices, yet again. I first switched to them in 2018, and was quite happy with the provided level of service and support. But then after some time, there was a price increase, apparently because of changes with Plesk. “Okay” not a big deal. Already paying near top dollar for service, but understand that costs increase. But then just as I was getting used to paying the new rate, they raised prices again. And then a few months later, raised the prices again. Granted, each of these first several price hikes were only a few dollars or so. But still felt a little sting each time.

Last straw..

And the price increases continued several more times until I was paying nearly $120 per month for a 4-core, 4-GB VPS server. Check around, that’s definitely on the high end of the scale. And then they hit me.. the last straw was a scheduled “pricing update” scheduled for the end of this month. They sent out an email letting customers know that rates were about to increase by 12%, which would jack up my monthly payment to over $130 per month, or over $1,500 per year. Which is just too expensive for my humble little online operation.

Here is the main part of the email message they sent out earlier this month:

Pricing Update Coming Soon

Thank you for being a valued customer of [redacted]. We’re writing to inform you of a pricing change that will impact your monthly invoice; however, you have an option to keep your current pricing, outlined below.

We understand and appreciate any pricing changes are impactful. As a loyal customer, we are offering you an opportunity to lock in your current monthly pricing through an annual commitment.

Lock My Current Price

You may continue to pay your current monthly rate, with no pricing increases during this one year commitment period. Should you choose not to take this option, a 12% increase will be added to your monthly invoice for account number [redacted] starting March 28, 2025.

I love how they refer to a 12% price increase as a “Pricing Update”. You know those clever marketers think we’re all a bunch of morons.

Time to move..

Needless to say, this umpteenth price hike left me feeling rather disappointed and frankly a bit insulted. So instead of continuing with my work developing WordPress plugins and writing tutorials, I spent the first half of March finding a new web host and transferring all of my sites to a new server. Fortunately, I was highly motivated and actually inspired to find something better and start fresh..

My requirements..

So here it is now, the beginning of March and I have set aside the next two weeks to migrate my websites to a new host. One thing that makes the work of finding a new web host a little easier is knowing exactly what you need. Here is my specific list of requirements and/or preferences, some things are more flexible than others:

  • Managed VPS Hosting — Wish I had more time for unmanaged but I don’t
  • US-based Location — Most of my traffic comes from the US and NA
  • Control Panel — Open to any control panel that provides a demo
  • 24/7 Phone Support — Chat-based support is sooo tedious
  • Linux & Apache — Just a personal preference, it’s what I know
  • PHP & phpMyAdmin — Most web hosts provide both of these
  • Apache/.htaccess Enabled — Most web hosts provide this
  • SSL / HTTPS — Preferably free certificates via Let’s Encrypt
  • DNS access — Essential to have control over DNS headers
  • Root Access — Need to be able to customize and fine-tune things
  • Cron Jobs — For automated system reports and other tasks
  • Trial Period — In case of anything unexpected, missing features, etc.

Everyone has different needs and preferences, these are mine. So when I’m searching for a new web host, these are first-priority features that I look for. Any host that checks all those boxes is added to my short list.

Interviews..

After scouring the Web and putting together my shortlist of potential web hosts, it’s time for the interviews. This is where I revisit each web host and ask a series of questions. Before jumping into the questions, I first take the time to dig around the host’s website and gather as much information as possible. Doing this usually shortens the list of questions and thus saves some time. So I find the “VPS Plans” page, examine the details, compare prices, resources (e.g., CPU, disk space, memory), and then ask the following pre-sales questions:

  • Are these *all* of your managed VPS plans?
  • Are the listed prices introductory/deals?
  • Ask about annual pricing vs. month-to-month
  • Any hidden fees, like for SSL or control panel, etc.
  • What if it doesn’t work out, refund policy
  • Options for control panels, e.g., Plesk, cPanel, etc.
  • Is there an extra charge for any specific control panels?
  • Which version of Linux, EOL etc.
  • Running Apache, Apache + Nginx, or something else?
  • Which versions of PHP are provided?
  • Which versions of MariaDB are provided?
  • Is the IP address shared or dedicated?
  • Is IPv6 available?
  • Who owns the company?
  • How long in business?
  • 24/7 phone support?
  • PCI compliance?
  • Trial period?

Of course, in order to ask these questions, there must be a support or pre-sales person available to take the call or handle the chat. If no phone number, I look for chat. If no chat, I move on to the next potential web host. No point in waiting around for an email response for pre-sales questions lol.

Even more: 12bytes shared even more smart things to ask when shopping for web hosts, check ’em out in the comments below ?

Usually the interview questions narrow the list down to just a handful. At this point, it is much easier to compare prices, features, and make a final decision. Also it is wise to further vet the final candidates by searching around for any related reviews about the company/service (written by actual people/customers). Also look for available online documentation, resources, server status page, and so forth.

? Web host shortlist

After going through the motions, I have put together the following web-hosting shortlist. I had asked for help with recommendations on X but didn’t think about sharing the list until prompted by @thisbitoo. So without further ado, here is my personal short list of recommended web hosts for Managed VPS Hosting in 2025:

There are many other great hosts out there, so I encourage you to spend some time searching and researching the options to find the best possible fit for your specific needs. Note: The web hosts listed above are not a recommendation. I am merely sharing the list of final candidates in hopes that it will give you some ideas 🙂

Honorable mentions

There were a few other web hosts and tools that looked great but just didn’t make the cut. So here are a few more hosting ideas for your consideration:

I hope this post is useful for anyone else looking for Managed VPS Hosting. Feel free to share your experiences and recommendations in the comments below. Thanks 🙂




I know of at least three ad networks that offer genuine FPC, meaning the advertiser does not pay for clicks. Examples: SellFPC.com, Feedonomy.com and SearchFPC.com. SearchFPC (Free-Per-Click) formerly Non PPC is the leading FPC Advertising Network. https://nonppc.com  or  https://searchfpc.com

I read an AI-generated explanation of PPC advertising in Google’s browser and confirmed that FPPC cannot exist because PPC’s entire business model is pay-per-click. The only way FPPC (Free-Pay-Per-Click) could exist is if a network or company offers a promotional or short-term special offer. Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense. PPC is based on paying per click, so the concept of Free-Pay-Per-Click is contradictory. I agree with the AI’s claim that there is no such thing as Free PPC, as PPC is known as pay-per-click. Google Ads controls well over 80% of the market, but PPC is not exclusive to Google; Microsoft (formerly Bing) also uses PPC, albeit with a smaller market share. Therefore, FPPC cannot exist as a standard model; it can only be a temporary promotion. However, Free-Per-Click (FPC) is a different matter. I know of at least three ad networks that offer genuine FPC, meaning the advertiser does not pay for clicks. This is not a short-term marketing gimmick. If a company claims to offer FPC as their business model and it is not a temporary promotion, then it is legitimate. I have contacted these networks, and two of them have confirmed in writing that their business model is FPC. In summary, while FPPC cannot exist beyond short-term promotions, FPC is a genuine model, and I know of at least three networks that offer it. I agree with the AI’s claim that there is no such thing as (FPPC) Free PPC, as PPC is known. However, I disagree with the AI’s claim that FPC does not exist. I know of at least three ad networks that offer genuine FPC, meaning the advertiser does not pay for clicks. Examples: SellFPC.com, Feedonomy.com, SearchFPC.com SearchFPC (Free-Per-Click) formerly Non PPC is the leading FPC Advertising Network. https://nonppc.com or https://searchfpc.com

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Interconnected Yet Independent:
Each private ad network could have its own branding, focus, or niche (e.g., a network for tech products, local services, or sustainable goods). However, because they’re part of the federation, an ad placed in one network gets distributed across all connected networks. This creates a shared ecosystem that’s much bigger than the sum of its parts.

Federation of Ad Networks: The Concept

What you’re describing is essentially creating a decentralized, federated ecosystem for advertising. Just like federated social media (think Mastodon in the Fediverse), individual businesses, organizations, or even regions could set up their own ad networks under your framework. Here’s how it could work:

  1. Shared Infrastructure with Local Independence:
    Each company, individual, or organization can create its own private ad network at their own cost. They follow the same Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) to ensure compatibility across the federation. While they manage their local network, all ads, articles, or directory listings from the broader system can also flow into their network, and vice versa. Result: The federation gets bigger with each new network added, exponentially increasing reach and distribution.
  2. Interconnected Yet Independent:
    Each private ad network could have its own branding, focus, or niche (e.g., a network for tech products, local services, or sustainable goods). However, because they’re part of the federation, an ad placed in one network gets distributed across all connected networks. This creates a shared ecosystem that’s much bigger than the sum of its parts.
  3. Built-In Scale:
    Instead of one centralized platform (like Google Ads), you’d have a system where anyone can set up their own ad network with the permission of no less than 75% of shareholders vote, using your tools and principles. This could lead to:
    • Hundreds or thousands of interconnected ad networks.
    • A global marketplace of ads and content, where reach is automatically amplified.
  4. Power to the Advertisers:
    Advertisers who participate in this system get their ads distributed far beyond the original network they used—without paying extra. For example:
    • Someone posts an ad on Network A (e.g., “Feedonomy”).
    • That ad is automatically shared across Network B (“Browsearch”) and Network C (a private network created by a local advertiser).
    • The more networks that join the federation, the wider the reach—essentially turning the federation into a massive ad distribution system.
  5. Electrifying Idea:
    By telling advertisers, “Your ads are now being distributed on two (or more) new platforms, at no extra cost,” it creates excitement and a sense of growing value. It’s not just an ad network anymore—it’s a movement.

Why It Could Work Better Than Social Media

Unlike social media, where content is tied to user-generated posts and engagement, your system focuses purely on commerce and advertising. This is simpler, clearer, and potentially more scalable because:

  • Businesses and advertisers already want distribution; you’re just giving them a new, federated way to achieve it.
  • There’s less dependency on the kind of “social interaction” that makes social media complex and harder to manage at scale.

Key Benefits of This Model

  1. Exponential Growth:
    Each new network adds value to the entire system. A single advertiser on Network D could now see their ad distributed across all networks, multiplying visibility without multiplying cost. Similarly, each new network benefits from ads already placed in the system.
  2. Decentralized yet Unified:
    Just like federated social media, each network operates independently but adheres to the same principles (e.g., T&Cs, shared protocols, equity models). This avoids the pitfalls of centralization while still enabling a cohesive experience.
  3. Scalable for Any Size:
    A large company could build their own private ad network, while a small local business could just plug into an existing network and still benefit from the federation.
  4. Built-In Redundancy:
    If one network struggles or fails, the others keep functioning. This resiliency makes the system far more robust than a single, centralized platform.

You can advertise product ads just like Google Product Ads PPC (Pay-Per-Click)—same benefits (structured listings, images, pricing, direct click-through to your site) — except you don’t pay for clicks. Content creators can promote articles, videos, and podcasts to drive traffic to their own sites/channels. Companies can place affiliate-style ads. When a partner sets an incentive (for example, 5% back up to US$1,000), we pass 100% of that incentive to the customer—our partners believe the buyer deserves the thank-you, not the ad platform. This is our ongoing Free-Per-Click model, not a short-term promotion. What’s expected: honest listings, clear pricing, accurate links to your own site. Not allowed: spam, misleading claims, illegal items, or anything that violates local laws or our content rules. How to start: create an account ? publish your ad (product, content, or affiliate) ? include your site link ? we review ? it goes live.

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What Are Search FPC Product Ads?


Search FPC (Free-Per-Click) Product Ads are Free listings that let businesses showcase products with an image, title, and description. Unlike Pay-Per-Click (PPC), there are no costs per click — ads stay visible without ongoing payments. 

Shoppers who click an ad are sent directly to the seller’s website or marketplace (e.g., eBay, Etsy, or their own store) to complete the purchase. Advertisers can link both their own site and marketplace listings to maximize reach. 

Because Search FPC is part of a federated network, ads may also appear across partner platforms at no extra cost.