Shared Hosting vs VPS Hosting: Which One Is for You?
So, you’ve decided to start a site, you got a domain name and now you need to find a hosting provider that can supply you with server space. There are many types of hosting services available, made to support different types of sites, so it can get overwhelming. No need to worry, because we’ll talk about the two most popular types of web hosting to suit your needs, shared hosting vs VPS hosting.
In short, shared hosting is the cheapest option out of the two, where you’re sharing one server alongside other websites. You receive a set number of resources but are able to sustain a small website without spending too much. VPS hosting, on the other hand, gives you more freedom and performance but it is a bit more expensive.
What is Shared Hosting?
Imagine shared hosting as living in an apartment where you have to share places such as the pool, backyard, or a parking lot. In this case, your site will share the same resources, such as CPU, disk space, and memory with other users who are on the same shared hosting server.
Shared hosting is the cheapest option among all. Unfortunately, your site might have limited bandwidth and will get slow when there’s a lot of traffic crowding websites on the same server as you are.
You can enjoy the pool when it is not crowded, yet you still have to anticipate when everyone goes in, and things get cramped, shared hosting is a lot like that.
What is VPS?
With VPS hosting you’ll still be sharing one physical server, but each user gets a specified set of resources, meaning that other websites on the same server won’t affect you, unlike with shared hosting. VPS hosting provides a dedicated virtual partition for each user, making sure resources are always available to you. Of course, VPS comes at a higher price than shared hosting.
If we’re going to use the same analogy as before, then a VPS partition is like owning a penthouse, or a condo, there are many apartments like it in the building, but you have everything you need and don’t have to share it with anyone else.
Shared Hosting vs VPS Hosting: A Comparison
Since knowing the general definitions is not enough, we will provide you with some comparisons between the two hosting types to help you better decide which one works best for you.
Security and Performance
Security is essential no matter what kind of website you own. Both hosting types are relatively secure and stable methods for hosting your site, but there are some differences. With shared hosting, your site might be affected when there’s an error on another site. Also, if other sites eat up too much of the shared bandwidth, your website might get slowed down. This is especially crucial if your site hits high traffic numbers.
Control
If you are looking for more advanced options for your site, VPS hosting is more suitable than a shared hosting plan. It grants you root access to the server, so you can install your own OS, control panel and software to optimize site performance and security.
Server Administration
If you choose to host your site with shared hosting, there will be little to no technical maintenance required by you. Shared hosting providers will set up the shared server, install and upgrade the necessary software like the cPanel or hPanel, and monitor the servers to avoid downtime and effectively taking care of the back end.
Scalability
VPS hosting is much easier to scale up when compared to shared hosting. While shared hosting is a good option for a short-term plan or a small online website, you’ll have more trouble with the overall performance if your site reaches high traffic numbers.
