The difference in one sentence
A metered server sells you bytes; an unmetered server sells you a pipe. On a 10 Gbps unmetered port you can move roughly 3.2 PB in a 30-day month and the invoice does not change.
Why the distinction matters
- No traffic cap, no TB quota, no overage line on the invoice.
- Capacity planning becomes a bandwidth question, not a billing question.
- Burst traffic — a release day, a live event — costs nothing extra.
| Port | Approx. monthly transfer at line rate |
|---|---|
| 1 Gbps | ~320 TB |
| 10 Gbps | ~3.2 PB |
| 100 Gbps | ~32 PB |
What to check before you buy
Ask whether the port speed is guaranteed or shared. A shared port is oversubscribed and the number on the order form is a ceiling you will rarely see.
Guaranteed means the capacity is reserved for your server, not statistically shared with a rack of neighbours.
Run mtr from your own network against a host in the location you are considering before you commit to it — latency and loss on the path your users will actually take beat any number in a marketing table.
Frequently asked questions
Is unmetered the same as unlimited?
No. Unmetered removes the volume limit but keeps the rate limit. Your port runs at its guaranteed speed continuously; there is no byte quota on top of it, which is what "unlimited traffic on a guaranteed line" describes.
Does traffic get shaped after some threshold?
Not on a guaranteed unmetered port. Shaping after a hidden threshold is what makes an "unlimited" metered plan unlimited in name only.
If you are sizing a build, the dedicated server tiers list every guaranteed port speed from 1 to 200 Gbps.