Hosting can be a challenging topic for many reasons. If you don’t have in-depth technical knowledge of hosting technologies, it can be difficult to make the right choice between shared and VPS hosting. If you have a small business, this guide makes it easier for you to understand the key differences between the two types of hosting solutions. At Pure Code Digital, we would like to make it easier for you to understand the differences and determine which one is best for your business.
Basic Definition
In its simplest form, shared hosting refers to sharing a server and its resources with other websites. On the other hand, VPS hosting involves the creation of a virtual environment that works similar to a dedicated server but has a shared hosting environment.
The choice of the right hosting solution depends on your website or applications and your unique requirements. Both shared and VPS hosting have significant differences between them.
1. Server Resources & Performance
As a shared hosting user, you will be sharing server resources with other users. A VPS server features a group of sections of the same server acting as unique dedicated servers.
In a shared server environment, you are sharing the server resources with other accounts. There is a cap on the maximum available CPU power, RAM, and disk space and your website cannot use resources beyond this limit. On the other hand, there is the availability of more private disk space and other resources. If your business is going to grow and expand, a VPS hosting solution will be better when it comes to providing a better user experience (UX) to your visitors.
VPS hosting provides better overall performance, depending on the bandwidth offered. It will provide you with a greater level of flexibility for configuring your applications on the server. A shared hosting solution can deliver performance based on the technologies implemented by the host for speed, such as:
- SSDs
- CDN
- Caching systems
2. Security
When server resources are shared, it translates into significant cost savings. However, shared hosting is not as great an option from a security perspective as a VPS solution is.
- A common server cannot ensure 100% security, even when shared hosting is often very safe
- The Noisy Neighbor problem can always affect other accounts on the same server
- When it comes to shared hosting, a lot depends on how much the provider has invested in security
- If your budget allows, you can benefit from more robust security features on VPS hosting solutions
3. Reliability
Reliability is a big factor in web hosting. It defines how often your website can be expected to stay up or work effectively. It is ideal to choose a web hosting solution that can ensure at least 99.9% uptime. Potential issues can develop with servers in both shared and VPS plans. Reliability depends a lot on a number of factors, including:
- Quality of server hardware & software
- Service provider’s expertise
- Management practices
- Support
As a general rule, you can expect fewer issues with VPS hosting, as there are fewer accounts on each server. A VPS hosting environment allows each section to be configured at the optimal settings for each website or application. This extra level of ‘dedication’ translates into greater stability and security.
Why VPS is Best for Small Businesses?
Shared hosting can be just perfect for startups or personal websites. VPS hosting is more suited for small businesses and larger websites. While you will be spending more on VPS, it offers greater flexibility over configuration and resources, improved performance, and greater security. Thus, for spending a little more, you will be getting more in terms of resources, reliability, security, and many other benefits.
