How to Use the Server Comparison: Find Your Perfect Server with Filters and Sorting
Finding the right server can feel overwhelming with hundreds of options from dozens of providers. That's why we built our server comparison tool - to make it easy to filter, sort, and compare servers based on exactly what you need.
Whether you're looking for a budget VPS for a hobby project or a powerful dedicated server for production workloads, our comparison tool helps you find it quickly. This guide will show you how to use every feature to narrow down your options and make an informed decision.
By the end of this guide, you'll know how to use filters to match your requirements, sort by the specs that matter to you, understand all the columns in our comparison table, and share your filtered results with others.
The Comparison Page at a Glance
Our server comparison page consists of three main components that work together:
Filter Sidebar (Left)
Contains all filtering options to narrow down servers by type, operating system, CPU, RAM, storage, network, price, location, and provider. Apply multiple filters to find exactly what you need.
Comparison Table (Center/Right)
Displays all servers matching your filters in a sortable table. Shows detailed specifications, pricing, and direct links to providers. Click column headers to sort.
Favorites System (Optional)
Mark servers as favorites using the checkbox in each row. Toggle 'Show only favorites' to compare your shortlisted options side-by-side.
Using Filters to Narrow Down Options
Filters are your main tool for finding servers that match your requirements. Here's how to use each filter category:
Compact Mode
Toggle compact mode to reduce the table row height and fit more servers on screen. Perfect for quickly scanning many options. Enable with the checkbox at the top of the filter sidebar.
Server Type
Choose between VPS (Virtual Private Server), Root Server, or Dedicated Server. This is often your first decision as different types serve different needs.
- • VPS - Affordable virtualized servers, shared physical hardware, great for small to medium projects
- • Root Server - Dedicated resources, better isolation, higher performance
- • Dedicated - Full physical servers, highest performance and reliability
Operating System
Filter by operating system requirements. Most servers run Linux, but Windows Server options are available if you need .NET, MSSQL, or other Microsoft technologies.
CPU Cores
Set minimum and maximum CPU core count. Use the range slider or type exact numbers. More cores = better for multi-threaded applications and concurrent users.
RAM (Memory)
Set minimum and maximum RAM in GB. One of the most important specs. More RAM = more applications, caching, and concurrent connections.
- • 1-2 GB: Small websites, bots, learning projects
- • 4-8 GB: Medium apps, databases, WordPress sites with traffic
- • 16-32 GB: Large applications, multiple services, high traffic
- • 64+ GB: Heavy databases, memory-intensive workloads
Price Range
Set your budget with min/max monthly price. Prices update based on your selected currency. Two additional options help refine pricing:
- • Exclude price increases: Exclude servers with price increases after initial commitment (some offers have lower intro prices)
- • Hourly pricing: Show only servers with hourly pricing (great for testing, development, or variable workloads)
Disk Storage
Set minimum and maximum storage in GB. Consider what you'll store: databases, media files, backups, logs.
Storage Type
Filter by disk technology. Each has different performance characteristics:
- • SSD - Fast, great for databases and applications
- • NVMe - Fastest option, 5-10x faster than SATA SSD
- • HDD - Slower but cheaper for bulk storage
Network Bandwidth
Set minimum network speed in Mbps. Also check 'Only unlimited bandwidth' if you need no traffic caps.
Server Location
Filter by data center location. Choose locations close to your users for better latency. Shows flags for each available country.
Sorting: Find the Best Deals Fast
Once you've applied filters, use sorting to prioritize what matters most to you. Click any column header to sort:
Provider: Provider - Alphabetically sort by hosting company name
CPU: CPU - Sort by core count (high to low or low to high)
RAM: RAM - Find servers with most/least memory
Monthly Price: Monthly Price - Find cheapest or most expensive monthly options
Understanding the Comparison Table
Each row represents one server offering. Here's what every column means:
Favorite Checkbox
Mark servers you're interested in. Enable 'Show only favorites' to compare your shortlist side-by-side.
Provider
Shows provider logo (or name in compact mode). Click to visit provider page with all their offers.
Server Name
Product name or model. Click to go directly to the provider's product page (opens in new tab).
Server Type
VPS, Root Server, or Dedicated Server. Indicates virtualization level and resource dedication.
CPU
Shows core count, frequency (if available), and CPU model. Example: '[email protected] GHz Intel Xeon'. More detail helps you assess performance.
RAM
Memory in GB. One of the most critical specs for application performance.
Storage
Shows total disk space and storage type (SSD, NVMe, HDD). Example: '100 GB NVMe'.
Network
Bandwidth speed in Mbps and traffic limit (if any). 'Unlimited' means no monthly data cap. Limited plans show the cap (e.g., '10 TB/month').
Locations
Flags showing available data center locations. Hover for country names. '+N' indicates more locations beyond the first 3 shown.
Hourly Price
Price per hour in your selected currency. Shows setup fees and post-commitment pricing if applicable. '-' means hourly pricing not available.
Monthly Price
Standard monthly price. May show setup fees and price increases after initial term. This is usually the main comparison point.
SLA (Service Level Agreement)
Uptime guarantee percentage. Example: 99.9% = maximum ~8.7 hours downtime per year. Hover to see downtime breakdown.
Action Button
'To Product' button links directly to provider's page for that server. Opens in new tab. Prices and availability verified daily.
Recommended Workflow: From Search to Selection
Here's a step-by-step process to find your perfect server:
Define Your Requirements
Before filtering, know what you need: budget, minimum RAM, storage needs, preferred locations, and any special requirements (Windows, NVMe, etc.).
Apply Broad Filters First
Start with server type, OS, and budget. This immediately narrows down options to realistic candidates.
Refine with Specs
Add CPU, RAM, storage, and network filters based on your application's needs. Don't over-filter - leave some room to discover good deals.
Add Location Preferences
Select regions where you need data centers. Consider latency to your users and data sovereignty requirements.
Sort by Priority
Budget-focused? Sort by monthly price. Performance-focused? Sort by RAM or CPU. Flexibility? Check hourly pricing column.
Mark Favorites
Found interesting options? Check the favorite box. Continue filtering and favoriting until you have 3-5 candidates.
Compare Favorites
Enable 'Show only favorites' to see your shortlist side-by-side. Compare specs, pricing, and SLA directly.
Share or Save
Copy the URL - your filters are saved in the link. Share with teammates or bookmark for later review.
Visit Provider Pages
Click 'To Product' for your top choices. Read provider details, check reviews, and verify current pricing before purchasing.
Pro Tips for Power Users
Use URL Sharing
Your filters are automatically saved in the URL. Share links with teammates, save bookmarks for different scenarios (dev vs prod), or revisit later.
Compare Multiple Types
Unsure between VPS and Root Server? Clear the type filter and compare both. You might find a Root Server at a similar price to VPS.
Check Post-Commitment Pricing
Some servers show 'Price after commitment'. Read this carefully - your bill may increase after 6-12 months. Factor this into long-term budget.
Consider SLA for Production
For critical workloads, don't just go for cheapest. Check SLA column - 99.9% vs 99.5% is significant for uptime-sensitive apps.
Watch Setup Fees
Monthly price isn't the full story. Some servers have one-time setup fees listed below the price. Calculate total first-month cost.
Use Compact Mode for Overview
Enable compact mode to see more options at once. Great for initial filtering. Disable when you're comparing final candidates.
Multiple Locations = Flexibility
Servers showing multiple location flags give you choice. You can deploy in different regions without changing providers.
Currency Conversion
Prices are converted to your local currency using current exchange rates. Rates update regularly, but verify with provider in your currency.
Real-World Use Cases
Here's how different users might use the comparison tool:
The Beginner Developer
Scenario: Building first side project, needs affordable hosting to learn and deploy.
Filters: VPS type, Linux OS, 1-2 GB RAM, $5-15 budget, hourly pricing (optional)
Sort: Monthly price (low to high)
Outcome: Finds several $5-7/month VPS options with enough resources to host a simple app and learn server management.
The Growing Startup
Scenario: MVP getting traction, needs scalable performance, European data centers for GDPR.
Filters: VPS or Root Server, 8-16 GB RAM, NVMe storage, locations: DE/NL/FR, $30-70 budget
Sort: RAM (high to low)
Outcome: Compares Root Servers with guaranteed resources. Favorites 3-4 options to discuss with team using shared URL.
The Web Agency
Scenario: Hosting multiple client websites, needs reliable servers with good support.
Filters: Root/Dedicated Server, 16+ GB RAM, 99.9%+ SLA, multiple locations
Sort: SLA (high to low), then monthly price
Outcome: Finds reliable dedicated servers with SLA guarantees. Prioritizes uptime over absolute cheapest price.
The Game Server Host
Scenario: Running Minecraft server for friends, needs fast CPU, limited bandwidth okay.
Filters: VPS, 4-8 GB RAM, high CPU frequency (3+ GHz), $15-30 budget
Sort: CPU frequency (high to low)
Outcome: Discovers VPS with high-clock CPUs ideal for game server performance. Checks location for low latency to friends.
The Educator / Researcher
Scenario: Teaching students server management, needs multiple cheap servers for practice.
Filters: VPS, 1-2 GB RAM, hourly pricing, $3-5 budget per server
Sort: Hourly price (low to high)
Outcome: Finds hourly-billed VPS for spinning up temporary lab environments. Pay only when students use them.
Common Issues and Solutions
No Servers Match My Filters
Problem: Applied too many filters or set unrealistic requirements.
Solution: Remove filters one by one (especially price, CPU frequency, or storage type). Start broad, then narrow down.
Too Many Results to Compare
Problem: Not enough filtering, overwhelmed by options.
Solution: Add more filters, especially budget and RAM requirements. Use sorting to prioritize. Enable compact mode.
Master the Comparison, Find Your Perfect Server
Our server comparison tool puts you in control. With powerful filters, flexible sorting, and detailed specifications, you can find exactly what you need without endless manual research.
Key Takeaways:
- Start broad with server type and budget, then refine with specs
- Use sorting to prioritize what matters - price, performance, or reliability
- Mark favorites and use 'show only favorites' to compare shortlist
- Share your filtered results via URL with teammates or save as bookmark
- Check all columns - setup fees, post-commitment pricing, and SLA matter
- Verify final details directly with provider before purchasing
Ready to Find Your Server?
Head to our server comparison and start filtering. Whether you need a $5 VPS for learning or a $500 dedicated server for production, you'll find it fast.
Start Comparing Servers