How much do you know about web hosting? Have you ever considered the differences between VPS vs shared hosting? If not, it’s something you should know.
Shared hosting is cheaper than a virtual private server (VPS), but there are some drawbacks. What are they? Let’s take a closer look at what these two types of web servers have to offer so that you can decide which one will work well for your site.
Type of web hosting
First, let’s get a little more familiar with the two types of hosting. Since shared web hosting is generally cheaper than VPS plans, so it’s the most popular option among individuals, small businesses, and blogs. Not only is it easier to use, but you also get a full-fledged server at an affordable price.
On the other hand, A VPS is basically a virtual version of shared web hosting. You will get your own root server that can be hosts multiple websites from its own resources. Also, it can be used for websites that need extensive resources like enterprise, e-commerce, high traffic sites, and big communities.
The good news is that VPS hosting tends to be more flexible than shared web hosting and can be tailored to suit specific needs.
VPS Vs Shared Hosting In Brief
The first thing you may wish to know about shared hosting and VPS is that they are two totally different types of web servers. But it’s not simple as just saying that one is better than the other.
Below is the definition of both hostings
What Is VPS hosting?
VPS stands for virtual private server and it’s basically a web hosting type that hosts a website. The idea is to provide each VPS user with their own resources, so they won’t have to worry about other websites slowing down theirs.
This type of hosting allows you to use more web space than shared hosting servers. Also, you can host unlimited domains and each domain gets its own script on the server.
As a VPS user, you have much more control over your server than that of a shared hosting package. You are given full root access to the server so that you can install apps like WordPress or Ruby on Rails. You can also create databases, set security policies, and monitor the server.
What Is Shared Web Hosting?
Shared hosting is a more affordable type of web hosting service that allows several domains to share one server. It’s ideal for people who don’t need the extra features provided by VPS like:
- A large number of website visitors per day.
- An increased number of disk storage.
- Full root access to the server.
You can use shared web hosting for smaller businesses and blogs or those who want their sites on the internet immediately without having to deal with complex configurations and setups.
VPS Vs Shared Hosting: Features Comparision
You already know what both types of hosting are. Now it’s time to look at the features offered with each package. As there are some key differences between shared and VPS web hosting. So you should know the core features of both types of web hostings.
Disk space:
Both web servers offer a certain amount of space for storing your content, but with VPS you get more room to breathe. It’s worth noting that the amount of space available depends on the plan you choose and some provide customers with limited disk storage.
Number of websites:
Shared hosting plans usually allow you to host multiple websites from one account, but with VPS packages you get your own root server to host as many domains as you wish.
Control:
You have more control over your VPS server than shared hosting accounts because you have access to the entire operating system. With shared hosting, most companies place restrictions on the number of files and databases that can be created. However, this is not the case with all packages.
Speed:
Since VPS plans are virtual web servers, so you will get higher dedicated resources like more processing speed, faster data transfer, and more bandwidth. Also, your site will load faster because it won’t be slowed down by other websites on the same server.
Whereas in shared hosting, all sites are hosted on the same server, so because of sharing resources and slowing down one another.
Customization:
Shared hosting packages are pre-configured for you, but with VPS servers you can make changes as you see fit. Also, you have more flexibility in how your site runs. Because you’ll have root access to install apps and make changes on the server. So that you will not have to pay someone else to do it for you.
Security:
Another benefit of VPS hosting is that data centers are more secure than shared servers because the chances of hacking are reduced and issues will also be resolved much faster. They’re typically protected by firewalls, passwords, and intrusion detection systems.
Whereas in shared hosting, which is shared by many sites, your website is more vulnerable to cyber-attacks and it will take your host longer to resolve the issue.
Service:
With VPS hosting plans, you will get more supports than with a shared server because there are fewer websites in total that use the resources of the server. You can expect that your website issues will be resolved faster.
Root access:
You will get full root access to your VPS server. This means that you can add new features and change default settings without an issue. But be careful because if you make changes without authorization it could have a negative impact on the performance of your website.
Whereas if you use shared hosting, you will not be able to access the server’s core, so if you want to make changes to your site, you’ll have to ask someone else to do it for you.
Traffic volume:
With shared hosting, you will be sharing the server with other users, so if your website gets more traffic than expected, it could potentially slow down your site and affect the performance of all websites on the same server. But with VPS hosting, dedicated resources ensure that your site is given enough power to load properly at any time of the day.
Cloud backup:
You will get an off-site cloud backup with VPS cloud hosting, which means your data is safe in case something happens to the server. Your site will not go down if there’s a crash or your web host goes out of business.
Whereas with shared hosting you will not have this peace of mind because all sites are hosted on one machine.
Software:
You can choose a variety of software that comes with VPS hosting plans, whereas you will likely have to install your own software on shared hosting.
Hosting environment:
With VPS hosting, you have the flexibility of choosing your own operating system, web server, and other options.
Whereas with shared hosting plans you’re not given the option to select any of these.
Connectivity:
With dedicated hosting, there is no sharing of bandwidth and ports so your site will be more accessible to users around the world.
Whereas with shared web hosting, websites will be split among several servers, so your website could perform slower at times of peak traffic.
CPU power:
VPS hosting plans are more powerful and you will have a higher average CPU usage per month than shared hosting’s CPU power.
Allocation of resources:
With VPS hosting, each site has its own CPU and RAM allocation. So if you use all of that your site will not slow due to other sites on the same server.
Whereas shared servers, which are overloaded with websites, may have to resort to swapping resources across all the sites hosted on it at any given time without warning. This could mean that your site loads slowly because it was forced to give up resources.
Maintenance:
You have full control over your VPS plan, which means you can do updates and monitor how much it’s being used to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Whereas with shared hosting you will not have any control over the server so you cannot install software or do any tasks that require root privileges.
Migration:
With VPS hosting, you can easily switch between plans and locations for the same price as a standard setup.
Whereas with shared hosting there’s an additional cost of migration from one server to another or if you move from your current provider to a new one.
Performance:
VPS plans have more control over the configuration of servers and you will likely receive better performance than shared hosting.
Hardware:
You will get access to a wide range of hardware options with VPS hosting that you will not get with shared web hosting.
Backup schedule:
With shared web hosting servers, you may not be able to set up your own backup plan, and if there’s an outage at the provider, your site could go down as well since it will affect all sites on the same server.
Whereas with VPS hosting, you will be able to schedule regular backups for any data that needs it in case of a crash or other disaster.
Scalability:
Because of the inherent nature of VPS hosting, it is a lot easier to scale up to meet peak traffic demands.
Whereas with shared web hosting you may risk going over set limits if your site gets more traffic than expected and you can end up paying overage charges for exceeding monthly bandwidth quotas.
Bandwidth:
You will be able to purchase a higher bandwidth plan in VPS hosting plans which could save you money in the long run.
Whereas with shared web hosting, you may be limited to how much monthly bandwidth is available on the server, and if it runs out, your website will be taken down until the next month when you’re allocated more storage space.
Cost:
VPS hosting is usually more expensive than shared web hosting, but the extra money spent may be worth it for some businesses since you’ll have a dedicated server and guaranteed resources.
Whereas with shared hosting, there is the risk of paying for excess server resources even if you are not using them.
VPS vs Shared Hosting: Support
With VPS hosting, you will have direct access to the provider’s support team and will not be reliant on peers for answers.
Whereas with shared web hosting, you may receive delayed responses from designated help teams or there could be times when no one has responded to your issues so far.
Shared hosting vs VPS hosting: Pros and Cons
Pros of VPS Hosting
- VPS hosting servers will give you a lot more control over your site, and you will have the option of customizing it with multiple software configurations.
- You will not be limited by resources on VPS hosting because you can upgrade or downgrade to a plan that fits your requirements.
- With VPS hosting, you will receive dedicated CPU and memory so you will not have to share resources with any other websites.
- VPS hosting plans allow for more storage space.
Cons of VPS hosting
- VPS hosting servers are usually more expensive than shared web hosting.
- You will have to pay a lot of money upfront for the full server, and you may not need that much space or power.
- VPS hosting is more complicated than shared web hosting so you will need to be familiar with command-line interfaces and Unix operating systems.
Pros of shared web hosting
- Shared web hosting is suitable for anyone who doesn’t need a lot of space or the full capabilities of a VPS.
- You can also host multiple sites on one server so you are guaranteed to get enough resources for your site to load without any hiccups or delays.
- If your business is still new, shared hosting may be affordable.
- It is a lot cheaper than VPS hosting.
- You will have access to cheap shared web hosting plans which are great if you are just getting started and are not sure how much traffic your site will get yet.
Cons of Shared hosting
- You may experience slower loading times and downtime from slow or unreliable servers.
- You will not be able to truly customize the server or set up advanced configurations that can give your site an edge over competitors.
- With shared web hosting, you will have a lot of other sites on the same server so your site can be affected if they’re not secure.
Some FAQs about VPS and Shared Hosting
When should I upgrade my hosting plan?
It can be difficult to tell when you need a more powerful hosting plan. If your site is receiving an average of 2,000 page views per day then it is usually time to upgrade.
What makes a good virtual private server provider?
You want the best host for your specific needs, whether that means you’ll need to have a lot of storage or share resources with many other sites. A good VPS hosting provider will be able to give you plenty of options and a wide variety of plans.
How do I choose the right shared hosting plan?
The shared web hosting that is best for your business depends on how much traffic your site gets, how many users you have, and how much bandwidth is available for your site. These are factors that are unique to your business so it may be hard to say what type of hosting plan will be best for you.
Should I switch to VPS?
It is hard to say, should you switch over to a VPS hosting plan. It really depends on your individual needs. If the plans fit your requirements and are within your budget then go for it!
VPS vs Shared Hosting: Top providers
There are many VPS and shared hosting providers out there, and not all of them are good. Here are a few providers that have been around for many years. The below hosting providers are perfect for businesses with mediocre traffic and needs.
VPS hosting providers:
Shared hosting providers
VPS vs Shared Hosting: Verdict
Virtual Private Servers and shared hosting both have their pros and cons. Shared hosting is cheaper than a Virtual Private Server, but it’s more crowded with other websites which can slow down your site by sharing resources.
With VPS hosting you will get dedicated CPU power and memory so there will not be any delays loading pages on your website due to overcrowding or lack of available resources.
A lot of people choose to use VPS because they are able to customize the server configurations that work best for them, while others opt for shared web hosting if they don’t need much space or power upfront.
Deciding between these two types of plans will depend entirely on how big your business is now as well as what future plans you may want in mind when you begin to grow your company.
If you are still not sure what the best option is for your business, you can check out our review of the best VPS hosting providers.
Let us know which hosting plan worked better for you through a comment below!
