Contabo’s US pricing page, checked on 3 October 2026, lists Cloud VPS plans from $5.28 per month and Storage VPS plans from $6.63 per month, with the displayed rates based on a 24-month term. Those are plan prices, not a guaranteed total cost for a 24/7 YouTube stream: your choice depends on whether the machine relays an already encoded feed or encodes it, how much video you retain, and which region and term are available to you.
For a pre-encoded 1080p30 feed, a small Cloud VPS may be a plausible starting point for testing the streaming process, but its included disk is not enough for a full day of recording at the assumed bitrate. Treat the tables below as a dated snapshot for comparison, then check the current listing and test the actual workload before committing.
Prices checked and what the term means
The figures in this guide come from Contabo’s US pricing pages as checked on 3 October 2026. The monthly amounts are displayed effective rates for a 24-month subscription. They are not month-to-month offers, and you should not assume the same rate will appear for a different contract length, region, configuration or order date. See Contabo’s Cloud VPS pricing and Storage VPS product information for the provider’s own current details.
A listed monthly figure is useful for comparing plans on similar terms, but it is only one part of the bill. Before ordering, confirm the selected term, regional availability, any options added at checkout, and whether you need one machine or a separate location for your archive. This article does not add a price for storage outside the listed plans or estimate charges that depend on an individual order.
It also helps to separate three jobs that are often described together as “running a stream”:
- Relay: send a feed that has already been encoded and is ready for YouTube.
- Encoding: turn a source file or live input into the format and bitrate being sent.
- Retention: keep the source videos or local recordings available for later use.
A VPS that can relay a prepared feed is not automatically suitable for encoding that feed, and a machine with enough CPU and memory for a streaming task may still have too little disk for an archive. Compare each requirement separately rather than treating a plan name or port rate as proof that it will handle every part.
Listed Cloud VPS options and rates
The US page listed these Cloud VPS options and effective monthly prices for the 24-month term on the date checked. The port rate and compute specifications help describe the configuration, but do not establish that a particular encoder or continuous stream will work without testing.
| Plan | US displayed rate per month | Included compute and SSD | Listed port rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud VPS 4 | $5.28 | 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD | 200 Mbit/s |
| Cloud VPS 6 | $7.20 | 6 vCPU, 12 GB RAM, 200 GB SSD | 300 Mbit/s |
| Cloud VPS 8 | $13.44 | 8 vCPU, 24 GB RAM, 300 GB SSD | 600 Mbit/s |
Source and date for all rows: Contabo US pricing page, checked 3 October 2026. The rates shown are for a 24-month term; availability and prices can change.
For a relay workload, start by asking whether your streaming software can send the prepared file or feed as-is. If it does not need to transcode, a lower-compute configuration may be worth testing. Cloud VPS 4’s listed 200 Mbit/s port is well above the 14 Mbps video bitrate used in the 1080p30 example later in this guide, but that comparison is arithmetic, not a delivery guarantee. You still need to verify the software, network path and sustained behaviour with your feed.
If encoding happens on the VPS, do not choose by port speed alone. Encoding uses CPU and memory as well as network capacity. The number of vCPUs listed does not tell you how a particular codec, preset, source resolution or concurrent process will perform. Test with the actual source and settings, observe CPU and memory use, and check the outgoing stream for interruptions before relying on it overnight.
The distinction is familiar if you have configured a local system: in a guide to looping prerecorded videos with FFmpeg, the practical question is not simply whether the machine can connect, but whether the complete playback and sending process stays healthy. For a VPS, run the same kind of end-to-end test rather than translating a plan’s headline specifications into a promise.
Listed Storage VPS options and capacity
Storage VPS plans are easier to compare by included disk, but capacity still has to be measured against the bitrate and the number of days you intend to retain. The US listing checked on 3 October 2026 showed these rates and capacities:
| Plan | US displayed rate per month | Listed SSD capacity | Availability on the checked page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage VPS 10 | $6.63 | 300 GB | Listed |
| Storage VPS 20 | $9.20 | 400 GB | Shown as unavailable |
| Storage VPS 30 | $17.54 | 1 TB | Listed |
| Storage VPS 40 | $31.20 | 1.2 TB | Listed |
| Storage VPS 50 | $46.10 | 1.4 TB | Listed |
Source and date for all rows: Contabo US pricing page, checked 3 October 2026. Rates shown are for a 24-month term. “Listed” describes what the page showed when checked, not present availability or an order guarantee.
The first question is whether you need the archive on the streaming machine at all. Keeping source files and local recordings on the same VPS can simplify file access, but it competes for the same disk space as the operating system, working files and any other content. A separate storage plan may give you more room for recordings, but you then need to check how the stream process will access that storage and whether moving files or copying archives adds work or cost.
Do not read “unlimited traffic” as an unconditional throughput promise. Contabo describes traffic as subject to fair use and reserves the right to throttle exceptionally high or disruptive usage. The listed port rate is also not a guarantee of uninterrupted delivery for a 24/7 stream. Review the current wording on Contabo’s own product pages and judge performance by a test from the actual region and configuration you plan to use.
Unavailable listings and regional caveats
The Storage VPS 20 row was shown as unavailable in the US listing checked on 3 October 2026. Its $9.20 monthly figure and 400 GB capacity are useful only as a record of that listing; do not build a purchase plan on the assumption that it can be ordered. Availability can differ by region and change after a page is checked.
All prices above refer specifically to the US listing. A reader in India should not assume that a US rate, location, or inventory will apply to an order from India. Compare like for like: region, subscription term, selected plan, and any checkout options. The page may show a different effective monthly figure when you change one of these inputs.
The distinction matters for a stream because the server’s location is one part of the path between your source, the VPS and YouTube. A plan that is listed in one region does not establish how well it will connect from yours. Before moving a devotional channel, lofi station or local news loop, send a test feed from the proposed configuration and check that it reaches YouTube consistently. If your connection is itself a weak link, the checks in this guide to diagnosing a 24/7 stream on BSNL broadband can help you separate a local connection problem from a VPS or software problem.
Estimate storage for the video library
Video storage can become the limiting factor sooner than the plan price suggests. YouTube’s live encoder settings guidance recommends H.264 at 14 Mbps for 1080p30 and 17 Mbps for 1080p60. At a constant 14 Mbps, the data rate works out to approximately 151 GB per day, or 4.53 TB across 30 days, using decimal units. These are calculations from the bitrate, not figures published by YouTube.
At that same assumed 14 Mbps, 300 GB holds roughly two days of continuous recording before allowing for file overhead. One terabyte holds under seven days. The number of days is an estimate, not an exact capacity promise: actual bitrate may differ, and the container, audio tracks, overhead and duplicate copies all take space. Leave room for the operating system and working files rather than planning to fill every listed gigabyte with recordings.
| Archive assumption | Approximate space from bitrate arithmetic | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Mbps, one day | 151 GB | A 100 GB disk is not enough for a complete day at this assumed rate |
| 14 Mbps, 30 days | 4.53 TB | Even the listed 1.4 TB tier cannot hold a month of continuous footage at this assumed rate |
| 17 Mbps, one day | 184 GB | A higher bitrate uses storage faster |
| 17 Mbps, 30 days | 5.51 TB | Estimate from constant bitrate; real file sizes vary |
These are rounded decimal calculations from bitrate multiplied by time. They describe a continuous recording at the stated rate; they do not account for variable bitrate, overhead, multiple copies or downtime. They also do not say how much space a particular source library takes. If your channel loops a short set of files and keeps no local recording, storage needs may be very different from a station that records and retains every hour.
YouTube’s archive guidance says that streams under 12 hours can be automatically archived, but streams over 12 hours may not be captured at all. YouTube recommends recording a local archive as a backup. For a continuous channel, do not treat the platform archive as the only copy of material you need to keep. Decide what needs retaining, how many days are useful, and where an independent copy should live.
If you use a separate Storage VPS, calculate both the storage period and the route by which recordings get there. A 300 GB tier might suit a small set of source files or short retention, but at the 14 Mbps example rate it leaves little room for a full two days. A 1 TB tier gives more space, yet remains under a week of continuous footage at that assumed bitrate. Longer retention may require a larger plan or separate storage; check the transfer method and any additional costs before turning those into a total monthly estimate.
Account for encoding workload and other costs
YouTube’s bitrate recommendations are a useful input to sizing, not a complete design. Its guidance recommends constant bitrate encoding and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. For 1080p30 H.264, the 14 Mbps example is the video rate; audio and any other stream components also affect the total bitrate sent.
The network figure matters at the sending end. YouTube recommends leaving 20% bandwidth headroom above the total stream bitrate, as described in its streaming tips. That is a recommendation for available upload bandwidth, not evidence that a VPS listed with a 200 Mbit/s port will deliver any specific quality continuously. Confirm the actual route and watch the stream during a sustained test.
A sensible test distinguishes the workloads. First, try relaying a file that is already encoded at the intended output settings. Then, if you plan to encode on the VPS, run the real encoder with the real source, resolution and codec. Watch CPU and memory use, check the outgoing stream in YouTube’s live controls, and make sure the recording file continues to grow if you are creating a local archive. YouTube’s streaming tips also recommend checking that the local archive file is growing and allowing bandwidth headroom.
Other costs and effort can include a separate storage plan, a longer or different billing term, transfer or backup arrangements, and time spent maintaining the software and checking alerts. This article does not assign amounts to those items because they depend on your order and setup. The useful comparison is therefore not “which plan is cheapest?” but “what is the smallest tested configuration that does the job, plus the storage and backup approach I actually need?”
If the fragile part of your setup is keeping a home computer powered and connected through the night, rather than needing control over a VPS workload, a hosted file-to-live workflow removes that particular machine-management task. StreamNeo takes an uploaded video and runs it as a YouTube live stream, so your computer can be switched off; it is YouTube-only. That does not decide archive retention or remove the need to check that your video and channel are ready.
Recheck the listing before you order
Use the dated tables as a shortlist, not a checkout quote. Open Contabo’s current page, select the region and term you intend to buy, and confirm the plan is orderable. In particular, recheck any unavailable row rather than substituting its old displayed price for a plan you can actually purchase.
Then map the plan to the job. For a prepared feed, confirm playback and relay behaviour with the intended software. For encoding, test the full output workload rather than relying on vCPU count or port rate. For storage, calculate the days of material you will keep, subtract working space, and decide whether archive copies belong on the same machine or elsewhere.
Finally, test the route to YouTube and keep an eye on the broadcast after it starts. A stream that appears healthy for a short test may still expose problems during a longer run, especially if files are switched, storage fills or a connection changes. For channels built around recurring videos, this guide to creating a continuous soft-rain stream is a useful reminder to plan the content loop as well as the machine that sends it.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
Is Contabo Cloud VPS 4 enough for a 24/7 YouTube stream?
It may be a candidate to test for relaying a prepared 1080p30 feed: the US listing checked on 3 October 2026 showed a 200 Mbit/s port, while YouTube recommends 14 Mbps for H.264 1080p30. That comparison does not guarantee sustained delivery or show that the plan can encode your video. Test the exact software and workload, and account for its listed 100 GB SSD if you intend to record locally.
How long can 1 TB store a continuous 1080p30 stream?
At the assumed 14 Mbps rate, the bitrate calculation is about 151 GB per day, so 1 TB is under seven days before overhead. Actual storage depends on the bitrate, file format, audio tracks and copies. Plan for less usable time than the raw capacity suggests.
Does “unlimited traffic” mean a stream is guaranteed not to be throttled?
No. Contabo’s traffic language is qualified by fair-use terms, and the provider reserves the right to throttle exceptionally high or disruptive usage. A listed port rate is not a guarantee of uninterrupted delivery, so check the current terms and test your stream from the chosen configuration.
Can I rely on YouTube to keep an archive of a 24/7 stream?
Not as your only copy. YouTube says streams over 12 hours may not be captured at all and recommends making a local archive backup. Choose a separate retention plan if you need recordings beyond what you can keep locally.