For years, VPS hosting has been treated as a standard requirement for algorithmic trading. That arrangement was never particularly convenient. Brokers had to source external capacity, configure it and support a separate service outside the trading platform.
Now, that is getting more expensive. Several major infrastructure providers have announced sharp price increases in 2026, pushing up the cost of infrastructure brokers should no longer have to depend on.
VPS prices are skyrocketing
Damian Chmiel, Senior Analyst & Editor at Finance Magnates, highlights in his recent analysis how sharply VPS prices have increased in 2026.
Finance Magnates notes that Hetzner increased the monthly price of its CPX22 cloud server in Germany and Finland from €7.99 to €19.49 on 15 June – a 143.9% rise. The new price generally applies to new orders and rescaled servers.
The article covers OVHcloud, which raised its VPS-1 plan from €4.49 to €6.49 per month, up 44.5%, while VPS-6 went from €48.99 to €72.99, an increase of 49%. OVHcloud said the new prices apply after the current contractual period.
Finance Magnates also points to Leaseweb, which introduced an average 20% increase for selected new VPS contracts from 1 August. In the US, its entry-level plan moved from $3.50 to $6.99, while ongoing contracts were excluded from the change. Leaseweb cited higher memory and storage costs among the reasons.
The publication links these price changes partly to rising AI infrastructure demand. OVHcloud said memory production is shifting towards GPUs, while Micron reported AI demand growing faster than supply. Finance Magnates notes that AI workloads made up around 60% of Equinix’s largest first-quarter deals.
Finance Magnates also makes a distinction between generic infrastructure and managed trading VPS services, which may include Windows, support, backups and proximity to execution infrastructure. Actual broker costs may therefore vary.
What about free VPS?
Beyond the price increases covered by Finance Magnates, free VPS options come with their own limitations. Free and entry-level cloud instances typically offer limited CPU and memory, which can become a bottleneck as traders add more algorithms or terminals.
This is reflected in trader feedback: one user from Forex Forum described a free AWS VPS as “too slow” for more than one or two EAs, while another reported that it could even miss position execution. Other traders similarly describe free VPS services becoming slow and frustrating under heavier workloads. And “free” often comes with conditions of its own, such as usage limits, eligibility requirements or the need to upgrade once more computing power is required. Ultimately, traders are still dependent on a separate server that has to be configured, monitored and maintained. cTrader removes that extra layer altogether: cBots can run 24/7 directly in cTrader Cloud, independently of the trader’s device, without a Windows VPS, remote desktop setup or separate terminal installation.
cTrader reduces the need for a separate VPS
cTrader Cloud Execution lets traders run cBots 24/7 directly inside the platform, at no extra cost. As Finance Magnates points out, Spotware covers the hosting cost, so traders can run compatible cBots without paying for or managing a separate VPS. They can choose a cBot, set its parameters and start a cloud instance from cTrader Mobile, Web, Windows or Mac. Once launched, the bot keeps running even when cTrader is closed, the internet connection drops or the trader switches off their device.
The process takes only a few taps. Cloud synchronisation keeps received, installed and created cBots available across all cTrader apps, so traders can access and manage their algorithms from whichever device they are using. Cloud instances run in a safe, isolated environment with high-speed connectivity and processing optimised for algo trading.
This removes much of the traditional VPS setup. Traders do not need to transfer algorithm files to an external server or keep checking that the setup is still online. Instead, they get a powerful algo trading environment that meets their expectations at full – quick to launch, easy to manage and free from the technical burden of external hosting.
For brokers, Cloud Execution strengthens their algo offering while lowering the cost of delivering it: there is no need to source VPS capacity or support a separate hosting service. This reduces friction for clients, cuts VPS-related support demands and helps satisfy the demands of professional algo traders entirely within cTrader.
Cloud Execution removes the technical barrier to algo trading, while cTrader Store subscriptions make broker-branded cBots easier to access. Brokers can develop their own products and offer them through Store by subscription. A smaller recurring payment makes these tools more affordable, helping brokers attract more algo traders. Once subscribed, they can launch a cBot in a few taps and run it 24/7 without a VPS.
Conclusion
Finance Magnates documents sharp price increases across selected VPS plans and growing pressure from AI infrastructure demand. Against this backdrop, cTrader Cloud Execution offers a different approach – hosted execution at no extra cost, without the need to manage a separate VPS. This reflects cTrader’s Traders First™ approach, reducing unnecessary technical barriers and keeping the trading experience focused on the trader needs.
