Updated October 2026
What are the cheapest cloud servers in 2026?
Short answer: in mainland China, the cheapest first year is Alibaba Cloud Simple Application Server 2 vCPU / 2 GB at ¥38/year (flash sale, ≈$5) or Baidu AI Cloud 2 vCPU / 4 GB at ¥39/year. For the long run, Alibaba Cloud ECS e 2 vCPU / 2 GB at ¥99/year (≈$14) renews at the same price until 2029-03-31. Globally, RackNerd 1 vCPU / 1 GB at $21.99/year is cheapest, renews at the same price, and needs no ICP filing.
Prices checked 2026-10-22; the provider's checkout page is final.
5 cheapest in China (first-year price)
New-user prices are usually one per verified identity and renew at list price. Mainland China offers usually require Chinese real-name verification, and hosted websites need ICP filing.
| Provider | Plan | First year | Renewal | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Cloud Simple App Server | 2 vCPU / 2 GB, 200 Mbps peak | ¥38/yr flash sale (usually ¥68) | List price | Alibaba Cloud |
| Baidu AI Cloud e1 | 2 vCPU / 4 GB, 3 Mbps | ¥39/yr | List price | Baidu AI Cloud |
| JD Cloud Lighthouse | 2 vCPU / 2 GB, 3 Mbps | From ¥68/yr | No same-price renewal seen | JD Cloud |
| Volcano Engine | 2 vCPU / 2 GB | From ¥79/yr | List price | Volcano Engine |
| Alibaba Cloud ECS e | 2 vCPU / 2 GB, 3 Mbps | ¥99/yr | Same price until 2029-03-31 | Alibaba Cloud |
Cheapest global VPS (no ICP filing)
All accept Alipay. For websites and learning only.
| Provider | Plan | Price | Speed from China | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RackNerd | 1 vCPU / 1 GB, 20 GB, 3 TB | $21.99/yr | Standard route | RackNerd |
| CloudCone | 2 vCPU / 1 GB, 30 GB, 4 TB | $28/yr | Standard route | CloudCone |
| DMIT | 1 vCPU / 1 GB, 20 GB | $36.90/yr | Faster on Premium route | DMIT |
| BandwagonHost | 2 vCPU / 1 GB, 20 GB, 1 TB | $49.99/yr | Faster on CN2 GIA plans | BandwagonHost |
| Vultr | 1 vCPU / 1 GB | $5/mo, billed hourly | Tokyo / Singapore | Vultr |
| LightNode | 1 vCPU / 2 GB, 50 GB, 1 TB | $7.71/mo, billed hourly | Tokyo / Hong Kong | LightNode |
FAQ
Which one actually saves the most?
For one year: Alibaba Cloud ¥38 flash sale or Baidu AI Cloud ¥39. For three years: Alibaba Cloud ECS e at ¥99/year with no renewal hike, about ¥297 (≈$42) in total.
I don't want ICP filing. Which one?
Go with a global VPS: RackNerd at $21.99/year is cheapest; if speed from mainland China matters, pick DMIT or BandwagonHost CN2 GIA.
Will Black Friday be cheaper?
Yes. Black Friday (Nov 27) and Cyber Monday (Nov 30) are the cheapest time of year for global VPS; last year RackNerd 1 GB went as low as $10.60/year.
Is there anything completely free?
Yes: Oracle Cloud Always Free Arm (2 OCPU / 12 GB) and Google Cloud's always-free e2-micro. Both need a credit card.
Keep reading
Alibaba vs Tencent Cloud · Server for an AI assistant · Free-forever servers · All deals compared