Alan Bradley
Sierra Campbell
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Published 7:42 a.m. UTC Sep. 23, 2024
Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors’ opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.
For power users, standard shared or VPS hosting services often won’t cut it. Many international businesses and other large organizations need the power, exclusive resources and scalability of a dedicated server.
The best dedicated server hosting services offer both high performance necessary for large enterprises and the flexibility to adjust resources based on the business’s expansion or cost-reduction needs. They also have multiple redundancies and safety features to safeguard major businesses reliant on their web presence from losing revenue due to outages, alongside providing specialized support tailored for the complex demands of bigger companies, all at an economical rate.
Via Bluehost’s website
Price
Plans starting at $1.99 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Via Hostinger’s website
Pricing
$2.69/month + 3 months free
Free domain included
Yes
Via HostGator’s website
Price
Plans starting at $2.56 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Via Web.com’s website
Price
Plans starting at $2.75 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Why trust our small business experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
InMotion provides several dedicated server plans, each featuring a collection of IP addresses which are particularly beneficial for businesses that value dedicated IPs. With a dedicated IP, your site can avoid the security risks of sharing an IP with other sites, maintain a stable reputation by continually being linked to the same IP, and possibly enjoy quicker loading times typically associated with dedicated over shared IPs.
Value
InMotion offers five primary dedicated hosting plans varying in features, performance, and price. Their entry-level plan is competitively priced among dedicated servers, though its lower cost is reflective of its performance and specifications. Conversely, InMotion’s premium plans provide high levels of performance, storage, and features, justifying their higher costs, ensuring a fair price-feature balance across all options.
Functionality
Beyond the array of dedicated IP addresses available, from one in the basic Aspire plan to 32 in the Extreme plan, InMotion’s hardware offers a spectrum from older processors and RAM to newer, more powerful options in the premium plans. Additional benefits include complimentary site migration, a free SSL certificate across all plans, and enhanced security features.
InMotion boasts an extensive support network through its website comprising numerous tutorials, tools, and detailed articles that tackle a wide range of web hosting issues. Customers have the added advantage of 24/7 access to the customer support team via live chat or email.
Learn more: Read our full InMotion review.
One of the primary advantages of DreamHost’s dedicated server packages is their flexibility. Clients can tailor each plan to meet their specific business requirements. DreamHost is particularly suitable for those without extensive technical expertise who still require the capabilities of a dedicated server, offering an easy-to-use control panel for server administration.
However, it’s not just for beginners. Advanced users will appreciate features like complete root and shell access, as well as support for PERL, Ruby, and various other programming languages through the control panel.
Value
The pricing of DreamHost’s dedicated hosting services is generally in the mid to upper range compared to similar providers. Thanks to the customizable nature of its offerings, clients can adjust their hardware commitments to better manage costs. Although the pricing aligns with the included features and hardware, it would be advantageous if DreamHost offered more extensive storage options in their plans.
Functionality
DreamHost offers a range of modular plans that boast impressive specifications, including access to processors with 12 cores and 24 threads, as well as 128 GB of RAM. However, these plans are somewhat limited by a maximum storage capacity of only 1920 GB. Despite this, the plans benefit from unlimited bandwidth, ensuring that heavy traffic won’t hinder your website’s performance.
Support
The DreamHost website features a comprehensive knowledge base filled with articles on WordPress, DNS, domain management, and other advanced hosting topics. For direct assistance, customers can access technical support through the Control Panel or a contact form available on their website.
Learn more: Read our full DreamHost review.
One of the main features that sets Bluehost apart from its competitors is its unified management system. It provides the flexibility to incorporate different hosting services like shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting under a single account. This simplification is managed through an enhanced cPanel interface. However, it’s worth mentioning that there is an extra fee for cPanel access that Bluehost includes at the time of purchase.
Value
The pricing structure of Bluehost’s plans is competitive, offering fair value that reflects in the provision of substantial hardware resources including processor cores, storage, and DDR5 RAM. It’s critical, however, to understand the discrepancy between the promotional prices listed on Bluehost’s website and the higher renewal rates. Additionally, the promotional prices are based on longer-term commitments paid upfront.
Functionality
Bluehost provides comprehensive control over your server, allowing adjustments at the operating system level and via Apache, the server software managing how online content is delivered to users. Additionally, Bluehost facilitates instant storage upgrades, enabling you to increase capacity instantly without the need to contact support.
Support
Bluehost guarantees quick assistance through service agents well-versed in dedicated server hosting. Customer service is available 24/7 via telephone or live chat, or directly at their main office in Florida.
Mochahost presents a variety of budget-friendly dedicated hosting options, available on both Windows and Linux platforms, allowing you to select the server that aligns best with your requirements and the expertise of your team. These plans come with the assurance of round-the-clock support provided by experts stationed across the globe, ensuring you receive assistance during typical working hours, irrespective of your time of contact.
Value
Although Mochahost’s dedicated hosting packages are competitively priced, they tend to offer minimal hardware resources. This may not be ideal for large enterprises requiring high performance for the operation of extensive and sophisticated websites. Notably, even their highest-tier plan is equipped with just 640 GB of storage.
Functionality
All of Mochahost’s hosting solutions are supported by their global data center network, enhancing the ability to deliver content to users worldwide, no matter their location. The Windows servers provided by Mochahost ensure seamless integration with Microsoft technologies, guaranteeing smooth operation of Windows applications and compatibility with different versions of Windows Server.
Support
Mochahost provides a limited number of online resources, primarily a knowledge base that addresses frequently asked support queries. For more personalized assistance, customers can reach their support team via phone, live chat, or support ticket.
Learn more: Read our full Mochahost review.
Hostwinds is notable among dedicated server providers for its highly customizable plans. You have the freedom to tailor your server extensively via multiple selection options, allowing you to specify everything from storage and RAM to the operating system and even the type of server processor.
Further enhancing its appeal, Hostwinds offers several features designed to give clients peace of mind. These include a 99.9999% uptime guarantee and nightly backups to protect against data loss. In addition, the company’s proactive server monitoring ensures that any issues are swiftly addressed by the Hostwinds team, negating the need for customer intervention.
Value
The cost-effectiveness of Hostwinds’ dedicated server options depends significantly on your specific needs. While the price for basic enhancements is generally fair, costs can add up if you opt for multiple upgrades. Some options, like the addition of unmetered bandwidth for a staggering $750 per month, can become quite costly.
Functionality
Hostwinds offers a comprehensive service including fully managed support with their dedicated server plans. The company ensures 24/7 availability of technicians for any required support or guidance. Hostwinds ensures top-notch network performance owing to its use of redundant communication routes and multiple network carriers. These features are designed to provide both high-speed connectivity and consistent reliability.
Support
On its official website, Hostwinds features a community section which includes a blog and various tutorials to help customers utilize its services effectively. For additional support, customers can reach out to the technical helpdesk via live chat or telephone at any hour.
Learn more: Read our full Hostwinds review.
HostGator’s plans are distinguished by the use of premium hardware for their servers. These include advanced AMD EPYC processors, supported by DDR5 RAM and NVMe SSDs. Each plan offers generous allocations of these resources. Additionally, the servers boast a high degree of customizability, are backed by a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and are supported by round-the-clock support and consistent server monitoring, ensuring that websites remain accessible to visitors and customers at all times.
Value
While HostGator shares a parent company with Bluehost, known as Newfold Digital Group, and its basic plan is priced the same as Bluehost’s starter package, HostGator does not provide low-budget options. Rather, it concentrates on mid to high-tier dedicated server plans that focus on high-quality hardware and performance. HostGator’s offerings represent a fair value if high-end hardware and performance are priorities, although it is important to note that the renewal rates are higher than the initial prices shown on their website.
Functionality
HostGator doesn’t just offer robust hardware; it also provides key security features that are essential for modern hosting. Clients benefit from SSL certificates that encrypt data, DDoS protections safeguarding against cyber threats, and RAID 6 storage solutions that enhance the security of stored data.
Support
On the HostGator website, there is a dedicated resources section that hosts a thorough knowledge base and a blog filled with articles on topics ranging from starting a contemporary blog to fixing 404 errors on your website. Moreover, their support team is available 24/7 via phone or live chat for any inquiries or issues.
Learn more: Read our full HostGator review.
TMDHosting’s dedicated server options are an excellent choice for expanding businesses. They are affordable, scalable, and offer a good level of initial performance and features. However, TMDHosting might not be the best option for very large businesses needing extremely high levels of dedicated resources right away, or for those who anticipate rapid growth that could exceed the capabilities of even TMDHosting’s highest-tier plan.
Value
TMDHosting’s plans offer solid value. They stand in the middle range among dedicated server providers, in terms of both cost and features, and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test their services without any financial risk.
Functionality
TMDHosting offers a choice between traditional high-capacity HDD storage or faster, more compact SSD storage in their dedicated server plans, as confirmed by their customer service. All plans come with unlimited bandwidth and include cPanel for streamlined management.
Support
On their website, TMDHosting provides a variety of tutorial articles that guide users through using specific applications and integrations, although their selection of other online resources is somewhat limited. While technical support can be accessed via support tickets or online forms, TMDHosting does not offer live chat or phone support.
Learn more: Read our full TMDHosting review.
Liquid Web is a perfect choice for those seeking a web hosting solution with high-level, comprehensive security measures. Rest assured knowing that your website, personal data, and customer information are well-protected. Besides the usual defenses against DDoS attacks, Liquid Web’s team of security specialists offers advanced security options including vulnerability and intrusion detection, malware assessments, PCI scans, and more. Additional security measures include firewalls, VPNs, and continuous cybersecurity monitoring services.
Value
The pricing structure of Liquid Web might be on the higher side, but they offer unique features that enhance their overall value. For instance, their hosting plans include substantial storage options, starting with dual 960 GB drives. However, note that the bandwidth provision is restricted, with a cap of 15 TB per month, even on the highest plans.
Functionality
Liquid Web provides unique features in its dedicated server offerings, including a variety of control panels such as cPanel, InterWorx, and Plesk for server and website management. Additionally, it offers IPMI access to monitor and remotely manage server health.
Support
Liquid Web presents multiple support resources on its website, featuring customer stories, a blog, instructional documents, e-books, and white papers covering diverse topics. Customer support is accessible via phone, chat, support ticket, or an online contact form.
A2 Hosting stands out for its comprehensive feature offerings, including some unique ones not commonly offered by other services. Each package comes with a 1 TB backup drive ensuring data safety, an Imunify360 security suite which provides antivirus, firewall, and PHP security layers, and root level access granting deep server management capabilities.
Value
A2’s dedicated server packages are segmented into three levels: introductory, mid-tier, and premium, though even their starter plan tends to be more expensive. It’s important to note that the displayed prices are only initial discounts for the first term with a two-year commitment required. Subsequent renewal pricing is comparatively higher.
Functionality
A2 Hosting also introduces a standout service of performance optimization wherein their server specialists review and fine-tune your site settings to boost efficiency. Should their efforts not enhance your server performance, A2 Hosting promises to compensate with a free month of hosting.
Support
A2 Hosting provides a standard array of resources like a knowledge base and blog, focusing on its products and relevant topics such as SSL certificates and web hosting trends. Customers can access technical support either by phone or through their customer portal where they can submit service requests.
Learn more: Read our full A2 Hosting review.
IONOS distinguishes itself among service providers by offering flexible, hourly billing for many of its dedicated server plans. It provides a variety of dedicated server types divided into four main categories. Customers have the choice of either AMD or Intel-based servers, and IONOS has options for older server hardware at reduced prices. Additionally, there are servers designed specifically for high storage needs, featuring capacities of up to 80 TB and including both HDD and SSD.
Value
IONOS delivers strong value mainly due to its pay-as-you-go billing structure for its Intel and AMD servers, which means usage-based payment, and its competitively priced offers on older server models. These plans provide significant cost efficiency with the added benefit of a monthly cap to prevent excessive expenditure.
Functionality
IONOS offers several appealing features apart from its distinctive payment structure, including API and cloud integration that lets you connect your dedicated server with other virtual machines for shared access load and custom infrastructure design. Additionally, IONOS includes an advanced IP firewall to protect your site from DDoS attacks and other security threats.
Support
Though IONOS may lack the breadth of resources found on competitor sites, it compensates by offering round-the-clock customer support through phone and live chat. IONOS also features an extensive help center on its website, which provides answers to common technical issues.
Price
Plans starting at $1.99 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Via Hostinger’s website
Pricing
$2.69/month + 3 months free
Free domain included
Yes
Via HostGator’s website
Price
Plans starting at $2.56 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Via Web.com’s website
Price
Plans starting at $2.75 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Methodology
We conduct thorough research on key competitors in various industries to identify superior products and services for your enterprise. Our specialists focus on crucial aspects important to business owners, such as cost, features, and customer support, to guarantee that our suggestions are comprehensive and cater to the diverse needs of small businesses.
We gather detailed data to refine our recommendations to include only reputable, user-friendly products that excel in functionality at a competitive price point. Additionally, we consider customer feedback to confirm that entrepreneurs appreciate the quality of services from our selected top options. We apply a consistent criterion to evaluate companies within a specific industry so you can trust our guidelines when seeking the top economical dedicated hosting services for 2024.
Expert score (10%): The expert score is calculated by evaluating qualitative aspects such as usability and interface from our extensive industry experience perspective.
Value (26%): To gauge the value provided by a dedicated server provider, we analyze how pricing compares to the features and services offered relative to other competitors, including additional benefits such as free trials or extensive money-back guarantees.
Features (47%): The feature aspect significantly influences our evaluation, as it encapsulates the essential offerings of a service provider. We focus on key attributes such as performance hardware, storage capacity, and security measures, and give additional points for unique features specific to the provider.
Service and support (8%): The complexity inherent in dedicated server setups necessitates expert technical support, which we regard as crucial. We especially value services offering 24/7 support, recognizing that small-to-medium businesses often operate beyond traditional hours and need reliable assistance at any time.
Customer reviews (9%): Customer testimonials are vital for providing insights into a company’s operational practices, its commitment to service, and interaction with clients. Therefore, we consider ratings from review aggregators and various online platforms in our assessments.
Dedicated server hosting differs from other web hosting types by ensuring that all resources you pay for are exclusively yours. This arrangement contrasts with shared hosting where resources are divided among multiple users. Owning a dedicated server allows for full access to specific hardware whenever needed and grants enhanced control over its configuration and management.
Dedicated servers carry a higher price tag due to their multiple advantages over shared, VPS, and other hosting types. These advantages include:
Choosing the right dedicated server hosting for your business largely depends on your budget and specific needs. It’s important to ensure that the hardware and features you are investing in align well with the size and requirements of your website(s).
When selecting a dedicated server host, there are several key features you should expect, which are standard across top providers. These features include:
Beyond the fundamental necessities, the top dedicated server hosts often offer additional perks. These may encompass choices among various control panels or management platforms, complimentary site migration for those transitioning their existing websites, and other bonuses like free domain names or business email services.
Customer service holds great significance for dedicated server hosts due to the intricate nature of the hardware and software used, and because service disruptions could lead to potential revenue loss or customer attrition. It’s critical for support to be available 24/7, particularly for websites that receive traffic from international time zones.
Be cautious of deceptive pricing strategies when choosing dedicated server hosts. Often, these hosts advertise appealing low rates on the initial display of their websites, but hide clauses in the fine print that the advertised price only applies with the purchase of long-term, bulk plans, or that it is merely an introductory offer which will increase after the initial period. Additionally, watch out for costly extras which can dramatically increase the overall cost of a basic plan.
Via Bluehost’s website
Price
Plans starting at $1.99 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Via Hostinger’s website
Pricing
$2.69/month + 3 months free
Free domain included
Yes
Via HostGator’s website
Price
Plans starting at $2.56 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Via Web.com’s website
Price
Plans starting at $2.75 per month
Free domain included
Yes
Shared hosting means you’ll be splitting server resources with other users. This can lead to decreased performance, increased security vulnerabilities and less control, but you’ll pay less than you would with dedicated hosting. Dedicated hosting means you get full control over server resources, but also that you’ll likely pay considerably more.
The primary disadvantage of dedicated servers is cost: Because you’re getting exclusive access to hardware, you’ll generally end up paying a significant premium when compared to other hosting options. Also, scalability issues can present themselves because dedicated servers are based on specific, finite hardware, while other hosting plans may provide access to additional resources if required.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
Alan Bradley
BLUEPRINT
Alan is an experienced culture and tech writer with a background in newspaper reporting. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, The Escapist, PC Mag, PC Gamer, and a multitude of other outlets. He has over twenty years of experience as a journalist and editor and is the author of the urban fantasy novel The Sixth Borough.
Sierra Campbell
BLUEPRINT
Sierra Campbell is a small business editor for USA Today Blueprint. She specializes in writing, editing and fact-checking content centered around helping businesses. She has worked as a digital content and show producer for several local TV stations, an editor for U.S. News & World Report and a freelance writer and editor for many companies. Sierra prides herself in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to readers. Her expertise includes credit card processing companies, e-commerce platforms, payroll software, accounting software and virtual private networks (VPNs). She also owns Editing by Sierra, where she offers editing services to writers of all backgrounds, including self-published and traditionally published authors.
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting
Web hosting