Containers are a kernel feature. So you need your own kernel.
That single sentence explains why Docker fails on cheap container-based VPS plans and works here. Every plan across all five ranges runs on KVM and boots its own kernel — so cgroups, namespaces and overlayfs are simply present, on the $4.95 plan as much as the top one.
- Own kernel on every plan
- Compose stacks work normally
- Single-node k3s runs
- Dedicated IPv4 for port publishing
$4.95/mo
Every plan, not a higher tier — because KVM is everywhere here
- cgroups, namespaces, overlayfs available
- docker compose and k3s both fine
- One dedicated IPv4 included
- Not dedicated CPU cores — nobody offers that here
Why Docker Works Here and Fails Elsewhere
Docker is not software that runs on top of Linux; it is a way of driving features that live inside the Linux kernel. cgroups limit resources, namespaces isolate processes, overlayfs stacks image layers — all kernel. That is why the question that decides whether a VPS can run Docker is not how much root access you get but whose kernel you are using. On container-based virtualization such as OpenVZ or LXC the kernel belongs to the host and is shared, so the features are often missing or restricted no matter what the plan page promises. All 21 plans here run on KVM and boot their own kernel, which is why Docker works on the entry plan rather than being something you have to buy up to.
- KVM on all 21 plans — your own kernel, every range.
- docker compose multi-service stacks work normally.
- Single-node k3s runs; multi-node needs multiple servers.
- Storage: HDD on Classic, SSD and NVMe further up — it matters for image builds.
- Dedicated IPv4 on every plan for publishing ports.
- Not dedicated CPU cores — not offered on any range.
Related: KVM VPS · NVMe VPS · VPS for developers · Debian VPS · Full root access
What Works, and Why
Five things, with the reason attached to each rather than a checkmark.
- Your own kernel is the whole reason Containers are a kernel feature, not a product: cgroups, namespaces and overlayfs live in the kernel, and Docker drives them. On KVM your guest boots its own kernel, so all of that is simply present. On container-based virtualization the kernel belongs to the host, which is why cheap OpenVZ plans so often cannot run Docker properly no matter how much root access they advertise. KVM vs container virtualization → Why
- Compose stacks, not just single containers docker compose brings up a multi-container stack with its own networks and volumes. Nothing about that is restricted here — the usual limit is memory, since every service in the stack wants its own. Works
- Single-node Kubernetes, if you want it k3s and similar lightweight distributions install and run on a single VPS. A genuine multi-node cluster needs multiple servers, which is a different purchase and a different amount of work — worth being clear about before you start. Works
- Storage speed, where it actually shows Image pulls, layer extraction and database volumes are the disk-heavy parts of container work. The Classic range is HDD; SSD, NVMe and Cloud are progressively faster. If you rebuild images often or run a database in a container, this is the spec worth paying for. What NVMe changes → Matters
- A dedicated IP to publish ports on One dedicated IPv4 on every plan, so you can expose container ports directly or put a reverse proxy in front of them without sharing an address with anyone. Dedicated IPv4 → Yours
Which Plan Fits Your Containers
Sized by what the stack actually needs. Each row shows the cheapest plan in the catalogue that meets the requirement.
| If this is you | Cheapest plan that fits | What it gives you | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| One or two small containers A single app plus a reverse proxy. Fine on the entry range if you are not rebuilding images constantly. | Essential Budget VPS Classic VPS range | 1 Core · 2 GB DDR3 RAM 20 GB HDD Storage | $7.95/mo + $2.00 one-time setup |
| A compose stack: app, database, cache Three or four services each wanting their own memory, on storage that will not make image pulls painful. | Business SSD VPS SSD VPS range | 2 Cores · 4 GB DDR3 RAM 30 GB Enterprise SSD | $14.95/mo + $0.00 one-time setup |
| Several stacks, or frequent image builds Building images is CPU and disk heavy in bursts. This is where NVMe earns its money. | Professional NVMe VPS NVMe VPS range | 3 Cores · 6 GB DDR4 RAM 50 GB Enterprise NVMe SSD | $21.95/mo + $0.00 one-time setup |
| Single-node k3s with real workloads The control plane costs you memory before you deploy anything of your own. | Enterprise SSD VPS SSD VPS range | 4 Cores · 8 GB DDR3 RAM 50 GB Enterprise SSD | $24.95/mo + $0.00 one-time setup |
Three Uncomfortable Truths About Docker on a VPS
The first one is a correction to what this page used to say.
Your containers are not on dedicated cores
The previous version of this page said dedicated CPU and RAM three times. That was not true. On the VPS ranges resources are allocated to your instance, not exclusively assigned; only the VDS range states dedicated RAM. Containers are isolated from each other by the kernel, which is a real guarantee — the one about neighbours on the physical host is not one we can make.
Memory is what you actually run out of
Almost every “my VPS is too small for Docker” story is a memory story. Each service in a compose stack wants its own, a database wants a lot, and the OOM killer arrives without warning. Count your services and give each one a realistic figure before choosing a plan.
Docker will quietly fill your disk
Old images, dangling layers, stopped containers and unused volumes accumulate until a deploy fails at 2am with no space left. docker system prune on a schedule is the single most useful piece of maintenance on a container host, and on an unmanaged server nobody sets it up but you.
Docker Hosting Questions
no space left on device. A weekly cron running docker system prune prevents the most common 2am container incident there is — and on an unmanaged server nobody sets it up but you. Docker on every plan, from $4.95.
KVM with your own kernel across all 21 plans, full root access, a dedicated IPv4 for publishing ports — and a 7-day money-back guarantee on your first order.