Contabo: Fixed Rates & Flexible Configurations

Company Overview

Contabo is a German web hosting provider founded in 2003 and headquartered in Munich. They specialize in affordable, high-performance infrastructure, offering VPS, dedicated servers, and cloud storage for developers, resellers, and small to medium-sized businesses. With data centers across Europe, the U.S., and Asia, they serve a global customer base and provide multilingual support for international users. Their service model emphasizes flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency, appealing to users who want enterprise-grade resources at accessible prices.

Contabo’s hosting solutions include SSD storage, customizable configurations, and reliable uptime backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee. They aim to make powerful hosting accessible without unnecessary extras, allowing users to focus on performance and control. Their consistent reliability and transparent pricing have positioned them as a practical choice for developers and businesses managing multiple projects or clients.

In terms of reputation, Contabo is widely recognized for delivering substantial value at low cost, often earning positive mentions in independent hosting comparisons. While they are not BBB-accredited and have no formal presence with the Better Business Bureau, they maintain a solid industry standing for their infrastructure quality and straightforward, customer-oriented approach.

Features & Services

Core hosting solutions

• Contabo control panel: A centralized dashboard for reboots, OS installs, billing, resource monitoring, and DNS configuration
• High-speed connectivity: Servers include 1 to 10 Gbps network ports, delivering fast global performance and stable throughput
• Unmetered traffic: Every plan includes unmetered bandwidth, ensuring no additional costs for growing traffic
• Global data centers: Facilities in Germany, the U.S., the U.K., Singapore, and Japan let customers host closer to their audience for reduced latency
• Custom server setup: Users can select operating systems, control panels, and storage types, or upload custom ISO files for personalized installations
• Full root and admin access: Both VPS and dedicated servers offer unrestricted system control for software, security, and resource management
• Real-time server monitoring: Track CPU, RAM, and disk usage directly from the dashboard
• Automated alerts: Notifications are available for resource thresholds or system downtime

Security and compliance

• DDoS protection: Network-level filtering mitigates attacks to maintain uptime during malicious traffic spikes
• Firewall management: Users can define inbound and outbound traffic rules from the Contabo control panel
• ISO 27001-certified data centers: Facilities use multi-layered physical and network security, redundant power, and environmental controls
• Two-factor authentication: Optional 2FA enhances account protection against unauthorized access
• GDPR compliance: Contabo fully adheres to European Union data protection standards
• ISO 9001 certification: Their operations also follow ISO 9001 quality management guidelines
• Account isolation: Virtualization technology prevents cross-tenant vulnerabilities on shared hardware

Developer tools and integrations

• RESTful API: Automate deployments, scaling, and management through API or DevOps tools like Terraform and Ansible
• Custom images and templates: Preconfigured OS images streamline setup for standard environments
• SSH and SFTP access: All Linux plans include secure shell and file transfer support for advanced control
• Reverse DNS management: Customers can configure PTR records for compliance and mail server authentication
• DNS management: Direct control over DNS zones and records for domains hosted with Contabo
• Version control and CLI tools: Supports Git, WP-CLI, and command-line utilities for development automation

Optional and add-on services

• Additional IP addresses: Customers can add extra IPv4 addresses for custom setups or dedicated applications
• Backup space add-ons: Dedicated off-server storage options for regular or automated backups
• Premium bandwidth: Higher throughput and guaranteed network capacity available as upgrades
• Private networking: Certain configurations support internal traffic routing between servers
• Domain registration and management: Domains can be registered or transferred directly through Contabo

Plans & Prices

Contabo offers a transparent and straightforward pricing model, with all plans available for direct purchase through their website. Customers can configure their preferred setup, view costs upfront, and choose between monthly, quarterly, or annual billing, with longer-term discounts. Payment methods include credit card, PayPal, SEPA direct debit, and bank transfer.

Their offerings are divided into five main categories: Cloud VPS, Storage VPS, Virtual Dedicated Servers (VDS), Dedicated Servers, and Object Storage. Each service type targets different performance needs and can be customized with optional upgrades such as additional IP addresses, control panels, or bandwidth boosts.

Cloud VPS and storage VPS

Contabo’s Cloud VPS plans are optimized for performance, offering fast NVMe or SSD storage and unmetered bandwidth. They include full root access, DDoS protection, and a choice of Linux or Windows operating systems.

Cloud VPS plans

• Cloud VPS 10: 3 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 75 GB NVMe or 150 GB SSD storage — €4.50/month
• Cloud VPS 20: 6 vCPU, 12 GB RAM, 100 GB NVMe or 200 GB SSD — €7.00/month
• Cloud VPS 30: 8 vCPU, 24 GB RAM, 200 GB NVMe or 400 GB SSD — €14.00/month
• Cloud VPS 40: 12 vCPU, 48 GB RAM, 250 GB NVMe or 500 GB SSD — €25.00/month
• Cloud VPS 50: 16 vCPU, 64 GB RAM, 300 GB NVMe or 600 GB SSD — €37.00/month
• Cloud VPS 60: 18 vCPU, 96 GB RAM, 350 GB NVMe or 700 GB SSD — €49.00/month

Storage VPS plans

These focus on storage capacity rather than raw computing power, making them ideal for file hosting, backups, and large databases.

Storage VPS 10: 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 300 GB SSD storage — €4.50/month
Storage VPS 20: 3 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 400 GB SSD — €7.00/month
Storage VPS 30 and higher tiers: Larger storage volumes (multiple TB options), faster ports, and higher resource allocations

Virtual dedicated servers (VDS)

Contabo’s VDS plans offer fully dedicated RAM and guaranteed CPU performance, bridging the gap between VPS and dedicated hosting. These are ideal for resource-sensitive workloads that require consistent compute power.

VDS plans

• VDS S: Starting at €34.40/month
• VDS M: €44.80/month
• VDS L: €64.00/month
• VDS XL: €82.40/month
• VDS XXL: €119.00/month

Each plan includes full root access, unmetered bandwidth, and NVMe storage, with scalability options for additional IPs, backups, and control panels.

Dedicated servers

Contabo’s Dedicated Servers are bare-metal systems offering complete hardware control for high-performance applications. These servers feature Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC processors, customizable storage configurations, and optional GPUs.

Example configurations

AMD Ryzen 12: 12-core CPU, base configuration — €121.00/month
AMD Turin 32: 32-core CPU — €299.00/month
AMD Turin 64: 64-core CPU — €666.00/month

Customers can mix NVMe and HDD storage, expand memory up to 256 GB, and upgrade network speeds to 10 Gbps. Add-ons include backup space, extra IPv4 addresses, and premium bandwidth.

Object storage

Contabo’s Object Storage provides scalable, S3-compatible cloud storage for backups, applications, and static content delivery. All storage is redundant and billed monthly based on capacity.

Object Storage Plans

250 GB — €2.49/month
500 GB — €4.98/month
1 TB and higher tiers — scalable up to 500 TB with custom pricing

Standard usage has no additional bandwidth fees; all data is stored securely across multiple locations.

Licensing and add-ons

• Control panels: cPanel and Plesk are available as paid add-ons with tiered licensing options (Web Admin, Pro, or Host)
• Operating system licenses: Windows Server licenses are billed per core and vary by edition
• Extra IP addresses: Additional IPv4s can be purchased for a small monthly fee
• Backup storage: Dedicated off-server backup space is available for automated or manual data protection
• Premium bandwidth: Upgrades to 10 Gbps connections are available for select servers

Advantages

• High-performance infrastructure at budget-friendly prices: Contabo delivers enterprise-grade VPS and dedicated servers at some of the industry’s most competitive rates. Their hardware configurations—featuring AMD EPYC processors, NVMe storage, and generous RAM—offer strong value for developers and SMBs that need performance without overspending
• Transparent, fixed-rate pricing with no renewal hikes: Contabo maintains flat, predictable pricing without introductory discounts or hidden fees, allowing customers to plan long-term budgets with confidence and avoid renewal surprises
• Global network of high-performance data centers: Users can deploy servers in six strategic regions—Germany, the U.S., the U.K., Singapore, Japan, and Australia—helping reduce latency and meet regional compliance requirements
• Renewable-energy-powered data centers in Europe: Contabo operates their European facilities using sustainable power sources, appealing to environmentally conscious users seeking greener infrastructure without higher costs
• Flexible configurations for every use case: Customers can fine-tune RAM, CPU cores, and storage when ordering, creating tailored setups that match specific workloads and optimize cost efficiency
• Rapid provisioning and deployment process: VPS servers are typically ready within minutes, and dedicated servers within hours, allowing developers and businesses to launch projects or recover services quickly
• Powerful in-house control panel for autonomy: Contabo’s customer panel lets users reinstall operating systems, manage DNS, reboot servers, and automate backups without relying on support, maximizing operational independence
• Scalable hosting architecture: Users can easily upgrade CPU, RAM, or storage without downtime, making Contabo ideal for projects that grow over time or experience traffic surges

Disadvantages

• Windows licensing restrictions on virtual servers: Contabo does not allow users to bring their own Windows licenses on VPS or VDS plans, forcing reliance on the company’s licensed images or requiring an upgrade to a dedicated server, which raises costs for Windows-based deployments
• Lack of built-in firewall or managed security tools: As an unmanaged host, Contabo provides no default firewall or automated protection, leaving users responsible for implementing their own hardening measures—an extra step for teams without sysadmin expertise
• Occasional performance dips on shared hypervisors: Expert and user reports mention occasional “noisy neighbor” effects on VPS plans, where shared resources can cause temporary slowdowns, impacting latency-sensitive applications
• Potential downtime during scheduled migrations: During infrastructure upgrades or data center consolidation, dedicated servers may experience planned maintenance windows of several hours, requiring customers to plan for temporary service interruptions

Customer Experience

Overall sentiment towards Contabo trends positive. On Trustpilot, Contabo’s profile shows a TrustScore of 4.3 out of 5 with about 7,300 reviews at the time of writing. There is a non-accredited listing for Contabo US, Inc. in regional BBB directories, but a dedicated BBB rating page is not available.

Positive feedback

Customers frequently praise strong value for money, stable VPS performance, and helpful support interactions. Many long-time users report multi-year tenure with reliable uptime and smooth operations for websites, development work, and Windows or Linux workloads. The control panel and setup are described as straightforward, and several reviewers highlight fast, courteous resolutions on billing or node-level performance issues, including quick reversals of mistaken charges or migrations to healthier hosts when needed, which contributes to high satisfaction among developers and small teams.

Critical feedback

A minority of reviewers report pain points during incidents such as prolonged outages, slower response during peak events, or difficulty reaching real-time support. Some complaints focus on billing confusion, rejected or canceled orders, or charges that were not clearly explained, while others cite inconsistent performance tied to specific data center moves or nodes. A few users describe friction when canceling services or obtaining detailed invoices, and some comment that network throughput or live chat availability should be more robust in every region.

How the company responds to feedback

On Trustpilot, Contabo’s representatives actively respond to reviews, including critical ones, and invite follow-ups by email to investigate individual cases. They reply to the vast majority of negative reviews and often within one day, which signals a consistent effort to acknowledge problems and guide customers toward resolution.

Customer Support

Contabo offers several support channels to help customers with setup, configuration, and technical issues. The main Support Request portal is available daily from 8 AM to 11 PM CET, where users can submit tickets anytime for review during active hours. A live chat option provides real-time assistance, while phone support is available at +49 89 3564717 70 Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 8 PM CET. Though phone service isn’t 24/7, most inquiries are efficiently handled through tickets and chat.

To help users self-train, Contabo maintains a detailed Help Center with tutorials and troubleshooting articles covering setup, DNS management, backups, and API usage. Beginners can start with the First Steps with Contabo guide, while advanced users can explore Contabo’s YouTube channel for video walkthroughs on VPS setup and server management.

While not a round-the-clock service, Contabo’s support team is known for quick response times and clear communication. Combined with extensive online resources, their system provides reliable and practical assistance for users of all experience levels.

Conclusion

Contabo stands out for delivering powerful infrastructure at prices few competitors can match. Their flexible hosting lineup—spanning VPS, VDS, dedicated servers, and object storage—caters to a wide range of users, from developers managing multiple deployments to small businesses seeking reliable and scalable hosting. The company’s blend of customization, performance, and sustainability ensures they remain appealing to users who want control without paying premium rates.

Their biggest strengths lie in budget-friendly value, transparent pricing, and fast provisioning. Customers value the ability to fine-tune resources and deploy servers globally within minutes, while environmentally conscious users appreciate Contabo’s renewable-powered European data centers. However, drawbacks such as lack of built-in firewall, and occasional performance fluctuations on shared infrastructure remind customers that this provider is best suited for technically proficient users rather than complete beginners.

If you’re exploring your hosting options, you can read more reviews of top hosting providers, use our hosting comparison tool to see how Contabo stacks up against competitors, or visit our web hosting articles for expert insights on choosing the right service for your website or business.