VPS and Hosting Providers I'm Still Using (and a Few I'm Not)

Looking for reliable VPS solutions that actually deliver on performance and connectivity? Over the years, I've tested dozens of providers, and honestly, most of them end up disappointing. This guide breaks down the providers I currently trust for different scenarios—whether you need optimized routes to China, raw performance, or cost-effective storage solutions. I'll also share which ones I've dropped and why, so you can avoid wasting money on overhyped services.

Route-Optimized Providers

Bandwagon Host

I'm still running their $49.9/year CN2-GIA-E plan as my daily driver. It's become something of a family heirloom at this point—rock solid, reliable, and just works.

They've recently launched new offerings like PowerBox and MiniBox. The pricing is competitive, though these don't come with route guarantees. More recently, they added BiggerBox and SakuraBox to the lineup. One thing to note: you can't switch data centers with these boxes, so choose your location carefully before purchasing.

If you're looking for a provider that balances performance with reasonable pricing, especially for cross-border connectivity, 👉 check out Bandwagon Host's current offerings—their CN2-GIA plans remain one of the most stable options for Asian traffic. The infrastructure has proven itself over years of consistent uptime.

Claw.Cloud (The "Mini Alibaba Cloud")

Based on internal machine codes, the hardware appears to be running on Alibaba Cloud infrastructure. I'm currently using their Hong Kong optimized route version at $8.4 per quarter. Fair warning though—there's been some recent controversy about traffic throttling.

According to forum feedback, their Japan routes via SoftBank perform well, but I haven't tested those myself so I can't vouch for them.

One important caveat: their IPs typically register as Alibaba Cloud, which means services like ChatGPT or Claude might block you. If you're planning to use these AI services, you'll need to route through a native IP landing server.

ZgoCloud

My current setup is their "Los Angeles AMD VPS - Specials - Starter" plan at $36 annually. What sets them apart is tri-carrier optimization with surprisingly clean IPs. I can access ChatGPT and other AI services directly, which saves me the cost and hassle of maintaining a separate landing machine. For users who need reliable access to blocked services without the complexity of multi-hop configurations, this has been a solid choice.

Performance-Focused Providers

Oracle Cloud

I'm running mine out of their Seoul data center. The best part? It's free. Surprisingly, it's more stable than some of my paid services. Perfect for hosting simple services or experimental sites where you don't need guaranteed uptime.

The advantages: all ports open by default. The downsides: new policies have limited bandwidth, and the IPs are universally flagged as data center addresses, which limits their use for certain applications.

OVH (Ireland Region)

This is dedicated server heaven. Their new KS series offers incredible value, and 300Mbps bandwidth is perfectly adequate for most use cases. The only headache is account registration and keeping your account in good standing—they're notoriously strict about this.

HostHatch (Large Storage Specialty)

When I needed Hong Kong servers with substantial storage, HostHatch emerged as the winner after comparing stability and disk capacity across multiple providers. They offer large-capacity servers across various regions with excellent reliability.

The downside? Ticket response times can be slow. If you're someone who needs quick support turnaround or has concerns about maintenance quality, this might not be your best bet.

Hosted Services

Cloudflare Worker/Pages/R2

The internet's great benefactor. I've been using their services since around 2019, and I'm genuinely grateful for what they offer. Their ecosystem has expanded so much that it's easier to just point you to their developer documentation rather than list everything here.

Serv00

I should probably categorize this under "not recommended" because their recent panels aggressively kill processes. If you do use them, you'll need the Passenger plugin for keepalive functionality. That said, unlimited traffic makes it decent for running something like Alist.

Recommended But No Longer Using

DMIT (Route Provider)

They recently launched their own tri-carrier optimized machines with decent stability. Moving away from 4837 dependency was a genuine improvement. The specific plan is "Los Angeles Eyeball VPS Server, PVM.LAX.EB series, $29.9/year."

No Longer Recommended

idc.wiki

Pre-order pricing was excellent, but the owner has gone MIA. Machines are failing without maintenance, and the official Telegram group is silent. Avoid.

SpartanHost

Spartan no longer offers low-spec VPS on their 4837 optimized routes, and frankly, 4837 doesn't compete well against providers like Zgo offering tri-carrier optimization (CMIN2+GIA+9929). Their remaining low-spec options are Dallas-based. Consider them only if you specifically need DDoS protection, but otherwise, skip them.

Conclusion

After years of testing various VPS providers, the landscape keeps shifting. Some providers improve, others deteriorate, and new players enter the market. The key is matching your specific needs—route optimization, raw performance, or storage capacity—with providers who actually deliver consistently.

For users prioritizing stable cross-border connectivity with reasonable pricing, 👉 Bandwagon Host remains my go-to recommendation for its proven track record and reliable CN2-GIA infrastructure. The providers listed here represent what's actually working in my production environment right now, not just what looks good on paper.