Shared Hosting vs. VPS vs. Dedicated Servers

One huge decision every webmaster has to make at some point is whether to utilize shared hosting, a VPS or a dedicated server to keep their site live. This can quickly become an overwhelming decision. There’s a lot to consider, but it really all boils down to knowing your specific needs and how those needs can be met.

Understanding the Differences

The term “shared hosting” refers to a service where many users share one server. Each user is assigned his or her own directory for file management and is also granted access to a control panel to manage his or her own settings. Shared hosting is the cheapest option, but it does have limitations. For instance, server maintenance and security are in the hands of the hosting provider. For many users, this is creates a less than ideal scenario.

VPS, short for virtual private server, refers a type of server that is meant to handle a bit more volume than a shared server. A VPS is actually a virtual machine, called a container, which is housed within a physical host server. Several containers will share a CPU (the server), but each container is allotted its own RAM and disk space. Cloud-based VPS is an emerging trend that many webmasters are beginning to utilize.

A dedicated server is a complete physical server leased by a single user. That user isn’t forced to share any resources, such as RAM or disk space, with anyone else. Dedicated servers are much more expensive than shared servers or VPS, but they are the only legitimate option for certain situations; sometimes a website can simply outgrow any other server’s capacity. Dedicated servers enable the user to install and run any software he or she chooses, including the OS. They also make rebooting and system backups the responsibility of the user.

Breaking Down Pros & Cons

Shared Hosting Pros:

–       Nothing is easier to maintain.

–       Cheapest option on the market.

–       No technical maintenance is required.

–       Users can demand additional storage space as necessary.

–       Additional software can be installed.

Shared Hosting Cons:

–       Number of resources is limited.

–       Other websites on your server can impact your site’s performance.

–       Users may experience backup issues.

–       Many providers fail to offer adequate customer service.

–       Limited ability to customize.

–       Group firewall settings may negatively impact certain applications.

VPS Pros:

–       The most important benefit how much space and bandwidth VPS users have.

–       Another of the greatest benefits is data security.

–       VPS users can have a greater capacity for emailing.

–       Backups are made significantly more easily.

–       Firewall configurations can be customized.

–       VPS enables multiple sites or applications to be hosted.

–       Users can run their own batch files.

–       Migration is quick and easy.

VPS Cons:

–       Servers housing VPS containers run the risk of being overloaded.

–       Users still rely on a shared network connection.

–       Certain apps may not perform as well in a virtual environment.

–       Requires a dedicated systems administrator.

–       Hogging resources can lead to penalties or even downtime.

–       Can get expensive quickly.

Dedicated Server Pros:

–       Users experience 100% dedicated resources.

–       Dedicated servers never divvy up hardware between sites or applications.

–       Full control over hardware and software components can be granted.

Dedicated Server Cons:

–       By far the most expensive option.

–       Unreliable hosts can create downtime.

–       Unmanaged servers require technical skills.

–       Limit scalability.

–       Users may potentially face overage fees for heavy use.

So How Do You Choose?

There’s no universal answer to which of these server types is the best. Each user will have specific needs for his/her site or application. Yes, certain scenarios can create obvious choices, but generally each case will be different. For help making this decision for your site or application, call us at (877) 512-4678 and speak with one of our support specialists about what can best optimize your web presence.