Quick Verdict
BandwagonHost (BWH), operated by IT7 Networks out of Los Angeles, has been the poster child of the low-end VPS market for over a decade. During our 30-day test the KVM VPS delivered exactly what it promises: a no-frills, genuinely cheap Linux box with solid SSD storage and generous monthly transfer. Don't expect managed hosting, one-click installers or hand-holding support — this is a DIY product for developers, VPN builders, bots and hobby projects. At roughly $18.99/year for the entry plan, nothing else we tested comes close on raw value. Best for developers and tinkerers who want maximum VPS per dollar.
Our Test Results (30 Days)
Uptime (30-day average)
Avg. ping from EU (LA datacenter)
Effective cost per month (entry plan)
What We Like
- Unbeatable price — from ~$18.99/year
- True KVM virtualization (own kernel, custom OS)
- SSD storage with 1TB+ monthly transfer
- Instant setup after payment
- Multiple US + Europe datacenter locations
- Stable company — operating since 2012
What We Don't Like
- Support is ticket-only, replies can take hours
- No managed hosting or control panel included
- Cheap plans frequently out of stock
- No DDoS protection on entry plans
Pricing Overview
| Plan | Price | Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| KVM VPS Promo Popular | $18.99/yr | 1 CPU, 768MB–1GB RAM, SSD, 1TB transfer | Bots, VPN, small sites |
| KVM VPS Standard | $39.99/yr | 2 CPU, 2GB RAM, more SSD + transfer | Small apps, dev environments |
| KVM VPS Larger | $79.99+/yr | 3 CPU, 3–4GB RAM, big SSD allocation | Databases, multiple services |
Promo plans rotate and often sell out — check the BandwagonHost site for current stock and pricing.
How BandwagonHost Compares
| Provider | Our Rating | Entry Price | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| BandwagonHost Review | 4.3/5 | $18.99/yr | Cheapest KVM VPS, DIY projects |
| GravelHost | 4.4/5 | ~$2.99/mo | Game servers, easy hosting |
| DigitalOcean | 4.6/5 | $4–6/mo | Production apps, scaling |
Our Score Breakdown
See our full testing methodology and how these scores are weighted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BandwagonHost good for beginners?
Not really. BWH gives you a raw KVM VPS with root access — you install and manage everything yourself. If you want a managed experience with panels and one-click apps, look at GravelHost or SiteGround instead.
Why are BandwagonHost plans often sold out?
The famous $18.99/year promo is deliberately limited to keep quality stable at that price point. Stock comes back periodically — if a plan is out, check back or pick the next tier up.
Can I run a game server on BandwagonHost?
Technically yes, but entry plans have limited RAM and no DDoS protection. For public game servers we recommend a host with game-panel tooling and DDoS mitigation, such as HostHavoc or GravelHost.
BandwagonHost vs DigitalOcean — which should I choose?
For pure cost on a small Linux box, BWH wins by a wide margin. For production workloads, snapshots, API-driven scaling and better support, DigitalOcean is worth the higher price.
Want the cheapest KVM VPS around?
Grab the promo plan while stock lasts — instant setup, pay yearly, own it.
Visit BandwagonHost