VPS vs web hosting – what’s right for you?

In the world of hosting, you will repeatedly be confronted with the terms VPS and web hosting. What is the difference between these products and what should you use them for? In this article, we’ll tell you about the most significant differences, what they are best used for and if VPS or web hosting is best for you.

Web hosting

Web hosting involves providing a user storage space for their website. The web server on which the data is stored is online 24 hours a day, so the website can be accessed at any time, by anyone, and from anywhere in the world.

The server on which the homepage is located is shared with other customers, with each customer receiving the storage space included in their plan. As a user of web hosting, you receive storage space, the processing power needed as well as the necessary network connection. You do not have to worry about maintenance, technical updates or security updates. With web hosting, your web space is also preconfigured with a content management system such as WordPress. The user does not need any special knowledge to install their website.

What you can do with web hosting

A web hosting plan is suitable for hosting smaller websites that are not very complex. They are particularly good for small projects that use Website Builder or WordPress.

Advantages of web hosting:

• Inexpensive
• No server knowledge required
• Easily create email accounts and inboxes
• Perfect for small to medium-sized projects
• 1-click install of WordPress

VPS

The term VPS is an acronym for virtual private server. A VPS is a system that provides virtualised resources on a dedicated server. A VPS user share resources on a dedicated system such as SSD storage, processor cores and memory with other users. That said, each VPS user has dedicated resources that are set by the host and which the user has exclusive access to. In contrast to web hosting, this does not just involve storage space, but also computing power.

A VPS has its own IP address and can be used like a real server. You can configure and manage the VPS as you wish. A restart or shutdown is also possible at any time and you can freely use the operating system you like: Windows or Linux. In contrast to web hosting, it is important to have technical understanding and in-depth knowledge of server administration when using a VPS.

What you can do with a VPS

A VPS can be used for various use-cases and it offers many options for implementing a wide variety of projects:

• Web server
• Data server
• Email server
• Private cloud storage
• Game server

Advantages of VPS

In contrast to web hosting, a VPS can use almost any server applications and the user is free to install their own software. This is one of the main reasons why many users decide to use a VPS.

• You can choose the operating system
• Significantly less expensive than a dedicated server
• Dedicated IP address
• You can quickly scale your performance whenever you need to

VPS vs web hosting

Web hosting and VPS differ in many ways. The best product choice for you depends primarily on the type and complexity of a project. Here are some examples of what use-cases can be best for each solution.

VPS is best for

These are the best reasons to use a VPS instead of web hosting. You need:

• Guaranteed performance
• Specialised software
• To host multiple websites
• To host something other than a website

Web hosting is best for

These are the best reasons to use web hosting instead of a VPS. You need:

• Lowest price
• Ease-of-use
• Automated security

Get started

If you have decided what solution is best for your business, it’s easy to get started. Explore our VPS and web hosting options and remember to get a domain to secure your identity online.