The verdict in three sentences
A London company processing EU personal data needs hosting with EU data residency, a signed DPA (Data Processing Agreement) and documented sub-processors to stay GDPR-compliant post-Brexit. Managed EU hosting costs EUR 40-250/month in 2026 depending on traffic and redundancy, with SLA-backed uptime of 99.9%. The real decision is not price but where the data lives and who is contractually accountable for it.
GDPR hosting options compared in 2026
Each tier maps to a data-sensitivity and traffic profile. Here are the ranges and what they cover.
| Option | Site profile | Cost/month 2026 | Typical uptime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared EU (OVH/Scaleway) | Brochure, low traffic | EUR 5-20 | 99.9% |
| VPS EU | B2B site, moderate traffic | EUR 15-70 | 99.9% |
| Managed EU cloud | Sensitive data, sustained traffic | EUR 50-200 | 99.95% |
| Managed + redundancy | High availability, DR plan | EUR 120-250 | 99.99% |
| CDN (Cloudflare/Bunny) | Latency + WAF | EUR 0-40 | Global |
For most London B2B sites serving EU users, a managed EU host at EUR 50-120/month with a signed DPA is the balanced choice.
Data residency, DPA and compliance: what matters
Price is not the deciding factor: residency and contractual accountability drive compliance. Here is how to arbitrate.
| Criterion | UK-only host | EU host + DPA | US host |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU data residency | Partial | Yes | No (transfer risk) |
| Signed DPA | Sometimes | Yes | Varies |
| Sub-processor transparency | Varies | Documented | Often opaque |
| Monthly cost | EUR 40-200 | EUR 40-250 | EUR 30-180 |
| GDPR transfer exposure | Low | Low | Higher (SCCs needed) |
| SLA uptime | 99.9% | 99.9-99.99% | 99.9% |
An EU host with data residency and a signed DPA removes most transfer risk, which is harder to guarantee with US-based providers requiring Standard Contractual Clauses.
Mini case study
Sarah, COO of a logistics SaaS in London, hosts customer data on a US provider at EUR 150/month with no clear DPA and unclear residency. A GDPR review flags transfer exposure. We move the workload to a managed EU host at EUR 110/month with a signed DPA, documented sub-processors and daily backups. Direct saving: EUR 40/month (EUR 480/year), plus removal of the transfer-risk exposure that a fine or a lost enterprise deal could dwarf. Compliance improves AND the bill drops.
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FAQ
Does a London company still need GDPR-compliant hosting after Brexit?
Yes: whenever you process EU residents' personal data, GDPR applies regardless of where you are based, and the UK GDPR mirrors it. EU data residency plus a signed DPA is the safest posture and often a procurement requirement for enterprise clients.
How much does GDPR-compliant EU hosting cost in 2026?
From EUR 5-20/month shared for a brochure site to EUR 50-200/month managed for sensitive data, and EUR 120-250/month with full redundancy. A CDN adds EUR 0-40/month for latency and WAF protection.
What is a DPA and why does it matter?
A Data Processing Agreement is the contract binding your host, as processor, to GDPR obligations: purpose limitation, security, breach notification and sub-processor disclosure. Without a signed DPA, you cannot demonstrate compliance in an audit or enterprise due diligence.
Is US hosting a GDPR problem?
It raises transfer risk: EU-to-US data transfers require safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses and careful sub-processor review. An EU host with data residency removes most of that complexity for EU-facing workloads.
Can I migrate hosting without downtime?
Yes: with a prepared DNS cutover and an overlap window, migration happens with no visible interruption. Domain and email are preserved and the site stays reachable throughout the switch.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your data sensitivity, traffic and monthly budget, and we will design the GDPR-compliant hosting architecture. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
