FirstByte referral link and hosting review
FirstByte (firstbyte.ru) is a hosting provider operated by First Server S.L. of Spain, renting KVM virtual servers in Moscow and 11 other countries, plus dedicated servers, web hosting and domains. A Moscow VPS starts at 129 RUB per month. Referred clients get no extra sign-up bonus.
No extra sign-up bonus via this link — the provider's standard terms apply.
Referral link disclosure: the button above is our referral link. If you sign up through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The bonus and terms are set by FirstByte and can change — check them on the official site before you sign up.
How to get started
- Open FirstByte through the referral link on this page; the partner ID is already in the URL, so there is no code to type.
- Register an account on firstbyte.ru and choose "individual" when you create a payer profile.
- Top up your balance (the minimum payment for individuals is 82 RUB).
- Pick a location and VDS/VPS plan, choose an operating system and place the order.
- Connect to the server with the root credentials once it is activated.
What is FirstByte?
FirstByte has been running since 2015. The site footer and the public offer name First Server S.L. (Alicante, Spain) as the company. The main site is in Russian with prices in rubles; an English version at firstbyte.pro shows prices in euros.
Products: KVM VPS with SSD (plus KVM SAS and "Business" plans in Moscow), dedicated servers, web hosting from 55 RUB per month, DNS hosting from 50 RUB, domains, SSL certificates, ispmanager licenses and backup storage.
VPS locations: Moscow, Helsinki, Paris, Sofia, Madrid, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, New York, Singapore, the UAE, Tokyo and São Paulo.
Who it's for
FirstByte suits people who want a cheap small VPS, especially in Moscow, or a low-cost server abroad billed from a ruble balance. Root access, dedicated IPs and auto-installed Linux, FreeBSD or Windows (or your own ISO on KVM) cover websites, bots and test environments.
It is a poor fit for heavy workloads: the terms ban torrents, file sharing, streaming, open proxies and VPNs, network scanners, miners and sustained high CPU load, as well as adult content and unapproved mass mailings.
FirstByte pricing at a glance
| Plan (Moscow) | CPU | RAM | Disk | Price per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSK-KVM-SSD-START | 1 vCPU | 768 MB | 7 GB SSD | 129 RUB |
| MSK-KVM-SAS-1 | 1 vCPU | 768 MB | 20 GB SAS+SSD | 129 RUB |
| Business MSK-KVM-SSD | 1 vCPU | 1024 MB | 20 GB SAS+SSD | 699 RUB |
VPS in other countries starts from 259 RUB per month (€2.75 on the English site). The minimum rental period is one month, after which billing is daily.
All VMs get DDoS filtering, but the level varies: L3/L4 in Russia, "Basic" in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain and Bulgaria, and BlackHole (null-routing) elsewhere. VPS owners also get 25 GB of free FTP backup space and a free DNS-100 plan.
The VPS page mentions a free 24-hour test, while the FAQ says a test server needs a 55 RUB payment.
Payments, refunds and limits
- Payment. Individuals pay electronically: Visa/Mastercard via Robokassa, PayPal (15 RUB + 4.4%), WebMoney and other e-wallets, Russian internet banking. Legal entities can also pay by bank transfer.
- Verification. FirstByte may request ID under KYC/AML checks; refusing can suspend services and freeze the balance.
- Refunds. Only after the first month, on a signed written request with a passport copy, within 30 business days. Setup, IPs, domains, SSL and promotions are non-refundable; card refunds only above 1,000 RUB, minus fees of up to 15%.
- Uptime. Target 99% per month; each full day of downtime earns double service days, not cash.
- Unpaid services are suspended and the VPS image is deleted after at least 3 days.
- Support: 24/7 tickets (reply within 24 hours), email, weekday phone.
FirstByte referral program terms
FirstByte runs its own partner program ("Программа 7%"). Only individuals who are already FirstByte clients can join; the link and promo code are in the control panel under Client → Referral program.
- Up to 7% of what referred clients spend on VPS, dedicated servers, backup disks and DNS hosting, with no time limit.
- Credited on the 1st of each month and usable to pay for your own hosting.
- Banned: spam, self-referrals and search ads on FirstByte queries; violations can void payouts.
The terms mention no bonus for the referred client. Details: partner page.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Entry KVM VPS in Moscow from 129 RUB per month
- VPS locations in 12 countries across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and South America
- DDoS filtering on all VMs, plus free DNS hosting and 25 GB of FTP backup space
- Windows, BSD and custom ISO installs on KVM
- Named Spanish operating company and a published public offer
Cons
- No sign-up bonus for referred clients
- Refunds require a signed paper request with a passport copy and only after the first month
- Uptime target is only 99%, compensated in service days, not cash
- Outside Russia and the EU-Basic locations DDoS protection is BlackHole only
- Strict ban on proxies, VPNs, streaming and other high-traffic uses
Frequently asked questions
Is there a FirstByte promo code or referral bonus?
FirstByte's partner page offers no bonus or discount to new clients who come through a referral link or code. Our link carries the partner ID in the URL, so there is nothing to type.
Is FirstByte legit?
FirstByte names its operator (First Server S.L., Spain), publishes a public offer with refund and SLA terms, and offers 24/7 ticket support, email and phone. One caveat: the uptime target is 99% and refunds require a signed written request with a passport copy.
How much does a FirstByte VPS cost?
A Moscow KVM VPS starts at 129 RUB per month; other countries start from 259 RUB (€1.52 and €2.75 on the English site).
Does FirstByte offer a free trial?
The VPS page mentions a free 24-hour test, but the FAQ says a test server needs a 55 RUB payment and is billed daily with a free OS selected.
How does the FirstByte referral program work?
Existing FirstByte clients who are individuals get a link or promo code in the control panel and earn up to 7% of referred clients' spending, credited monthly as hosting balance.
FirstByte alternatives
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