Cloud Servers: Your European Alternative to AWS
KVM cloud servers with reserved vCPU, RAM and NVMe storage, 3.2 Tbps DDoS protection, traffic and IPv4 included. One fixed monthly price, PrePaid, no contract, operated by KernelHost GmbH from Vienna.
3.2 TbpsDDoS protection included
30 sfrom order to online (Frankfurt)
14locations worldwide
€0setup fee, no contract
What is a cloud server?
A cloud server is a virtual server that is provisioned on demand on a pool of powerful physical hosts. At KernelHost every cloud server is its own KVM virtual machine with a dedicated kernel and resources that are reserved exclusively for you: vCPU cores on AMD EPYC™ or Intel Xeon processors, DDR4 ECC RAM and datacenter NVMe SSDs in RAID. You get full root access, choose your operating system and can start, stop, reinstall or back up the server at any time, in the customer area or via API.
Unlike the big hyperscalers, you do not pay per second of usage plus traffic, IP addresses and support. You pay one fixed monthly price, PrePaid and without a contract. Our KVM cloud servers run in Frankfurt am Main, and cloud servers with unlimited traffic are available in 14 locations across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.
Why companies choose KernelHost Cloud
Reserved resources on KVM
Every cloud server runs in its own KVM virtual machine. vCPU cores, RAM and NVMe storage are reserved for your instance and never shared with other customers, so performance stays consistent at peak times too.
3.2 Tbps DDoS protection included
Arbor DDoS protection by Netscout filters attacks in real time around the clock, including game and UDP traffic. Your server stays online: no null-routing and no surcharge.
How our DDoS protection worksFixed prices, no surprises
One monthly price covers vCPU, RAM, NVMe storage, traffic (fair use), one IPv4 address and an IPv6 network. PrePaid, no contract, no setup fee and no traffic bill at the end of the month.
How PrePaid works14 locations worldwide
Deploy close to your users: Frankfurt am Main as the core location plus sites in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. Choose an EU location and your data stays in the EU.
View all server locationsAPI and automation
Order, manage, reinstall and cancel cloud servers straight from your own systems with the KernelHost API. Ideal for resellers, agencies, CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code.
KernelHost API documentationBackups and full root access
KVM cloud servers include three backup slots with a weekly automated emergency backup at no extra cost. Full root, SSH, sFTP, rDNS and VNC access let you run any stack you like.
Cloud server plans for every workload
Pick the product line that fits your project; KVM plans can be upgraded to a larger plan at any time in the customer area.
KernelHost Cloud vs. AWS, Azure and Google Cloud
Hyperscalers are strong for highly elastic workloads that rely on their managed services. For servers that run around the clock, such as websites, shops, game servers, APIs or VPNs, the pricing model makes the difference. Here is an honest comparison.
| Topic | KernelHost Cloud | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | One fixed monthly price, PrePaid | Usage-based, billed per second or hour, so the bill changes every month |
| CPU and RAM | vCPU, RAM and NVMe reserved exclusively for your KVM instance | Depends on the instance type; low-cost burstable types share CPU time via credits |
| DDoS protection | Included at every location; in Frankfurt with 3.2 Tbps Arbor always-on filtering, including game and UDP traffic | Basic network protection is free, advanced protection costs extra (AWS Shield Advanced: 3,000 USD per month) |
| Outbound traffic | Included (fair use), plans with unlimited traffic available | Billed per GB after a small monthly free allowance |
| IPv4 and IPv6 | One IPv4 address and an IPv6 network included | Public IPv4 billed separately (AWS: 0.005 USD per hour) |
| Backups | Three backup slots with a weekly automatic backup included (KVM plans) | Snapshots billed per GB stored |
| Contract | No contract, no setup fee, no notice period | On-demand without commitment; the lowest prices require 1 to 3-year commitments |
| Company and data | EU company (KernelHost GmbH, Vienna, Austria); EU locations keep your data in the EU; data processing agreement available | US corporations, subject to the US CLOUD Act |
| Support | Human support via ticket and free cloud consulting included | Technical support plans cost extra |
| Managed services | Focus on servers: you run your own stack with full root access | Large catalogue of managed services such as serverless, managed databases and AI platforms |
Based on the providers' published information, as of September 2026.
Cost example: what a cloud server really costs
Typical monthly costs for comparable configurations: on-demand list prices of AWS, Azure and Google Cloud in their Frankfurt or Germany regions, 730 hours, Linux, including SSD storage and one public IPv4 address.
| Configuration | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud | KernelHost | Your saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 50 GB SSD | approx. €30 to €45 | €12.99 per monthVPS-2 with 2 vCPU, 6 GB RAM, 50 GB NVMe | 57% to 71% |
| 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 80 GB SSD | approx. €85 to €150 | €14.99 per monthVPS-3 with 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe | 82% to 90% |
| 8 vCPU, 32 GB RAM, 200 GB SSD | approx. €200 to €350 | €49.99 per monthVPS-8 with 8 vCPU, 32 GB RAM, 200 GB NVMe | 75% to 86% |
Costs that come on top at hyperscalers
- 1 TB outbound traffic: approx. €65 to €105 per month. Included at KernelHost.
- Advanced DDoS protection: 199 USD per protected IP (Azure) up to 3,000 USD per month (AWS Shield Advanced). 3.2 Tbps DDoS protection is included at KernelHost.
- Public IPv4 address: approx. €3 per month. Included at KernelHost.
- Snapshots and backups: billed per GB stored. KVM cloud servers at KernelHost include three backup slots.
Hyperscaler figures are rounded estimates based on published on-demand list prices (converted from USD) for general-purpose instances of the stated size, as of September 2026. Actual costs depend on instance type, usage and exchange rate. All prices excluding VAT.
What you can run on a KernelHost cloud server
- Websites, online shops and web apps
- Game servers and voice servers with DDoS protection
- APIs, microservices and SaaS backends
- Docker, Docker Swarm and Kubernetes clusters
- VPN, proxies and remote access
- Databases, caches and message queues
- CI/CD runners, development and test environments
- Reseller and agency hosting via API
Free cloud consulting and migration planning
Moving away from AWS, Azure or Google Cloud, or starting something new? Our team helps you choose server sizes and locations and plans DDoS protection, clustering and backups with you, free of charge. Just open a ticket and tell us about your project.
Describe your project
Tell us about your workload, expected traffic and target regions via ticket.
Get a tailored setup
We recommend plan sizes, locations and protection with a transparent monthly price.
Go live and scale
Order in minutes, provisioning runs automatically, and grow with larger plans or more servers.
Automate everything with the KernelHost API
Resellers, agencies and DevOps teams order and manage cloud servers straight from their own software: create, start, stop, reinstall and cancel servers via HMAC-signed REST requests. Billing stays PrePaid without a contract.
Frequently asked questions about cloud servers
What is a cloud server?
A cloud server is a virtual server that is provisioned on demand on a pool of physical hosts. At KernelHost it is a KVM virtual machine with its own kernel, reserved vCPU, RAM and NVMe storage, full root access and DDoS protection included.
What is the difference between a cloud server and a VPS?
Technically both are virtual machines. "Cloud server" stresses on-demand provisioning, automation and flexible scaling, while "VPS" is the classic hosting term. At KernelHost both use the same KVM technology with reserved resources, so you choose by location, size and traffic needs rather than by name.
How much does a cloud server cost at KernelHost?
KVM cloud servers start at €9.99 per month as a fixed PrePaid price. That includes traffic (fair use), one IPv4 address, an IPv6 network, backups and 3.2 Tbps DDoS protection. There is no setup fee and no minimum term.
Is KernelHost a good alternative to AWS, Azure or Google Cloud?
For workloads that run around the clock, such as websites, online shops, game servers, APIs, VPNs or databases, yes: you get comparable compute for a fraction of the price, with traffic, IPv4 and DDoS protection included. If your project depends on managed services such as serverless functions or AI platforms, a hyperscaler can still make sense, and many customers combine both.
Where are KernelHost cloud servers located?
Our core location is Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Cloud servers with unlimited traffic are also available in France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Finland, Canada, the USA (East, Central and West), Singapore, Japan, South Korea, India and Australia.
Is DDoS protection included?
Yes. DDoS protection is included with every cloud server at every location, at no extra cost. In our core location Frankfurt am Main, always-on 3.2 Tbps Arbor protection filters attacks in real time, including game and UDP traffic, without null-routing your server.
Is hosting with KernelHost GDPR compliant?
KernelHost GmbH is an Austrian company based in Vienna and processes data in line with the GDPR. If you choose a location in the EU, your server and your data stay in the EU. On request we sign a data processing agreement under Art. 28 GDPR with you.
Is there a minimum contract term?
No. KernelHost works on a PrePaid basis: you pay for the period you choose in advance, without a contract, notice period, automatic renewal or setup fee.
How fast is my cloud server ready, and can I upgrade later?
In Frankfurt am Main your cloud server is online about 30 seconds after the order. At other locations provisioning usually takes a few minutes, in rare cases up to an hour. KVM plans can be upgraded to a larger plan at any time in the customer area.
Can I automate ordering and management?
Yes. Create an API key in the customer area and follow the quickstart guide: with the KernelHost API you order, start, stop, reinstall and cancel servers from your own software. Requests are signed with HMAC-SHA256.
Ready for predictable cloud costs?
Start a cloud server in seconds or tell us about your project, and we will plan the right setup with you, free of charge.
