Why Pick VPS Hosting instead of Shared Hosting

Many web hosts offer VPS hosting alongside their shared hosting options. It’s hard not to notice the price difference between the two types of hosting. What exactly is a VPS? Why is it more expensive? Is it worth the cost? Let’s find out!

What Is A VPS?

A VPS, or Virtual Private Server, takes a slice of larger server space, similarly to a shared hosting plan. However, that is where the similarities between them end. With the help of specialized software, a VPS emulates a full-sized, live server environment. Instead of buying or renting a server, VPS hosting offers a much more affordable bridge between the ease of shared hosting and the power of a dedicated server.

There are many situations in which an individual or business may find themselves in need of something a little more robust. Upgrading from shared hosting, administering multiple websites, and developing web apps are all situations in which it can be a viable solution. Many are first attracted to the prices, which tend to run a little below the cost of cloud hosting. Are those the only advantages that VPS hosting has to offer, however?

What’s The Difference Between VPS And Cloud Hosting?

Very similar to cloud containers, VPS environments offer a virtual server SaaS (Software as a Service) platform with dedicated memory, processing, and space that is kept separate from other containers or partitions on the server. That is where those similarities end, however.

The VPS environment creates redundancy through the use of RAID hard drives, while the cloud environment creates redundancy through scattering copies across different access points within the network. If one access point goes down, then another picks up the load and keeps going.

While this creates perfect uptime for cloud containers, it also has hidden costs. That redundancy leads to a loss of data privacy and security. As such, the data stays private and secure with one access point for its storage.

Why Upgrade From Shared Hosting To VPS Hosting

Asking why one should upgrade from shared hosting to VPS is a little like asking why one should upgrade from an apartment to a house. Sure, it’s great to start in an apartment! Eventually, one wants something bigger and better, with which they can do more.

A shared hosting account is perfect for just starting or when something low cost and low maintenance are needed. A VPS is ideal for better speed, security, and uptimes. It’s that simple.

How To Choose The Right Plan

It’s essential to have an idea of what your specific hardware needs are when shopping for a hosting plan. Web hosts offer quite a few possible upgrades such as memory optimization, storage optimization, and compute optimization. If you’re not sure which to choose, it’s hard to go wrong with general-purpose VPS. This is a standardized setup of hardware designed to carry out the most common work tasks.

You also need to know if you need an unmanaged or managed VPS. Managed plans offer more hands-free maintenance, similar to a shared hosting plan. However, also related to shared hosting, the VPS limits the amount of control the user has over their server. If you know what you’re doing, you are going to be most happy with an unmanaged VPS. Even if you don’t see what you’re doing, an unmanaged VPS hosting plan is a great place to start if you feel like learning about server management.

A Word Of Caution

Successfully building a website takes a lot of hard work and dedication, no matter if you are using shared hosting, managed VPS hosting, or unmanaged VPS hosting. Any time you switch plans, there’s a learning curve. Relax a little, and don’t get too frustrated. Hosting a website for yourself, your business, or your career does take significant work. However, it should also be fun. Get excited about learning some new technical skills!