5 Best Managed Dedicated Server Hosting Services in 2024

Managed dedicated server hosting isn’t cheap, but the increased reliability, security, and performance are often worth the cost. You just need to find a host that will deliver on its promises. This way, you can enjoy the power of a dedicated server without worrying about technical and time-consuming tasks like server setup, maintenance, and security.

Besides excellent infrastructure and enough resources to power your project, you’ll also need a host with a proven track record of stellar performance and customer support. The best managed dedicated server providers will also allow you to scale your plan when you need more resources so you’re not locked into a configuration that doesn’t suit you long term.

I tested dozens of managed dedicated server hosts to find the best options on the market. I found five hosts that offer a genuinely great service, but Liquid Web tops the list because it offers high-end server technology, advanced security protocols, a 100% uptime guarantee, and superb support. It’s a premium host with a premium price tag, but it offers excellent server management that truly justifies its costs.

What We Look For in the Best Web Hosts for Managed Dedicated Servers

When searching for the best web hosts that offer managed dedicated server hosting, I looked at several crucial factors:

• High level of management. “Managed” doesn’t mean the same thing for all web hosts, and the difference is in the fine print. Some providers offer basic maintenance and support, but others go the extra mile and provide support for third-party applications like control panels. All hosts on this list offer a high level of management so that you can focus more on your project/business and less on server-related administrative tasks.
• Generous scalable resources. You’re paying top dollar for a managed dedicated server, so you need to make sure the resources are sufficient to satisfy your project’s needs. The hosts on my list offer a wide range of resources for projects of all sizes, and most of them allow you to customize your server to better fit your requirements.
• Top performance. To enhance performance, each host utilizes the latest server technology and software, provides SSD/NVMe storage, has data centers across multiple continents, and offers the use of a content delivery network (CDN). Their service level agreements (SLAs) also guarantee an uptime of at least 99.9%.
• Fair pricing. While managed dedicated server hosting is expensive by definition, some hosts offer better value for money than others. The hosts on my lists cover a wide range of budgets so that you can find one that best suits your wallet.

1. Liquid Web – Premium Fully-Managed Dedicated Servers

Liquid Web’s managed dedicated servers come with high prices, but the costs match its high-end server configurations. The entry-level plan includes an Intel Xeon E-2334 processor, 16 GB RAM, 2 x 480 GB SSD storage, and 8 TB of bandwidth. You’ll also have a 2 TB SSD backup disk plus an additional 250 GB Acronis Cyber backup. It’s enough for a high-traffic site or small app, but larger projects might benefit from a more powerful processor like the Intel Xeon Gold 6226R available on higher-tier plans.

Liquid Web has two support tiers: core managed and fully managed. If you opt for its core managed dedicated servers, you’ll get installation and support for core web server software (Apache, PHP, MySQL, FTP, SSH), but you’ll have to manage your control panel and any third-party software. With its fully managed service, Liquid Web offers an impressive level of assistance in virtually all aspects of server management plus support for control panel software (cPanel, Plesk, or InterWorx) and WordPress.

Liquid Web has data centers in the US and Europe (the Netherlands). However, keep in mind that the prices for dedicated servers in Europe are significantly higher than in the US, even though the configurations are almost the same.

Features

• Professional support. Liquid Web employs certified technicians to work in its data centers and has Red Hat Linux, Microsoft, Juniper, and Cisco experts available to answer your calls. Support covers everything from maintenance and security to proactive server monitoring and is available 24/7. Liquid Web even offers a 59-second initial response guarantee for its phone and live chat support and a 59-minute response for email tickets.
• Windows server hosting. While most hosts only offer Linux-based operating systems, Liquid Web allows you to install Windows on your server. However, doing so may increase the overall cost of your plan.
• Customizable plans. All dedicated server plans include ServerSecure protection, DDoS protection, and Cloudflare CDN, and you can purchase advanced security tools and control panel licenses. You can also choose from a full suite of add-ons including PCI compliance scanning, firewalls, web app protections, email hosting, and more.
• 100% uptime guarantee. In addition to a perfect uptime guarantee, Liquid Web’s SLA states that you’ll get a ten-fold credit for the amount of time that your server is down.

Check out our in-depth Liquid Web review for more details.

2. InterServer – Affordable and Highly Customizable Dedicated Hosting

InterServer has a large selection of managed dedicated server hosting plans with different levels of personalization to suit any project. Managed services include all things hardware, along with system/control panel reinstall and maintenance for web, mail, DNS, FTP, and SQL servers. It also supports Windows reinstallation, but anything else falls under paid support.

With customizable servers starting at $67.00, InterServer is the most affordable provider on my list. At this price, you can rent a server with an AMD Ryzen 3600X Z processor and 64 GB RAM, 2 TB SATA storage, and 150 TB bandwidth. However, adding more storage and bandwidth is possible, so it’s a flexible option if you want to start at the affordable end and scale up as your project grows.

All InterServer plans are customizable – but not to the same extent. The low-tier plans allow you to change your operating system and hard drive, plus add more storage and bandwidth. However, if you anticipate you’ll need more resources, I recommend looking at the higher-tier plans, which also allow you to add more RAM.

Features

• Rapid deploy servers. If you want to run several virtual machines concurrently, consider InterServer’s rapid deploy server selection. These preformatted servers are ready to go in less than 15 minutes.
• High-performance NVMe storage. When configuring your server, you can choose up to 4 TB of NVMe storage space. It will increase the price of your plan, but it’s worth it if you manage high-traffic sites.
• Multiple available operating systems. InterServer allows you to choose from several operating systems, including but not limited to Linux, Centos, Gentoo, and Ubuntu. You can also pay a little extra for Windows or CloudLinux.
• 99.9% uptime guarantee. If InterServer fails to uphold its guarantee, you’re eligible for account credits based on your specific case. However, the credits cannot exceed 50% of your base monthly fee.

Read more in our full InterServer review.

3. A2 Hosting – Managed Servers With Performance-Enhanced CPUs

A2 Hosting offers 7 managed dedicated server options. They’re all highly customizable, allowing you to add additional RAM and storage/backup drives, change the OS to CloudLinux, and select a cPanel Premier version that best suits your needs. The downside is all these modifications increase the overall cost, which already is a bit on the high side, especially considering that the advertised prices apply to discounted 2-year subscriptions.

A2 Hosting offers both Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC CPUs. Its branded “Turbo Boost” servers run on LiteSpeed, a lightweight software offering faster load times and lower resource usage than traditional Apache web servers. You’ll need a higher-tier plan to access LiteSpeed, but it’s ideal for high-traffic websites and other resource intensive projects.

While A2 Hosting has two data centers in the US, one in Asia (Singapore), and one in Europe (Amsterdam), its dedicated servers are currently located in Michigan. This means speed may be an issue if you require fast loading speeds outside of North America.

Features

• HostGuard management. A2 Hosting’s support agents handle everything related to hardware, software, and security. They also make sure that all your core software is always up to date. The Smart System Notifier monitors your server and notifies the support staff whenever there’s an issue. Oftentimes, A2 will solve that issue before you even know about it.
• NVMe storage available. Only Included in A2 Hosting’s Turbo CPU servers, this NVMe storage can go up to 2 TB depending on which server configuration you choose.
• Generous money-back guarantee. Unlike all the other hosts on this list, A2 Hosting has a 30-day money-back guarantee for its dedicated server hosting.
• 99.9% uptime guarantee. If your server experiences downtime for more than 0.1% in a given month, A2 Hosting will credit you 5% of the paid fee for that month.

Read our in-depth A2 Hosting review to learn more.

4. Hostwinds – Customizable Servers With Redundant Data Storage

Hostwinds offers 10 managed dedicated server options, but you’re free to customize your choice however you see fit. Available servers only have a maximum of 2 processors, and depending on which one you select, you can have up to 16 cores. In most cases, you’ll also be able to add more RAM, choose your server drives, and pick from five operating systems (including Windows, CentOS, and Ubuntu).

Hostwinds allows you to select a RAID configuration for redundancy and improved performance. You’ll have to select multiple storage disks in order to select the RAID level you’re interested in, which will significantly increase the price. However, if performance is what you’re after, it’s well worth it. Multiple RAID levels (up to 60) are available depending on your server’s configuration.

You’ll receive fully managed support for your dedicated server. Hostwinds handles a wide range of tasks for you, from hardware maintenance to cPanel options and configurations. You’ll also receive nightly backups and server monitoring and troubleshooting. The support staff is available 24/7 via technical support ticket.

Features

• Strong infrastructure. Hostwinds has two data centers in the US and one in Amsterdam that provide substantial failsafe solutions such as redundant switches, redundant core routers, and automatic path rerouting.
• SSD storage available. All plans include 1 TB of HDD storage but for a nominal price, you can add up to 1 TB of SSD storage per disk.
• Multiple available operating systems. When you configure your server, you can choose between several Linux-based operating systems (included in the price) and Windows, which comes with a slight price increase.
• SLA-backed uptime guarantee. Hostwinds has a 99.9999% uptime guarantee. If your server experiences less uptime than that, you’re entitled to an account credit equivalent to the cost of the whole day affected by the downtime.

Our full Hostwinds review includes more information.

5. FastComet – Scalable Dedicated Servers Located All Around the World

FastComet has 4 managed dedicated server plans, which are already preconfigured with little room for customization. It’s great if your needs match its offering, as you can get up and running quickly. Servers range between 2 and 16 CPU cores, 4 to 32 GB RAM, 80 to 640 GB SSD storage, and 4 to 7 TB of bandwidth. FastComet offers fewer resources than most hosts, but there’s enough to go around for a few high-traffic sites or a small reseller.

After choosing one of FastComet’s dedicated server options, you can easily scale your plan up or down from your client dashboard. If you upgrade, you only pay the difference, and if you have too many unused resources, you can downgrade just as easily. You’ll get an account credit for the price difference that can be used to pay future invoices.

Unlike most hosts with data centers only in the US and Europe, FastComet has 11 data centers worldwide, including Asia and Oceania. These data centers are strategically located to give you optimized performance in regions such as Central and South America, western and central Europe, the Middle East, South Pacific, and east Asia.

Features

• Fully managed dedicated servers. FastComet offers 24/7 support for all aspects of server setup, maintenance, and security.
• Fast server deployment. You don’t have to wait a few hours for your server to be up and running because FastComet deploys it in just a few minutes.
• SSD-only storage. Many of the hosts on this list offer HDD storage and an increased price for SSD, but FastComet offers only SSD storage – and it’s already included in the price.
• 99.9% uptime guarantee. If you experience downtime, you’re credited 10% of your monthly fee for every hour your server is down, but no more than 100% of your monthly payment.

For more details, check out our full FastComet review.

Choose the Best Managed Dedicated Server Hosting for Your Project

Every host on this list offers top-notch managed dedicated server hosting. But at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which one is better suited for your project.

If you’re looking for premium managed dedicated server hosting and you can afford it, you should go with Liquid Web. It offers the highest level of management, a wide range of resources, several control panels, and a commitment to excellent performance.

You should pick InterServer if you’re looking for fully customizable and powerful AMD servers while on a budget. It gives you access to a wide range of resources, multiple operating systems, and expert management.

Lastly, if you want to ensure superior performance for your large-scale project(s), you should choose A2 Hosting. It offers full management and its AMD EPYC processors are superior to both Intel Xeon and AMD Ryzen.

FAQ

What is fully managed dedicated hosting?

Fully managed dedicated hosting gives you access to an entire server without having to worry about its hardware and software maintenance. Your host will handle software updates, troubleshooting, security, and other key aspects of server configuration for you, so you can focus on your project. Some hosts offer support for third-party apps as well. 

Who is the best dedicated hosting provider?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer here. If you’re looking for premium management and top-notch infrastructure, Liquid Web is a good option. However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, InterServer might be a better choice. It all depends on your server requirements and budget. 

Which is better VPS or a dedicated server?

VPS is an affordable choice for medium-sized websites and e-commerce platforms, but a dedicated server is better for larger projects. A dedicated server is more reliable and secure because you’re not sharing resources, and you can customize it to suit your project’s exact requirements. Unless you have a lot of experience in server configuration, you’re better off choosing managed dedicated server hosting. 

How much does managed dedicated server hosting cost?

The cost of managed dedicated server hosting depends on the provider and the server configuration you need. It can cost a few hundred dollars per month, but some providers offer more affordable solutions.