Dedicated Server Hosting 2026: Hosting.com vs Bluehost
Introduction
A dedicated server is a whole physical machine rented to a single customer: every CPU core, every gigabyte of memory and every disk is yours, with no other tenant and no virtualization layer in between. That brings consistent performance and full control, and it also brings responsibility: someone has to run the operating system, security updates and backups.
Many providers that call themselves “managed cloud” or “premium WordPress” hosts do not sell dedicated servers at all. This guide sticks to two providers that do: Hosting.com (the brand A2 Hosting now operates under) and Bluehost. It is based on their official product pages; we have not benchmarked these servers ourselves.
Comparison table
| Hosting.com bare metal | Bluehost dedicated | |
|---|---|---|
| Management | Unmanaged by default, managed servers on request | Marketed as managed dedicated server hosting |
| Access | Full root, operating system of your choice | Root SSH access on AlmaLinux 9 |
| Control panel | None by default (you run your own stack) | cPanel and WHM included |
| Hardware (per the vendor) | AMD EPYC CPUs, NVMe storage, up to 128 GB RAM | Three plans from 8 cores / 32 GB DDR5 RAM to 32 cores / 128 GB DDR5 RAM, NVMe storage |
| Network | Dedicated 1 Gbps port, 10 Gbps available on quote | Unmetered bandwidth, three dedicated IPs |
| Location | Dallas by default, other locations on request | Not stated on the product page |
| Terms | Monthly or annual billing | Introductory price tied to a 36-month term, higher renewal price, 30-day money-back guarantee on hosting |
Hosting.com (formerly A2 Hosting): unmanaged bare metal
A2 Hosting’s website now redirects to Hosting.com, which describes itself as the combination of World Host Group and A2 Hosting under one brand. Its dedicated offer is bare metal: servers with AMD EPYC processors, NVMe storage and up to 128 GB of RAM, with no hypervisor layer.
According to Hosting.com’s product page:
- Root access is handed over at order time, with the operating system you pick; patching, software stack and security are yours to run, while Hosting.com’s engineers look after the network and hardware.
- Each server includes a 480 GB NVMe boot drive and two 960 GB NVMe hot-swappable drives, which Hosting.com recommends configuring in RAID 1; larger NVMe drives and SATA drives of up to 8 TB each are available.
- Each machine gets a dedicated 1 Gbps port, with 10 Gbps available as an upgrade on quote.
- Servers are in stock in Dallas; Hosting.com says it can provide servers in its other locations with a short lead time.
- The servers are unmanaged by default, but Hosting.com offers managed servers on its usual hosting stack, or a bespoke arrangement.
Pros
- Physical machine with no hypervisor and no other tenants
- Full control over the operating system and software stack
- Option to move to a managed server if you do not want to run it yourself
Cons
- Unmanaged by default: security updates and backups are your job
- No control panel included in the unmanaged offer
- One datacenter in stock by default; other locations involve a lead time
See Hosting.com dedicated servers
Bluehost: dedicated servers with cPanel and WHM
Bluehost presents its offer as managed dedicated server hosting, with three plans built on NVMe storage and DDR5 memory: Standard NVMe 32 (8 CPU cores, 32 GB RAM, 1,000 GB NVMe), Enhanced NVMe 64 (16 cores, 64 GB RAM, 2,000 GB NVMe) and Premium NVMe 128 (32 cores, 128 GB RAM, 3,000 GB NVMe).
According to Bluehost’s product page:
- Servers are provisioned within 24 to 48 hours, with cPanel and WHM ready from day one.
- You get 64-bit root SSH access to AlmaLinux 9, so you can work in WHM and cPanel or directly on the command line.
- Every plan includes unmetered bandwidth and three dedicated IP addresses, with a 99.99% uptime SLA.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee covers hosting, but not most add-on products such as domains.
- Advertised prices are introductory prices for a 36-month term, and renewal prices are higher.
Pros
- cPanel and WHM included, which suits agencies and resellers used to them
- Root access alongside the control panel
- Clear hardware tiers
Cons
- The best price requires a three-year commitment, and renewals cost more
- Datacenter location is not stated on the product page
- The product page only mentions AlmaLinux 9: ask sales if you need another operating system
Compare the current prices and renewal rates on Bluehost’s pricing page before ordering.
Do you really need a dedicated server?
A dedicated server is worth it when:
- your workload needs consistent performance that a shared virtual host cannot guarantee (large databases, busy e-commerce stores, heavy background jobs);
- you need large local storage, beyond what cloud server tiers offer;
- you need full control over the operating system, or strict isolation for compliance reasons.
It is usually not the right first step for a growing website. A VPS or a cloud server can be resized in minutes and costs less; Hosting.com itself advises a cloud VPS if you need to scale up and down quickly. Our guides to VPS hosting and hosting for high-traffic websites cover those options.
Managed or unmanaged?
- Unmanaged (Hosting.com’s default): cheaper to run if you have a system administrator, and you choose everything. You are responsible for patching, firewall, monitoring and backups.
- Managed: the provider takes on part of the operations. Before signing, ask exactly what is included: operating system updates, security monitoring, backups, restores, and whether software you install yourself is supported.
FAQ
Is A2 Hosting the same company as Hosting.com?
A2 Hosting’s website redirects to Hosting.com, which presents itself as World Host Group and A2 Hosting combined under one global brand.
Which option includes cPanel?
Bluehost’s dedicated servers include cPanel and WHM. Hosting.com’s bare metal servers are unmanaged by default, without a control panel; Hosting.com sells cPanel on its separate cPanel hosting plans.
Is a dedicated server faster than a VPS?
Not automatically. A dedicated server removes other tenants and the virtualization layer, which makes performance more consistent under load, but real speed depends on configuration, caching and the application itself.
Who handles security on a dedicated server?
On an unmanaged server, you do: operating system updates, firewall rules, intrusion monitoring and backups. On a managed server, check the provider’s scope in writing.
Conclusion
If you have the skills to run a server and want raw, uncontended hardware with a choice of operating system, Hosting.com’s bare metal servers fit that profile. If you want a dedicated machine that arrives with cPanel and WHM, Bluehost’s dedicated plans are the more turnkey option, as long as you accept a three-year term for the introductory price. And if you are not sure you need a whole machine, start with a VPS.