It can be confusing to pick the ideal web hosting when starting a new website. Oftentimes, beginner users struggle to make the best decision since they are unsure of which host is ideal, which plan to choose, and what characteristics to look for in a web host, and so on. This is why we put together this tutorial to discuss shared VS VPS hosting to help you decide the best.
You may wonder why we aren’t discussing a dedicated hosting plan here. This is for a reason. A dedicated hosting plan is the top web hosting plan that is highly efficient but expensive. It is majorly recommended for bigger websites with huge traffics.
For new, smaller, or medium-level websites, shared as well as VPS plans are sufficient. Let’s dive deeper into shared vs VPS hosting.
What is shared web hosting?
A shred web hosting plan is the most affordable and basic plan that anyone can start with and establish its online presence successfully. In shared hosting services, a single server is allocated to various users, and all the resources such as CPU, RAM, disk space, memory as well as expenses are shared between all the users, which makes it the most inexpensive option. Shared hosting is like sharing a room and its resources with your friends. Usually, reliable shared hosting works well for most websites and provides various features at a low cost. All the users have access to details like monthly traffic, disk space, FTP accounts, emails, databases, and the additional perks offered by the host.
However, you don’t have control over your server, and all the services are managed by your hosting providers.
Benefits of shared hosting.
Shared hosting can be beneficial in various aspects. Following are a few advantages of using shared hosting.
1. Affordable
Shared hosting is the basic plan that offers all the essential services at decent and lowest costs. It is an inexpensive solution compared to VPS and Dedicated hosting plans, as all the costs are shared between various users.
2. Easy to use
The services are user-friendly and easy to set up and manage. You get access to cPanel, the user-friendly interface from where you can monitor your website and manage various tasks associated with it.
3. Managed solution
Except for a few things, you don’t need to be concerned about the other hosting services because they are controlled by your web hosting provider, minimizing your workload. Your host handles all maintenance services, from hardware management and software installations to security and downtimes.
4. Flexible and scalable
The plan is flexible as you can utilize all its features efficiently and upgrade it anytime once your website grows and needs more resources without any hassle.
5.No technical skills are needed.
Anyone can utilize the shared hosting plan effortlessly, and no technical experience is required. However, in case of any misconduct or emergencies, or technical queries, you can always reach out to your hosting provider via support. Most shared hosting services include the support feature.
6. Suitable for all website types.
A shared hosting plan is suitable for all kinds of websites. You can create nearly any kind of website, whether blog, eCommerce, portfolio, online magazine, etc.
7. Can support multiple domains
Shared hosting supports multiple domains, and you can host multiple within your single web hosting plan effectively and affordably.
Disadvantages of shared hosting
Besides benefits, there are a few disadvantages of shared hosting compared to VPS and dedicated plans.
1. Limited resources
In shared hosting, each user is assigned limited resources such as disk space, CPU, and RAM, which may pose a challenge once your business grows. However, you can upgrade anytime.
2. Limited customizations
You can only modify it to a certain level and cannot use customized software and perform tech modifications. You have less control over your servers.
3. Security concerns
Shared hosting is more vulnerable to security risks as a server is shared between multiple users, and security can be compromised easily. However, hosting providers nowadays are more careful about the security and their clients and hence take more security measures to protect the client’s data.
4. Speed
Speed is another concern with shared web hosting as multiple users are using the resources, which may slow down the website speeds. Also, one website’s popularity can affect others as resources, and IP addresses are the same.
5. Server failure
The more common issue with shared hosting is a server failure. This may occur when excess resources are consumed by the websites, and the server may fail to load properly, affecting the website’s usability on the internet.
However, most hosting providers look into resource usage regularly and take appropriate actions timely.
What is VPS web hosting?
A VPS hosting is a kind of shared web hosting but provides you with a virtual private server where you have more control over your resources as compared to shared hosting. Basically, VPS hosting offers you a dedicated hosting environment at the cost of shared hosting with virtually dedicated servers. In VPS hosting, your get control over the server root access, which gives you more control over your server so that you can manage your services on your own.
Benefits of VPS hosting.
VPS hosting can be beneficial in various aspects. Following are a few advantages of using VPS hosting.
1.Cost-effective solution-
VPS is a more valuable and cost-effective hosting option. Although more costly than shared hosting, affordable than dedicated hosting. As lies between shared and dedicated services, it offers a budget-friendly virtual dedicated environment. Anyone wanting more control over the servers and resources at low prices can go for VPS hosting.
2. High-Performance
VPS hosting offers you more speed backing the high-performance as compared to shared hosting. Anyone concerning website speed, SEO, and performance can benefit from the VPS hosting plans.
3. Flexible and Scalable
VPS plan is flexible and scalable as you can start with a basic plan and upgrade it as your website expands without any mess. You can scale up your plan easily if your resource consumption increases or your website traffic expands.
4. More control and Customizability
The VPS plan gives you more control over your server as it gives you root access. You can manage your server, resources, security, and usability on your own. It brings you more customizable flexibility than shared hosting, as you can install software, scripts, and application and customize your server configurations based on your requirements.
5. More secure option
With VPS hosting, you don’t have to suffer others’ misconduct, and your portion of the server is more secure, opposite to shared hosting. You can take control of your server security and can better protect your server with more security options.
6. Managed professionally
With managed VPS hosting, your hosting services will be monitored and taken care of by your hosting providers, such as server maintenance, core updates, software installation, backups, security, etc., and you don’t have to worry about any technical aspects.
7. More ensured resources-
With VPS hosting plan, you have an abundance of resources and total control over it, unlike shared hosting, where all the resources are shared between multiple users. You don’t have to share your resources and can avail the benefits uninterruptedly.
8. More stability
Your website is more stable on VPS hosting as compared to shared hosting as you have allocated with a completely private server and thus not affected by the fluctuation and outages caused by the other customers on the same server, hence supporting a more stable performance.
Disadvantages of VPS hosting
Besides a lot of benefits, there are a few disadvantages of VPD hosting compared to shared and dedicated plans.
1. More costly than Shared hosting
VPS hosting is more expensive compared to shared hosting. This is because the server is shared between a few customers resulting in high charges, whereas in shared hosting, the more the customers, the less the costs. If you don’t have enough budget, VPS might hurt your pocket.
2. Needs technical skills
To set up VPS hosting and manage a server, one needs to have basic technical knowledge; else, it may seem to be a daunting task. No tech expertise is required with shared hosting. However, it is less demanding compared to dedicated management. Also, dedicated hosting can be overwhelming, and you can’t avail of its benefits without technical skills.
3. Less control over your server
Even if you have control over your servers, the servers are monitored and managed by your hosting providers, and you don’t have complete control over them as compared to dedicated servers, where you have total control over your server management and utilization. Thus, VPS poses some limitations, and you don’t have full freedom and flexibility.
4. Not much secure
Although more secure than shared hosting, it’s not secure compared to dedicated hosting. Your site’s performance can still be affected by your server mishaps and mishandling.
Things to consider before purchasing a hosting service
Prior to choosing a host, you must assess the following aspects that can scale up or pull down your business.
1. Asses your website need
First of all, determine your website needs. Are you starting up your business or already have a strong online presence? Evaluate your traffic and your resource requirements and then decide on the right web hosting plan, either shared hosting or VPS.
2. Reliability
Assess all the services that are essential for hosting a website. A reliable web host offers all the services under the same roof. Additionally, check for customer reviews. What do customers say about them and determine whether they are reliable or not?
3. Uptime
Check for the service uptime guarantee. It is vital to keep a website up and running without interruption. A service uptime of more than 99% can be the best choice.
4. Cost
Assessing cost can be another important option to manage your pocket load. Compare prices of various reliable hosts and choose the most profitable option.
5. Security
Determine how the hosting provider manages the data security of its clients
Customer support as cyber-attacks and viruses can poorly impact a site.
6. Scalability
Determine whether the plans are scalable or not. Can you upgrade or downgrade your plan as per your website requirements or not?
Most plans offered presently are flexible, and you can scale them anytime.
7. Server responsiveness
Another important thing is to check out the server speed and responsiveness. A good host must ensure the stability of a website and is responsible for quick loading times. These are essential to support your website performance because quick loading speed and responsiveness are essential for your site’s user experience as well as search engine optimization.
How to choose the right hosting plan-shared vs VPS?
Now that we have discussed what shared hosting is along with its advantages and disadvantages, what VPS web hosting is, along with its advantages and disadvantages, and what you must consider while choosing a host, all are essential to decide on the right web host and the right hosting plan. Determine your hosting requirements and make a smart decision.
If you are just getting started with an online business, we recommend starting with a shared web hosting plan. It will be adequate for your new website. However, if you already have a well-established website with good traffic and your business is growing, you can choose the VPS hosting package. It is more customizable and brings more benefits.
To Conclude
The essential aspect of starting an online business is to find the most suitable and profitable hosting plan and a proficient hosting provider. Shared hosting as well as VPS hosting both are valuable and effective on their own. Both come with merits and demerits. Select the right hosting package that best fits your budget and website needs and establish your internet presence effortlessly. Begin with the most basic plan and then upgrade as needed, as both plans are scalable. We hope this shared vs VPS comparison article has clarified the differences between the two options and helped you make the best choice.
