Pricing and calculation methodology
Every number we show has a source and a calculation rule. This page explains the full rules so you can verify or correct them.
1. Collecting and reviewing prices
- We take the price from the provider's public pricing page or official API, not from old articles or expired offers.
- Prices refresh automatically every six hours, and no change is published unless it passes the guardrails (price bounds, change percentage limits, and source integrity). The last check date appears on each provider page and in the site footer.
- For promotional plans we use the renewal price after the offer ends, not the temporary discounted price.
- Some providers exclude VAT, and some include one IPv4 address. We state this in the provider notes instead of merging it silently.
2. Currency conversion
We convert every price to USD at a reference rate, then to your chosen currency. Current reference: 1 EUR ≈ 1.10 USD and 1 USD = 3.75 SAR, updated 2026-11-14 from open.er-api.com (USD base). These are approximate; your card may use a different rate on the payment date.
3. Hidden costs
The listed price is not the invoice. The calculator adds the following line items separately and transparently:
| Item | How it is calculated |
|---|---|
| Backups | A percentage of the plan price set by each provider, charged monthly. |
| Extra IPv4 address | A fixed monthly price per extra address, separate from the included address. |
| Control panel | An optional monthly license when the provider offers it separately. |
| Extra traffic | The price per terabyte beyond the traffic included in the plan. |
| Setup fees | Charged once when present and shown separately from the monthly total. |
4. Ranking plans and providers
In comparisons we exclude every plan that does not meet the required CPU, RAM, and storage, then sort matching plans by calculated USD price. In head-to-head comparisons we pick the cheaper plan that meets the tier's minimum specs, then show extra costs. No commission factor enters the ranking.
The editor score is an editorial opinion separate from price ranking, not a standardized technical metric. If the score conflicts with price, price is what orders the table.
5. Performance data
Rows marked “measured by us” come from running the harness on a real plan, with date, location, tool, version, and run count. All other rows are reference estimates from community tests and provider specs, and are labelled as such. See the performance page for details.
6. Independence and commissions
No affiliate partnerships are active right now, and all provider links point to their official sites. If a partnership is activated later, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, disclosed on the disclosure page. Commission does not change ranking, scores, or which plans are shown.
7. What we cannot guarantee
Prices change and vary by region, currency, taxes, and promotions, and some providers change specs without clear notice. We review data regularly but cannot guarantee it matches your invoice. Always confirm the final price and terms with the provider before buying, and email us to correct any mistake.
Last price review: 14 November 2026.