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The best dedicated server hosting [2026]
Not all hosting is built to handle serious business. If you need guaranteed performance, root-level control, or compliance-grade security, shared and VPS hosting just won’t cut it. That’s where dedicated servers come in.
Let’s walk through the best dedicated server hosting providers for 2026, ranked by performance, support, value, and more.
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9 best dedicated server hosting providers
Here are nine providers selected for their relevance in 2026, followed by a comparison table.
| Provider | Management | Uptime guarantee | Root access? | Compliance- ready? |
| Liquid Web | Fully managed or unmanaged tiers | 100% network | Yes | HIPAA, PCI, SOC 3, GDPR |
| InMotion Hosting | Fully managed | 99.99% | Yes | PCI |
| HostGator | Managed or semi-managed | 99.9% | Yes | None |
| IONOS | Managed or unmanaged | 99.99% | Yes | ISO 27001, PCI |
| Bluehost | Fully managed | 99.9% | Yes | None |
| Hostwinds | Managed or unmanaged | 99.99% | Yes | None |
| InterServer | Unmanaged | 99.9% | Yes | None |
| DreamHost | Fully managed | 100% network | Yes | PCI |
| Namecheap | Unmanaged | 99.9% | Yes | None |
1. Liquid Web – Best for raw performance and security
Liquid Web’s dedicated server hosting is built around single-tenant, premium hardware, which ensures exclusive access to CPU, RAM, storage and bandwidth.Our infrastructure is positioned for demanding workloads, high traffic, and compliance-sensitive use cases. Get enterprise-grade performance, robust customization options, and strong support.
Key features:
- Single-tenant hardware: no resource sharing.
- Highly customizable: CPU, RAM, storage, choice of OS (Linux or Windows), and global data-center locations.
- Strong security and compliance: DDoS mitigation, hardened OS, dedicated hardware, and compliance-ready certifications for regulated industries.
- Support options: In addition to 24/7 expert support, choose managed or self-managed tiers.
Premium hardware and full control may mean a higher sticker price compared to some budget options.
Starting at: $88/mo
2. InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting offers dedicated server plans that are fully managed (or semi-managed) and designed for mission-critical websites and applications. Their infrastructure emphasizes performance, scalability, and support.
Key features:
- Enterprise-grade hardware: Intel Xeon CPUs, SSD/NVMe storage, high RAM options.
- Unmetered or high-bandwidth options, global data-centers (US and Amsterdam).
- Security and compliance credentials for enterprise use.
Challenges:
- Some lower-tier plans may have hardware limitations relative to ultra-high-end needs.
- Because it’s fully managed, customization might be somewhat less flexible (vs bare metal unmanaged) and cost may be higher for organizations wanting deep control.
- Some lower-tier plans may have hardware limitations relative to ultra-high-end needs.
- Because it’s fully managed, customization might be somewhat less flexible (vs bare metal unmanaged) and cost may be higher for organizations wanting deep control.
Starting at: $189.98 at time of writing
3. HostGator
HostGator’s dedicated server offerings target businesses that want dedicated infrastructure at a lower initial cost. They use modern hardware (e.g., AMD EPYC, DDR5 RAM) and offer cPanel/WHM for ease of use.
Key features:
- High-performance hardware: For example AMD EPYC processors and DDR5 RAM in newer plans
- Flexibility: Options for managed or semi-managed dedicated servers
- Free migration from other hosts under certain conditions
Challenges:
- Configurations may not be suitable for large-scale enterprise needs.
- Renewal pricing and promotional pricing structure may affect total cost of ownership (TCO).
Starting at: $188.79 at time of writing
4. IONOS
IONOS is a global hosting provider offering enterprise-grade dedicated server hosting with flexible contract terms and strong infrastructure. They emphasise high-performance hardware, SLA terms, and customer-centric support (including a dedicated consultant).
Key features:
- Hardware: Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC processors, NVMe SSD storage, DDR5 memory.
- Support: Dedicated contact person, 24/7 technical support, flexible contracts (pay-as-you-go or term).
- Global data centers: High standards of security (ISO 27001) and enterprise-grade reliability.
Challenges:
- For purely unmanaged teams. The flexibility is good, but may bring additional complexity for setup and management.
- While pricing is competitive for enterprise class, smaller organizations may still find overhead higher than simpler hosts.
Starting at: Unclear, see provider site
5. Bluehost
Bluehost offers dedicated server hosting with solid infrastructure and a strong ecosystem. Their dedicated plans are built for businesses needing control and performance with trusted support.
Key features:
- High-performance hardware: latest AMD EPYC processors, NVMe SSD storage, root access.
- Fully managed dedicated hosting: includes expert support, simplified control panels, integration with Bluehost services.
Challenges:
- For highly custom infrastructure or regulated workloads (e.g., HIPAA), level of customization may be less than some bare-metal specialist hosts.
- As with many larger brand providers, promotional pricing may be low initially but renewal costs should be closely evaluated.
Starting at: $188.79 at time of writing
6. Hostwinds
Hostwinds provides dedicated server hosting with an emphasis on customization and flexibility. They cater to technical teams who need full control of the environment and want to tailor storage, RAM, OS and other parameters.
Key features:
- Fully customizable server: ability to select OS (Windows or Linux), RAM, storage, bandwidth, IP addresses, RAID configs.
- Managed or unmanaged options, full root access, IPMI/VNC control in many configurations.
- 24/7/365 support
Challenges:
- Because of the high degree of flexibility, managing the server may demand more internal technical resources compared with simplified managed offerings.
- Fewer global data centre locations compared to some larger providers (may matter for latency/global audience).
Starting at: $122/mo at time of writing
7. InterServer
InterServer offers dedicated server hosting with budget-friendly pricing and full root access.
Key features:
- Competitive pricing with “price-lock” guarantee (you pay the same rate as long as you stay on the plan).
- Dedicated servers with full root access, unmetered bandwidth in many cases, SSD caching, DDoS protection
- 24/7 support and established history in the hosting industry.
Challenges:
- While a good value, for enterprises demanding ultra-low latency, global distribution, very high concurrency or top-tier SLAs, may not match the highest-end specialist hosts.
- Upgrade paths may require migration to a new physical server rather than seamless scaling.
Starting at: $67/mo at time of writing
8. DreamHost
DreamHost’s dedicated server hosting is geared for businesses that want a simplified user experience. They offer dedicated servers with a 100% network uptime guarantee and good hardware.
Key features:
- 100% network uptime guarantee
- Built using SSD storage (all plans) and configurable cores/RAM according to workload.
- Managed dedicated hosting: includes 24/7 tech support, DDoS protection, root access and full control.
Challenges:
- Starting price is higher compared to some budget competitors (given premium guarantee and managed nature).
- Less emphasis on ultra-custom bare-metal hardware tailoring than some niche providers.
Starting at: $165/mo at time of writing
9. Namecheap
Namecheap offers dedicated server hosting that attempts to balance performance and price. They position their dedicated servers as suitable for high traffic websites, big data, machine-learning workloads, and more.
Key features:
- Fully customizable dedicated servers with root access, isolation (no resource sharing), global data-centre options.
- Management tiers: Similar to some other providers, Namecheap offers different levels of management support.
Challenges:
- No compliance certifications for regulated industries
- Small initial price tag may be offset by necessary upsells and add-ons for features that other providers include
Starting at: $80.32/mo at time of writing
How to choose dedicated server hosting
Selecting the right dedicated server hosting provider requires aligning your business needs with infrastructure capabilities. Key considerations:
- Performance and scalability: Evaluate CPU core count, RAM, storage type (NVMe vs HDD), bandwidth, network latency and how the provider supports growth.
See: How much RAM do I need for a server? → - Single-tenant / hardware isolation: Ensure you’re getting a dedicated server with exclusive use of the hardware rather than a “dedicated” layer on shared infrastructure.
See: Shared hosting vs dedicated hosting → - Security and compliance: Assess DDoS protection, firewalls, backup and restore, data-center certifications (ISO, SOC), and suitability for regulated workloads.
- Control and management model: Decide whether you need fully managed services, semi-managed or self-managed. This affects internal staffing and OPEX.
See: Managed and unmanaged server hosting → - Global footprint and latency: If you serve a global audience, check data-center locations, network performance, CDN integration.
- Cost-of-ownership (TCO): Look beyond promotional pricing. Consider renewal rates, bandwidth limits, upgrade costs, and staffing/management overhead.
See: How to estimate the TCO for dedicated servers → - Support and SLA: Check availability of 24/7 support, guaranteed response times, uptime SLAs, and whether escalation to senior engineers is included.
See: Liquid Web’s SLA → - Upgrade and migration flexibility: Can you scale up (RAM, CPU, storage, bandwidth) without migrating to a new box? How easy is migration?
- Ecosystem and control panel: Root access, choice of OS, control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.), and whether your team is comfortable with it.
Dedicated server hosting FAQs
Managed dedicated servers include the hosting company taking responsibility for server monitoring, OS updates, security patches, backups and often full stack support.
Unmanaged (or self-managed) dedicated servers give you root access and exclusive hardware but you handle many of the technical operations yourself.
Not always — it depends on workload, performance, compliance, and control requirements. Enterprise hosting may use dedicated servers when they need high performance, hardware isolation, regulation compliance (e.g., HIPAA, PCI), or custom infrastructure.
For less demanding workloads, cloud or hybrid hosting may suffice.
If you’re looking for dedicated servers to host game-server environments like Minecraft, you’ll want high CPU single-thread performance, strong network connectivity and the ability to handle spikes.
Liquid Web offers raw performance, hardware control, and support, making our platform a strong candidate for game hosting.
Many of the providers listed operate US-based data centres. For example, Liquid Web, InMotion Hosting, HostGator, DreamHost, and Namecheap all have US infrastructure. The “best” will depend on your specific audience, budget, support needs and compliance requirements.
Getting started with dedicated server hosting
Choosing a dedicated server hosting provider is a critical infrastructure decision that directly affects performance, stability, security and total cost of ownership. It’s important to map your business goals, workload demands and internal support capacity before committing.
Your next step: pick two or three providers from the list above, build a short-list, and request a detailed configuration and quote aligned to your workload (CPU, RAM, storage, bandwidth, support level). Then conduct a proof-of-concept or pilot to validate performance under real conditions.
Click below to explore dedicated server options or start a chat with one of our experts to learn more.
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Liquid Web is known for providing high-performance dedicated server hosting solutions. Choose from bare metal or a fully manage dedicated server, and get 99.999% uptime, rich security features, and much more.
Additional resources
What is a dedicated server? →
Benefits, use cases, and how to get started
How to estimate the total cost of ownership (TCO) for dedicated servers →
Learn how to accurately estimate the total cost of ownership (TCO) for dedicated server hosting solutions.
Fully managed dedicated hosting →
What it means and what fully managed services cover on dedicated hosting