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- 4 GB VPS from $12.75/mo
- 300 GB+ SSD, unmetered bandwidth
- 7 VPS locations
- No refunds on VPS; $10 setup fee
- Unmanaged 4 GB VPS $18.99/mo
- Managed plans available
- Seattle, Dallas, Amsterdam
- Security breach disclosed Oct 2026
HostNoc is our pick. It gives you far more storage and more RAM per dollar on almost every plan, keeps a flat price and has more server locations. Hostwinds has some advantages, including no surcharge for US servers, a short refund window and fully managed plans, but it disclosed a breach of its client area and billing system in October 2026 and has a 1.8 Trustpilot rating. We’d wait for the results of its investigation before signing up.
On October 22, 2026, Hostwinds said it had found unauthorized access to the system that runs its client area and billing. It took the client area offline, rebuilt it on a new system, reset every customer’s client area password and brought in an independent forensic firm, whose investigation is still ongoing. Hostwinds says customer servers and websites stayed online. If you’re an existing customer, follow the steps on status.hostwinds.com.
HostNoc and Hostwinds both sell no-frills VPS hosting to people who want a server of their own without paying premium prices. Both offer Linux and Windows, managed and unmanaged options, and dedicated servers. Here’s how they compare on price, resources, locations, refunds and trust.
VPS pricing and resources
| RAM | HostNoc | Hostwinds (unmanaged Linux) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 GB | HN-SSD I: 2 vCPU, 300 GB SSD, unmetered at 200 Mbit/s, $12.75/mo | 2 CPU, 75 GB SSD, 2 TB transfer, $18.99/mo |
| 8 GB | HN-SSD II: 3 vCPU, 400 GB SSD, unmetered at 300 Mbit/s, $14.90/mo | 4 CPU, 150 GB SSD, 3 TB transfer, $38.99/mo |
| 12–18 GB | HN-S (12 GB): 6 vCPU, 200 GB, $20.99 · HN-L (18 GB): 6 vCPU, 1 TB, $30.75/mo | 16 GB: 6 CPU, 300 GB, 5 TB transfer, $76.99/mo |
| Setup fee | $10 | None |
| Renewal | Same price every billing cycle | Same price (no intro discount on unmanaged) |
Prices in US dollars from each company’s website and checkout, checked November 2, 2026. Hostwinds’ managed Linux plans cost more ($10.99 to $146.99 a month), with 35% off the first month.
HostNoc gives you far more for the money. At 8 GB of RAM, it’s $14.90 a month with 400 GB of storage versus $38.99 with 150 GB at Hostwinds. Hostwinds does give you more CPUs on its 8 GB plan, and both keep their unmanaged prices flat at renewal.
Winner: HostNoc
What you’ll really pay
HostNoc’s headline price doesn’t include everything. On monthly billing it adds a $10 setup fee and charges extra for some locations, including +$10 a month for the US. Here’s the first year for a 4 GB Linux VPS in the US:
| Billing | HostNoc HN-SSD I | Hostwinds unmanaged 4 GB |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly, US server | $283 ($22.75/mo + $10 setup) | $227.88 |
| Yearly | $163 ($153 + $10 setup) | Billed monthly only |
So if you want a US server and prefer to pay monthly, Hostwinds is actually cheaper at the 4 GB level. Pay HostNoc yearly, or choose its Germany location, and HostNoc is much cheaper. From 8 GB up, HostNoc wins easily either way.
Winner: HostNoc, unless you want a small US server billed monthly
Windows VPS
- HostNoc adds Windows Server 2019, 2022 or 2025 to any VPS for $10 to $15 a month on monthly billing. A 4 GB Windows server is $27.75 a month in Germany or $37.75 in the US.
- Hostwinds sells Windows VPS plans: unmanaged 4 GB is $30.99 a month, and managed 4 GB is $51.99 ($33.79 for the first month).
They’re close for a small Windows server. HostNoc is cheaper outside the US; Hostwinds is cheaper for a US server if you want unmanaged.
Winner: Tie
Locations
- HostNoc VPS: Germany, UK, US, Singapore, Japan, India and Australia (7). Germany is included; others cost extra on monthly billing.
- Hostwinds: Seattle, Dallas and Amsterdam (3), with no location surcharge.
HostNoc reaches more of the world, including Asia and Australia. Hostwinds is simpler if all you need is the US or Europe.
Winner: HostNoc
Managed options
Both companies offer managed and unmanaged VPS. Hostwinds has clearly priced managed plans that include operating system updates, monitoring, troubleshooting and help with failures. HostNoc offers managed hosting and sells separate server management plans. If you want a fully hands-off VPS with a clear price, Hostwinds’ managed plans are easier to understand.
Winner: Hostwinds
Refunds, reviews and security
- Refunds: HostNoc doesn’t refund VPS orders. Hostwinds may give a prorated refund if you cancel and ask within 72 hours of payment.
- Reviews: HostNoc has a 3.9 Trustpilot rating from 45 reviews, none in the past year. Hostwinds has 1.8 from 738 reviews, with many recent complaints about outages and support.
- Security: Hostwinds disclosed unauthorized access to its client area and billing system on October 22, 2026; an independent investigation is ongoing.
Neither has a great record, and you should keep your own off-site backups with either. But Hostwinds’ recent breach and review volume make it the riskier choice right now.
Winner: HostNoc
HostNoc or Hostwinds: which should you choose?
Choose HostNoc if you…
Pros- want the most storage and RAM per dollar
- need unmetered bandwidth
- can pay yearly or host in Germany
- need servers in Asia or Australia
- are comfortable without a refund window
Choose Hostwinds if you…
Pros- are already a happy Hostwinds customer
- want a clearly priced, fully managed VPS
- need a small US server billed monthly
- want hourly cloud servers
- are willing to wait for its investigation results
Our take: HostNoc is the better value for most VPS buyers, especially on bigger plans. We’d hold off on Hostwinds until it finishes its security investigation. Read our full HostNoc review and Hostwinds review, or compare HostNoc with AccuWebHosting.
HostNoc wins on resources, price per gigabyte and locations. Hostwinds has simpler managed plans and no US surcharge, but a recent security breach and poor reviews make it hard to recommend for now.
Frequently asked questions
Is HostNoc better than Hostwinds?
For most VPS buyers, yes. HostNoc gives you much more storage and RAM for the money and has more locations. Hostwinds has clearer managed plans, but it disclosed a security breach in October 2026.
Which is cheaper, HostNoc or Hostwinds?
HostNoc on most plans: an 8 GB VPS is $14.90 a month versus $38.99 at Hostwinds. For a small 4 GB US server paid monthly, Hostwinds can be cheaper once HostNoc’s $10 setup fee and US location fee are added.
Do HostNoc or Hostwinds offer refunds on VPS?
HostNoc doesn’t. Hostwinds may give a prorated refund if you cancel and request it within 72 hours of payment.
Was Hostwinds hacked?
On October 22, 2026, Hostwinds said it found unauthorized access to its client area and billing system. It reset all client area passwords and is working with an independent forensic firm.
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