Updated September 29, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
Contabo vs Krystal
Contabo
Higher score in this comparison
Krystal
Contabo vs Krystal: the differences
| Compare | ContaboReviewVisitVisit | KrystalReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Intro price | €4.40 | £7 |
| Hosting types | Core VPS, Performance VPS, Cloud VDS (Max Performance VPS), Storage VPS, Windows VPS, GPU VPS, Dedicated Servers | Web Hosting, Business Hosting, Reseller Hosting, WordPress Hosting, VPS Hosting, Cloud Hosting |
| Features | Backups, CDN, Email | Free SSL, Backups, Email |
| Data centres | Germany (Europe), New York, Seattle, St. Louis, Portsmouth, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, India | United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands |
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | £7 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 days |
| Websites allowed | Not confirmed | 1 to unlimited depending on plan |
| Uptime guarantee | Not confirmed | 99.99% |
| Intro price term (months) | 24 months | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Contabo scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Hosting types: only Contabo offers Core VPS, Performance VPS, Cloud VDS (Max Performance VPS).
- Hosting types: only Krystal offers Web Hosting, Business Hosting, Reseller Hosting.
- Features: only Contabo offers CDN.
- Features: only Krystal offers Free SSL.
- Data centres: only Contabo offers Germany (Europe), New York, Seattle.
- Data centres: only Krystal offers United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands.
- Support channels: only Krystal offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at Krystal: 2002 vs 2003.
Our verdict on each
Contabo
Contabo suits small businesses and developers who want their own server with email, backups and a content delivery network in the same place. Entry is €4.40 across 24, and the hosting range stretches from Core VPS through GPU VPS to dedicated servers.
Krystal
Krystal suits beginners and small business teams looking for managed hosting for everyday business use across the current lineup. Plans carry an uptime guarantee of 99.99% with site allowances at 1 to unlimited depending on plan and builder coverage for site and store.
Score breakdown
| Area | Contabo | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Higher | 8.6Intro pricing at £7 renews at £7 with steady terms. |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.1Plan includes free SSL, backups and email for everyday hosting needs. |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.7HigherHosting runs from United Kingdom, United States and Netherlands for regional coverage. |
Which one suits you
Pick Contabo if cost matter most.
Pick Krystal if trust matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Contabo | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Business email hosting | 5 of 425 | 4 of 425 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Contabo | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Small business |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Free trial |
| Legal entity | Contabo GmbH | Krystal Hosting Ltd |
| Headquarters | Germany | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2003 | 2002Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Website builders
| Fact | Contabo | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Not confirmed | £5 |
| Free plan | Not confirmed | No |
| E-commerce plan price | Not confirmed | £17 |
| Free trial length | Not confirmed | 30 days |
| Templates | Not confirmed | 190 |
| Builder type | Not confirmed | Site, Store |
| Compliance certifications | Not confirmed | ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials Plus |
Domain registrars
| Fact | Contabo | Krystal |
|---|---|---|
| .com first year | Not confirmed | £11.99 |
| .com renewal | Not confirmed | £11.99 |
| .com transfer | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Free WHOIS privacy | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Domain endings | Not confirmed | 20 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Contabo | Krystal | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renewal price | Not confirmed | £7above the median | £6.50 |
| Money-back period | Not confirmed | 60 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
| Uptime guarantee | Not confirmed | 99.99%above the median | 99.9% |
| Intro price term (months) | 24 monthsabove the median | Not confirmed | 12 months |
Median across 380 listed software products.
Pros and cons
Contabo
Pros
- Backups, a content delivery network and email all appear in backups, cdn and email, so the common extras are covered.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, which is more than a single channel.
- Servers sit in Germany (Europe), New York and Seattle, so you can place them near your users.
Cons
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, with no phone line among the listed channels.
- The entry price of €4.40 comes with a 24 term to see out.
- On entry price Contabo ranks 181 of 282 brands tracked, so cheaper entry points sit with other brands in the field.
Krystal
Pros
- Money back cover for 60, ahead of typical level of 30
- Hosting choice spans Web Hosting, Business Hosting and Reseller Hosting to match growth from simple sites to VPS and cloud
- Help available through email, chat and phone for day to day queries
Cons
- No plan at no cost, with builder access by trial model of free trial
- Domain choice covers 20 extensions, which may feel narrow for varied portfolios
- Builder pricing starts at £5 with store plans at £17
Who each suits
Contabo
Who it suits
- Small businesses that want a server they run themselves, with email and backups already listed.
- Developers who need room to move up through Core VPS, Performance VPS and Cloud VDS (Max Performance VPS) without changing provider.
- Buyers who want a spread of regions, with sites listed at Germany (Europe), New York and Seattle.
Who should look elsewhere
- Afrihost, listed at ZAR 84, suits buyers who want a mainstream shared host rather than a server.
- Hosting.cl, at CLP 159,900, is the pick for readers who want a locally priced option.
- Host Chile, at CLP 1,491.67, fits readers who want a plain web hosting entry point.
Krystal
Who it suits
- Choose Krystal over DonWeb if longer money back cover matters, with Krystal at 60
- Choose Krystal over Cafe24 if broader hosting choice matters, with Krystal spanning Web Hosting, Business Hosting and Reseller Hosting
Who should look elsewhere
- Choose DonWeb over Krystal if lowest intro spend matters, since DonWeb lists $2 to $7.90 against Krystal at £7
- Choose Cafe24 over Krystal if regional pricing in KRW fits better, since Cafe24 lists KRW 450
Questions about each
Contabo
What does Contabo cost to get started?+
The entry figure is €4.40 and it is tied to a 24 term, so the price covers the full stretch rather than a single month. Readers on a short budget get a low headline number but a long commitment attached to it.
What happens to the price at renewal?+
Renewal pricing is a separate figure from the entry price, so budget for the term after the 24 you sign up for. Across business email hosting, renewal prices typically sit at €5.48, and the higher band of the field sits at €9.69.
Krystal
What does Krystal hosting cost at intro and renewal?+
Krystal lists hosting intro pricing at £7 with renewal pricing at £7. The match between intro and renewal helps planning since renewal does not move above the opening rate. Plan choice affects sites allowed, so review limits before checkout.
How long is Krystal money back cover?+
Krystal offers hosting cover for 60, which sits above the typical category level of 30. The extended window gives room to assess speed, support replies and fit for business sites. Terms may vary by plan, so review conditions before purchase.
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