Star Rental Server Review [Launched December 19, 2024]: Pros and Cons of a High-Value Server That Starts Free
A new contender for the best-value server.
Star Rental Server is a rental server launched by Netowl, Inc. on December 19, 2024, and it can be started for free.It uses the same server as Xserver, and even the admin panel and other UI are from Xserver, so it feels like “isn’t this basically Xserver?” except that it is free.
I actually used it, so if you want to try Star Rental Server, use this article as a reference. I thoroughly cover not only the speed and usability I felt in practice, but also its pricing and specs.
Complete Comparison of 32 WordPress Rental Servers: Recommendations by Personal, Business, and Overseas Use
When you think, “I want to start WordPress,” and search for “WordPress recommendations,” you see all kinds of articles, from personal-use services and servers for companies and small businesses to overseas and low-cost options. Honestly,
- Which site should I read?
- I just want to choose a server simply and clearly.
- Show me how to start WordPress right away.
Do you ever feel that way? This article introduces carefully selected recommendations from 32 rental servers for individuals, businesses, domestic use, and overseas use. It is explained by the SEO lead of an app development company that works with rental servers every day.
- Star Rental Server review: a high-value server you can start using for free
- Six features of Star Rental Server
- Drawback: the cheapest Star Rental Server plan does not include automatic backups
- Compare Star Rental Server with two competing servers
- Seven steps to start a WordPress website with Star Rental Server right now
- How to cancel Star Rental Server
- Frequently asked questions about Star Rental Server
- Summary
Star Rental Server review: a high-value server you can start using for free
「 スターレンタルサーバー
” is a high-value rental server from Netowl, Inc. that starts free. Despite being free, it is extremely fast and highly functional. Even the paid Light plan starts from just 246 yen, so it is a strong pick if you care about value.
| Server type | Shared server |
| Display speed (TTFB) | 90ms |
| Recommended plan and contract term | Free plan |
| Trial / money-back guarantee | None |
| Monthly fee (12-month contract) | Free |
| Initial setup fee | Free |
| Free domain | None |
| Support | None |
| Uptime | Not disclosed |
| Server storage | 3GB |
| Number of databases | 5 |
| Security measures | WAF, login attempt limits, restrictions on access from overseas IP addresses, limits on mass comments and trackbacks, and limits on comments and trackbacks from certain country IP addresses |
| SSL | Free custom SSL, Optional custom SSL |
| Backup / restore | None |
| Number of email accounts | None |
| Email security measures | Antivirus, spam filter, POP over SSL, SMTP over SSL, IMAP over SSL, DKIM, and DMARC |
| Server / website migration service | None WordPress migration tool available |
| WordPress preinstall | Yes |
| CDN | None |
Six features of Star Rental Server
It has a free plan
Star Rental Server has a free plan.It is a good choice for people who want to start WordPress without spending money.It also comes with none of the ads that are common on free plans.
There are some limits, such as not being able to use email and having less database capacity, but there are no major practical problems.
Unfortunately, the free plan was discontinued on October 22, 2025.
[Measured data included] An ultra-fast server on par with Xserver
Star Rental Server is provided on top of Xserver. That means the server quality is Xserver-level. It uses AMD’s latest CPUs, and even the free plan uses the same server environment.
And when I actually measured it, the result was an extremely fast 90 milliseconds. That puts it below the 200-millisecond benchmark Google recommends.
★ Rental Server Speed Comparison Across 15 Services: This One Was Truly Fast [2024 Edition]
It uses the same familiar UI as Xserver
Because Star Rental Server adopts Xserver’s system, its management panel is the same as Xserver’s.Xserver’s UI is very easy to use and has a design that feels approachable.
Even if this is your first time using a rental server, you should be able to register and configure it without getting lost.
Paid plans are inexpensive
Star Rental Server’s paid plans are inexpensive.There are three paid plans, and every one of them is priced competitively against Japanese rental servers in the same class.
The most affordable Light plan is the one I recommend most. Let’s compare the pricing.
| Star Rental Server (Light) | 4,008 yen |
| ConoHa WING (Basic) | 11,292 yen |
| Xserver (Standard) | 10,560 yen |
| Lolipop! (Light) | 5,940 yen |
| Sakura Rental Server (Light) | 6,600 yen |
If you want to get started at a low price, Star Rental Server is the pick.
Equipped with a high-function WAF
Star Rental Server comes with a high-function WAF.
A WAF is often described as next-generation security and is essential for protecting against the latest cyberattacks. It is often standard on higher-priced servers such as Xserver, but on low-cost servers it is still usually a paid option.
In fact, the old Star Server did not include a WAF either.
But the new Star Rental Server lets you use WAF at no extra cost. Even the free plan can use it.
Anyone can start WordPress easily
Star Server makes it easy for anyone to start WordPress.
Because WordPress is preinstalled when you sign up for the server, even people with no experience using servers or WordPress, or people who are not comfortable with them, can get started with confidence.
Drawback: the cheapest Star Rental Server plan does not include automatic backups
One drawback of Star Rental Server is that automatic backups are not available on the cheapest Light plan. Without automatic backups, you may not be able to recover your data if it gets deleted.
When you run a site, there will inevitably be moments when you wish you had backup data, whether from a cyberattack, accidentally deleting data yourself, or a plugin update causing the site to break.
If you sign up for the Light plan, be sure to install a WordPress backup plugin.If you are not comfortable handling backups yourself with plugins, I recommend the Standard plan.
★ Five Powerful WordPress Backup Plugins to Help You Recover Data
Compare Star Rental Server with two competing servers
Lolipop!
LOLIPOP
is a stable server with 99.99% uptime. More than 2.3 million people have used Lolipop! so far, which gives it a longer track record than Star Server.
It is also designed to make WordPress easy to start. Because you can reliably begin WordPress during sign-up, it is well suited to people running a website for the first time.
However, it is slightly more expensive than Star Rental Server.If keeping costs down matters most, Star Rental Server is the better choice.
| Comparison item | スターレンタルサーバー
| LOLIPOP
|
|---|---|---|
| Biggest strength | Low pricing | Strong value for money |
| Trial / money-back guarantee | 10-day free trial | 10-day free trial |
| Uptime | Not disclosed | 99.99% |
| Storage | 350GB | 350GB |
| First-year server cost | 4,008 yen | 5,940 yen |
CoreServer
CoreServer
is cheaper than Star Rental Server. It offers a wide range of plans, and you can change plans freely. That makes it easy to move up to a higher plan as traffic grows and reduce unnecessary costs.
However, CoreServer is hard to use when starting WordPress. I have had experiences where things did not go well even after investing time. If you do not have solid server knowledge, it may be difficult.
If you have the technical knowledge, CoreServer is fine. If you do not feel confident, Star Rental Server is the safer option.
| Comparison item | スターレンタルサーバー
| CoreServer
|
|---|---|---|
| Biggest strength | Low pricing | Many plan choices |
| Trial / money-back guarantee | 10-day free trial | 30-day free trial |
| Uptime | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Storage | 350GB | 250GB |
| First-year server cost | 4,008 yen | 3,168 yen |
Seven steps to start a WordPress website with Star Rental Server right now
- STEP.1Apply on the official site
Apply from the official site.
Click “Start now! New application.”
- STEP.2Enter and confirm your customer information
Enter your customer information, such as your email address and name. After filling it in and checking the terms, tick the checkbox and click “Next.”
Identity verification will be sent to your registered email address, so enter the code from the email.
A confirmation screen for your customer information will appear, so review the details once more. If everything is fine, click “Register with this information and proceed to server application.”
- STEP.3Apply for Star Rental Server and complete authentication
Choose your server ID and plan. I recommend the Light plan.
Check the terms and click “Review application details.”
Complete SMS authentication. Verification is done by SMS or phone call, so I recommend using the mobile number you normally use.
You will be taken back to the plan selection screen, so choose your plan there and click “Apply.”
- STEP.4Use “Easy WordPress Installation” from the server admin panel
Open the server admin screen. There are both a file screen and a server panel, so choose the server panel.
From the “WordPress” menu, go to “Easy WordPress Installation.”
Click “+ Add WordPress.”
- Add method: New installation
- Target domain: leave it as is, or choose the domain you registered if you already have one.
- WordPress version: leave it as is
- Site URL: leave it as is, or enter a subdomain if you prefer.
- Blog name: any name is fine.
- Username: used when logging in to WordPress.
- Password: used when logging in to WordPress.
- Email address: used for WordPress admin access, password resets, and similar tasks.
- Automatic cache deletion: turn it ON.
- Database: create the database automatically
- Memo: leave it as is
- Theme: leave it as is, or choose any theme you like.
After entering the information, click “Install.”
Once installation finishes, log in. After that, install any WordPress plugins you need, and you are done.
How to cancel Star Rental Server
- STEP.1Click “Contract information”
Log in to your Star Account and click “Contract information” from the menu for the service you want to cancel.
- STEP.2Click “Cancel”
Click “Cancel” at the bottom of the page.
- STEP.3Click “Submit cancellation request”
Make sure the selected server ID is correct. If it is, click “Submit cancellation request.”
When you cancel a server account, delete the domain settings as well. If you leave the domain settings in place, you can run into a problem where you cannot register the same domain when you create another account later.
Frequently asked questions about Star Rental Server
What is the difference between Star Rental Server and the old Star Server?
There are several differences between Star Rental Server and the old Star Server.
- It uses the same management panel as Xserver
- A WAF is available
- WordPress comes preinstalled
Can you use email with Star Rental Server?
Webmail is available on the Light plan and above. It is not available on the free plan.
Can you register a domain with Star Rental Server?
You can register a domain with Star Rental Server. You can also transfer your domain to Star Domain, and even if you keep it with another domain provider, you can still use it without problems as long as you configure the name servers correctly.
Summary
Star Rental Server is a low-cost server you can start using for free.The Light plan is such a strong deal that it is fair to call it one of the best-value options available. Give it a try.
Complete Comparison of 32 WordPress Rental Servers: Recommendations by Personal, Business, and Overseas Use
When you think, “I want to start WordPress,” and search for “WordPress recommendations,” you see all kinds of articles, from personal-use services and servers for companies and small businesses to overseas and low-cost options. Honestly,
- Which site should I read?
- I just want to choose a server simply and clearly.
- Show me how to start WordPress right away.
Do you ever feel that way? This article introduces carefully selected recommendations from 32 rental servers for individuals, businesses, domestic use, and overseas use. It is explained by the SEO lead of an app development company that works with rental servers every day.