Name: Virpus
Plans: VPS.
Website: www.virpus.com
Summary: Virpus is a below average hosting company. They have way too many issues. I can’t recommend them at this time to other webmasters looking for web hosting. This Virpus review shows why you might want to consider looking elsewhere.
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Virpus
Virpus Networks Company is a web hosting provider that was founded in the early part of 2006. It was established and is still based in Kansas City, Missouri with data centers in Dallas, Texas. The company currently specializes in VPS hosting (as does InMotion) and providing colocation services to more than 4,000 customers across the globe. This privately-owned, debt-free (according to their company profile) web hosting provider is committed to its mission of providing world-class solutions and premium services at competitive prices. With its fully-owned server equipment and network infrastructure along with a management team that mostly consist of knowledgeable people who have been in the hosting business for over 20 years, Virpus Networks guarantees and is supposed to deliver overall high-quality performance with absolute reliability and security to preserve the integrity of customers’ data.
Does that sound too perfect? Unfortunately, it does; and this review will show you how apt the saying is about “being too good to be true…” You’ll find several specific reasons why you should be wary of this company and why I don’t recommend Virpus Networks as a hosting provider that you should entrust your hosting needs to.
Virpus Features
Virpus offers VPS plans only. You have an option of setting up a Linux server or a Window server. There is a massive price range between all the plans you can setup. It means that no matter how big or small of VPS you need Virpus should be able to cover it. If you’re looking for a shared or dedicated plan, you won’t be able to use their service. However, I did jump on “live chat” with them, and they told me they could direct me to the right place if I wanted those types of services.
Windows VPS
I am taking a screenshot from their website just to show you the Windows VPS plans:
Linux VPS
Also, I’m taking a screenshot from their site to show you all of their Linux plans:
For their operating system, they support CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and Windows.
SSD
One thing I do like about Virpus is they are using SSD (solid state drives), as opposed to HDD, which a lot of web host are still using. Think of this as the newer technology for your drives. They use 100% SSD; a lot of other companies will use a mixture of both. Because, there are no moving parts and SSD’s work with no mechanical parts and rely on NAND Flash technology they are more durable, reliable, and faster (100X’s faster than HDD).
Control Panel
They use cPanel, DirectAdmin or Interworx for their control panel. I like how you do have the option to choose between 3 different control panels. A lot of other competing web hosting companies will not allow that. On their site, it states that when you prepay on a 4G plan or higher at least semi-annually you get your control panel for the life of the order.
So far it looks so good if you’re wanting a VPS. The prices are pretty much on par with other companies, they offer different operating systems, they have fast SSD drives, and offer a plethora of control panels.
3 Day Risk-Free
Ok, one thing that strikes me odd is you have a 3-day risk-free guarantee. Previously, I reviewed ServerPronto and was whining and crying about how they only have a 7-day money back guarantee. Well, with Virpus you only have a 3-day window on getting your money back if you decide it’s not for you! Most companies in the web hosting industry offer a 30-day money back guarantee. The cream of the crop will offer a 90-day money back guarantee. It just makes no sense to me why Virpus would offer a guarantee that is a 10th of the industry standard!
I’m pretty excited to check out this company since they have a lot of features. There is only one drawback so far I have seen. So far it’s not a deal breaker. Now, comes the time when I am going to put Virpus to the test with performance, uptime, customer service, and then finally round out the evaluation of this company.
Virpus Uptime and Reliability
Uptime
Downtime could be an issue with this company; it’s almost an either all good or not (reported by webmasters) and the 99.9% uptime guarantee the company flaunts hit or miss. My biggest concern with them is accounts that will get suspended, though. Here is a screenshot I found on WebHostingStuff.com which shows their uptime statistics: 
No, I am not stating that if you use them your going to have downtime issues. In fact, you might not have any problems. But, later in this review I will show you about their backup system and why I think it could be improved upon.
Intermittent hourly slowdowns of 10-15 minutes are a common problem among many customers. Worse, they neither notify nor give explanations for outages. Even when they have to shut you down for legitimate reasons. Like when they have a problem in the system. Or, when upgrades are being done or your site, needs to be transferred to another node; unless you barrage them with a million emails and tickets – maybe. In severe instances, downtime happens 4 to 5 times a day and some of them last for 3 hours or more. Now if you sum it up and get the average, you can also calculate the losses you incur when you stay with this company.
Performance
I have high hopes for this web host since they’re using SSD. Should they be fast right? I tested Virpus.com with Isitdownrightnow.com, and they do have incredible performance. Their servers respond in 4.34 ms. Response time is lightning fast! Great is under 20 ms! Just look at the above screenshot!
Reliability
But, one of the biggest concerns amongst Virpus users is they blacklist servers and to my surprise there are a plethora of complaints that shows servers get blacklisted from time to time. People have complained that they will suspend your account without backing up your files. Think of a headache you could be facing if you have 10-15 clients and one day you find that your account has been suspended for some unknown reason.
Just from a quick search on WebHostingTalk.com, I have found that there are five negative threads on them and one positive review. The general feedback just points to mostly negative when talking about this company. Please see the screenshot down below:
Can you believe this? The backups with Virpus are only weekly. Meaning that every week your files are backed up. I don’t understand why they can’t just provide their customers with daily backups like InMotion does. Think of all the lost time when you have to redo everything you have done in a weeks time! Below is a screenshot of their TOS page and their backup policy:
Virpus Customer Support
Virpus has lacking customer support, and I will point out some reasons on why I state that. Webmasters have reported that it takes a bit for them to get back with you (via ticket response). They have business hours for their support. It states that right on their website. Support is offered from 9-5 P.S.T (Monday through Friday). I had some questions that I wanted to ask Virpus about their service.
On November 12, 2014, I logged onto their live chat. I wanted to talk to them about their service. However, I was unable to reach them because it was 8 PM. If you guessed that you wouldn’t get clear-cut answers and your problems remain unresolved even with chat support – you got that right! Since there are business hours lets say something goes wrong at 5:04 on Friday you have to wait until Monday at nine before you can get your issue resolved.
The feedback from this screenshot shows just how bad their customer support is:
Virpus Review Summary
As a client, you are entitled to expect reasonable performance and reliability, decent customer support and a fully functional backup system, even with a low-budget VPS; not all low-priced hosting plans are as bad as Virpus, believe me. In fact, you can check my Inmotion review, and you’ll see that there are indeed hosting companies that can truly deliver excellent services despite less-expensive prices.
Don’t get lured by Virpus offers that sound too good to be true. Go for authentic low-cost hosting companies that honestly give value for your money. Also check my WebHostingHub Review, where you can see that they have a suitable plan for start-ups and low budget business websites.
Research on Virpus.
WebHostingTalk.com
Negative Thread 1
There was a post on July of 2014 on Webhostingtalk.com. The customer had a terrible experience with Virpus. They terminated their VPS because of the emails that were being sent out. They stated that this company has “deceiving” practices. If you read the TOS that is on their website, you will see hidden charges. They state that backups cost $10. Then a chargeback through Paypal which is $50 per charge back.
Virpus did show up on the thread and stated that the users VPS did have abuse complaints. They said they don’t condone spam activities and it could ruin their IP rep. Virpus did make a comment that was kind of rude “shows volumes about your ability to take responsibility.” I would never say that to a client of mine!
The customer did rebuttal by stating the money wasn’t the issue. They canceled the server, and it wasn’t necessary. The customer did want their money back, but Virpus does have a 3-day money back policy. The client is out their money. Others have reported this as well.
Negative Thread 2
A post was started in May of 2014. The original poster purchased Virpus for a client. Before the user’s account was even activated they decided they wanted to cancel their account. Virpus ignored their request and charged the client anyway. The client asked on the forum if there was any way to get their money back.
Virpus does have fine print that states they do refund their clients. A person on the forum pointed it out. The actual text is this:
There are no refunds they only credit your account!
One user 48-14 (the username, who has 5,814 posts on WebHostingTalk.com) stated that they used them and got the runaround. They said they did the same thing to them and it was a scam. Virpus did respond to their thread and told them not to bring up stuff that happens two years ago. Then 48-12 cut and pasted all the emails and Virpus claimed it was a fluke.
They did go back and forth for a bit. Virpus telling them why they are wrong and the client saying they are what they are.
I don’t like the way Virpus talks to their customers, though. I mean granted it is for a small amount of money, but here is my take on it. You sign up for them you cancel in three days all you will get is a credit. End of story.
Negative Webhostingtalk.com Promotion
Ok, this strikes me as a little odd, because when doing research for Virpus on WebHostingTalk.com I stumbled across a post which Virpus uses to promote their affiliate program. Just for the record, I have no problem with host going on public forums and getting affiliates to promote them. Other hosting companies have been doing this for years, but not the same way Virpus does. They have a company, and they are trying to build it the best way they can. But, this thread is titled “Virpus.com – Pure SSD VPS Hosting – Earn 25% recurring commissions!”.
It states how their affiliate program works. There is a link to Virpus’s affiliate program so you can find out more about it. However, there is some text that makes me wonder about their business practices. This text “Own a VPS Hosting review site, or have a section for VPS reviews.” You will then get six months of service for free.
This seems like an ethical bribe to have their affiliates develop a VPS hosting review site and write good reviews about them. Weird? Now when I go to Google and Google their name I see low-value VPS review sites that praise their company (the sites I will not mention, because it’s just my speculations). I don’t care to read stuff like this, and I don’t like how they are promoting their business.
Interviews with Virpus clients.