You know the saying “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is”? You can pretty much apply it to most free web hosting services. At best, you get a tiny bit of server space on an outdated machine in a dark corner of some overseas datacenter. At worst, you’ve exposed your personal data or domain name to criminals or those who will sell the information to other spammers. Occasionally, legit hosts will dangle a free hosting service offer in the hopes of generating leads for premium services. Usually, though, you get what you pay for — a whole lot of nothing.

We strongly recommend spending a few dollars — just a few, we promise — to unlock a treasure trove of added features, performance boosts, security, and reliability from a highly regarded hosting company. The hosts listed below offer some of the best, most affordable, VPS plans in the industry. Yes, you’ll need to spend some money up front, but these hosts also have longer-than-average money-back guarantees.

1. VPSForSell.com