Choosing the right hosting plan can be overwhelming for new as well as experienced site owners. It is a decision that eventually governs how the site performs. Spending too much does not make sense while spending too little can result in a website with regular and frequent problems. There are several factors to consider that add to the confusion. If you are not certain about choosing between a VPS Hosting and Shared Hosting service, then you are in the right place. Today, we will compare these two services and help you decide between hosting your website on a shared physical server or a VPS Server.
What are Shared and VPS Hosting Services?
In Shared Hosting, many websites share a physical server and its resources. The performance of one site affects that of the others. Also, these are the cheapest hosting plans available and are preferred by new sites as they are quick to set-up too.
In VPS Hosting, on the other hand, your site resides on a virtual server created by dividing a physical web server. Each virtual server has dedicated resources and account isolation to allow for better control over the hosting environment. It is like having a Dedicated Server at much lower costs.
VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting
| Feature | Shared Hosting | VPS Hosting |
| Costs | Shared Hosting services are cheaper than most other hosting services. This is because multiple websites share the resources of a single web server. | Compared to Shared Hosting services, VPS services are costlier but more cost-efficient. While the increased costs are due to virtual servers offering dedicated resources and account isolation, they also improve the performance of your website. |
| Security | Since multiple websites share one physical web server, each site is highly prone to an attack or an online threat. Also, if one website gets infected, it can infect all other sites on the server. Hence, despite the security measures taken by the providers, Shared Hosting plans have security concerns. | The account isolation feature of a VPS Server makes it more secure than Shared Hosting services. Hence, even if one website on a VPS gets infected, it cannot infect other VPSs on the same server. |
| Server Management | In Shared Hosting services, the hosting provider takes care of most of the server management tasks. Hence, as a site owner, you are not required to be bothered about them and can focus on establishing and growing your website. | By virtue of full root access offered by a VPS, you can customize the hosting environment according to the requirements of your website. Also, you can improve the performance of your site, configure applications, install software, etc. since the hosting environment is isolated. Hence, you need technical expertise or a server administrator to manage these tasks. |
Summing Up
Hence, as you can see above, Shared Hosting and VPS Server Hosting offer different benefits and are better suited to different types of websites. Shared Hosting plans are usually preferred by new websites or those with basic hosting requirements. VPS Server Hosting, on the other hand, is perfect for websites requiring a customized hosting environment and better control over the server. Before you choose a hosting service, ensure that you understand the hosting requirements of your website and consider all aspects. Good Luck!