DreamHost's unmanaged VPS line is called Stack. Each plan gives you full root access on AMD EPYC processors and NVMe storage with unmetered bandwidth, and you configure the server yourself. The advertised prices are for the first three months only, so the price you pay for the long run is the renewal rate.
This review covers the four plans, what they cost after the sale price ends, what "unmetered" does and does not mean, and who should choose DreamHost over cheaper VPS hosts. For the wider market, see our VPS hosting comparison, and for DreamHost's shared hosting read the DreamHost review.
The short version: DreamHost VPS suits developers who want root access, a flat price with no bandwidth bills and 24/7 support, and who accept that the entry plan costs $8.99 a month for three months and $15.99 a month afterwards. It is more expensive than the cheapest VPS options we have reviewed, and it is unmanaged, so a beginner who wants someone else to run the server should look at managed options.
Compare the four Stack plans and check the renewal rate before you sign up
☑️ See DreamHost VPS plans
📋 DreamHost VPS at a glance
| Item | Details (DreamHost VPS page, October 18, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | Unmanaged VPS (the page sends users who want hands-off help to its managed VPS options) |
| Hardware | AMD EPYC processors, NVMe SSD storage, Docker and KVM virtualisation |
| Access | Full root access, a choice of Linux operating systems and a one-click app library |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered, no overage fees, fair use applies |
| Protection and support | DDoS protection and 24/7 support (hardware, network and connectivity) |
| Billing | Monthly, with a sale price for the first 3 months; the full term plus tax is charged at checkout |
| Scaling | Move up between Stack plans; scaling down is not currently supported |
💰 The four Stack plans
| Plan | Resources | First 3 months | Renews at | First-year cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stack 4 | 2 vCPU, 4GB RAM, 75GB NVMe | $8.99/mo (save 43%) | $15.99/mo | $170.88 |
| Stack 8 | 2 vCPU, 8GB RAM, 150GB NVMe | $13.99/mo (save 36%) | $21.99/mo | $239.88 |
| Stack 16 (most popular) | 4 vCPU, 16GB RAM, 250GB NVMe | $22.99/mo (save 34%) | $34.99/mo | $383.88 |
| Stack 32 | 8 vCPU, 32GB RAM, 450GB NVMe | $45.99/mo (save 23%) | $59.99/mo | $677.88 |
First-year cost is our arithmetic: 3 months at the sale price plus 9 months at the renewal rate, for example Stack 4: 3 x $8.99 + 9 x $15.99 = $170.88. Taxes are extra. The renewal is 1.78 times the sale price on Stack 4, 1.57 on Stack 8, 1.52 on Stack 16 and 1.30 on Stack 32.
📶 What "unmetered bandwidth" means here
DreamHost says all VPS plans include unmetered bandwidth: no transfer caps and no overage fees, subject to fair use. Its page compares this with the overage rates of other providers as of June 2026: AWS Lightsail $0.09 per GB, DigitalOcean and Vultr $0.01 per GB and Linode (Akamai) $0.005 per GB beyond their included allowances, which the company turns into $810, $90, $75 and $45 for 10 TB of monthly transfer.
That is DreamHost's own comparison, and the figures cover only transfer beyond each provider's included allowance. It matters most if your traffic is very high or unpredictable. For a small site the difference is small, and other hosts include generous transfer in the base price.
⚖️ How it compares with cheaper VPS hosts
| Host and plan | Resources | Price we read | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DreamHost Stack 8 | 2 vCPU, 8GB RAM, 150GB NVMe | $13.99/mo for 3 months, then $21.99 | Unmetered bandwidth, 24/7 support, unmanaged |
| Contabo Cloud VPS 4 | 4 vCPU, 8GB RAM, 100GB SSD | $5.28/mo on a 24-month term, before VAT | Free firewall and DDoS protection; renewal not checked |
| Kamatera | Chosen by you | From $4/mo, no long-term contracts | Billed by the hour or month |
Contabo and Kamatera prices are from our reviews (October 12, 2026). The terms differ, and we did not benchmark any of them, so this compares listed prices and resources only. See our Contabo review and Kamatera review.
🧰 What you can run on it
- Node.js, Python services, Docker containers and databases, plus anything that runs on Linux.
- Self-hosted tools such as automation platforms, analytics and file storage from the one-click app library.
- Game servers and community bots, which the page lists among the uses.
- Not a WordPress host: DreamHost says its DreamPress managed hosting is the better fit for a WordPress site.
✅ Pros and cons
✅ Pros
- Root access on AMD EPYC and NVMe
- Unmetered bandwidth with no overage bills
- 24/7 support for the infrastructure
- A one-click app library
- DDoS protection included
❌ Cons
- Unmanaged: you run the server
- The sale price lasts only three months
- Priced above the cheapest VPS options
- No scale-down between plans
- Monthly billing is the only length shown
🧠Who should choose DreamHost VPS?
| You are | Our view |
|---|---|
| A developer who wants root access and a flat bill | A good fit, at the renewal price rather than the sale price |
| Running a high-traffic app with unpredictable transfer | The unmetered bandwidth is the main reason to pick it |
| A WordPress site owner | Use DreamPress or a managed WordPress host instead |
| A beginner who wants the server managed | Look at DreamHost managed VPS or another managed option |
| Looking for the lowest price | Compare Contabo and Kamatera first |
DreamHost VPS is a sound unmanaged VPS for developers who value unmetered bandwidth and support, but its price rises 30% to 78% after three months and cheaper options exist. Decide on the renewal rate, and use a month-to-month term until you are sure.
❓ DreamHost VPS review FAQ
❓ How much does DreamHost VPS cost?
❓ Is DreamHost VPS managed?
❓ Is the bandwidth really unlimited?
❓ Can I scale my DreamHost VPS?
❓ Can I host WordPress on a DreamHost VPS?
❓ Does DreamHost VPS include support?
❓ Is DreamHost VPS cheaper than Contabo?
Do you run a DreamHost VPS? Post your plan and renewal price in the comments and compare notes with other readers.
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