A website’s files must be uploaded to a web server, which is often purchased from a hosting company, in order to make the website accessible online. Web hosting comes in different “flavors” or types. Such as shared hosting, VPS hosting, application hosting, etc. Today, we compare the most common types of hosting, shared, VPS, and dedicated hostings.
Shared hosting can be great for beginners or testing your ideas, as well as small businesses that need a limited amount of bandwidth and storage. On the other hand, VPS and dedicated hosting provide more privacy, control, speed, bandwidth, and storage for your business.
What’s the difference between all these hostings? Which is better? What type should you go for? Let’s take a closer look!
VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting
What is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting that allows users to share a website with other users on one server. In a shared web hosting environment, many websites reside on one web server and are allocated different amounts of resources at a given time. Since hosting is renting a “house” for your website to live in, shared hosting is like renting a room in an apartment with multiple rooms; where every individual has their own room, but the kitchen, dining, and other areas are shared with other inhabitants of the house.
This is generally the most economical option for hosting, as the overall cost of server maintenance is spread over many customers. It is also very affordable and can be used for small businesses, pubs, schools, and other online venues. Compared to VPS and dedicated hosting plans, shared hosting plans are way less expensive and often very affordable, but they lack the same features and functionalities.
How Do Shared Hosting Plans Work?
Hosting multiple websites on a single web server is how shared hosting works. Depending on the amount of RAM, hard drive space, and processor speed available, the numbers can range from a few hundred to several thousand. This hosting is provided on a computer that is equivalent to a dedicated server, but considerably more clients are using its resources. The data and any applications belonging to each website user account are kept on the server in different partitions, and each has a unique file directory tree. Users are unable to access the root or one another’s files. The web server’s computer resources are shared by all accounts on the shared server.
Since the resources on a shared hosting server are shared with many other users, most web hosting companies have policies that regulate fair usage to ensure that everyone has access to an equal share of the resources. If you exceed the limit specified by the company or that is allowed on your plan, your account is throttled or suspended.
Shared hosting is a basic solution that can provide the resources needed by a new venture, small business, or personal website. Many newcomers to the web hosting industry select shared hosting. It is well-liked because it is the most economical choice. Individual user fees are kept low because numerous users are sharing a server’s resources. A user-friendly control panel that enables you to upload website files, set up email accounts, and install databases for services that demand them are common features included in shared hosting packages.
Although shared hosting is regarded as “entry-level” by some experts, it provides more than enough resources for the majority of websites.
What is a VPS Hosting Plan?
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a mix of shared and dedicated hosting. A physical server (also known as the “parent”) hosts numerous VPS instances, each of which is allocated a specific portion of the parent server’s hardware resources. These instances are rented and function as separate servers from one another. As a result, it’s essentially renting a portion of a dedicated server. These plans range in price and provide more inexpensive scaling, performance, and security than shared hosting.
Using the apartment example, think of a VPS as having a flat all to yourself in a let’s say 32 blocks of flats building. While you may be sharing the building/compound with others, your flat is entirely your space and you won’t share any bit of it with anyone. You can design the living room in your style or make the kitchen “naughty”. The choice is yours.
VPS hosting solutions rely on virtualization technology to provide users with private (dedicated) resources on a server with multiple customers. On a VPS server, each user has access to a virtual computer that runs its own copy of an operating system (OS). Customers that use VPS hosting can enjoy features and speed similar to a dedicated server for their websites.
How Does VPS Hosting Work?
On a shared hosting server, all websites housed on the shared server receive computing power on a first-come, first-served basis. They share the same resources, and if a few larger websites consume a high number of CPU threads and RAM at the same time, there may be insufficient resources for the remaining accounts, thus shutting down the entire server.
But such is not the case on a VPS server. A VPS’s concept is entirely different. Virtualization technology is used by your hosting provider to create a completely separate environment for your website. The virtual servers are produced and maintained by a device known as a hypervisor. The hypervisor partitions the server and lets each user install their own operating system and apps.
A hypervisor can be deployed on the physical server itself or on top of its operating system. Its job is to build the virtualization layer that separates each VPS from the underlying infrastructure and the other virtual machines. It enables your VPS to function as a completely independent system. This is where the primary benefits of a VPS are found.
VPS hosting is designed for customers who have outgrown shared hosting. Whereas shared hosting allows several sites to reside on a single web server with no guarantee of resources, VPS allows fewer customers to share allocated segments of hard drive space, memory, and CPU power.
What is a Dedicated Hosting Plan?
A dedicated server (or servers) is a type of Internet hosting in which a physical server (or servers) is dedicated to a single business customer. The customer has complete control over the computer, allowing them to configure it for their specific needs, such as performance and security. The physical server and environment, as well as the accompanying services and technical support, are provided by the hosting provider. It is like mortgaging or renting a complete house.
A dedicated hosting plan is a type of hosting service that is specifically designed for medium and large businesses. Dedicated hosts offer a faster and more efficient service, meaning your website will be faster and you will have fewer buffering times. Dedicated hosting can somtimes be reffered to as managed hosting services, dedicated servers, and dedicated hosting services.
How do Dedicated Hosting Plans Work
Dedicated server hosting is the plan of choice if you need the most power for your money. Dedicated hosting means your website is hosted on a single server that is dedicated specifically to your website. This cuts out the competition for resources associated with shared hosting or virtualization and sharing of resources in VPS and this results in more robust website performance.
Dedicated server hosting essentially means that your website has its own server all to itself. It offers immense power and flexibility but usually comes at a premium. As such, it’s important to do your research before opting to purchase this type of plan.
This means your website will be ready when you want it to be, without the wait times common with shared hosting plans. Additionally, a dedicated host can provide increased security and stability for your website, making it more difficult for hackers to steal or damage your site.
If you have a high-traffic website, dedicated hosting may be the ideal option because dedicated servers are fast, flexible, and completely customizable. You rent a whole physical server for your business with dedicated hosting. However, the service does come with a cost, therefore they are not for everyone, especially if you run a tiny or medium-sized website.
How to Choose the Right Hosting Plan for Your Business
There are a few key factors to consider when choosing a hosting plan for your business. For starters, you’ll want to research the resources that your website will need as well as the resources that your host can offer. This includes how many GB of space your hosting account can hold, how much storage space your business needs, and whether or not you need any special software or features enabled in order to use the host’s resources.
Additionally, make sure that your business can use the host’s resources. If you have an online store, for example, make sure to test out how well your website is loading after adding the hosting plan and see if there are any problems with bandwidth or CPU usage. Additionally, ask the hosting company questions about their services in order to ensure that you are not limited in any way.
- What are their upgrade or downgrade options and policies?
- How effective is their customer service?
- How long have they been in the industry?
- What happens if you miss renewing your hosting by a few days?
- What backup policy do they have in place?
- See what other customers have to say via Trustpilot
- Be sure their servers are not blacklisted or have not been blacklisted in the past for malware, spam, or other similar activities.
Finally, choose a plan that offers the features and capabilities your business needs. For example, some hosts offer inode limits with unlimited storage on their shared servers, others don’t but restrict your storage space. By asking questions about each feature and looking at reviews of similar plans before making a decision, you should be able to find a plan that meets all of your specific needs without breaking the bank.
Conclusion
Shared hosting is a great way to provide your business with hosting and access to the latest technology. However, it’s important to research your business needs before choosing a plan. Additionally, make sure your business can use the host’s resources—especially if you have limited space. Finally, check out our dedicated hosting plans for businesses of all sizes.
Most website owners begin with shared web hosting. As a site grows and requires more resources and functions, it may require a more robust hosting solution. A virtual private server (VPS) is commonly regarded as a bridge between shared hosting and dedicated hosting, in which your website runs on its own server.