Move Website to Contabo VPS

The Problem

You've chosen Contabo for its very competitive specs-per-pound, but Contabo's VPS images and default network setup differ enough from other providers that a copy-paste migration from elsewhere often needs real adjustment to work cleanly.

About this problem

Contabo is popular for offering a lot of RAM, storage and CPU for the price, which makes it attractive for resource-hungry sites on a budget, but the trade-off is less hand-holding — base images are minimal, support response times can be slower than premium providers, and some older Contabo plans use different virtualisation than their newer ones, which can affect available OS images and performance characteristics.

This usually comes up when budget is the main driver for the move, or when a site needs more RAM/storage than a similarly priced plan elsewhere would offer.

What's Included

• Setting up the Contabo VPS with firewall rules configured correctly for the OS image provided
• Installing the web server, PHP and database stack needed for your site
• Migrating files, database, and recreating SSL certificates
• DNS cutover planning with minimal downtime

What's NOT Included

• Contabo account creation/billing setup — done directly with Contabo
• Choosing the specific Contabo plan — happy to advise, but the final choice and cost are yours
• Ongoing server maintenance after the move

How It Works

1. Provision or access the Contabo VPS and check which OS image and virtualisation type it's running, since this affects some configuration choices.
2. Set up firewall rules at the server level (Contabo doesn't provide a separate cloud firewall layer the way some competitors do, so the server's own firewall carries more weight).
3. Install and configure the web server, PHP version and database engine the site needs.
4. Transfer website files and import the database, adjusting any provider-specific paths from the old host.
5. Set up SSL certificates and confirm HTTPS works cleanly.
6. Verify the site fully before switching DNS, then do a final live check once pointed at the new VPS.

In practice: you buy the service, send over whatever access or details the job needs, I investigate and do the work, and you confirm it's resolved before we call it done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Contabo reliable for hosting a website?

For most standard sites, yes — Contabo offers strong specs for the price, though support and base image documentation are more basic than premium providers, so setup tends to need a more hands-on approach.

Why is Contabo so much cheaper than other VPS providers?

Contabo focuses on offering high RAM/storage/CPU specs at low prices rather than premium support or managed extras, which works well if you (or someone) is comfortable configuring the server yourself.

Does Contabo provide a separate cloud firewall like other providers?

Not in the same way as DigitalOcean or Hetzner — Contabo relies more on the server's own local firewall, so getting that configuration right matters more on this platform.

Can I run WordPress or an online shop on a Contabo VPS?

Yes, Contabo's higher RAM/storage specs at a given price point work well for resource-hungry platforms like WooCommerce, once the server stack is properly configured.

How much downtime happens moving to Contabo?

Minimal — the new VPS is fully set up and tested before DNS is switched, so downtime is typically just normal DNS propagation time.

What happens to my old hosting after the move to Contabo?

It's left untouched and active until DNS is switched, giving you a safe fallback during the transition.