Yes, it does add to cost, but there are some companies that offer cheap VPS (~$15, weak machines where you can run only one EA), or as you said brokers who give free VPS if you have minimum ($5,000 usually). Though, if you plan to buy an EA and run it on a VPS you have to add monthly costs to your projected gains and it has to make a financial sense. Otherwise there is no point to get a VPS for $30/mo to run an EA on a $200 account. The chances are you will never get that 10% for VPS cost (or if you do your EA will have to work whole month just to cover the VPS costs).