Web hosting is an incredibly useful service, as it allows a company to ‘host’ your website on the internet, generating traffic and interest in your content. However, it can be difficult to determine which exact service that you require. For instance, when should you use shared hosting, and when should you use a managed VPS host? We will be walking through an explanation of the two different services, and some examples of when one should be used rather than the other.
Shared Hosting
The idea of shared hosting is that multiple websites will be using the same server in order to operate. This type of service typically hosts hundreds of different users at once. Each user will be allocated a portion of the server where their website files will be stored.
Advantages of Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is one of the cheapest options available for you to choose from. Since you will be sharing the server with a large number of other users, the cost will be significantly lower than it otherwise would be. Typically, the cost of using shared hosting will be anywhere between $3-$10 per month.
Another benefit is that technical expertise is usually included in the cost of your package. This means that you will not need to worry about glitches and other technical difficulties, as a technician from your hosting service should take care of it for you.
When you start out with a shared hosting service, you will have lots of opportunities to upgrade at any time. The company that you are working with will have lots of options to enhance your website’s potential as your budget increases.
Disadvantages of Shared Hosting
The major con of shared hosting is that the resources will be spread out among many different users. This can cause long buffer times for your website and a lot more downtime in which your website is not functional. The same principle applies to the security of your website. There is less time being devoted to your website, so it is more likely that security will not be as strong for your site as it could have been.
Another disadvantage is that shared hosting provides fewer customization options for the user. The default settings are basically all you have to work with. Although this is good for beginners, the lack of customization choices can become frustrating.
When Would you Use Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is a good option for people who are running small businesses online and do not have a large number of visitors. It is also good for blogs and forum sites. In addition, it could also be used for people who simply want a portfolio site to demonstrate their work, or for personal websites for their own use.
VPS
With VPS hosting, your website will have a larger portion of the server. There will still be multiple other users on the server, but there will be far fewer as compared to shared hosting.
Advantages of VPS
With VPS, you will have a more secure platform for your website, and the security is tighter because there are more resources available. There is less of a chance that hackers will infiltrate your site, and malicious content will be spread.
As your website is independent of others, its functionality will not depend on other sites. This is good because the amount of traffic that other sites are receiving will not cause delays on your site.
The customer service for a managed VPS tends to be very good. A customer service representative will always be on call in case you encounter any technical issues. Most providers offer customer support via the phone, live chat, and over email.
Disadvantages of VPS
Using a VPS host will be more expensive than shared hosting. However, there are so many competitors in the market offering the same service that the prices are fairly reasonable. Many VPS host providers will offer the service for a cost of as low as $10 per month.
Even though there are fewer users on the same server, it still isn’t your own dedicated server. Due to the number of users, your VPS may not be able to use the maximum amount of RAM and/or disk space.
When Would You Use a VPS?
The best time to use a VPS would be when you have a growing website, and you expect the growth to continue. There is more flexibility for you and a greater amount of opportunities as your website expands. An example of this would be a medium-sized online business that sees at least 100 viewers visit the site per day.
When you start seeing an increase in traffic on your website, it is a good indication that it is time for you to switch over to a VPS. About 100-200 visitors per day is the number that you should be looking for. Similarly, if you are currently using a shared host and you notice that your website is experiencing significant downtime, this is also a good time to consider upgrading to VPS.
