Which hosting type should you choose? It’s not uncommon to hear people asking this question every day, and it’s not hard to see why.
With shared and VPS hosting at your disposal, you can create your own website or even start an online business.
But how do you know which one to go with? And what are the key differences between them? For answers to these questions and more, read our guide on Shared vs VPS hosting. We’ll help you decide which solution fits your needs the best!
Before we continue I will personally recommend Hostinger. Hostinger offers both VPS and shared hosting services to its clients, as well as other attractive services such as domain name registration and search engine optimization packages.
What is Shared Hosting
Shared hosts are great for small websites or those just starting out, as they are very affordable. However, shared hosts also mean that your website will be sharing resources with other websites on the same server.
This can lead to slower speeds and less control over your website.
A shared host is a type of web hosting service where multiple websites are hosted on a single server. This is in contrast to a dedicated server, where only a single website is hosted.
Shared hosting is generally more affordable than dedicated hosting, but it also comes with some risks.
Read more on Hostinger Shared Host
What is VPS Host
VPS are more expensive than shared hosts, but they offer more resources and control. A VPS is a virtual private server, which means that your website will have its own dedicated server.
This can lead to faster speeds and more control over your website’s settings
Shared vs VPS hosting
A virtual private server (VPS) is a cross between shared hosting solutions and a dedicated server. It’s not quite the best of both worlds, but it is a good compromise, especially if you’re keen on keeping your hosting costs down while having a bit more power. Some people compare shared hosting to living in an apartment complex and VPS hosting to living in a condo.
With shared hosting, you’re sharing a server and the resources of the same server with a bunch of other websites. With a VPS, you’re still sharing some resources (mainly ones determined by the hardware). Still, the software itself is set up so that one machine acts like multiple dedicated servers, providing a separate virtual server for every user.
For web admins, using a VPS means that they get the administrative power of a dedicated hosting setup, including the ability to customize their server to suit them.
The following guide will provide you with comprehensive information on the differences between shared hosting and VPS hosting.
The Difference in Performance
Performance, a shared host is not very good in comparison to a virtual private server (VPS). A shared host runs multiple sites on one server. So if one site becomes too popular and starts to slow down, it can slow down all of your other sites as well.
On a VPS, each website has its own dedicated resources. This is a much better approach and ensures that your site will run at top speed because there aren’t any other sites on your server sharing your resources with you.
All of these are factors that need to be taken into consideration when deciding which hosting option is best for you.
The Difference in Security
Shared hosting is simple to set up and maintain, making it a great option for beginners.
But as you become savvier, it becomes clear that shared hosting can often mean less control over your server; you’re limited in terms of what kinds of software or scripts you can install and a few poorly coded applications on your site could cripple other customers’ websites.
With VPS hosting, on the other hand, you get more power over how your site functions (and how much money it costs) because everything runs off one virtual server rather than off multiple physical servers.
The Difference in Control Panel
Most shared hosting providers use either cPanel or Plesk to manage their customers’ accounts. Both tools offer a wealth of options to experienced administrators, but they can be a bit intimidating for newbies.
A virtual private server uses its own control panel that makes it easy to get started without having to learn too much about web hosting at once. The most common control panels for VPS servers are hostinger and DreamHost; however, different providers will have their own variations on those themes.
While these tools are slightly more complex than shared-hosting tools, getting used to them is far easier than managing an entire server from scratch!
The Difference in Cost
The first, and perhaps most important, difference is cost. A shared hosting plan will be significantly cheaper than a virtual private server (VPS) hosting plan.
The difference in price comes from shared hosts leasing out their resources to multiple customers while VPS hosting providers give each customer dedicated resources.
Shared hosts usually cost between $1.9 and $3 per month; however, keep in mind that these prices are exclusive of additional fees you’ll have to pay for domain names and other add-ons. If you go with a virtual host provider, monthly costs can start at around $20 and increase depending on how much RAM or storage space you need.
What is a Virtual Private Server?
Virtual private servers are similar to shared hosting, but with a few key differences. In many ways, they’re a better option for some sites and businesses, depending on your specific needs.
With a virtual private server (VPS), you get a dedicated operating system that handles all of your files and traffic.
This can help improve speed and performance, though it does mean paying more for hosting services. Think of it like splitting off part of an apartment building into an independent unit where you control everything from how much rent you charge to how well it’s cleaned.
When you should use a virtual private server (VPS) hosting plan instead of shared hosting plan
The technical aspects of a virtual private server (VPS) can sound overwhelming to someone who’s just getting started with web hosting, so let’s start with a brief explanation of what VPS is and how it differs from shared hosting.
What is virtual private server hosting? In order to understand what makes a virtual private server unique, it helps to understand why there are other kinds of servers in existence in the first place.
The basic difference between shared hosting and a VPS or dedicated server is that many users have access to resources on shared servers, whereas on a dedicated or VPS plan you have complete control over your own resources and have full access at all times.