Which netcup server is right for me?
VPS or root server? The difference comes down mainly to dedicated CPU cores and the availability guarantee (SLA) – here's the orientation.
Not every recipe needs the biggest stove. netcup offers two server classes suited to self-hosting: the VPS (virtual server) and the root server (RS). Technically they differ in two main points.
VPS or root server – the difference
| Feature | VPS (virtual server) | Root server (RS) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU cores | shared vCores – the physical CPU is shared with other customers | dedicated cores – permanently assigned, yours alone |
| Availability (SLA) | 99.6% minimum availability (annual average) | 99.9% guaranteed minimum availability (annual average) |
| Performance | good, but can be affected by neighbours | consistent and predictable |
| Price | cheaper | slightly higher |
| Ideal for | getting started, single services, test setups | production, many or demanding services |
In short: a VPS shares CPU power with others and comes with a lower availability commitment of 99.6% (annual average) – but it’s cheap and perfectly fine for most starter projects. A root server gives you dedicated CPU cores and a stronger 99.9% availability SLA, meaning predictable performance and a contractual commitment – worthwhile as soon as something needs to run reliably in production.
Tip
VPS – the affordable start
Shared vCores and 99.6% minimum availability – ideal for getting going without a big budget.
VPS 500 G12
Ad2 vCores · 4 GB RAM · 128 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 7.9 TB dazubuchbar
from €5.91/month
VPS 1000 G12
Ad4 vCores · 8 GB RAM · 256 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 7.8 TB dazubuchbar
from €10.36/month
VPS 2000 G12
Ad8 vCores · 16 GB RAM · 512 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 7.5 TB dazubuchbar
from €19.24/month
VPS 4000 G12
Ad12 vCores · 32 GB RAM · 1024 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 7.0 TB dazubuchbar
from €32.41/month
VPS 8000 G12
Ad16 vCores · 64 GB RAM · 2048 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 6.0 TB dazubuchbar
from €47.94/month
Root server (RS) – dedicated cores & SLA
Dedicated CPU cores and a contractual availability guarantee for production.
Root-Server RS 1000 G12
Ad4 dedicated cores · 8 GB RAM · 256 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 7.8 TB dazubuchbar
from €12.79/month
Root-Server RS 2000 G12
Ad8 dedicated cores · 16 GB RAM · 512 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 7.5 TB dazubuchbar
from €21.43/month
Root-Server RS 4000 G12
Ad12 dedicated cores · 32 GB RAM · 1024 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 7.0 TB dazubuchbar
from €39.92/month
Root-Server RS 8000 G12
Ad16 dedicated cores · 64 GB RAM · 2048 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 6.0 TB dazubuchbar
from €71.36/month
Root-Server RS 12000 G12
Ad20 dedicated cores · 96 GB RAM · 3072 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 5.0 TB dazubuchbar
from €102.80/month
Root-Server RS 16000 G12
Ad24 dedicated cores · 128 GB RAM · 4096 GB NVMe
💾 + bis 4.0 TB dazubuchbar
from €144.73/month
All prices and specifications are without guarantee – the current information on the netcup site always applies (including the exact SLA terms). Links marked “Ad” are affiliate links (see About).