5 Best Cheap (& RELIABLE) Java Hosting Services in 2020

Free Java hosting providers won’t get you very far – you’re much better off going with cheap, quality hosting instead. Still, while cheap plans are almost always superior to free ones, not every cheap server has been optimized to run Java-based apps. It’s too easy to make a mistake.

But you’re not going to. I simply won’t let you. I went searching for the most powerful Java web hosting plans around, looking for that ever-elusive combination of features, performance, and price.

After signing up with the services and putting them to the test, I’m happy to report that there are some excellent options. I was also surprised by some big names peddling cheap plans that were too weak to even run a WordPress site, but they belong on a different list. Read on for the best, most affordable Java hosting providers around, and make an informed choice.

What We Look For in the Best Cheap Java Hosting Services

• Plenty of resources – Java is known to be a bit of a memory hog, which is why decent amounts of RAM are in order. In addition to that, we’ll need sufficient storage and a good amount of bandwidth.
• Java and JVM support – Java programs, whether apps or web servers, run on a Java virtual machine (JVM). All hosts on our list offer VPS solutions with full root access, which you can use to properly install and configure Java.
• Easy scaling – You can start with relatively basic Java hosting, but as you succeed and your program becomes more complicated, you’ll need to scale up. These hosts all offer easy, one-click scaling to more powerful setups.
• Extras – The best Java hosting providers boost their plans with extra features, like a global CDN (content delivery network) for speedy delivery, backups for extra redundancy, and even anti-hacking and DDoS (distributed denial of service) protections.
• Price – While they don’t offer free Java hosting, they do come close. When you consider the added features and support that some of the hosts on this list provide, the price becomes a real bargain.

Hostinger – The Cheapest VPS Plans for Java Hosting

All of Hostinger’s VPS plans are Java-ready, and come in either Linux or Windows form. There’s a JVM available for pretty much any OS (operating system) in existence, so just pick your favorite one and get to work.

There are six VPS setups available, and the cheapest one can serve as an excellent starting point for your new Java project. All plans are unmanaged, meaning you’ll have to take care of the installations yourself, but there’s a container auto-installer to make things easier.

My favorite part of Hostinger is probably the 24/7 support via live chat. Coupled with the comprehensive knowledge base, it’s truly a sight to behold. There’s even a detailed and updated step-by-step guide to installing Java.

• Operating system templates – Hostinger supports a nice variety of Linux distributions, so choose your preferred one and the installer will take care of everything. Templates already contain most of the OS configuration to save you precious time.
• 100% SSD – Plans run on the newest servers, complete with the latest Intel Xeon processors and blazing fast SSD storage.
• 30-day money-back guarantee – Try it for a whole month. If you’re not satisfied, just ask to cancel and you’ll be fully reimbursed.
• Add-on features – Daily backups, priority support, and an SEO toolkit are all available for purchase at a low cost.

For more information, read our expert Hostinger review.

InterServer – Excellent US Performance and Lots of Flexibility

American web host InterServer is a great option for hosting a powerful Java app while still enjoying great speeds and low prices. The company operates data centers on both US coasts, maintaining state-of-the-art hardware and guaranteeing 99.9% uptime. This results in fantastic loading times for US visitors, though even speeds in Western Europe are definitely reasonable.

You can order InterServer’s Cloud VPS solutions with the Webuzo control panel, and use it to configure your server to your Java project’s exact specifications. If you ever find yourself in need of more resources, you can always scale up without ever going offline.

A minor downside to InterServer is that with the basic VPS setups, most of the server management responsibilities fall on your hands. By upgrading to four or more CPU cores you’ll unlock the company’s managed service, which will let you focus your full attention on the project itself.

• Scale up and down with ease – InterServer offers its VPS solutions “by the slice,” with a slice being one CPU core, 2048 MB of RAM, 30 GB of SSD space, and 2000 GB of bandwidth. Feel free to start with one slice and take it all the way to sixteen.
• Managed support – Any VPS with four or more slices comes with InterServer’s managed support. This includes help configuring your server’s security, system installations, and control panel issues.
• Webuzo – Even if you don’t have access to the company’s managed support, this handy installation panel will let you configure your server stack with ease. Understand your Java project’s requirements and simply select the relevant options.
• Dedicated backups – You can always back up your server manually, but for a low monthly cost, you can also set up automatic backups to InterServer’s dedicated cloud. If you ever need to restore a previous backup, it’s a one-click process.

For a full list of features, check out our in-depth InterServer review.

Hostwinds – Great Variety and Lots of Freedom for Development Pros

If you’re a tech-savvy user who feels comfortable taking full control of your server, Hostwinds is an excellent choice. With high-powered servers available in both the US and the Netherlands, you’ll be able to efficiently serve visitors from anywhere but East Asia and South America.

VPS and dedicated solutions are available for Java projects, along with pay-per-hour cloud resources. Hostwinds’ Linux unmanaged VPS plans are the best option, with ten setups that range from basic to real powerhouses.

Managed VPS plans are also available, but Hostwinds doesn’t provide much of a managed service. It mostly includes basic tasks like OS installations and system updates, which you can take care of yourself with minimal effort.

• 1 GBPS ports – State-of-the-art data centers will provide your project with fast and reliable connections to the outside world. Quality, top-notch hardware is the name of the game with Hostwinds.
• Custom ISO – If you’d like to upload a specific OS distribution or any other custom program, you can. You won’t be limited to the company’s offerings, so feel free to build the exact Java environment you require.
• Enterprise firewall – All VPS plans are protected by an enterprise firewall located between the server and the visitors. You’ll be able to edit rules, blacklists, and whitelists according to your needs.
• Backups and monitoring – These are available at an extra monthly cost. Additionally, you can purchase a cPanel license, dedicated IPs, and DDoS-protected IPs.

To read our expert’s opinion, check out our full Hostwinds review.

A2 Hosting – Lets You Design Your Optimized Java Hosting Solution

A2 Hosting supports Java servers, programs, and applications on its unmanaged VPS and dedicated solutions. The company specifically advertises Java and Tomcat (a popular Java Apache server) hosting, but in the end, it’s all the same unmanaged VPS.

You’ll be able to enjoy a lot of flexibility, as all A2 Hosting’s plans can be configured to include the exact number of cores, RAM, storage, and bandwidth you require. If you ever find yourself needing more power, there’s no need to upgrade to an entirely different plan – just add more of any specific resource.

Customer support is readily available, 24/7, but they won’t help much in getting Java installed. Instead, the Webuzo auto-installer can be used to quickly install containers and get you halfway there.

• Four data center locations – A2 has two data centers in the US, one in the Netherlands, and one in Singapore. Prices are the same for each data center.
• 99.9% uptime guarantee – You’ll be reimbursed for 5% of your monthly fee for every hour of downtime.
• Turbo Boost VPS – Upgrade to LiteSpeed or LiteSpeed with extra caching. The upgrade is costly, but according to A2, it can improve performance by up to 20x. You can find out more about the Turbo servers in our expert A2 Hosting review.
• Anytime money-back guarantee – There’s no till-death-do-us-part with A2. Anytime you feel like canceling (and for any reason), just contact support and you’ll get a pro-rata refund of your remaining subscription.

Contabo – Powerful VPS Machines in Germany for European Users

If you’re aiming at a Central European or Eastern European crowd, Germany is a fantastic location for hosting. Contabo offers two data centers in the country, one in Nuremberg and the other in Munich. The VPS and dedicated plans that support Java are available with both data centers.

Resource-wise, Contabo is one of the most generous Java hosting providers around. Contabo’s hosting plans are all extremely affordable, and for just a few euros a month, you can get up to 16 GB of RAM. Storage is aplenty, and bandwidth is unlimited with all plans.

There are no managed solutions offered, and while Contabo’s tech staff will ensure the availability and stability of your server – everything else is up to you. In this way, it’s similar to Hostwinds, strictly focusing on providing hardware and virtualization of the highest quality.

• SSD boost or 100% SSD – Contabo offers you a choice between cheaper HDD-based servers, boosted by SDD, or more expensive 100% SSD hardware. I suggest investing the extra euros and going for 100% SSD.
• Advanced management interface – Use Contabo’s point-and-click VPS management dashboard to boot and reboot your VPS, install your OS, and configure DNS (Domain Name System) settings.
• Snapshots – Available only with the 100% SSD plans, full on-demand server snapshots can be restored with one click.
• DDoS protection – All Contabo plans are automatically and permanently guarded by the company’s DDoS protection measures.

Our expert tested all these features – see the results in our in-depth Contabo review.

Cheap Java Web Hosting Providers Are a Great Place to Start

The five hosts on this list all passed our strict testing procedures and ably provide almost-free java web hosting. Still, there are situations where one would be better than the other. Let me explain.

If you’re going for a basic Java project and are looking to cut costs while still having room to expand, Hostinger is your cheapest and best bet.

For complex US-based projects that require blazing performance, I recommend InterServer’s Cloud VPS solutions.

European crowds will be happy with either Contabo or Hostwinds, so check your requirements first. Contabo’s plans are less customizable but come with more resources.

As you grow bigger and your project’s needs evolve, consider some of the other hosts on the market. Sometimes, a minimal increase in price can mean a huge boost in terms of features and performance.

Check out the table for a quick comparison: