Tell us what the server will run and how busy it gets. The calculator estimates the vCPU and RAM you need, then lists VPS plans that fit, sorted by what you will pay after the intro price ends.
How the calculator estimates your server size
A web server needs enough memory to hold the operating system, the database, a cache and enough application workers for your busiest minute, plus enough CPU to generate the pages that are not served from cache. The calculator works through those pieces:
- Peak traffic. Monthly visits × 2 pages per visit, spread over the month, then multiplied by your peak factor. Most sites see their busiest minutes at 3 to 12 times their average rate.
- Dynamic share. With a page cache, most WordPress visitors get a ready-made HTML file and never reach PHP. We assume 20% of requests still need PHP (logged-in users, search, cart and cache misses). For WooCommerce, membership sites and apps, we assume every request is dynamic.
- Workers. The number of PHP or app processes needed at peak, with a minimum of four and one extra per site.
- Memory. About 0.5 GB for the operating system and services, your control panel, the database buffer, a per-site allowance and the memory of each worker, plus 30% headroom.
- CPU. The CPU time needed per dynamic page at peak (about 60 ms for a cached WordPress setup, from our own measurements), at no more than 60% utilization so the server stays responsive, plus a small allowance per site for cron jobs, updates and backups, rounded up to a common plan size.
The memory figures behind the WordPress profiles come from our own server. We measured PHP-FPM workers, MySQL and Redis on this site; see how much RAM WordPress needs for the numbers.
Start small, resize later. Most VPS providers let you upgrade a plan in minutes. If you are unsure, take the smaller size that fits, watch memory use for a few weeks, and upgrade if the server regularly uses more than 80% of its RAM.
Typical results
| Workload | Traffic | Starting size |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cached WordPress site | About 10,000 visits a month | 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM |
| 5 cached WordPress sites | About 100,000 visits a month combined | 1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 10 to 20 cached WordPress sites | About 300,000 visits a month combined | 2 vCPU, 4 to 8 GB RAM |
| WooCommerce store | About 50,000 visits a month | 1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM (2 vCPU for spiky traffic or heavy plugins) |
| Node.js or Python app with a database | About 50,000 visits a month | 1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3 apps in Docker containers | About 50,000 visits a month | 1 to 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM |
These are starting points from the calculator’s default assumptions. Heavy page builders, many plugins or a large database push memory up; a CDN and good caching push CPU down.
VPS plans in the calculator
| Plan | vCPU | RAM | Storage | Transfer | Price | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger KVM 1 | 1 | 4 GB | 50 GB NVMe | 4 TB | $6.49/mo24-mo term | $11.99/mo |
| Hostinger KVM 2 | 2 | 8 GB | 100 GB NVMe | 8 TB | $8.79/mo24-mo term | $14.99/mo |
| Hostinger KVM 4 We use this | 4 | 16 GB | 200 GB NVMe | 16 TB | $12.99/mo24-mo term | $28.99/mo |
| Hostinger KVM 8 | 8 | 32 GB | 400 GB NVMe | 32 TB | $25.99/mo24-mo term | $49.99/mo |
| DigitalOcean Basic 1 GB | 1 | 1 GB | 25 GB SSD | 1,000 GiB | $6.00/mono contract | Same |
| DigitalOcean Basic 2 GB | 1 | 2 GB | 50 GB SSD | 2,000 GiB | $12.00/mono contract | Same |
| DigitalOcean Basic 4 GB | 2 | 4 GB | 80 GB SSD | 4,000 GiB | $24.00/mono contract | Same |
| DigitalOcean Basic 8 GB | 4 | 8 GB | 160 GB SSD | 5,000 GiB | $48.00/mono contract | Same |
| Vultr Regular 1 GB | 1 | 1 GB | 25 GB SSD | 1 TB | $5.00/mono contract | Same |
| Vultr Regular 2 GB | 1 | 2 GB | 55 GB SSD | 2 TB | $10.00/mono contract | Same |
| Vultr Regular 4 GB | 2 | 4 GB | 80 GB SSD | 3 TB | $20.00/mono contract | Same |
| Vultr Regular 8 GB | 4 | 8 GB | 160 GB SSD | 4 TB | $40.00/mono contract | Same |
Official list prices checked Oct 30, 2026, before tax. Sources: www.hostinger.com, www.digitalocean.com, www.vultr.com.
Hostinger prices require prepaying a 24-month term; DigitalOcean and Vultr bill monthly (or hourly) with no contract, so their price does not change at renewal. Use the renewal cost calculator to compare totals over several years.
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM do I need for a VPS?
For one to five WordPress sites with page caching, 2 to 4 GB is usually enough. Plan for 1 GB for the system and database, then roughly 70 to 110 MB for each busy PHP worker. Stores, membership sites and apps that cannot be cached need more.
Is 1 vCPU enough for WordPress?
For a small cached site, yes. One vCPU handles hundreds of cached pages per second. It becomes a bottleneck when many requests need PHP at the same time, such as on a busy WooCommerce store or during a traffic spike that bypasses the cache.
Should I count pageviews or visits?
Enter visits. The calculator assumes two pages per visit. If your analytics shows more pages per visit, increase the visit number to match your pageviews divided by two.
Does the calculator include email hosting?
No. Running a mail server on the same VPS adds memory and maintenance. Most site owners keep email with a separate provider.