If you search for the cheapest server possible, you will quickly find dozens of low-cost VPS and cloud hosting plans.

The problem is that the cheapest-looking option is not always the cheapest one in real use.

A server can look affordable on the pricing page, then cost you more later because of weak performance, the wrong location, poor scalability, complicated billing, or simply because you bought more than you actually needed. That is why I think the smarter question is not: