Compared 2026-09-05 using published specs and documentation.
Contabo is famous for stacking huge specs at rock-bottom prices. is*hosting sells self-managed KVM/NVMe VPS in 42 datacenters across 40 countries, with crypto payments and free weekly backups. Specs below are from official pages (September 2026).
Spec-by-spec
| Feature | is*hosting | Contabo |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $5.94/mo | $5.25/mo ✔ |
| Entry specs | 1 vCPU / 1GB / 20GB NVMe | 4 vCPU / 6GB / 400GB SSD (or 100GB NVMe) ✔ |
| Locations | 40 countries ✔ | US, EU, Asia, Australia (~10) |
| Storage type | NVMe standard ✔ | SSD standard, NVMe option |
| Backup | Free weekly ✔ | Paid add-on |
| Crypto payments | 12+ coins ✔ | PayPal/cards/crypto (limited) |
| Support reputation | Praised (HostAdvice 4.9/5) ✔ | Frequently criticized for delays |
The Contabo trade-off nobody advertises
2025-2026 reviews consistently describe Contabo as oversold: CPU steal under load, slow disk bursts and support tickets that take days. You get big numbers on the plan page; real-world performance is a lottery.
Why is*hosting reviews are different
HostAdvice 4.9/5 from ~757 reviews and Trustpilot 4.2/5, with the company replying to 93% of negative reviews. Free weekly backups and free basic admin are included — items Contabo invoices separately.
Our verdict
Winner: is*hosting. Contabo's spec sheet wins screenshots, but is*hosting wins where it counts: reliability reviews, locations, NVMe, backups and support.
★★★★½ 4.6/5
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Contabo reliable in 2026?
Mixed — big specs at low prices, but recent reviews cite overselling, performance dips and slow support.
Does is*hosting use NVMe?
Yes, NVMe is standard across is*hosting VPS plans.
Which supports more payment methods?
is*hosting — cards plus 12+ cryptocurrencies and local rails like Boleto and QRIS.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our rankings — every comparison is based on published specs and pricing.