Netcup is a German VPS provider that specializes in ARM‑based servers. They offer impressive specs at low prices, but ARM architecture isn't for everyone. I've used their VPS 1000 ARM G11 for six months. Here's my review.
What Netcup Does Well
Cheap ARM compute. The VPS 1000 ARM G11 costs €4.25/month (€3.25 if you prepay annually). You get 4 vCPU (ARM), 4 GB RAM, 256 GB NVMe, and unlimited traffic (fair use policy).
Fast multi‑core performance. UnixBench multi‑core scores exceed 4000. Single‑core is modest (~900), but ARM cores scale well. For parallel workloads like web servers, video encoding, or data processing, it's a beast.
Large NVMe storage. 256 GB included – more than DigitalOcean or Hetzner at similar price. Upgrade options go up to 1 TB.
Unlimited traffic. Netcup doesn't meter traffic. Fair use applies, but typical web usage won't trigger limits.
German data protection. Servers in Nuremberg and Vienna. GDPR compliant by default.
Where Netcup Falls Short
ARM compatibility issues. Some software isn't compiled for ARM64. Docker images, certain databases, and binary libraries may need recompilation or alternatives. Not ideal for beginners.
Control panel is dated. Netcup uses a custom panel. It works but feels old. No one‑click apps.
No North American or Asian locations. Only Germany and Austria. High latency for non‑European users.
Support is slow. Ticket‑based, response times 12-24 hours. Phone support in German only.
Performance Benchmarks
I tested the VPS 1000 ARM G11 (4 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 256 GB NVMe) in Nuremberg using Ubuntu 24.04 (ARM edition).
UnixBench single‑core: 920. Multi‑core: 4120. Disk I/O: 650 MB/s sequential read. Network latency to US East: ~100 ms. For European traffic, latency under 20 ms.
The ARM CPU matches mid‑range Intel/AMD in multi‑core tasks but falls behind in single‑core. Great for parallelized workloads.
Plans and Pricing (2026)
| Plan | vCPU (ARM) | RAM | Storage | Traffic | Price (monthly) | Annual Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPS 500 ARM G11 | 2 | 2 GB | 128 GB NVMe | Unlimited | €2.25 | €20 |
| VPS 1000 ARM G11 | 4 | 4 GB | 256 GB NVMe | Unlimited | €4.25 | €39 |
| VPS 2000 ARM G11 | 8 | 8 GB | 512 GB NVMe | Unlimited | €7.50 | €69 |
All plans include a dedicated IPv4 and IPv6, plus DDoS protection (basic).
Who Should Use Netcup?
Developers comfortable with ARM. If you use Docker, compile from source, or run open‑source software, ARM is manageable. Many popular tools (Nginx, MySQL, PHP, Python) have ARM builds.
European users. The single location is fine if your audience is in Europe. Latency to North America is acceptable but not great.
Budget‑conscious users needing cores. For parallel processing, video transcoding, or data analysis, Netcup's multi‑core performance is unmatched at this price.
Privacy‑sensitive projects. German hosting means strict data protection laws.
Who Should Skip Netcup?
Users needing global reach. No data centers outside Europe.
Beginners or Windows users. ARM can be frustrating if you're used to x86. Some software may not work.
Users needing fast support. Ticket response is slow. Not for mission‑critical production without a backup.
Final Verdict
Netcup is a specialized provider. If you know what you're doing with ARM, the value is incredible. The multi‑core performance for €4/month is hard to beat. For most typical web hosting, Hetzner's x86 VPS is easier. But for developers who love ARM, Netcup is a hidden gem.
Score: 7.8/10
- Price/performance: 9/10
- ARM compatibility: 6/10
- Global reach: 3/10
- Ease of use: 6/10