When setting up a website, choosing the right host plan can be a challenging decision. VPS hosting and shared hosting are the most popular hosting solutions available today, but they have a big difference in functionality.
For this reason, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each approach before making any decision. In this guide, we’ll discuss VPS hosting and shared hosting to help you decide which option best suits your website.
Table of Contents
1. What is VPS Hosting?
Virtual private server (VPS) hosting is a virtual server divided into multiple portions with dedicated resources such as operating system, CPU power, storage, and memory. With VPS, you have personal servers, and you are allowed to choose, install, and configure resources.
It is ideal for designers, e-commerce, multi-site hosting and high-traffic websites.
Pros of virtual private servers
• Better performance – VPS does not share resources. You are assured of getting a high website speed load.
• Security – VPS has a closed environment, making it more secure compared to shared hosting
• You are in charge – you can add, remove and update software and resources as you want
• Easy customization- VPS offers root access to resources, allowing you to install and configure applications
• Maintenance and access to servers—you do not have to worry about repairing software, as your company will maintain it.
• Uptime and reliability—VPS typically has better uptime due to the small number of websites sharing the servers.
Con of VPS hosting
• Budget- VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting due to dedicated resources and additional features.
• Technical issues- VPS requires more technical experience to ensure correct set-up.
2. What is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is when many websites share the same servers. Servers are shared between multiple clients. Shared hosting is the cheapest with a limited bandwidth hosting plan compared to others. It is great for small businesses and beginners with little technical knowledge.
Pros of shared hosting
• Affordability- shared hosting is cheaper compared to virtual private servers.
• Technical knowledge – you do not require knowledge to use shared hosting packages. It is easy to set up.
• Server maintenance- the complex issues and server maintenance are taken care of by your web host.
Cons of shared hosting
• Security – potential risk due to limited control over security measures and sharing security space.
• Poor performance—when multiple websites run on the same servers, they can slow down your website and give your audience a negative user experience.
• Unreliability- shared hosting experiences more downtime, and this can affect your search engine optimization.
• Limited and shared resources- your website will be limited in terms of storage, bandwidth and other features.
• Limits control and customization
Bottom line
VPS hosting and shared both have their advantages and disadvantages; the choice to pick one over the other depends on your needs. VPS hosting is suitable for businesses that need web infrastructure, while shared hosting is excellent for those who need a simple web presence.
Additionally, when settling for a web provider, choose a reputable one that offers a backup plan for your data and read the fine print to understand the limitations before you sign up for any plan.
