Data storage is everything in the modern world where important information primarily exists in the digital space. Physical servers are still quite common, but they have become antiquated with the rise of cloud computing. So, how much does it cost to build a cloud server?
It costs between $310 and $1,200 to build a cloud server and run it for the month. Big businesses spend up to $15,000 or more per month to run a cloud server depending on RAM, data storage, and data transfers. As this Redditor pointed out, it typically costs $0.09 per GB of data you transfer each month, so the cost depends on how much data you store and transfer.
The only downside of cloud servers is that you may not be able to access data if you lose your Internet connection unless you use a hotspot or cellular data. Follow along as we explore how much it costs to build a cloud server.
Comprehensive Cloud Hosting Pricing Table with Additional Info
Here’s an enhanced table that includes cloud hosting pricing information from various providers, along with additional details:
| Provider | Plan Name | Price per Month | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudways | Plan 1 | $10 | Basic plan, suitable for small websites |
| Cloudways | Plan 2 | $22 | Mid-tier plan, ideal for growing businesses |
| Cloudways | Plan 3 | $42 | Advanced features, suitable for larger websites |
| Cloudways | Plan 4 | $80 | High-performance plan, ideal for enterprise-level needs |
| HostArmada | VPS Cloud | $45.34 | Virtual Private Server, suitable for medium-sized businesses |
| HostArmada | Dedicated CPU Cloud | $122.93 | High-performance, dedicated CPU resources |
| HostGator | Hatchling Cloud | $4.95 | Single domain, 2GB memory, 2 core CPU |
| HostGator | Baby Cloud | $7.95 | Unlimited domains, 4GB memory, 4 core CPU |
| HostGator | Business Cloud | $9.95 | Unlimited domains, 6GB memory, 6 core CPU, Free SEO tools |
| 1&1 IONOS | Cloud Hosting M | $15 | Basic plan with limited resources |
| 1&1 IONOS | Cloud Hosting L | $25 | Mid-range plan with more resources |
| 1&1 IONOS | Cloud Hosting XL | $35 | Advanced plan with high resources |
| 1&1 IONOS | Cloud Hosting XXL | $65 | Enterprise-level plan with maximum resources |
| Liquid Web | XS | $24.80 | 50GB Storage, 1000GB Bandwidth, 25 PHP Workers, Elasticsearch for M2.4+ |
| Liquid Web | S | $45.60 | 75GB Storage, 2TB Bandwidth, 50 PHP Workers, Elasticsearch for M2.4+ |
| Liquid Web | M | $77.60 | 125GB Storage, 3TB Bandwidth, 75 PHP Workers, Elasticsearch for M2.4+ |
| Liquid Web | L | $130.00 | 50GB Storage, 1000GB Bandwidth, 25 PHP Workers, Elasticsearch for M2.4+ |
| Liquid Web | XL | $235.20 | 75GB Storage, 2TB Bandwidth, 50 PHP Workers, Elasticsearch for M2.4+ |
| Liquid Web | XXL | $361.60 | 125GB Storage, 3TB Bandwidth, 75 PHP Workers, Elasticsearch for M2.4+ |
What is the Difference Between a Server and a Cloud Server?
The main difference between standard servers and cloud servers is that traditional servers rely on hardware. This led many people and businesses to upgrade to a cloud server to avoid physical hardware maintenance and costs. Physical servers are often cheaper to set up at first, but it’s much cheaper to maintain a cloud server because you don’t need to upgrade hardware.
Another benefit of cloud servers is that you pay for them hourly or daily. However, you typically must pay to run physical servers on a monthly or even yearly basis. Because of that, you pay for what you use with a cloud server compared to a physical server where you may pay for data and storage that you don’t use.
Depending on your workload for the week or month, you can quickly upscale or downscale your storage and transfers with a cloud server. You also get more security with a cloud server because you can manually set data to back up every hour or even sooner. However, the main benefit of a physical server compared to a cloud server is that you may not be able to access data on a cloud server if you lose your Internet connection.
How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Cloud Server?
It costs at least $310 to set up a cloud server in most cases. The cost varies depending on how much data you plan to transfer and store as well as your bandwidth. For example, you can expect to spend $0.09 per GB of that you transfer per month.
This could cost $18 per month if you transfer 200 GB of data outbound each month. However, most businesses transfer out much more data each month. Server computing costs typically total at least $120 per month, and storage costs $10 to $50 or more depending on how much data you store.
Big businesses spend at least $1,200 per month to set up and run a cloud server. However, businesses that store and transfer and store thousands of GB per month can expect to spend between $10,000 and $15,000 per month or more. If you only plan to set up a cloud server for a small business or personal use, it will likely cost between $300 and $500 per month to run.
Do Cloud Servers Back Up Automatically?
Cloud servers back up automatically on a weekly, daily, or even hourly basis. It’s up to you to decide how often your cloud server backs up when you build it or pay for a computing service. Ideally, you should set your cloud server to automatically back up at least every hour, so you don’t lose any data.
Even if one node of the server fails, another node will take over and back up your data.
Can You Upgrade a Cloud Server?
One of the biggest benefits of a cloud computing server is that you can upgrade it at any time. This is much different than a traditional physical server. With a traditional server, you pay for storage for months at a time or a yearly rate.
However, you can upgrade a cloud server at a moment’s notice if you simply tweak the resource allocation. You can manually upgrade the storage, bandwidth, and RAM with a cloud computing service whereas you’d have to physically upgrade a traditional server for the same results.
So, How Much Does a Cloud Server Cost?
It costs at least $310 to set up a cloud server, and it costs between $300 and $1,200 or more to run it each month. The cost varies based on how much data you store and transfer.
Cloud servers are much better than physical servers, but you don’t have to worry about accessing data if your Internet goes down with a physical server. Otherwise, cloud servers are cheaper to maintain because there is no hardware, and you can downscale your storage anytime.
David Miller is a seasoned tech aficionado with a profound expertise in NGINX and Ubuntu. With a career spanning over a decade, David has honed his skills in optimizing web servers and enhancing server performance to perfection. His deep-rooted passion for open-source technologies has led him to become a go-to resource in the field. Whether it’s crafting intricate NGINX configurations or troubleshooting complex Ubuntu server issues, David’s problem-solving prowess shines through.