As someone with extensive experience evaluating hosting providers, I’ve tested Strato’s offerings to see how they compare in terms of performance, features, and value for money. From my first impression, STRATO seems like a solid choice for those looking for affordable and reliable hosting solutions.

Strato stands out with SSD storage on VPS plans and Plesk integration for easy server management. During my tests, I was impressed by their high server performance, fast network speeds, and reliable uptime.

I also liked their competitive pricing. The memory bandwidth and CPU benchmarks showed excellent results, with 16 GB of RAM and 6 CPU cores seamlessly handling intensive tasks.

With its strong performance and affordable pricing, Strato is a top contender in the hosting space. In this Strato review, I’ll break down my experience with their services to help you decide if Strato is the right provider for your needs.

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Strato Pros and Cons

Rating Breakdown

To ensure a comprehensive and fair evaluation of Strato, we’ve created a rating methodology that helps us assess different hosting providers across key parameters. These parameters allow us to evaluate everything from pricing to performance, ensuring you have a clear picture of what to expect when choosing Strato.

Here is the rating breakdown for Strato:

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Strato Prices & Plans – 2026

Strato offers a variety of hosting plans. The hosting types available include WordPress Hosting, Hosting, WooCommerce, VPS Linux, VPS Windows, Cyber Protect, Dedicated Server Linux, Dedicated Server Windows, and Cloud Storage.

What I find particularly helpful is Strato’s 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to try their services risk-free. However, Strato doesn’t offer a free trial, but with the satisfaction guarantee, it’s almost like a trial period for you to test everything out.

As for payment methods, Strato accepts credit cards, direct debit, and iDEAL, making it easy to pay for your hosting services in a way that suits you best.

Here’s a summary of what Strato offers and my personal recommendations for each hosting type:

1. WordPress Hosting

Strato’s WordPress hosting is perfect if you want a hassle-free setup with automatic updates, backups, and excellent speed. They offer various plans depending on how much storage and web space you need.

Recommended Plan: WordPress Hosting Plus

If you’re looking for a good balance between price and features, I suggest WordPress Hosting Plus. It gives you 50GB of web space, 500 subdomains, and an AI website generator to help you quickly get started.

2. Web Hosting

Strato’s regular hosting plan is great for websites that don’t need the full power of a dedicated server but still require robust features like SSD storage and flexible mailboxes.

Recommended Plan: Hosting Pro

If you need reliable hosting for your business site, Hosting Pro is the way to go. With 120GB of web space, 150GB mail space, and up to 15,000 mailboxes, this plan has everything you need for growth.

3. WooCommerce Hosting

Strato’s WooCommerce Hosting is designed specifically to support online stores. The plan includes features like SSL certificates, email inboxes, and a WooCommerce plugin for seamless store setup.

Recommended Plan: WooCommerce Hosting E-Commerce

This plan provides everything you need to set up and grow your online store, including 100GB of web space and WooCommerce integration. It’s perfect if you’re serious about launching an online shop.

4. VPS Hosting

Strato offers both Linux and Windows-based VPS plans. These plans are ideal for those who need more control over their hosting environment and want the ability to scale resources.

Recommended Plan: VPS Linux VC8-32

With 32GB of RAM and 1TB of NVMe SSD storage, VPS Linux VC8-32 is a powerful and affordable option if you need a scalable, high-performance server.

5. Dedicated Server Hosting

For those who need total control and top-notch performance, Strato’s Dedicated Server Hosting options are the perfect solution. These plans offer dedicated hardware, root access, and plenty of processing power.

Recommended Plan: Dedicated Server Linux D4-81 SSD

This is a great choice for demanding websites or applications that require high performance and stability. With 32GB of RAM and fast SSD storage, it ensures that your website will run without hiccups.

6. Cloud Storage

Strato also offers Cloud Storage for those who want to store and automatically back up their files to a secure European cloud.

Recommended Plan: HiDrive 1TB

For those who need reliable cloud storage, HiDrive 1TB is a solid option. It offers ample space for storing and sharing files while being backed by strong security measures.

Strato Features

• Hosting with free SSL certificate
• 1-click installations of CMSs
• Fast SSD storage for better performance
• Customizable email accounts included
• Fully managed WordPress hosting
• Unlimited data traffic on many plans
• Scalable VPS hosting for flexibility
• Easy-to-use website builder tools
• Automated security updates and backups
• Managed security services like SiteLock
• Flexible hosting options for growth
• Multilingual customer support
• Data centers in Germany, EU-based storage

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Performance

In this section, I wanted to assess the performance of the Strato servers. I had two servers at my disposal: one is a web hosting server, and the other is a Linux VPS. I decided to run a series of tests on both servers to see how they perform under different conditions. Below, I’ll walk you through the performance benchmarks I ran on the Linux VPS server.

Linux VPS Configuration

The Linux VPS server I tested had the following specifications:

• CPU: 6 Cores
• RAM: 16 GB
• Storage: 500 GB SSD

For testing, I ran the Sysbench performance tests (CPU, Memory), a Stress test to load the CPU and memory, and a Speed Test to measure the network performance.

1. CPU Benchmark

I used Sysbench to benchmark the CPU. The CPU test focuses on the server’s ability to handle mathematical operations, such as calculating prime numbers. The Prime numbers limit was set to 20000.

The CPU benchmark measures the server’s ability to perform calculations efficiently. It simulates workload conditions that test the server’s processing power.

• Events per second: This shows how many events the CPU can handle per second. For example, in my test, the CPU handled 1372.46 events per second, which indicates a moderately high level of CPU efficiency.
• Latency: This measures the delay between processing the tasks. In my test, the average latency was 0.73 ms, which is quite low, showing that the CPU is performing well with minimal delay.
• 95th Percentile Latency: This metric represents the latency for 95% of the requests. In my case, it was 0.74 ms, which also indicates that most tasks were processed very quickly.

This test indicates that the CPU is performing well under normal loads and is able to handle mathematical computations with low latency. This shows Strato’s server is reliable for workloads that require frequent processing.

2. Memory Benchmark

Next, I ran a memory benchmark using Sysbench. This test simulates memory usage and transfers large amounts of data to test the system’s bandwidth and speed.

The memory benchmark tests the server’s ability to handle read and write operations in memory. It measures the amount of data transferred and the speed at which it occurs.

• Total operations: This test executed 54,032,847 operations with a rate of 5,402,746.52 operations per second, which is an excellent rate indicating high memory bandwidth.
• MiB transferred: A total of 52,766.45 MiB of data was transferred during the test, with an average speed of 5,276.12 MiB/sec, indicating solid performance in memory throughput.

This high transfer rate shows that the memory performance of the server is strong, and the server can handle memory-intensive tasks without slowdowns. The low latency also suggests that the server has a responsive memory system.

3. Stress Test (for CPU and Memory Load)

I ran the stress test to simulate heavy CPU and memory usage. In this test, I specifically stressed 4 CPU cores for 60 seconds.

The stress test simulates high resource consumption, which helps test how the server handles sustained, intense workloads. It helps determine if the server can maintain stability under heavy load.

• The stress test dispatched 4 CPU cores and generated a high load for 60 seconds.
• The result was a successful run, meaning the server did not overheat or become unstable during the load test.

The server passed the stress test successfully without issues, indicating that it can handle heavy processing loads effectively without crashing or throttling performance. This is important for tasks that require prolonged, intensive CPU work, such as data analysis or rendering.

4. Speed Test

Finally, I ran a Speed Test using speedtest-cli to measure the network performance of the Strato server.

The speed test measures the download and upload speeds of the server’s internet connection, which is crucial for tasks that involve large data transfers or web hosting.

• Download Speed: The server achieved a download speed of 521.15 Mbit/s.
• Upload Speed: The upload speed was 932.57 Mbit/s.
• Ping: The server had a ping of 18.161 ms, which is quite low, indicating a fast and responsive network connection.

These speeds are excellent, especially for a Linux VPS. The high upload and download speeds suggest that the server has a fast internet connection, which is essential for web hosting, online services, or any tasks requiring heavy data transfers.

Overall, Strato’s Linux VPS performs well under various tests, making it a reliable option for hosting applications, running complex calculations, and handling high network traffic.

Level Of Support

Support is a critical factor when choosing a hosting provider, and I wanted to test Strato’s support to see how responsive and helpful they are. Here’s what I found after exploring their support options.

When I clicked the help button on the Strato dashboard, I was prompted to enter a search term. This led me to a Knowledge Base with articles related to common issues, but I soon realized that this isn’t live support.

It’s an automated system where you search for articles and resources that can help resolve your query, which wasn’t what I was looking for. There’s no live chat or direct access to a human agent through this feature.

However, Strato does offer phone support as the main way to speak to a representative. To contact Strato, I called their hotline at 020 – 703 82 32. This line is available from Mon-Fri, 08:00 – 20:00. Before calling, they asked me to have my customer number and service pin ready for identification. These details are conveniently displayed at the top right of the customer login page.

I decided to test this phone support by asking about configuring a reverse proxy using NGINX. I wanted to know how to set up a reverse proxy to route traffic between different websites hosted on my server.

The support team was responsive, and the representative provided clear and detailed instructions on how to configure NGINX for reverse proxying. I was impressed with their knowledge and the helpfulness of the advice they offered.

Knowledge Base

In addition to phone support, Strato also offers a comprehensive Knowledge Base. I decided to explore this resource, and I found it to be well-organized and detailed. The Knowledge Base covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Contract and Invoice
• E-mail
• Hosting and Domains
• HiDrive
• Databases

The articles in the Knowledge Base are thorough, and many of them include screenshots, which made the information even easier to follow. Whether you’re troubleshooting an issue or learning how to use a specific feature, the articles are a valuable resource.

I found them to be well-written, clear, and easy to understand, providing step-by-step instructions that helped me navigate some of the platform’s features.

How I Found the Support Overall

Overall, I found Strato’s phone support to be effective and knowledgeable. The representative I spoke with was helpful and gave me clear, actionable advice on setting up NGINX for a reverse proxy. While the Knowledge Base is a good resource for self-help, it’s not live support, and I would have preferred to have direct access to a human agent within the dashboard for quicker assistance.

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Ease of Use

When reviewing Strato, I decided to test the ease of use by going through the registration process and the dashboard. I wanted to see how intuitive and straightforward everything was. Here’s what I found.

1. Registration Process

I found signing up for Strato to be quite easy and intuitive. To start, I went to the Strato homepage and hovered over the “Hosting” or “Server” options in the top menu.

From there, I selected the VPS Linux option to get started. After selecting it, I was taken to the page where I could view the different plans and pricing.

I selected the VPS Linux VC6-16 plan, which offers 6 CPU vCores, 16GB RAM, and 500GB of NVMe SSD storage. After clicking Order Now, I was taken to a Product Selection page, where I could choose additional add-ons like SSL certificates or backup solutions.

Here, I had the option to add an SSL certificate (Domain Validation or Organization Validation) for an extra cost. I also could choose a Cyber Protect backup solution to ensure my server was protected from malware, ransomware, and viruses.

Once I had made my selections, I clicked To the Shopping Cart, where I was able to review all my choices.

After confirming everything, I clicked Next, which took me to the Customer Details page. I filled in the required information, like my address, phone number, and email address, before clicking Next again.

On the Order Overview page, I reviewed my order details and confirmed the terms and conditions.

After clicking Order Now, I received an SMS with a release code to confirm my order. The order confirmation process took just a few moments, and once confirmed, I was ready to go.

How Did I Find the Registration Process?

Overall, the registration process was seamless. Strato made it easy to choose a plan, customize the add-ons, and confirm my details. It was a straightforward experience, and I appreciated the clear navigation through each step.

2. The Dashboard

Once I completed the registration process, I was immediately taken to the Strato Dashboard, where I could start managing my services. The dashboard is well-organized, providing quick access to all the features you need for managing your hosting. Here’s what I encountered:

As soon as I logged in, I saw a personalized greeting at the top: “Hello {My Name},” along with my service pin, customer number, and contract details. The overall layout was clean, and I immediately knew where to go for managing my account and services.

On the left-hand side of the dashboard, you have a menu that gives you access to various options like:

• Customer Details: You can update your personal information such as your address, phone number, and email.
• Order More Products: If you want to add additional hosting services or domains, you can easily do so from this section.
• Security Settings: This is where you can manage your SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, and configure Cyber Protect for data security.
• Online Invoices: You can view and download all your past invoices.
• Current Offers: Strato often provides promotions, and this section keeps you updated on the latest deals available for your account.
• Package Overview: This is where you can see your active hosting packages, including their details.

The Package Overview section is where I found information on the services I was using, including my VPS Linux VC6-16 package. From here, I could click through to see more details about the specific service, including contract information, billing details, and more.

I found the Strato Dashboard to be intuitive and easy to navigate. The layout is user-friendly, and all options are clearly labeled, making it easy to manage my account and services.

3. Managing the Server

After getting familiar with the dashboard, I wanted to see how easy it was to manage my VPS server. So, I clicked on my VPS Linux VC6-16 package under the Package Overview section. This took me to a more detailed page about my server, where I could access several management features.

Here’s a breakdown of what I found and what I could do on this page:

• Server Details: This section provides information about the server’s configuration, including the IP address, RAM, CPU, and storage. I could also see the host name and other technical details.
• Operating System Installation: Strato gives you the option to install your preferred operating system directly from the dashboard. Whether you need a Linux distribution or a Windows version, this feature makes it easy to get your server up and running with just a few clicks.
• Cyber Protect: I could see that Cyber Protect was enabled, which offers backup protection against malware, viruses, and ransomware. The backup solution comes with the ability to expand storage if needed, providing an added layer of security for my server.
• SSL Management: The SSL certificates section allows you to manage security for your domains, including adding new certificates or managing existing ones. It’s an essential feature for securing data and ensuring safe communication.
• Firewall Management: Strato provides easy access to firewall settings, allowing you to set up rules to protect your server from unauthorized access.
• Troubleshooting and Monitoring: If there are any issues with my server, I can easily access the troubleshooting section, where Strato provides helpful diagnostic tools. I could also monitor server performance and resource usage to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Overall, managing the server through the Strato dashboard was straightforward and user-friendly. I appreciated how everything was organized in one place, making it easy to configure security settings, install software, and monitor server performance.

Final Thoughts on Ease of Use

Based on my experience, I can confidently say that Strato’s registration process and dashboard are user-friendly and well-designed. Signing up was quick and straightforward, and the dashboard provides all the tools I need to manage my server and hosting packages.

Conclusion: Do We Recommend Strato?

After putting Strato through a series of tests, I found it offers great value for money. Their servers deliver solid performance, with fast network speeds, impressive memory and CPU benchmarks, and reliable uptime. The affordable pricing and feature-rich plans make them a strong choice for beginners and more advanced users.

Strato’s user-friendly dashboard, secure hosting solutions, and 24/7 phone support add to the overall positive experience. While there’s room for improvement in areas like live chat support, Strato still stands out as a dependable hosting provider.

If you’re looking for affordable, high-performance hosting with great features and strong security, Strato is definitely worth considering.  

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4.0

170 user reviews

£0.40 /mo

Starting price

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Rating based on expert review

• User Friendly
  4.6
• Support
  4.4
• Features
  4.6
• Reliability
  4.7
• Pricing
  4.4