Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : VPS Hosting : Switch or stay?

[guruguy]

Hey,

I am currently with a VPS provider on an account on the following specs:

40gb storage
512MB ram / 1024MB burst
1000gb transfer
Unmanaged - I configured with server with webmin / virtualmin
$378 / year ($31.50 a month)

I pay annually, and when I signed up a year ago I got 50% off for the first billing period, being $189 for the year.

I really like the provider, I have never had a technical issue with them in nearly 2 years I've been with them (had another server before this one) however given that I am a cash strapped student $378 is more than I can cough up right now.

Are there other providers that can give me this for around $15 p/m, or should I just stick with my current provider? I have looked in the offers section but it seems so flooded with seemingly fly-by-night providers that I am very wary of paying annually for the server (I prefer to pay annually when my domains renew so I don't have to think about it for a year). Could you recommend a good host for around $15 a month with a solid reputation who could provide a similar VPS?

So far the only place I have found that look half decent and stable are http://www.vpscolo.com that are an offshoot of solarvps. Could you suggest more providers to compare with that have great uptime and have been around for a while. <<snipped>>

Thanks - sorry for such a long post about such a relatively small order, just money is quite tight for me at the moment.

[JamieJ]

If you've had no problems and are happy with them, I would stay. Maybe ask them for a discount on your invoice, most providers would be happy to give it to you if it means keeping you as a customer. If you must move, I suggest Burst.net, they have good prices on their VPS plans.

[raindog308]

Small order? People write novels about $1.25/month hosts on lowendtalk :-)

Providers are not allowed to respond with offers...otherwise, every thread here would be filled with 200 advertising replies.

As to your situation...

$31.50/month for 512/1024 (OpenVZ?) with 40GB of disk and 1TB of BW. You are paying a little less than linode or 6sync prices. The plans don't match exactly - they're Xen or KVM but offer less disk/bandwidth. So you're paying perhaps 75-80% of top tier providers.

If you don't need that level of performance/support/availability, you're paying too much. On the other hand, if you do and are getting it, then you're probably in a good spot.

If this is hosting a game server and it can be down for 8 hours without OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING, then maybe you could move. On the other hand, if this is hosting your adult entertainment startup that pays for your lunch money and every second it's down costs you hundreds if not millions, then maybe you shouldn't.

I would not pay annually. Perhaps if I was signing up with a provider who'd been around for 10 years and there was a good incentive, but the industry is just too unstable to make that kind of commitment.

Do you actually use 40GB disk and 1TB bandwidth?

Here's a thought...try a couple other providers before your year is out. Perhaps buyvm (be patient they will eventually have stock), hostigation, and linode or 6sync (the latter two if you don't actually need all the disk and bandwidth you currently have). Those are all quality providers that will be cheaper than $30/month.

BTW, the domain registration is completely separate and you pay by the year, or more. Registering a domain for as long as you want (multi-year) is completely safe (assuming you know you're going to use/need/want it). You can move a domain at a drop of a hat.

[kpmedia]

You current plan is priced decently.

Who's it with?
Taking a random guess, that looks like the kind of price you'd find at Futurehosting.
Maybe Knownhost -- but I'm leaning FH. (Am I right?)

It's easier to move to a worse provider than it is to move to a better one.
Don't get tempted away on price point alone. If you want to move, make sure it's a valid reason.

[turbovps]

Stay with the host if you are happy.

[BlazingSwitch]

Originally Posted by HostGladiator

If you've had no problems and are happy with them, I would stay. Maybe ask them for a discount on your invoice, most providers would be happy to give it to you if it means keeping you as a customer. If you must move, I suggest Burst.net, they have good prices on their VPS plans.

Agreed. Business 101. It's easier (and cheaper) to keep a client, then to get a new one. I would see if you can get a deal and contact them directly.

/2cts

[TmzHosting]

Since your service is good and you are not having technical issues, your best bet at this moment is to contact the provider. I am sure they can do better on the pricing .

Good Luck.

- Daniel

[amgadhs]

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

Agreed. Business 101. It's easier (and cheaper) to keep a client, then to get a new one. I would see if you can get a deal and contact them directly.

/2cts

I think so too because it is bit expensive for an unmanaged VPS.

[guruguy]

OK, so the general advice seems to be to stay with the provider and don't chase on price. I guess you guys would know best in that if there is nothing wrong, don't switch, although there is nothing mission critical so it would probably be ok to experiment with a new provider. Before starting this thread, I contacted the provider and asked them if they could do a better annual price for me and despite asking then pressing them once they were unwilling to budge.

For raindog, I pay annually as I trust my provider (who btw is Geekstorage.com for those who are wondering - no issues with their service whatsoever) to not go under in 12 months and being I purposely keep a low balance in my paypal linked bank account, so I don't like to worry about either automatic withdrawals or manually transferring all the funds every month.

For those thinking it is a bit expensive for an unmanaged vps, I checked the plan again and I think it is managed, however I administer it myself and have my own keys in place so I don't think the provider even has access to do anything.

[Scientist]

Your current hosting package sounds about right IF you're actually using that amount of bandwidth and disk space. Otherwise I'd definitely switch since you mention not having anything critical running.

Closest safe choice is Linode 512mb paid yearly, which comes to about $18/mo or so. Though you can get away for under $10/mo from elsewhere cheaper.

[brazda22]

If I were you I would stay at my current hosting service, but I also know that we all are seeking for something new and better than we have right now, so first look for some recommended services and than think about changing hosting service.

[fshagan]

Originally Posted by guruguy

OK, so the general advice seems to be to stay with the provider and don't chase on price. I guess you guys would know best in that if there is nothing wrong, don't switch, although there is nothing mission critical so it would probably be ok to experiment with a new provider. Before starting this thread, I contacted the provider and asked them if they could do a better annual price for me and despite asking then pressing them once they were unwilling to budge.

For raindog, I pay annually as I trust my provider (who btw is Geekstorage.com for those who are wondering - no issues with their service whatsoever) to not go under in 12 months and being I purposely keep a low balance in my paypal linked bank account, so I don't like to worry about either automatic withdrawals or manually transferring all the funds every month.

For those thinking it is a bit expensive for an unmanaged vps, I checked the plan again and I think it is managed, however I administer it myself and have my own keys in place so I don't think the provider even has access to do anything.

Can you afford $6 a month as a test? If you have some time left, buy a VPS from Burst.net or BuyVM and see what's involved in working with a new provider. You may find that an unmanaged, inexpensive VPS from a budget company that will be there in a year (and both Burst.net and BuyVM have been around a while). You will get a VPS with the OS installed, but will have to install a webserver (Apache, etc.), PHP, and MySQL to get to a basic LAMP stack. Or you can use something like Kloxo to help you set it up. You will probably know within a week or two if its worth the switch.

[albatroz]

burst.net looks interesting.
Thanks for the link @fshagan

[vj1q2]

My advice: Stay with the provider. He's offering managed services: so for $31.50 its perfectly acceptable.

If you go with an un-managed provider, you'll have to do a lot yourself. It could be a bother; it could be fun, depends on your level of interest and time to spare. Un-managed providers, unless tier 1 are notoriously un-predictable.

In short: i'd stay put.

[fshagan]

Originally Posted by vj1q2

My advice: Stay with the provider. He's offering managed services: so for $31.50 its perfectly acceptable.

If you go with an un-managed provider, you'll have to do a lot yourself. It could be a bother; it could be fun, depends on your level of interest and time to spare. Un-managed providers, unless tier 1 are notoriously un-predictable.

In short: i'd stay put.

The OP said its an un-managed VPS that he set up himself using Webmin/Virtualmin. That indicates a level of expertise that probably means he can save by going with an alternate unmanaged provider. $31.50 is a bit much for an un-managed 512MB VPS.